2014 OUR COAST COME JOIN US WWW.NCCOAST.ORG We here at the N.C. Coastal Federation don’t view our coast as a museum artifact under glass — something to be viewed but not touched. It’s far too important for that. We want people to enjoy the beauty of our these places we love remain for those who used, and most importantly, to be protected coast, the way we do. We want you to join us — come after us. and restored. to marvel at its magnificent sunsets, to eat the This Our Coast offers a few ways to do this. The philosophy behind Our Coast is simple. bounty that its waters provide. We want you to Yes, it’s a travel guide of sorts, but it’s not like We believe the more you cherish and use our paddle down a quiet river, boat out to offshore the dozens of others that you can pick up this coast, the more invested you become in helping fishing grounds or hike through a stately summer in stands from Corolla to Calabash. We us keep it healthy and spectacular. Our work longleaf pine forest, looking for birds, alligators like to call it a travel guide with a conscience. provides great opportunities for you to help or even a bear. We also want people to make Our Coast is about some of the most our coast, and if you agree, we hope you’ll jump their livings off our coast. dynamic, productive and beautiful places aboard and join us in our efforts. But we hope that we will all do these things on earth that are not far from where you responsibly, in ways that don’t threaten our are probably reading this today. The places coast’s natural health and productivity. We also highlighted aren’t just for tourists or for local hope we can all work together to make sure residents. They belong to all of us to be loved, — Executive Director NCCF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Business Manager Jo Ann Marsh: [email protected] President Dick Bierly – Morehead City Program & Policy Analyst Ana Zivanovic-Nenadovic: [email protected] Vice President Lauren Hermley – Beaufort Treasurer David M. Paynter – Wilmington Assistant Editor & Staff Writer Tess Malijenovsky [email protected] Secretary Dr. Joseph Ramus – Beaufort Development Officer Sarah King: [email protected] Allison Besch, Hillsborough; Peggy Birkemeier, Kitty Hawk; Veronica To provide people and groups with the assistance needed Administrative Assistants Rose Rundell: [email protected] Carter, Leland; Sandie Cecelski, Wilmington; April Clark, Swansboro; Emily Farmer: [email protected] to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s Sterling Edmonds, Greenville; Donald E. Ensley, Greenville; Mac Gibbs, Northeast coastal water quality and natural resources. Englehard; Ernie Foster, Hatteras; James Barrie Gaskill, Ocracoke; Bill Hunneke, Greenville; Olivia Holding, Raleigh; Mary Hunter Martin, Coastal Scientist Erin Fleckenstein: [email protected] [email protected] • www.nccoast.org Raleigh; Randy Mason, Emerald Isle; Katherine McGlade, Hatteras; Coastal Education Coordinator Sara Hallas: [email protected] Rich Peruggi, Bolivia; Lewis Piner, Wendell; John Runkle, Chapel Hill; Coastal Advocate Ladd Bayliss: [email protected] CENTRAL OFFICE: 3609 Highway 24 (Ocean), Newport, NC 28570 Allie Sheffield, Surf City; Melvin Shepard, Jr., Sneads Ferry; Bland Central phone: 252-393-8185 • fax: 252-393-7508 Simpson, Chapel Hill; Donna Snead, Emerald Isle; Maria Townsend, Coastal Scientist Dr. Lexia Weaver: [email protected] Our offices, nature library and shop are open Monday through Friday, Swansboro; Doug Wakeman, Pittsboro; Sarah Williams, Swansboro; Coastal Education Coordinator Rachel Bisesi: [email protected] 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Angie Wills, Elizabeth City Jones Island Manager Sam Bland: [email protected] NORTHEAST OFFICE: 128 Grenville Street, Manteo, NC 27954 STAFF phone: 252-473-1607 Headquarters Southeast Executive Director Todd Miller: [email protected] Senior Coastal Scientist Tracy Skrabal: [email protected] SOUTHEAST OFFICE: 309 W. Salisbury Street, Deputy Director Lauren Kolodij: [email protected] Coastal Education Coordinator Ted Wilgis: [email protected] Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 • phone: 910-509-2838 Assistant Director Christine Miller: [email protected] Coastal Advocate Mike Giles: [email protected] Assistant Director Frank Tursi: [email protected] Outreach Coordinator Graduate Fellow Caitie Ford-Smith DESIGN: 8 Dot Graphics Development Director Sally Steele: [email protected] [email protected] COVER PHOTO: © Sam Bland Director of Operations Rachael Carlyle: [email protected] STAN Graduate Fellow Jessica Gray: [email protected] WE NEED “We love the coast: YOUR it’s a truly wondrous place to visit, to live, to work, to play. If you do, FACE too, we have a bond even though we may not know each other yet. This is an invitation to you, right here, right now: Please join us. Come spend some time with us on the coast.” —TODD MILLER, N.C. COASTAL FEDERATION FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THESE ARE THE FACES OF SOME OF We hope you will add your face to the coast. Protect coastal lands to expand access OUR 10,000+ MEMBERS. They are Please join today at www.nccoast.org or call to the water — for swimming, kayaking, fishing and more fishermen, teachers, students, small 252-393-8185. business owners, homemakers, Who We Are & Where We Work Restore wetlands and other coastal scientists, politicians — even a belly For more than 30 years, the N. C. Coastal habitats — very important for tasty dancer. You see, we find that everyone Federation has joined people like you to local seafood who loves the coast and its treasures safeguard the coastal rivers, creeks, sounds and Advocate for better coastal rules, laws, wants to keep our coast healthy beaches we love. We’re the state’s only nonprofit programs and enforcement and beautiful. The reason that the organization focused exclusively on protecting federation exists is that the more and restoring the coast of North Carolina Promote low impact development as people are involved in the management through education, advocacy, and habitat something anyone can do to help preservation and restoration. With three fully- of North Carolina’s coast, the better staffed offices in Manteo, Ocean and Wrightsville Get students, decision-makers and the it will be, for all of us. And one of the Beach, we work where we live. Over these three public out on the water to see what it’s easiest ways you can be involved is by decades we’ve worked to: all about joining the N.C. Coastal Federation. 10 REASONS Why You’ll Want To Join Today You Will... Save money – You’ll get discounts and Gain access to expertise – Our staff of special offers from our Business Friends 23 professionals is located up and down – Celebrate the coast with us. 4 8 Have fun and free or discounted federation events. the coast. Call or email us when you have You’ll receive our annual calendar of 1 questions. events, full of special happenings up and Make new friends – Join us for a field down the coast. We also bring the coast 5 trip, a workshop or an event and you’ll Help educate others – We engage inland from time to time. meet like-minded people. 9 thousands of students in learning about the coast. Your dues help provide these – Ever wonder how you build a Have a voice – Our advocates and Learn programs. 2 rain garden, an oyster reef or a living 6 lobbyists represent you and the coast’s shoreline? You’ll have opportunities to learn best interests. Feel good – Your donation will be put to work at one of the state’s most through unique, hands-on experiences. Help protect and restore habitats and 10 efficient nonprofit organizations. For every – Stay up-to-date on water quality – We’ve already saved more Be better informed 7 $1 donated, 95 cents goes directly coastal issues through daily, online news than 50,000 acres along our coast. We’ll put 3 to our program work. stories, monthly electronic newsletters and your membership dues to work. Our Coast magazine. join us: SCAN OR VISIT NCCOAST.ORG NORTHEAST COAST bear fur on the top wire and fur from smaller Take a Drive to See Bears mammals like raccoons on the lower wire. The animals have habits and trails they BY CORINNE SAUNDERS usually follow, Hankins said. The study will help determine where to build underpasses or other EAST LAKE – The caravan of cars wound its way through the wilds of Dare crossings for wildlife if the road is widened. County as dusk approached. The drivers hailed from Maine and Connecticut, It was time to look for bears. A refuge truck Texas and Ohio, Virginia and Manteo. They had all come to see bears. led the way and another brought up the rear. Participants drove in their own vehicles on the The folks at the Alligator River National coming toward people, it is not good for either gravel roads of the refuge. Wildlife Refuge provide that opportunity with species, she said. The evening was quiet, with only the slow their free Bear Necessities program each “Our bears are mostly herbivores,” Hankins crunching of gravel as the main background Wednesday through August. Participants meet said, explaining that they eat berries, grubs, noise. Layers of light gray clouds rolled into the at the parking lot of the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail roots and insects. “They’re not like our red formerly sunny sky. at U.S. 64 and Milltail Road in East Lake. wolves that will go attack a deer.” Horseflies and deer flies, attracted to Before taking off in search of black bears, A large mounted black bear skin was moving objects and carbon dioxide, bumped the group was met there by Kate Hankins, an draped over the “DO NOT FEED OR DISTURB into the vehicles repeatedly, often hitching a intern with the U.S.