Photo by: Christopher Austin

Habitat Conservation in North Carolina

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Habitat News & Blog

January 8, Watauga River Planting: NCWF High Country Wild in partnership with MountainTrue planted 5,500 livestakes at Valle Crucis Community Park along the Watauga River and Dutch Creek with 2,600 of the plants made possible through the National Wildlife Federation's Trees for Wildlife Program. We planted a variety of species including silky willow, black willow, silky dogwood, and elderberry. Valle Crucis Community Park contains riparian forest, wetland, and meadow habitat which supports a mosaic of wildlife. The park is a staple in the community and a popular gathering place for locals to play music, share a picnic, flyfish, bird watch, and enjoy the solitude that only nature can provide. The park took a big hit during Hurricane Helene with trees uprooted and riverbanks left bare of vegetation. Planting these native trees is an effort to increase biodiversity, enhance wildlife habitat, reduce erosion, and ensure that generations to come can enjoy the natural beauty of Valle Crucis Community Park.

NCWF In The Field – January, 2026

January 30, 2026

Daniel Stowe

Digging Deeper for Pollinators: NCWF’s Butterfly Highway Seed Trials

January 26, 2026

December 6, TW Uwharrie Hike: NCWF Triad Wild Chapter went on a guided hike at Little Long Mountain in Uwharrie National Forest. Participants were treated to a hike led by biologists from the National Forest Service. The hike leaders stopped to identify local flora and fauna as they walked while also discussing land management strategies such as prescribed burning

NCWF In The Field – December, 2025

January 4, 2026

November 22, Atlantic White Cedar Tree Planting: In partnership with Apex Clean Energy and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, NCWF and NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC teamed up for this large-scale Atlantic white cedar habitat restoration project! Earlier in November, over 30,000 seedlings were planted by contractors, and on the 22nd, volunteers from across the Albemarle-Pamlico peninsula came together to plant over 350 seedlings by hand in an afternoon of community and grassroots conservation

NCWF In The Field – November, 2025

December 2, 2025

Photo: Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) by Ryan Imperio, NCWF 2025 Photo Contest Winner

Wild Connections – NCWF’s 2025 Year in Review

November 25, 2025

chimney swift

Eyes to the Sky – Building Chimney Swift Towers in Coastal North Carolina

November 11, 2025

Photo: Pine warbler (Setophaga pinus) by Keith Benton, NCWF Photo Contest Submission

Wild Bird Essentials: How to Provide Birds with Shelter, Food, and Water

November 2, 2025

White throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicolli)

Birdwatching Essentials: Your Guide to Birding Success in Cities, Suburbs, and Countrysides

November 2, 2025

NCWF In The Field – October, 2025

October 31, 2025

September 29, Autumn Elk Adventure: NCWF Habitat and Wildlife Keepers chapter chartered a bus and took over 40 wildlife enthusiasts to witness the beauty of elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The group stopped for lunch in the charming town of Sylva before heading to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to meet with Cherokee Nation Wildlife Biologist Dr. Caleb Hickman for a chance to see the bugling of elk during rutting season.

NCWF In The Field – September, 2025

September 30, 2025

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