| Friends of WNC NC

2012 is the Year of the Red Wolf at the WNC Nature Center! Red Wolves are critically endangered, with only 300 in the world – and only a little over 100 of those left in the wild. The Nature Center is honored to be part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for these native canids, and if you’ve visited us, you’ve probably seen our patriarch wolf, Rufus.

Rufus and Angel were chosen by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to live in Asheville as a breeding pair. They had two litters – one in 2004 with five puppies, and one in 2009 of one puppy. Mayo was the 2009 puppy, and she lives here still as our next generation breeding female. Just this January, Mayo was introduced to her possible future mate, Phoenix. Red wolves selected as breeding pairs are chosen to increase genetic diversity in the population, and to adhere as closely as possible to the pure red wolf strain. In the past, due to dramatically decreased populations, there was some natural hybridization between red wolves and coyotes. It is these hybrid genes conservationalists are working to breed out of the species. The foundation stock for today's red wolf population came from just fourteen pure red wolf individuals.

Mayo and Phoenix live out of the sight of the public in their ‘honeymoon suite’ in hopes that they will raise a family together. If they have puppies, those pups will contribute to the red wolf survival plan, either as potentials to be released into the wild or at one of the other 39 Red Wolf SSP facilities in the United States.

In some ways, red wolves resemble the coyote more than their cousins the gray wolves. They are lean and slender, with short reddish coats and large ears. Their coloration varies from coppery red to dusky gray to dark brown, but the cream markings on the face and legs make them distinct. These beautiful animals were once native to most of the southeast United States, but the only wild population left in the world is in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the coast of North Carolina.

Just like gray wolves, red wolves live and hunt in packs. These packs have a dominant breeding pair, and usually a few other individuals who may be previous litters or subordinate adults. Red wolves are carnivores, and their diet consists of a wide variety of prey – from mice and voles to deer and elk killed by the pack.

The mythology of the wolf often works against it, though most associate lore about ‘big and bad’ wolves with the larger gray wolf. Still, it a struggle against mythos and legend for the red wolf as well. Red wolves are shy creatures, just like the gray wolf, and vital components of a healthy ecosystem in their role as apex predators. Reintroducing the red wolf to its native habitat would not be a danger to human residents, but a boon to the environment. It is the hope of the WNC Nature Center and the Fish and Wildlife Service that one day red wolves will once again be found in the wilderness of western North Carolina. Until then, you have a chance to meet one of these critically endangered canines right here at the Nature Center.

Eastern Box Turtle

Charlie Green has a passion for all turtle species, but he reserves special admiration for the Eastern Box Turtle—and no wonder. Box turtles are a fascinating, beautiful species, and an important part of our state’s natural history. In 1979, the Eastern box turtle was chosen as North Carolina’s state reptile. They are one of the most recognized turtle species in the southeast because they are terrestrial, which means they do not live in water but on the land. This brings them into contact with humans more frequently than water dwelling species, and the box turtle has had both positive and negative repercussions of this proximity.

The box turtle is well admired and appreciated by the public. They are often seen in yards, gardens, and wooded areas, and are welcome additions to the ecosystems. If suitable pockets of habitat exist, a box turtle can survive even in urban areas. Fields and forests alike are home to box turtles, and they prefer a moist environment. As omnivores, they eat just about anything, including poisonous mushrooms! Box turtles spend much of their time buried in the litter of the forest floor, and emerge to feed. In the winter, box turtles hibernate by burrowing, remaining protected from the frost until spring.

They are eye-catching reptiles, with bright yellow markings on their dark shells and on their legs. Their shells are unique, with hinges on the underside that allow the turtle to pull in and close up completely when threatened. Once ‘boxed’ in, their shells are almost impossible to pry open. When they close up, box turtles release the air in their lungs with a hissing sound. This serves not only to frighten whatever is trying to get at them, but also helps them fit better into their own shell. Some captive box turtles or turtles living in plentiful environments become too chubby to close their shells properly!

Identifying the species of a box turtle is not difficult, and if you meet one in the wild, you can quickly identify the gender as well. Male box turtles have bright red or orange eyes, while female box turtles have brown eyes. Young box turtles do not have the bright colors of the adults, and the eyes of baby box turtles will not develop the red or brown coloration for several years. Few people ever see baby box turtles, however, because they spend much of the first years of their life buried, keeping safe from predators until they have developed the hinge in their shell that allows them to ‘box’ closed. When a turtle first hatches, he is hardly larger than a half dollar coin, and can be easy prey to raccoons, birds of prey, foxes, and other predators if he doesn’t stay hidden.

2 month old Eastern Box Turtles. Their shells are marked so they can be distinguished from each other. They will be wintered by a rehabilitator, and then released in the spring.

Many people pick up box turtles and bring them home when they meet them, but if you happen upon a box turtle in the wild, reconsider the temptation to make him a pet! Box turtles can live up to forty years in the wild, and some have been believed to reach over 100 years of age! Besides their exceptional lifespan, box turtles should never be kept as pets because they are vanishing from the wild. Unfortunately, their adaptations to living close to humans has brought the box turtle some trouble as well. Many box turtles are killed as they cross highways. Dogs sometimes catch and chew on box turtles, which, despite the shell, can cause serious injury. Many are also hit by lawnmowers as they hide in the grass. Many rehabilitated box turtles require shell repair from road, dog, or lawnmower damage. Like all turtles, box turtles cannot survive without their shell, an extension of their spine. If the shell of a turtle is damaged, he becomes prone to disease and predators.

So if you meet the gentle box turtle, be sure to take a moment to appreciate him—his beautiful coloration, his fascinating adaptations, and his celebrity status as our state reptile. But leave him be—like all wild animals, he’ll be much happier left where he belongs! If you’d like to meet some box turtles up close, come visit the WNC Nature Center, where unreleasable box turtles are kept in two enclosures—one outdoor, around the turtle pond, and one indoor where you can see them all year round.

Also take a moment to visit the box turtle sculpture in the turtle pond. This artwork was dedicated to Charlie Green for his countless hours of devotion to the box turtle and all their reptilian relatives.

The Striped Skunk

All of our animals have a story. Many of them are rehabilitated from serious injury, and are no longer able to survive on their own. Others were born in captivity and, because they were raised by humans, do not have the skills needed to live in the wild. A few were rescued as orphans. All their stories are different, but one part of each story is the same—none of our animals could be safely released into the wild, which is why they live here with us as ambassadors for the animal kingdom.

Balsam is just such an emissary. Well dressed in black and white pinstripes, a charming sparkle in his dark eyes and a swagger in his step, Balsam has an easy way with people. They just can’t resist that adorable little mug! But Balsam and his extended family don’t always have such an easy time making friends. Striped skunks—like Balsam—and the smaller spotted skunks are both native to this area, but they aren’t always counted among our wildlife gems. Equipped with potent scent glands that can be sprayed at an aggressor, skunks are better known by the aroma they leave behind than by their striking faces. Balsam, however, is doing a fine job at introducing the public to the other side of the skunk!

Balsam came to the WNC Nature Center when he was nine months old. He grew up in the Virginia Living Museum, which had a surplus of striped skunks. The Nature Center has exchanged animals with the Virginia Living Museum in the past, sending one of our coyotes there several years ago when our pack needed thinning. In the same tradition, the Virginia Living Museum donated Balsam to the WNC Nature Center, where he became an education animal.

The education animals have a very special role. Unlike the animals you see in the habitats, the education animals are brought out to meet the public face to face. Creatures like Nibbles the groundhog, who annually predicts when spring will come, and Artemis the barred owl are among Balsam’s coworkers. Balsam and his friends have the important job of bridging the gap between people who may not have an opportunity to see wildlife up close and the animals that share this region with them. Balsam has ‘spoken’ to school groups, volunteers and guests on the grounds. When presenting to the public, Balsam is always accompanied by a handler, and should you ever have the opportunity to meet him, remember to pay close attention to the instructions Balsam’s human partner gives you. Balsam has been descented and is accustomed to human interaction, but he is still a wild animal.

Right now, Balsam, like all the education animals, lives behind the scenes. If you’ve visited us recently, however, you may have noticed some construction happening inside the education barn. That’s the initial stages of Balsam’s Bunk, the new striped skunk habitat! Balsam will have his very own glass fronted enclosure, complete with everything to make a skunk happy. Skunks are crepuscular omnivores—but what does that mean? Crepuscular animals are most active in the dawn and at dusk, which means you are less likely to see them during the day. Skunks hunt for food on the forest floor, using their long claws to dig through the leaf litter. And there isn’t much a skunk won’t eat! Omnivores are animals that will eat both plant and animal matter, including insects. In fact, one of the striped skunk’s favorite snacks is a yellow jacket! Like all striped skunks, Balsam has 36 teeth, and his keepers report that he has a “voracious appetite” appropriate to any growing young omnivore. His new digs will be complete with a well balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables and omnivore pellets.

When you tally up the amazing wildlife that makes Western North Carolina unique, don’t forget one unassuming little gentleman. The striped skunk may be shy, and his reputation for an unpleasant greeting may precede him, but this fascinating little mammal is extraordinary in his adaption. Balsam, like all our native wildlife, is an integral part of what makes Southeast Appalachia one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world—and one part of what makes the WNC Nature such a cool place to visit!

THE COYOTE

Cristina Garcia is right to compare the coyote to the jackal of Africa and Eurasia. In fact, the two species are so alike that the coyote is often called the American Jackal. Both coyotes and jackals are mid-size canines, live in small family units, eat an omnivorous diet and possess very expressive faces and voices. Visitors are often treated to that later characteristic when the Nature Center's local coyotes, Bea and Barney, use their high-pitched barks, howls and yelps to "reply" to emergency vehicles as they drive by on Swannanoa River Road. Their voices can sometimes be heard from the parking lots and beyond.

Coyotes are quite prolific throughout North and Central America and are well adapted to, well… adapting. As we humans change the environment and push out larger predators like wolves and cougars, coyotes have smoothly moved in as hunters and scavengers. Coyotes prefer to eat fresh meat by hunting rabbits, squirrels and other small mammals but will also work in groups to take down deer, scavenge dead carcasses or even sort through human trash for a good meal. Despite this wide diet, and contrary to the Looney Tunes' Wile E. Coyote, coyotes are not known to chase greater roadrunners.

Also unlike Wile E. Coyote, most coyotes aren't solitary animals. Instead coyotes tend to hunt in pairs and live in packs of three to seven related adults. Like wolves, coyotes form a kind of social structure within their packs, with the "alpha" male and female at the top of the hierarchy. Coyotes who are lower on the social ladder display more submissive behavior towards those on top. Here at the Nature Center, visitors can see this behavior in how Bea will usually keep her head low to the ground as a show of difference to Barney, the alpha coyote of their little pack.

For the most part coyotes aren't afraid of humans, which can be seen in how Barney and Bea will curiously approach families as they pay the two a visit. This is great for those two, who were raised by humans and rely on people for food and shelter, but in the wild this causes trouble as coyotes have no problem approaching livestock, trash cans, gardens or even domestic pets for food. In fact, there's even been reports of coyotes in Central Park, right in the heart of New York City!

That doesn't mean that coyotes are evil. They fill an important niche in our environment by hunting a variety of smaller mammals, birds and reptiles that in turn can spread disease or eat human crops. They are also, in the words of Cristina, quite cute. I happen to agree as each time I visit Barney and Bea I am reminded of Molly, my own dog from when I was a child. In fact Molly used to "sing" at sirens the same as Bea and Barney do today!

If you want to meet these two curious canines, and perhaps listen to their musical performance for yourself, than come for a visit to the WNC Nature Center! The two coyote can be found in their new habitat up the hill, just past their canine cousins the gray & red foxes. Afterwards, if you find yourself pining for the cute coyotes, you can choose to make them a part of your own pack through the Friends' Adopt-An-Animal program! Unfortunately you can't take them home, but you will be able to take a plush coyote toy, animal guide and an invitation to our Wild Parents Day. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit!

The River Otter

Barbara isn't the only person to be enchanted by the otters. Everyday Olive & Obi-Wan's aquatic acrobatics bring shouts of amazement, laughter and smiles to the faces of dozens of Nature Center visitors, both young and old! Seeing the otters playing is an experience that everyone can enjoy.

  The WNC Nature Center's otters, Olive & Obi-Wan, aren't just putting on a show for visitors. They are also playing for their own entertainment. The river otter is known for it's playful nature, with young pups--and even adults!--chasing each other throughout the water, sliding down waterfalls or wrestling on dry land. So when playing, Olive & Obi-Wan may be having more fun than the visitors!

Why do otters spend so much time playing when other animals loose that quality as they grow older? Part of the reason is how incredibly efficient otters are at hunting. River otters ambush their prey underwater while swimming at speeds up to almost 7 miles per hour! (To compare, Michael Phelps swims at an average of about 4.5 miles per hour.) That means that river otters don't need to spend as much time hunting and can spend more time playing. They are also very social animals and live together in family units or even groups of unrelated adults.

That social nature is one of the many reasons why the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, thanks to a generous donation by Rennie Habel, funded the construction of Brandon's Otter Falls. This new expansion of the otter exhibit, made in memory of Rennie’s son Brandon Horne, gives Olive & Obi-Wan an entire new level to explore and play in. It also gives the couple more room for when they hopefully create a family of their own.

If you are like Barbara and absolutely love the otters you can even adopt one into your own family! By joining our Adopt-An-Animal program, you can become the Wild Parent of Obi-Wan, Olive or any other animal at the WNC Nature Center. As a wild Parent you can take home a plush animal, a guide to get to know your animal and even be part of our Wild Parents Day!

The Friends of the WNC Nature Center thank you for your support and hope that you will take time to visit the otters & all of the other WNC Nature Center animals!

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