Science is one of the world's top academic journals. That’s why N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission staff members are proud to have provided vital information for a recent peer-reviewed study Science published in Oct. 2026. It has literally flipped a previous belief about wildlife’s most “energy-efficient” form of transportation.
Topics Related to Conservation
SummaryLake Craig Dam was partially washed out by Hurricane Helene flooding, allowing uninhibited fish passage for the first time in 100+ years.Smallmouth bass and russet darters were discovered upstream from the dam by fish monitoring surveys; both are positive indicators for the Swannanoa River’s health.NCWRC, Warren Wilson College (WWC), and community m
We receive numerous calls here at the Wildlife Commission during the growing season from panicked landowners who have “a bunch of little bees hovering over the ground.” We are here to help!
Believe it or not, most of the more than 500 native bee species in North Carolina nest underground. (Hopefully you haven’t discovered that the hard way! Shoes are your friend when outdoors!)
We are currently seeking nominations for the Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Award which recognizes meaningful contributions of an individual or organization that benefit North Carolina’s small game populations and/or small game habitat. This includes efforts in habitat management, education, hunter engagement and research.
New tiny mussel, big conservation story! Biologists uncover Ligodonta obscura, or the solstice creekmussel, a new genus and species found only in a few miles of North Carolina streams.
The rare tricolored bat, state listed as endangered, was captured at Robertson Millpond Preserve for the first time in six years. NC Wildlife is filling data gaps in the species’ range maps across the state. The survey team navigates one of Piedmont’s most challenging terrains to make these discoveries possible.
They are elusive and hard to find. Sometimes referred to as a “feathered mouse” due to their movement and behavior, these secretive little, marsh-loving birds called Eastern black rails, once widespread in North Carolina, are at risk of extinction. And the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking public review of a management plan developed to save this very important species from disappearing.
As North Carolina’s only native trout, the brook trout is the official freshwater fish of our state and is near and dear to so many. Numerous generations of Western North Carolinians have grown up fishing for, or hearing about, “specks” (the name often used locally), while many anglers continue to travel to our mountains to fish and create their own stories. Approximately 370,000 anglers fished the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Public Mountain Trout Waters in 2022, which generated close to $1.4 billion for the state’s economy.
We are currently seeking nominations for the
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission partnering with N.C. State for research study in the Triangle