Category: Animals and Wildlife

We Didn’t Start the Fire… or Did We?

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January 11, 2019 8:34 pm

“Remember… Only YOU can prevent forest fires!”

The sound of Smokey Bear’s voice declaring this memorable message of fire prevention still conjures a sense of responsibility in me. Can you hear it? Visualize his furry finger pointing right at YOU? The wildfire prevention campaign began in 1944 and is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history (and is based on a real-life bear)!

Thanks to Smokey, we all know the devastation that fire can bring to any natural area. But, did you know that prescribed fire is an important part of maintaining diverse and healthy ecosystems? Believe it or not, they’re a tool we use right here in Mecklenburg County and I got to tag along for one at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve.

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Animals and Wildlife

Give Snakes a Break

Shannon Calabro

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June 13, 2018 3:08 pm

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word snake? Scary? Slimy? Spooky? Sure, snakes don’t always look as friendly as other wildlife, and certainly there are some species that you don’t want to get close to, but the truth is, snakes really aren’t all that bad once you get to know them!

If you’ve seen more snakes than usual lately, it’s because they are most active during the spring and summer. We know snake sightings can cause some fear and concern though, so we spoke with Park and Rec’s Kristen Haas to learn more about the snakes that call Mecklenburg County home. Today, we explain what you need to know.

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Animals and Wildlife

4 Things to Know if You See a Stray

Shannon Calabro

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March 13, 2018 1:30 pm

Pet owner or not, seeing a stray animal can tug at the heart strings. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear if most of you reading this have tried to help a stray animal before or are trying to right now! (Did you know that Animal Care & Control received 33,781 calls for service in 2017?) But since it’s important to make sure that both you and the animal stay safe in your attempts, we talked with our friends over at CMPD Animal Care & Control to find out what you should do if you come across a stray. Here’s what we learned.

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