The bog turtle, native to Western North Carolina, is the smallest turtle in North America. It spends most of its time under water, buried in mud or hiding in thick vegetation. Both the state and federal government list it as threatened. The southern hognose snake, state-listed as threatened, lives in the Coastal Plain and Sandhills regions. Species conservation plans guide agency efforts to maintain and increase populations of species. Once approved, the plans will be used as blueprints for conservation of the species.

The Commission also seeks comment on 2023-24 migratory game bird hunting seasons for waterfowl, webless migratory and extended falconry. Each year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provides season date frameworks from which the Wildlife Commission may choose hunting season dates within the established guidelines. Compensatory days are allowed for those states that do not allow hunting of migratory birds on Sunday. The season dates being considered include compensatory days for both waterfowl and webless migratory species. 

Comments on game bird and extended falconry seasons will be accepted through 5 p.m. Monday, March 20, at research.net/r/2023-2024_migratory_game_bird_seasons. Public comments on species conservation plans will be accepted through 5 p.m. Sunday, April 9, at ncwildlife.org/draftplan, which also hosts copies of the plans.