outdoors
Biological foundation continues lecture series Join the Highlands Biological Foundation (HBF) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, for the next installment of their annual Zahner Conservation Lecture Series. This free program will feature Dr. Rob Young, Director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shoreline at Western Carolina University, as he presents “Managing the Coastal Zone in a Changing
Smoky Mountain News
July 20-26, 2022
Climate: Everything We Are Doing Is Wrong”. In this presentation, Coastal Geologist Rob Young will explore how climate change is impacting the coastal environment and coastal development in the USA. He will also discuss the grand failure of government at all levels to act on the crisis in an organized and sensible way. Instead, we have disorganized programs that cost taxpayers billions while failing to address community vulnerability and degrading the coastal environment.
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Dr. Young is a Professor of Coastal Geology at Western Carolina University and a licensed professional geologist in three states (FL, NC, SC). He received a BS degree in Geology (Phi Beta Kappa) from the College of William & Mary, a MS degree in Quaternary Studies from the University of Maine, and a PhD in Geology from Duke University, where he was a James B. Duke Distinguished Doctoral Fellow. Dr. Young has approximately 100 technical publications, serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Coastal Research and Environmental Geosciences, and is a frequent contributor to popular media outlets like the New York Times, USA Today, Architectural Record, the Houston Chronicle, and the Raleigh News and Observer, among others. He currently oversees more than $3.5 Million in grant-funded research projects related to coastal science and management. This program is generously sponsored by Karen Patterson. All are invited to participate in HBF’s free Zahner lectures which will be held at the Highlands Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Road) on Thursday evenings through Sept. 8. To preview HBF’s full Zahner lecture lineup, please visit www.highlandsbiological.org. The Highlands Nature Center is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of WCU.
An international contingent of gardening enthusiasts will converge in Jackson County. WCU photo
Native plant conference returns to WCU campus Western Carolina University will host the annual Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, bringing an international contingent of botanists and gardening enthusiasts to campus, beginning Wednesday, July 20, through Saturday, July 23. The public is welcome to attend at no charge all Saturday programs and events, to be held at WCU’s Ramsey Regional Activity Center, with a plant sale and vendor booths from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Presentations include Katie Davis from 9 to 9:30 a.m. on “Plants of Promise,” followed by Denisha Carly and Anne Spafford with “Let’s Talk Pollinator Gardening: Plan, Plant and Maintain Successful and Beautiful Pollinator Gardens” from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. and Shelby Jackson’s “Great Native Plants for the Home Garden” at 11 to 11:45 a.m. Paid conference events are already at capacity, with registration closed. The conference is designed to increase interest in
and knowledge of propagating and preserving native Southeastern plant species in the landscape, and includes regional field trips by vehicle, hikes and canoe, workshops and presentations. Speakers and topics scheduled include Kim Eierman on reducing pollinator decline with ecological gardening; Emily Driskill on propagation methods for native plant species; and Tommy Cabe and David Anderson on Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians native plant restoration. Participants typically include landscape architects, commercial nursery operators, garden club members, botanists, horticulturists from state highway departments, universities, native plant societies, botanical gardens and arboretums. The agenda allows for informal sessions to exchange ideas, network and share materials. For more information, go to nativeplants.wcu.edu or call 828.227.7397.
Deer hunting webinars offered in August
The “Introduction to Deer Hunting” webinar will cover whitetail habits and habitats, scouting techniques, essential equipment, tree stand safety, effective shot placement, tracking techniques and field dressing. The “Practical Deer Processing: From Field to Freezer” webinar will focus on field dressing, skinning, safe meat handling and basic home processing. Chronic Wasting Disease, which was detected for the first time in North Carolina in a deer harvested in Yadkinville last season, will also be discussed as it relates to new regulations in Yadkin County and surrounding areas. Pre-registration for the webinars is required at ncwildlife.org/sbs. A recording of the presentation will be available to all registrants at a later date. For additional information, contact Walter “Deet” James at walter.james@ncwildlife.org (preferred), 919.707.0059 (office) or 984.202.1387 (mobile). The 2022-23 deer season dates are available on the agency’s website.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Wildlife Federation will offer two free online hunting-related webinars in August. “Introduction to Deer Hunting” will be held on Aug. 9, and “Practical Deer Processing: From Field to Freezer” will be held on Aug. 11. Both classes will run from 7 to 8 p.m. and are open to anyone interested, especially individuals who have never hunted, are new to hunting or lack social support for hunting. “Both webinars are intended to assist novice hunters for the upcoming white-tailed deer season, which opens Sept. 10,” said Walter “Deet” James, the hunter engagement coordinator at the Wildlife Commission. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for people who may not have access to an existing hunting community of family members and friends. Each session will be followed by a question and answer session led by agency staff and volunteers.”
