At its business meeting today, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced that after a thorough application and review process, the Commission selected Michael Kyle Briggs as executive director of the agency. Since December 2015 Briggs has served as Chief Deputy Director overseeing the agency’s day-to-day operations as well as leading the agency’s Law Enforcement, Wildlife Management, Inland Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Divisions and a newly established Genetics Program. Briggs will transition into his new role on Jan. 1, 2025.
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A manatee has been successfully rescued from a Tar River canal in Greenville, Pitt County. It is the first documented case of a manatee being rescued in North Carolina.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has released an orphaned female bear cub in an undisclosed and remote Western North Carolina mountain area. The cub gained international interest earlier this year when video was posted on social media showing a group of people pulling her from a tree at an Asheville apartment complex and then taking photos of themselves holding her.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County north of Marion sustained significant damage as a result of flooding and landslides during Hurricane Helene. Some of the hatchery’s trout escaped during the flooding; however, most of the 600,000 fish of various sizes died when the storm compromised the water supply to the raceways and hatchery building. Currently, Armstrong State Fish Hatchery is closed indefinitely.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is completing construction of a new boating access area at Draper Landing in Eden, Rockingham County. The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 1.
“This will be a great addition to our rivers and provide a great opportunity for the citizens and visitors to get outdoors,” said Eden Parks & Recreation Director Ray Thomas.
Please note: since this press release was published, the dates for the Setzer Hatchery renovation have been changed. The information has been updated below.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will host two family-friendly event to recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day, an annual celebration promoting outdoor recreation and conservation.
Hyperphagia means a significant increase in appetite. And that is exactly what begins to happen to black bears this time of year. Bears are in “eat mode” through fall, and sometimes even into winter, so they can put on extra weight, up to 2-3 lbs. a day, to get ready for denning season. Hyperphagia is a behavior adapted by some bear species, including black bears, to combat a decline in natural food availability in the colder months.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) approved a temporary amendment to the flounder rule at their business meeting on July 25th that was subsequently approved by the N.C. Rules Review Commission (RRC) on July 31st. Under this modification, the 2024 flounder season will be open in Inland Fishing Waters and in Joint Fishing Waters for hook and line fishing only on September 1st and 2nd and again on September 7th and 8th. The daily creel limit is one fish with a minimum size limit of 15-inches.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open 32 trout streams and two lakes classified as Delayed Harvest to trout harvest on June 1 through Sept. 30.