North Carolina Wildlife Federation

12/06/2026

Meet the crystal skipper, one of North Carolina’s rarest pollinators.

This tiny butterfly is found only along the Crystal Coast, in a narrow stretch of barrier island habitat from Cape Lookout to the New River.

First recognized as its own species in 2015, the crystal skipper depends on native coastal plants like seaside little bluestem and other nectar-rich flowers to survive.

But habitat loss from coastal development and stronger storms has made its world smaller.

A tiny pollinator with a very specific address, and a good reminder of why protecting habitat matters.

11/06/2026

A few quick FAQs about our native seed packets

▪️What’s in a packet?
Up to 7 varieties of native flowering plants selected to support monarchs and other pollinators, including favorites like milkweed, purple coneflower, and black-eyed Susan.

▪️How much will one packet cover?
Each packet can create up to 25 square feet of pollinator habitat.

▪️When should I plant them?
Seeds are best sown from September through February for spring blooms.

▪️How long do they last?
For best results, plant within one year of purchase.

Grab them here! https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E12185&id=79

09/06/2026

Meet the Appalachian grizzled skipper, one of North Carolina’s lesser-known native pollinators.

This small butterfly, which is federally listed as an "at risk species," calls the mountains home, fluttering through sunny forest edges, clearings, and wildflower-filled open spaces in western NC. It relies on dwarf cinquefoil as its host plant and is surprisingly well camouflaged, blending right into the forest floor when it lands.

Small, quick, and easy to overlook, but an important part of North Carolina’s pollinator story.

08/06/2026

Want to make your yard a little more wildlife-friendly? Start with native plants

Looking for ideas? Here are a few to get you started.

Which native plants are growing in your yard right now? 🌼🐝🦋

05/06/2026

Some pollinators depend on more than flowers.

The Hessel’s hairstreak butterfly relies on Atlantic white cedar forests, a coastal habitat found in North Carolina’s freshwater swamps and pocosins. As these forests have declined over time, so has habitat for the wildlife that depends on them.

Last year, NC Wildlife Federation partnered with Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to help restore this habitat by planting thousands of Atlantic white cedar seedlings across eastern North Carolina.

Restoring habitat like this helps support species like the Hessel’s hairstreak and strengthens coastal ecosystems for years to come. 🦋

04/06/2026

🐻 Curious about living responsibly alongside black bears?

Check out this upcoming BearWise® program hosted by NCWF ReWild AVL and Artemis Sportswomen!

Join North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Artemis, ReWild AVL and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for a conversation on how to prevent conflicts and coexist with bears.

June 11th 7-8:30 pm in Ashville, NC

Springtime means our native black bears become more active and remain so through summer and fall! Join NCWF ReWild AVL Chapter and Artemis Sportswomen at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville for a conversation about BearWise® a national program that shares ways to prevent conflicts with black bears, provides resources to resolve problems with black bears, and encourages community initiatives to keep black bears wild. Learn smart solutions on how homeowners, businesses and communities can coexist with bears.

Our speaker, Ashley Hobbs, is a Special Projects Biologist and BearWise Coordinator for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Register at https://artemis.nwf.org/event/nc-bearwise/
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04/06/2026

What if your yard could help pollinators across North Carolina?

The Butterfly Highway is a statewide habitat restoration initiative connecting gardens, schools, businesses, farms, and community spaces through native plant habitat. Together, this growing network creates places where butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators can find food, shelter, and resources as they move across the landscape.

With more than 30,000 acres of registered habitat so far, the Butterfly Highway is helping restore critical pollinator habitat in areas impacted by development, changing land use, and agriculture.

Whether it’s a backyard garden, patio planter, schoolyard, or community greenspace, every Pollinator Pitstop adds to the map and helps support wildlife in NC.

Take the Pollinator Pledge, register your habitat, or learn more about how to join the Butterfly Highway.

🦋Click here to get started: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E12185&id=79

02/06/2026

Meet the Southern Plains bumble bee 🐝

Fuzzy. Busy. And more important than most people realize.

Found in fields, prairies, and coastal landscapes across eastern North Carolina, this native bee helps pollinate the wildflowers and native plants that keep ecosystems thriving.

But habitat loss and pesticide use have caused populations to decline, and today the Southern Plains bumble bee is facing significant threats—enough to warrant their inclusion on the state’s list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Even a small patch of native flowers can help support pollinators like this one. 🌼

01/06/2026

When you think of pollinators, bees probably come to mind first. Maybe butterflies, too.

But what about moths? Beetles? Flies? Wasps? Even hummingbirds?

Pollinators come in more forms than most people realize, and some of NC's hardest workers are also the easiest to overlook.

This month, we’re celebrating pollinators big, small, fuzzy, fast, and unexpected.

Which lesser-known pollinator surprises you most? 👀

▪️Flies
▪️Beetles
▪️Moths
▪️Wasps
▪️Hummingbirds

30/05/2026

North Carolina Wildlife Federation is proud to support the upcoming Fintastic Fishing Festival with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and partners across the state 🎣

Join the fun on Saturday, June 13 at the Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville for a day of fishing, hands-on activities, outdoor learning, and family fun.

🏆 Kids 15 and under will be entered to win a Unified Sportsman License, provided by NCWF.

Learn more at the link below.

RALEIGH — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and its partners are participating in National Fishing and Boating Week, held the first week of June each year, with events being