Agriculture grant winners announced
Five local farms are among the 39 businesses awarded a total of $216,000 in this year’s WNC Agricultural Options grant…
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The Naturalist's Corner: How can somethingthat doesn’t exist be declared extinct?
I believe it was around Jan. 22 of this year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern cougar…
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Pigeon Forge recognized for wildfire risk reduction
The city of Pigeon Forge is gaining national attention for its work to safeguard the community against wildfires, having recently…
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Elk fest coming to Maggie: Event will celebrate elk, wildlife and the outdoors
A new extravaganza will prance into the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds this year — the Smoky Mountain Elk Fest, an…
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Video series celebrates wetlands
The Dogwood Alliance released a new video series on wetlands for World Wetlands Day, which was Feb. 2.
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The Naturalist's Corner: Lake Junaluska eagles – do over?
It appears the eagles that nested unsuccessfully last year at Lake Junaluska are back for another go at it. There…
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Land trust celebrates 100 properties conserved
Conservation of six new places last year brought Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust to a landmark total of 100 conservation projects completed,…
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Disaster payments go out to farmers
The federal government shutdown created some delays in getting applications processed for the Agriculture Disaster Relief Program of 2018, but…
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Water champions honored
Three water champions were recognized for their work to improve Haywood County’s rivers, streams and reservoirs during 2018 at Haywood…
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N.C. efforts aid Texas turkey population
A trap-and-release effort based in North Carolina is helping to boost wild turkey populations in Texas.
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‘Wild West’ agriculture: N.C. Extension tests out cannabis production
Jeanine Davis has spent more than two decades researching new and emerging crops in North Carolina, but she’s never experienced…
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Back to work: Shutdown ends, but effects likely to linger through 2019 season
After 35 days of furlough, National Park Service staff are back to work at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,…
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Road closures to begin in Pisgah
Seasonal road closures are underway in the Pisgah National Forest. Certain roads are closed each winter to help protect wildlife…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Live and die by Lake J
Jan. 4, 2019 was a dreary day. It was more than that; it was a dreary Balsam Christmas Bird Count…
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Donation opens visitor centers for holiday weekend
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, two visitor centers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were open over Martin Luther…
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Southern Highlands Reserve honors volunteers
The Southern Highlands Reserve is honoring two mountain residents as its volunteers of the year.
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Fees to rise on national forest sites
Fees will increase at 24 sites on the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests beginning Jan. 1. For sites that are…
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Grandfather Mountain has record wet year
Wet weather was the norm across Western North Carolina last year, and Grandfather Mountain was no exception — a record…
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View the lunar eclipse
A total eclipse of the moon will occur Sunday, Jan. 20, with multiple opportunities to view this Super Blood Wolf…
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Parkway nonprofit leaders earns award
The CEO of one of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s most important nonprofit partners recently received a prestigious national award.
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Funding conservation: Federal program’s expiration impacts local land trusts
On Sept. 30, 2018, a program that’s been pouring money into land conservation for more than 50 years expired. And…
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Fire ant quarantine expands
As of Jan. 1 the quarantine area for the imported fire ant will include Davidson, Orange and Vance counties, meaning…
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Road closures to begin in the Nantahala
Seasonal road closures will soon begin in the Nantahala National Forest. Certain roads are closed each winter to help protect…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Flocking together
Birding buddy and former subcontractor for my Forest Service point-count survey, Kirk Gardner, was in town for the holidays and…
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Sustainable forestry awards announced
The Nature Conservancy’s work to promote sustainable forestry in Western North Carolina has been recognized with the organization receiving one…
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Winter Lights a success
Winter Lights at the N.C. Arboretum had a record-setting season, drawing nearly 40,000 guests over the course of its six-week…
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Bear tests positive for rabies
A black bear found dead in Hyde County in Eastern North Carolina has tested positive for rabies, the first known…
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Record turnout for First Day hikes
A record 3,859 people rang in the New Year at North Carolina State Parks by participating in one of the…
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Running toward her goals: Catamount student succeeds with Heart & Sole program
Born with cerebral palsy, Jaylyn Logan’s nana Marvellia Ross knew that her granddaughter’s life would have limitations. However, a new…
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Learn to tie a fly
A weekly fly tying class has started at Outdoor 76 in Franklin, held 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday.
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Invasive found in Deep River
Hydrilla, a highly invasive nonnative plant, has been found in the Deep River, covering a 90-acre area in Moore, Chatham…
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Chronic wasting disease found in Tennessee
Chronic wasting disease has been preliminarily detected in western Tennessee, increasing the threat to deer and elk in Western North…
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Brevard gear manufacturer to expand
SylvanSport is expanding its operations with an upcoming move to a new factory in Transylvania County.
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Planted in the mountains: WNC botanist reflects on a lifetime of discovery
Dan Pittillo has made his name as a botanist, but he could easily have ended up a dairy farmer instead. …
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Outdoors 2018: The year in quotes
From the depths of winter to the height of summer, valley agriculture to mountain exploration, longtime mountain dwellers to new…
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A writer’s retreat: GSMA offers writing residency in the Smokies
Steve Kemp moved to the Great Smoky Mountains in 1987 for what would become a 30-year career with the Great…
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Portal in the snow
I don’t know if our recent ancestors were better weather readers than we, or if they simply knew, by late…
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Fire tower restoration complete
The historic Rich Mountain Fire Lookout Tower has been restored, thanks to a collaborative effort from the Carolina Mountain Club,…
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Paddlers to save Green River hemlocks
An $8,000 grant will benefit hemlock trees growing in the Green River Gorge, hopefully saving them from the deadly hemlock…
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Pointing the way: Volunteer group earns national recognition for trail sign project, other accomplishments
The year is nearly over, but in 2018 the Graham County Rescue Squad has run only three search and rescue…
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Plan proposed to let Cherokee members gather sochan
An environmental assessment for a rule that would allow members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to gather sochan…
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The Naturalist's Corner: At last
Those radical environmentalists and their aiding and abetting scientists are finally called out. After the deadliest wildfire in history —…
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Red wolf management decision delayed
In response to a Nov. 5 federal court ruling that found the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s rollback of protections…
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New Sylva outdoors store to hold grand opening
Sylva’s newest outdoors store will hold a grand opening party noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at 562 West…
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Half marathoners brave the cold
A cold, rainy day made for a muddy course on the inaugural Headwaters Half Marathon Saturday, Dec. 1, in Panthertown…
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Clean Water awards flow to WNC
The N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund awarded $20 million for conservation projects across the state this fall, with much…
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Hope for Scotts Creek: Report yields optimism for creek’s restoration
Sylva got some good news about the creek that runs straight through its heart at a Nov. 8 town meeting. …
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Sochan in springtime: Cherokee looks to reclaim plant gathering traditions in the Smokies
For centuries and even millennia, the early spring greens of the sochan plant have served as a celebration of spring…
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New forest management plan advocacy group forms
A coalition of businesses, groups and organizations calling itself I Heart Pisgah has formed to advocate for greater protections in…
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Judge blocks wolf protection rollback
A federal judge found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental…
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