No one else has this job in our County government but her! Meet Savannah Simpson, Park and Recreation’s senior aquarist. You may be thinking, what’s an aquarist and how does one become one? We asked Savannah that (plus more), so we’ll let her take it from here.
Continue ReadingNorth Carolina hasn’t had a reported human case of rabies since 1955 thanks to public health efforts and monitoring. We have a team in our Public Health department that actively monitors rabies, a serious viral disease that can be fatal if not treated quickly. Ongoing surveillance by Public Health investigators helps prevent potential exposures and ensures timely treatment for individuals who may have been exposed.
To help keep our community safe, it’s important to be aware of animals that can carry rabies.
Continue ReadingEvery fall, nights grow longer and trees transform into bare skeletons. The witching hour brings eerie sounds from unknown creatures. But Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation nature centers are dispelling myths about nocturnal species and things that go bump in the night.
What do you know about the county’s native creatures that roam in the dark? Let’s look at four often-misunderstood species spotted at night.
Continue ReadingFor about 30 years, volunteers have hunted at Mecklenburg County nature preserves to manage the deer population.
It’s not recreation. It’s a science-based stewardship of local wildlife and the environment.
“We’re taking a biological approach to this,” said Christa Rogers, natural resources manager for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. “We’re making the deer population healthier and making the vegetation and plant population healthier.”
Continue ReadingIt’s August. Summer camps are over. School hasn’t yet started. The weather outside is still fine, and the family is antsy for outdoor activity to help fill the gap. Enter: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation’s Hummingbird Week.
Continue ReadingHere are some words of wisdom: DON’T TOUCH A RACCOON, FOX, BAT OR ANY OTHER WILD ANIMAL. I don’t care if the bat reminds you of a superhero or if the baby raccoon batted its eyes at you.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk rabies. Why? Because somewhere out there, there’s someone who thinks it’s safe to play with these fake friends.
Continue ReadingLet’s all take a moment to slowwwww down. Some of the best places to do that in Mecklenburg County are free. Today, we’re going to focus on our Park and Recreation nature preserves. The County manages more than 7,600 acres of nature preserves, protecting our natural resources. If you’ve never been to one, you’re missing out, but we’re going to give you a little preview.
Continue ReadingGet it? Latta, a lotta?
The real story is not about my bad pun but how many fun activities there are available at Latta Nature Preserve in Huntersville. It’s actually one of my favorite nature preserves in the County. Warning: Siri or Google Maps may try to trick you. When you get there, you want to go through the big gate, not the private drive.
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