Kyle Briggs moves into the role of executive director for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission effective New Year’s Day.
Wildlife Resources Commission
Black bears’ resurgence reflects acceptance, economic spur
Conservation efforts and reforestation have allowed the species to rebound in rural northeastern North Carolina, providing a food source for families here and luring “high-net-worth” hunters and visitors.
Eastern NC’s black bears: How hunters helped save a species
Special report: The state’s black bear population was in trouble 50 years ago, but research and conservation measures put in place in the decades since — with hunters’ “direct cooperation” — have enabled the species to recover, although not everyone is happy.
Wildlife officials push back on straw bales for sand fencing
Wildlife Resources Commission officials are calling for thorough research on how wheat straw bales might affect oceanfront habitat before the state allows them to be used as an alternative to sand fencing.
Pender County moves to rid public waters of junk boats
Pender County became the latest coastal North Carolina government to adopt rules enforcing the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels from waterways.
Rules eased as red-cockaded woodpeckers’ status improves
Wildlife officials say the recent downlisting from endangered to threatened is a success story, but opponents say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s reclassification is premature.
Gators’ more frequent appearances make splash along coast
Whether they’re country alligators or city alligators, wildlife biologists say the reptiles just want to be left alone, but the loss of habitat means interactions are more and more likely.
Groups call for federal protection of diamondback terrapins
Nonprofits have petitioned the federal fisheries agency to list as endangered the diamondback terrapin, an estuarine creature frequently drowned in abandoned crab pots.
Fisheries aligns with Wildlife Resources’ flounder season
The Division of Marine Fisheries has lined up its rules with those of the Wildlife Resources Commission for recreational flounder fishing by hook-and-line in joint waters.
Wildlife Resources OKs 4-day recreational flounder season
The state agency that manages inland waters voted last week to hold an abbreviated recreational flounder season in its waters Sept. 1-2, and Sept. 7-8.
Public may comment on proposed fishing, land use rules
The Wildlife Resources Commission proposes lowering the daily creel limit for striped and white mullet from 200 to 100 fish in aggregate and establish a limit of no more than 400 fish total per boat to align with Marine Fisheries rules.
Cooper declines to sign bill delaying catch-reporting rule
The controversial measure that requires recreational anglers and commercial fishermen to report their catch of five named species takes effect late next year.
No recreational flounder season likely this year; here’s why
The agency that manages inland waters is looking for public input on a proposed temporary rule to close recreational flounder season in inland waters for 2024.
Patrols for impaired boaters to ramp up for July Fourth
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission law officers will be enforcing safe boating laws during Operation Dry Water, July 4-6.
Biologists, advocates push for more wildlife crossing funds
Proponents of the federal Red Wolf Recovery Program say more protected highway wildlife crossings in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge would benefit all species.
2 found guilty of 15 counts of illegal night deer hunting
Dylan Scott of New Hanover County and Nicholas Rackley of Duplin County have been ordered to pay $9,030 in replacement costs for illegally spotlighting and killing deer in Duplin County.
