Last week, the Southern Blue Ridge Burn Crew (The Nature Conservancy – North Carolina chapter) partnered with the NC Department of Agriculture’s Plant Conservation Program for a controlled burn at their Cedar Mountain Bog. TNC-NC’s Dean Simon was burn boss on this small but very important burn, which went really well!

This December 4-5, 2018 meeting in Richmond, VA is offered at no charge to bog turtle partners. See draft agenda: BT Meeting Draft Agenda 09.26.18 To register:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC7iIaceWytheSs1MzyNwU3DvfdLpp-buf2dyCDhwNM-KcFg/viewform To reserve a hotel room, make your reservation by November 3 to get the discounted rate. Be sure to tell them you are with the Bog Turtle…

We came across this article recently and thought it was worth reiterating the importance of concealing wetland locations.  

  Endangered Bog turtles exist in southern Appalachian mountain bogs. These wetlands are incredibly rare and increasing isolated on the landscape. Thankfully, The Nature Conservancy has acquired and actively manages several of these wetlands for rare plants and animals, including the small and secretive bog turtle.  Mark-recapture data and population level analyses suggest that many…

Last week, USFWS and TNC teamed up to do survey green pitcher plants (Sarracenia oreophila) at the only remaining Low Mountain Seepage Bogs in western North Carolina.  We’ve been observing population trends for this species since TNC acquired the site in the late 1980’s and started a controlled burning interval of once every 2-3 years. …

Great new article appearing in The Transylvania Times by BLN Member, Owen Carson.  Nice job Owen!    

Lesley Starke, Plant Ecologist for the NC Plant Conservation Program, shared this report with highlights about protection efforts, volunteer opportunities and events, and management activities.  Check it out: 2017 PCP Year in Review

I’ve been giving more and more talks lately and I came across a couple articles the other  are really spot on so I thought I would share.  The first is by Marshall Shepherd, written for Forbes.com, while the latter is a handout from Will Ratcliff, a Georgia Tech Professor of Biology. 2016 (Shepherd) 9 Tips…

With last week’s surprise snow and this week’s blast of arctic air, let’s have some fun looking back at Fall 2017 workday activities: On November 1st, a dedicated team of bog enthusiasts conducted hardwood management and invasive species control in Henderson County, led by Gabrielle Graeter of NCWRC and David Lee of Conserving Carolina.  This…

Dan Chapman, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Atlanta, recently highlighted mountain bogs of North Carolina in this story about the Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge, complete with maps and photos.  Enjoy!

Check out this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southern Appalachian Creature Feature podcast and transcript.

Sunday July 30th is International Bog Day and our friends at the NC Plant Conservation Program are hosting a volunteer workday and butterfly count in Hendersonville, NC to celebrate. They’re looking for folks to help with invasive plant control— focusing on Chinese privet– in a shaded mountain bog preserve, as well as a couple more…