2024 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
T he North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Wildlife Diversity (WD) Program is housed within the agency’s Wildlife Management and Inland Fisheries (Aquatic Wildlife Diversity) divisions. Program responsibilities principally include surveys and monitoring, research, and other projects for nongame and endangered wildlife species. Nongame species are animals without an open hunting, fishing or trapping season. Program Updates - 2024 The Wildlife Diversity Program experienced staff changes and much progress for Species of Greatest Conservation Need in 2024. Allison Medford, special projects biologist, stepped down from her position to pursue new opportunities with her community and family. We hope to fill the vacated position in 2026. The Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Program welcomed two new staff members, Langston Rimmer and Amber Olson, to the program as the Eastern Listed Species Biologists. T.R. Russ promoted from the Foothills AWD Coordinator to a newly created AWD Survey and Monitoring Supervisor position which supervises the AWD biologists.
Two Species Conservation Plans were approved in 2024 — the Virginia Big-eared Bat Conservation Plan and the Sea Turtles Conservation Plan. Proposed changes to NCAC 10I rules by staff within NCWRC and the Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee’s Scientific Council were finalized and published on October 1, 2024. Wildlife Diver- sity staff were busy disseminating their work through webinars, interviews, and pub-
CONSERVATION PLAN for NORTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA BIG-EARED BAT APRIL 18, 2024
lications (see the list at the end of this publication). Dr. Sara Schweitzer, Assistant Chief, Wildlife Diversity, received the 2024 Leadership Award from the Interna- tional Partners in Flight initiative. The details of our work with various taxa are outlined in this annual report.
LOGGERHEAD, GREEN, KEMP’S RIDLEY, LEATHERBACK, AND HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE
CONSERVATION PLAN for NORTH CAROLINA
JUNE 6, 2024
NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
4 2024 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
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