Species Research

Conservation Initiatives

Campaigns

Outreach

Get Out There!

Species Research

In the fall of 2007, Wild South hosted a brook trout summit on the campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical College. The event brought together over sixty participants representing state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, anglers, and private landowners all with a stake in protecting the remaining brook trout habitat. Its goal was to create a forum for discussion to determine how collaboration could occur to preserve and restore this imperiled species across its range in western North Carolina. The summit ultimately spurred the creation of a Brook Trout Certification Program that publicly recognizes landowners that actively work to protect native brook trout.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Conservation

Wild South is working to research and survey Southern Appalachian yellow-bellied sapsucker (YBSA) populations. This work will provide understanding of this species’ sensitivity to forest fragmentation and various silvicultural practices as this is important for conserving future populations. Additional information on the breeding distribution of the Southern Appalachian YBSA would help to answer questions about how to best conserve this unique species.

Hellbender Conservation

Recently, Wild South joined the NCWRC and others in search of hellbenders in the Tuckaseegee River. These surveys yielded more than a dozen hellbenders. The purpose of these surveys is to document where hellbenders occur and to collect data on the quality of their habitats and the status of their populations.
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Cerulean Warbler Conservation

At Wild South, we are working to survey public lands for the presence of the warbler. Informing the USFS with the data, commenting on their logging practices, and providing alternative management strategies to protect the species habitat. Providing education and public awareness on the species. We also work to monitor known populations in order to determine how recent USFS logging operations have affected the species.

Alleghany Woodrat Conservation

Wild South has been working with the USFS to ensure that timber sales and management projects do not impact woodrats in NC. We accomplish this goal by surveying woodrat habitat and monitoring known populations in and around potential logging sites.
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Green Salamander Conservation

Here at Wild South, we are working with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission monitoring local populations while also working to survey new sites for potential populations. This information will be crucial in determining where this species should be protected and how the surrounding lands should be managed. Wild South has also played a pivotal role in funding research on the green salamander’s secretive arboreal lives, helping prove the species’ use of trees for both foraging habitat and cover.