The Naturalist's Corner: Best possible science discarded
Studying the red wolf fiasco taking place in eastern North Carolina takes me far away in time and distance —…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Continuing red wolf saga
U.S. Fish and Wildlife (F&W) held a public meeting regarding proposed rule changes to its Red Wolf Recovery Plan. According…
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Red wolf proposal draws criticism
A long-awaited proposal for future management of the imperiled red wolf population was released last week, drawing ire from environmental…
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Learning Center opens at PARI
The Learning Center at PARI has officially launched following a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month.
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New tick species found in N.C.
A new species of tick has been spotted in North Carolina following the discovery of a longhorned tick on an…
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Bill seeks to fund Park Service maintenance backlog
A bi-partisan bill seeking to create a fund to address deferred maintenance in the National Parks System has been introduced…
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Mountain Wildlife Days a success
More than 600 people attended the 15th annual Mountain Wildlife Days at Sapphire Valley Resort July 13-14, raising more than…
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N.C. hosts multi-state effort to boost outdoor industry
A three-day meeting to plan the future of the outdoor industry drew leaders from 11 states to Asheville this month,…
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Adventure for all: Outdoor camp for youth with special needs builds friendships and confidence
Intermittent breeze ripples the water atop Lake Junaluska as the sky vacillates between sun and cloud, but the wind can’t…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Death sentence?
On June 27 U.S. Fish and Wildlife (F&W) announced a proposed rule many in the conservation forefront have deemed as…
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Grant supports science education
A $3,500 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation will help support the school outreach program at Highlands Nature Center.
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Wandering elk dies following car crash: Overall prognosis positive for elk population
A youthful lark ended in tragedy July 1 for a Maggie Valley elk that trekked through the Pisgah National Forest…
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Playground opens for kids with special needs
A new playground designed for kids with mental and physical disabilities is now open in Waynesville.
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Flood threat prompts evacuation in the Smokies
Heavy rains and rising rivers prompted the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to evacuate campers at Elkmont Campground last week,…
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Swain gets new wildlife officer
Dakota Curtis of Sumpter, South Carolina, was sworn in as a new Swain County wildlife law enforcement officer with the…
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Off the beaten path: Alarka Institute leads quest for rare mountain flower
For even the most woods-savvy of plant lovers, a blooming mountain camellia is a rare to non-existent sight. A member…
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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation announces fundraising goals
The Waterrock Knob Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway will get new exhibits if the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation…
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BearWaters develops river access
The Pigeon River flows a little healthier thanks to several riverbank improvements made at BearWaters Brewing in Canton.
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The wildest show: Synchronous fireflies display untamed beauty in the Smokies
I entered the lottery on a whim, figuring that, like 90 percent of my fellow entrants, I’d end up with…
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From the ground up: Holbrook reflects on a lifetime of agriculture
Bill Holbrook has been a lot of things in his 71 years on earth — a factory worker, a manager, a…
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Paving work begins on the Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway will resurface more than 65 miles of pavement between Asheville and Cherokee this summer, with work…
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Chimney Rock State Park still closed
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is still closed due to storm damage, but Chimney Rock Village and Old…
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Recycling on the uptick
Recycling is on the rise in North Carolina according to a recently released report showing numbers for all 100 counties…
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Grant will fund waterways in Macon
Cartoogechaye Creek will become a little healthier thanks to a $100,000 grant that Mainspring Conservation Trust landed from Duke Energy’s…
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Rally ‘Round the River: Conference aims to unite Macon around watershed conservation
Twenty-five years ago, a group of residents, conservationists and agency officials met in Macon County to talk about water. At…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Lake J eagles
Most readers know the pair of bald eagles that nested at Lake Junaluska this spring were unsuccessful. There is no…
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Bethel farmer added to Ag Hall of Fame
Haywood County farmer Bill Holbrook has been inducted into the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame for his tireless…
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Volunteers restore Smokies building
Key elements of the historic Palmer Barn in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are now…
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Outdoors retailers open in Cherokee
Cherokee’s new outdoors retailers will host a grand opening celebration 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at their…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Musings from count year 2018
This past spring was one of the more trying ones with regard to my annual U.S. Forest Service bird point…
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Retaining wall causes closure at Chimney Rock
A collapsed retaining wall at Chimney Rock State Park has caused the park to be closed since the collapse occurred…
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Kids in the Creek design winners announced
Lucas Cody of Bethel Middle School won this year’s Haywood Waterways Association Kids in the Creek T-shirt design contest.
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Grant helps preserve A.T. view
A $21,500 grant from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will help Mainspring Conservation trust conserve a 504-acre property in Graham County.
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Through the raincloud: Agricultural community takes stock after record-breaking rains
A month of rain capped off by the arrival of Tropical Storm Alberto has caused massive flooding, landslides and loss…
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Pigeon River Fund awards grants
Environmental groups in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties recently received a total of $217,010 to improve water quality, wildlife habitat…
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Cheoah and Tusquitee get new district ranger
The Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger Districts of the Nantahala National Forest have a new district ranger following the May 29…
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Junaluska pool to reopen
The pool at Lake Junaluska will likely open this week following renovations that began in March.
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Highlands Biological gets new director
The Highlands Biological Foundation has a new executive director with the hire of Charlotte Muir.
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National Trails System turns 50
A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act will kick off at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May…
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Parkway facilities open for the summer
Memorial Day Weekend signals the beginning visitor season on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with all facilities now reopen after winter…
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Smokies celebrates 20 years of new discoveries
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating 20 years of conducting biodiversity inventories, with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory…
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Base Camp prepares to go mobile
A mobile recreation program offering outdoor recreation opportunities in communities throughout Haywood County will begin June 18, and a meeting…
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Lands protected in WNC
From mountains to coast, a cadre of land conservation agencies is working to preserve the properties most important to North…
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Telling NOC’s story: Book shows early years of outdoor center through the eyes of staff, leaders
It was 1972, and the world of whitewater paddling was changing. Americans were just about a decade into experimenting with…
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Smokies visitors spend $922.9 million in gateway communities
A new report from the National Park Service shows that 11.3 million visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Back in the saddle
I have had, since 2004, one of the best gigs any bird nerd could ask for. That was when I…
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Report hellbender sightings
If you’ve seen a hellbender, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wants to know.
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New videos explore local food scene
A new video series celebrating Western North Carolina’s local foods economy — and the small businesses and communities that drive…
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Red wolf status grim, review says
A five-year red wolf status review, released April 24, showed that only about 40 red wolves are left in the…
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Job Corps center expands opportunities
The Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is increasing its partnerships and training options, providing more opportunities for the students…
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