NCWF In The Field – October, 2025

October 4, SSS Three Sisters Swamp Black River Tour: A local Ivanhoe resident lead our group through 6 ft cypress knees and ancient swamplands, paddling past sunbathing brown water snakes, swooping kingfishers, and roosting white ibis under a chorus of red-bellied woodpeckers, crows, tufted titmice, northern flickers, blue jays, and red-shouldered hawks. We learned about the different stories behind the name, “three sisters” and how the Great Coharie River Initiative restored cultural and ecological heritage to the Coharie tribe in their tributaries of the Black River.

October 4th, Bradford Pear Bounty in Asheville. The North Carolina Bradford Pear Bounty program is a collaboration between NCWF, the NC Urban Forest Council, the NC State Extension, and NC Forest Service. Folks from across Buncombe came out on a foggy morning to receive their native trees in exchange for removing invasive Bradford pear trees from their property. Big thanks to Buncombe County Extension and Master Gardeners for their help making this event a success.

On October 4, Squirrel Lake Park came alive with 350 adventurous kids and families for Kids in Nature Day at Squirrel Lake Park hosted by the Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK) Chapter, the Town of Matthews, and NCWF’s Great Outdoors University! From fishing to exploring the wonders of wildlife—snakes, turtles, and bees—we had a blast! With scavenger hunts and laughter all around, it was a day filled with discovery and unforgettable memories in the great outdoors!

October 4, Kids In Nature Day: NCWF Habitat and Wildlife Keepers Chapter hosted their annual Kids In Nature Day Celebration at Squirrel Lake Park in Matthews. Hundreds of families attended to participate in fishing, scavenger hunts, STEM activities, vendor exhibits, and more. Folks met native animal ambassadors, learned about soil and water conservation, and took home prizes. Ranger Rick showed up for photos, dancing, laughs, and lots of fun!

October 4th, New River State Park Debris Cleanup. New River Conservancy, Keep Ashe Beautiful, State Parks, and NCWF High Country Wild joined forces for an unforgettable experience on the New River in Ashe County. The volunteer crew removed 1000 lbs of trash and debris in an effort to keep our waterways clean and maintain suitable habitat for the abundance of both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife that rely on the New River.

October 4, Herps & Habitats Education & Exploration: NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC Chapter hosted a herps workshop in partnership with NC WRC State Herpetologist, Jeff Hall. Participants learned about several herp species that call northeastern NC home and enjoyed a guided herp hike to search for reptiles and amphibians around Merchants Millpond State Park.

October 4, SWC Kids In Nature Day: NCWF South Wake Conservationists Chapter held their fourth annual Kids in Nature Day at Lake Benson Park in Garner! Over 300 kids (and adults alike!) got to explore 25 nature activities, including nine with live animals. There were birds of prey, arachnids, insects, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and macroinvertebrates. There were also scavenger hunts, nature crafts, pond exploration activities, and more all with the goal to connect kids with nature.

October 4, LCFW Fire in the Pines: Habitat Stewards from the Wilmington certification tabled at Wilmington’s Fire in the Pines festival at Halyburton Park, educating residents about the Butterfly Highway program and how to make choices to protect wildlife in their backyards.

October 5, Kids In Nature Day: NCWF Charlotte Wildlife Stewards Chapter hosted their annual Kids In Nature Day Celebration at Reedy Creek Park in Charlotte. Over 300 children and their families participated in hands-on exploration of all things nature and wildlife. Activities included animal encounters, nature art, discovery tables, guided nature walks, exploring native plants, biofacts, and more. Ranger Rick stopped by for a visit, and participants took home all kinds of Ranger Rick prizes for completing their KIND passports!

October 7, Camden County Public Library Community Planting: NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC Chapter partnered with Camden County Public Library to plant native pollinator plants and a black gum tree at the library. While participants planted, they had the opportunity to learn more about pollinator conservation and the significant role native plants play in supporting a healthy ecosystem.

October 9th, Swannanoa Pollinator Program. Swannanoa Valley WILD! And Buncombe County Master Gardeners partnered to host a program for kids at the Swannanoa Public Library all about pollinators and the native plants they need to survive and thrive. The chapter recently installed a native plant garden at the library which served as a perfect teaching tool for this program!!

October 9, SWC Invasive Removal at Johnson Environmental Education Park: NCWF South Wake Conservationists Chapter teamed up with Wake Audubon to tackle invasives at Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park in Fuquay Varina. Volunteers uprooted or cut down and treated two full trailer loads of Chinese Privet. The park is a hidden treasure, rich with native species, including twenty different species of ferns and an abundance of birds, all of which will benefit from the removal of invasive plants such as privet.

October 11, Laketoberfest: Once again, NCWF Lake Norman Wildlife chapter participated in the Town of Cornelius’s annual Laketoberfest. Chapter leaders and volunteers handled beer sales during the event and even facilitated Steinholding, or Massirugstemmen, competition. Proceeds from the event benefit the Lake Norman Wildlife Chapter!

October 11th, New River State Park Debris Cleanup Part 2. New River Conservancy, Keep Ashe Beautiful, State Parks, and NCWF High Country Wild joined forces for an unforgettable experience on the New River in Ashe County. The volunteer crew removed 600 lbs of trash and debris in an effort to keep our waterways clean and maintain suitable habitat for the abundance of both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife that rely on the New River.

October 11, NCMA Stream Celebration: NCWF tabled at the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Stream Celebration in Raleigh. The Museum Park has an ongoing stream restoration project so in celebration of recent progress, they held an event with local community partners to celebrate healthy streams and the wildlife they benefit. NCWF educated the public about wood ducks and other wintering waterfowl that use the Museum Park as a rest stop.

October 16, Hemlock Restoration Workshop. Hemlock trees are a critical component of the southern Appalachian ecosystem and are threatened by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. Swannanoa Valley WILD! and the Hemlock Restoration Initiative hosted a workshop in Montreat to discuss what we can do to support hemlock trees in the Swannanoa Valley. We had a blast walking along Flat Creek in Montreat observing hemlock trees together on a perfect fall day!

October 17-19, Wildlife Habitat Steward Training: NCWF and NCWF Union County Wildlife Chapter hosted a Wildlife Habitat Steward Training at the Union County Agriculture Center. Wildlife enthusiasts from across the state joined staff, volunteers, and experts in the field for three days of speakers, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, including a native plant and habitat installation.

October 18, Help Keep Charlotte Beautiful: NCWF Charlotte Wildlife Stewards Chapter was back at it, keeping Tyvola Road clean. Through the Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) CWS adopted a stretch along Tyvola Rd through KCB’s grassroots Adopt-a Street. program. Volunteers enjoyed the weather and removed more than 150 lbs of litter from the roadside habitat along Tyvola Rd.

October 18, Dismal Day Pollinator Garden Planting: As part of the annual Dismal Day celebration at Dismal Swamp State Park, NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC Chapter provided an educational table, sharing resources on planting native plants for wildlife and giving out seed packets for planting this fall. After learning about native plants, participants of all ages had the opportunity to help plant their own pollinator plant at the park’s educational pollinator garden!

October 18, NRHC Wake Forest Autumn Arts and Plants Festival: NCWF Neuse River Hawks Conservationists Chapter tabled at the Wake Forest Autumn Arts and Plants Festival. The chapter educated community members on the importance of native host plants and the insects that benefit from them. A Golden Alexander plant with Eastern Black Swallowtail chrysalides was a hit with kids and adults alike!

October 19, Invasive Species Removal at Merchants Millpond State Park: NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC Chapter led an invasive species removal event at Merchants Millpond State Park to help control Japanese stiltgrass along a popular trail at the park. This is part of an ongoing partnership with the park to promote invasive species removal and native plantings to enhance natural food and shelter for wildlife.

October 19, SWC Invasive Removal at Walnut Creek: NCWF South Wake Conservationists Chapter removed invasive woody plants at Walnut Creek Wetland Park in Raleigh. Volunteers removed privet, bradford pear, and mulberry trees to open up the space for a population of river cane to get more sunlight. Removing invasive plants and allowing the river cane to continue to grow will benefit local wildlife and will help prevent erosion along the bank of the creek!

October 19, DWS Horton Grove Grassland Workday: NCWF Durham Wildlife Stewards Chapter partnered with Triangle Land Conservancy for a nature walk and grassland management work session at Horton Grove Nature Preserve! The afternoon began with a guided walk through the preserve’s pristine forest and ended with a work session. Volunteers cleared trees sprouting up in the grassland due to lack of disturbance in the area.

On October 22nd, Selwyn Elementary School was filled with excitement as 88 fifth graders participated in NCWF’s Great Outdoors University program, “The Food Chain Gang: A Lesson in Ecological Interdependence!” Students competed in a food chain relay, tackled the Ecosystem Jenga challenge to understand the interdependent relationships in ecosystems, played a food chain memory game, and went on a nature scavenger hunt. By the end of the day, they gained valuable insights into the essential roles organisms play in maintaining ecosystem balance!

October 25, DWS and NRHC at the State Fair: NCWF Community Wildlife Chapters, the Neuse River Hawks Conservationists and the Durham Wildlife Stewards, manned a booth at the North Carolina State Fair in partnership with the North Carolina Native Plant Society. Chapter leaders engaged people about native plants, how to start native plant gardens, and upcoming chapter activities. Lots of participants were already familiar with native plants which was very encouraging!

October 25, Naked Creek Invasive Plant Removal. NCWF High Country Wild, New River Conservancy, and State Parks joined forces for a Bradford pear removal workday at Naked Creek in the Mount Jefferson Natural Area. Bradford pear trees are considered a highly invasive species – spreading rapidly and choking out native plant species. They provide little to no food for native insects, birds, or other wildlife, harming local ecosystems by reducing biodiversity. This workday was also in preparation for a planting coming up in November at Naked Creek.

October 26, DWS Morehead Montessori Garden Workday: NCWF Durham Wildlife Stewards Chapter helped plant native pollinator plants at Morehead Montessori Magnet Elementary. Volunteers planted native goldenrod, aster, Joe Pye weed, and cutleaf coneflower in the front bed of the school. There were lots of critters in the garden as we planted, including a five-lined skink, beetle grubs (larvae), and ground-nesting bees.

October 26, Invasive Species Removal: NCWF Habitat and Wildlife Keepers chapter spent the morning removing invasive species at Squirrel Lake Park in Matthews. Teenagers from local high schools worked with Chapter leaders to continue working towards control of invasive Chinese Wisteria.

October 26, TCC Tree ID Walk and Seed Collecting: NCWF Tri-County Conservationists Chapter held a tree id walk and seed collection event at Blackwood Farm Park. Participants collected seeds from over eight species of native tree and shrubs including American Holley (Ilex opaca), Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), Hornbeam (Carpinus carolina), and Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana). After they were collected, seeds were sorted, labeled, and packaged up for donation to Project Pando’s native seed hub.

October 27, City of Charlotte Public Forum: Alden attended and spoke at the City Council Public Forum with the Charlotte Wildlife Stewards and the Coalition to Protect Our Urban Nature. In total, over 20 folks attended in support, and 3 others spoke. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles publicly committed to revising the ordinance and updating it. Skip to 45:54 to see me speak. The mayor makes her public commitment at 1:03:15. View Public Forum Recording .

October 28, ecoEXPLORE Fun with Fungi: While it was too rainy and windy to forage for wild mushrooms, NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC Chapter and Tyrrell County Library still came together to host this month’s ecoEXPLORE program centered around mycology. Families learned about how certain species of mushrooms can provide food for both wildlife and people while enjoying a team-building puzzle and dishes prepared with edible mushrooms, such as lion’s mane “crab” cakes. We also celebrated several ecoEXPLORErs receiving badges from past challenges!