Posts by Bates Whitaker
NCWF In The Field – May, 2026
North Carolina Wildlife Federation staff and Community Wildlife Chapters connected 1,256 people to nature through 39 wildlife and habitat events and activities in May, including: Planting 257 native trees and…
Read MoreIn Search of the Frosted Elfin: NCWF Volunteers Survey Rare Butterflies in Northeastern North Carolina
For a few short weeks each spring, one of North Carolina’s rarest butterflies quietly appears on the Coastal Plain. Small, fast-flying, and easy to miss, the frosted elfin is a…
Read MoreNCWF In The Field – April, 2026
North Carolina Wildlife Federation staff and Community Wildlife Chapters connected 2,290 people to nature through 61 wildlife and habitat events and activities in April, including: Planting 521 native trees and…
Read MoreHolding Onto Hope: Celebrating NCWF’s 61st Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards
The work of conservation rarely offers easy wins. It asks for patience, resilience, and a willingness to keep going – even when the path forward feels uncertain. In his remarks,…
Read MoreA Dangerous Shift: Redefining “Harm” Puts Endangered Wildlife at Risk
In the early 1970s, conservation in the United States was falling short. Recognizing the urgency, President Richard Nixon called on Congress to take action. The result was the Endangered Species…
Read MoreThe Ritual of Stewardship – Dave Myers and NCWF Lake Norman Wildlife Chapter’s Work for Wildlife
You can learn a lot about a conservationist by asking where their connection to wildlife and habitat first began. Often, it starts with something simple – a fascination with animals…
Read MoreNCWF In The Field – March, 2026
North Carolina Wildlife Federation and Community Wildlife Chapters connected 1,413 people to nature through 65 different wildlife and habitat projects and activities, including: Planting 4,777 native trees and plants –…
Read MoreA Legacy of Land and Water: Katherine Skinner Inducted into North Carolina’s Conservation Hall of Fame
Each year, NCWF recognizes conservation champions across North Carolina for their dedication to protecting, conserving, and restoring the state’s wildlife and habitats. The Conservation Hall of Fame is reserved for…
Read MoreTrees for Wildlife: Planting Roots in Western North Carolina
Valle Crucis Community Park is nestled along the Watauga River in the High Country of the North Carolina mountains. The park’s 28 acres feature riparian forest, wetland, and meadow habitat…
Read MoreMasters of Disguise – Mimicry, Masquerade, and More Wildlife Camouflage Tactics
Maybe you’re lucky enough to have walked through a patch of woods and flushed an unseen covey of quail just a foot in front of you, or nearly stepped on…
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