The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina

06/15/2026

06/11/2026

SOUND ON! 🔉
What you’re hearing are Red‑cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) chicks chattering happily in their nests.🥹 RCWs are unique because they nest in living, mature longleaf pine trees. As they carve out their cavities, sap from the tree drips down the trunk — you can see it clearly in the video.
That sticky sap is essential for their survival. It creates a natural barrier that helps prevent snakes from climbing the tree and preying on the chicks. These birds really know what they’re doing.
Keep learning about the cool wildlife around you. 🔗 Tap the link to subscribe to our monthly e‑newsletter: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/sign-up-email-newsletter/?en_txn1=s_p.ch_nc.eg.x.North.Carolina.NN

06/09/2026

From a couple of drip torches and meet‑ups in a grocery store parking lot to supporting 50 burns and 20,000 acres each year — our mountains burn crew has grown into a model for how on‑call burn teams can operate at scale.
Dive into our new video, “Lighting a Path.” It traces the decade‑long evolution of this crew, which has paired a people‑centered approach with deep fireline experience, diverse expertise, and a shared passion for good fire. Together, they’ve dramatically increased capacity for prescribed burning across the region.
https://firenetworks.org/manypaths/southern-blue-ridge/

06/08/2026

Explore one of North Carolina’s true natural treasures. Nags Head Woods Preserve is one of the largest remaining maritime forests on the East Coast — a rare woodland shaped by the ocean and home to incredible plants, wildlife, and centuries of history.
Starting June 15, you can explore this special place with one of our expert guides! Guided hikes will take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 a.m. And this year, you’ll also get to visit our brand‑new education space.
Save your spot and let us know you’re coming:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-hikes-nags-head-woods-preserve-tickets-1988001287366

06/03/2026

Have you seen butterworts before? TNC’s Green Swamp Preserve is home to more than 14 species of carnivorous plants, and many of them are blooming this month. It’s one of those North Carolina wonders you don’t want to miss.

Experience a healthy longleaf pine forest managed by fire. In the video, Nathan shows just how quickly these habitats bounce back after a burn — a clear example of how resilient fire‑adapted ecosystems truly are.

Keep learning about how cool our natural world is. Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/sign-up-email-newsletter/?en_txn1=s_p.ch_nc.eg.x.North.Carolina.NN

05/28/2026

Starting in the 1980s, TNC began protecting land along the Roanoke River. Today—after working together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission—more than 95,000 acres on the river are conserved. And protection is only part of the story. For decades, we’ve also focused on restoring the river’s health, its floodplain forests, and the natural processes that make this system so resilient.
Across the watershed, undersized culverts and small dams have fragmented the river, blocking fish migration, disconnecting floodplains, and disrupting natural flows. Working with partners, we’ve completed five restoration projects that replace failing culverts with fish‑friendly bridges, install fish passages, and reconnect floodplains.
The results are already visible: fish returning to historic spawning grounds, improved water quality, and reduced flood risk for surrounding communities.
Keep exploring our restoration sites:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/fish-species-roanoke-river/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

05/26/2026

Humans have built dams for thousands of years to manage water, reduce floods, and power our communities. But as the climate shifts and storms intensify, many aging barriers are becoming safety risks instead of assets.🫨 Warming temperatures are also shifting precipitation from snow to rain, creating more winter runoff when water is a hazard—and longer dry seasons when water is desperately needed.
When barriers can’t handle today’s extreme weather—and cost more to fix than to remove—taking them out can actually protect communities. Barrier removal restores natural river flow, improves water quality, reduces flood risk, and helps people and wildlife adapt to a changing climate.

Learn more about barriers along the Roanoke River: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/fish-species-roanoke-river/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

📸 Fauna Creative

05/23/2026

Happy World Fish Migration Day! Every spring, blueback herring make an incredible journey up the Roanoke River, returning from the Atlantic to the freshwater streams where they were born. These migratory fish are a vital part of the river’s food web — and their annual run is a sign of a healthy, connected river system. Thanks to ongoing restoration work and efforts to reopen migratory pathways, more fish can reach the spawning habitat they depend on.
Keep learning about our restoration work at the Roanoke River:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/fish-species-roanoke-river/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

05/21/2026

North Carolina doesn’t just have a state bird, flower, or dog—we have a state carnivorous plant.😀 The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is iconic for a reason, and it’s one of our state’s true natural treasures, found natively only within about 70 miles of Wilmington.
Across the U.S., there are 66 species of carnivorous plants—and an incredible 36 of them live right here in North Carolina. Longleaf pine savannas and other fire‑dependent forests create the perfect conditions for these species to thrive: acidic, low‑nutrient soils, abundant sunlight, and a high water table. These open longleaf habitats are home to flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, and a whole world of specialized species that depend on these rare ecosystems.
Keep learning about carnivorous plants: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/pitcher-venus-flytrap-carnivorous-plants/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_sou.x.x

05/20/2026

Expanding conservation impact is all about partnership!