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NOTE: The Washington Daily News receives news and information on wildlife in our state from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. This is their latest report. You can find new information anytime at ncwildlife.org.

On December 5, Michael Kyle Briggs was named the new executive director of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

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 transitioned into his new role on Jan. 1.

“I’m honored and delighted by the opportunity to be the agency’s Executive Director,” said Briggs. “I look forward to leading the agency’s dedicated and knowledgeable staff who demonstrate their commitment on a daily basis to conserving our state’s fish and wildlife resources.”

Read more about Briggs here.

Black bear cub rehabbed, released

Last spring, she captured the attention of people across the globe when a video went viral showing her as a baby cub being yanked from a tree at an Asheville apartment complex.

The bear was taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation organization, where she grew to a healthy and releasable weight. NCWRC released the bear in an undisclosed location in the mountains. The bear was equipped with a tracking collar, to monitor her progress.

Protecting rare species

The NCWRC works to protect the state’s wildlife, safeguarding the state’s most vulnerable species.

— Eastern hellbender

Hellbenders are nature’s water quality indicators—thriving in clean, clear streams and rivers, and disappearing when pollution takes over. They are one of the world’s largest salamanders, growing to two feet long and weighing over three pounds.

 

 

— Little brown bat

Little brown bats may be nature’s most efficient pest exterminators: despite weighing less than two nickels, each bat can eat 1,200 insects in an hour! Their population in North Carolina has plummeted more than 90% in the last 15 years due to a fungal disease.

— Northern saw-whet owl

Northern saw-whet owls are the tiniest owls in eastern North America, weighing just as much as a small apple. These guys have a cool secret: under blacklight, their wings glow bright pink—stronger in younger owls and fading with age, giving scientists a non-invasive way to estimate how old they are. They also do an important job by keeping rodent populations, like deer mice and voles, in check.

 

— Bog turtle

The bog turtle is North America’s smallest turtle, only growing to about 4 to 5 inches—smaller than most phones. These tiny turtles are experts at staying hidden, spending most of their time underwater, buried in mud, or tucked away in thick plants. There are fewer than 100 known bog turtle populations in North Carolina.