WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

July 27, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 30

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION[2]

North Carolina’s forest management program is primarily focused on wildlife. From beaver and deer management to the Safe Harbor Program for North Carolina’s Red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW), the state’s partnership with private landowners ensures safe wildlife habitats.

Nearly 500,000 beavers feed primarily on tree bark, with an occasional affinity for corn. Beavers were an important part of North Carolina’s fur trade until well into the 1800s, nearly leading to their extinction. Restocking efforts began in the 1930s with beavers from Pennsylvania. Known as kits in their first year and yearlings in their second year, their myoglobin provides significant oxygen, allowing them to remain submerged in water for up to 15 minutes. With a powerful tail serving as a balancing prop, it also serves as a warning signal when slapped against the water.

With nearly a million deer throughout their state, their habitats include areas near creeks and rivers, farms, and pine forests. Deer management is critical to the state’s land management program, with Orange County home to more than fifty deer per square mile. Although wild deer can live up to 16 years, the average lifespan is approximately three years, with few rarely surviving more than a decade.

Once an endangered species, the RCW is now threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. They prefer pine forests and feed primarily on ants, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Females lay three to four eggs at a time.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Find the answers to the following questions about Orange County: 1) How many Indian tribes existed in 1752? 2) Why is it called Orange County? 3) What other wildlife is prevalent in the area? 4) Is the county home to a university?

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: North Carolina Wildlife Resource Coalition, www.ncwildlife.gov; Eager Beavers; The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, YouTube, 2023; https://www.organgecountync.gov.