Whether you believe there will be six more weeks of winter or not, now that our friend Punxsutawney Phil has emerged from his underground hide-out and been confronted by his shadow, we should consider that at some point the weather will become warm once again and the landscape will change from dull browns and greys to numerous shades of greens and blooms of all shapes and sizes! If you want to catch the full experience spring has to offer, I’ve discovered a few places across North Carolina that may be a little something different than watching the songbirds in your backyard.
“When it comes to wildlife I love being right in the middle of it all.” – Chris Douglas
North Carolina is blessed with an amazing array of flora and fauna. When it comes to wildlife I love being right in the middle of it all where I can witness their mating rituals. It’s fascinating and to see them is to peer back in time as these processes are ancient. I find it an honor to watch a strutting male turkey with his thunderous gobble and fan and wing feathers fully extended in display to his hens or the explosive schools of spawning striped bass marauding herring just under the water.
If you have a desire to see such things for yourself then here are a few places I’d recommend to visit this spring that may just become an annual pilgrimage for you.
Lake Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge
Long known for hosting most every species of waterfowl that graces the eastern flyway, the Lake Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge is easily accessed during the spring and is a fantastic place to see and photograph birds enroute to their breeding grounds in the North. There are other birds besides waterfowl that visit here but you can see swans, wood ducks, shovelers, Northern pintails, Coots, Gadwall, Widgeon, mallards and many other ducks and songbirds in their best and most colorful plumage as they’re preparing to compete with others for the right to breed and carry on their genetics to the next generation.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Along the eastern reaches of Highway 64 lies the 152,000 acre Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. This massive expanse of wetlands holds a strong population of Black Bear, deer, and the rare Red Wolf! Visitors can travel by car along the well maintained roads but make sure you bring a good pair of binoculars as there are large expanses of open ground and agriculture fields. The best time to see animals is in the mornings and afternoons but critters could be out and about most any time of the day. Although the red wolves are a treat to see, there’s nothing like watching a 600 pound plus black bear amble out of the canal in front of you! It’s truly a sight to behold!
Roanoke River
Beginning on the eastern edge of the Appalachians, coursing through Virginia and North Carolina and terminating in the Albemarle Sound, The Roanoke River is an extremely popular fishing destination. In the Spring, thousands of striped bass utilize this river annually as a major spawning route. Anglers can start catching fish in late January, from the mouth of the river all the way to the Roanoke Rapids in May. Known locally as “Rockfish”. Stripers put on an exceptional fight and can be caught with an assortment of lures and live baits. “100 fish days” are not out of the ordinary and fish reaching up to 10 pounds or more can be caught! My recommendation is to hire a guide as the area is vast and finding a hungry school can be a daunting task! The best times are from February to May. With the latest regulations implemented, you can’t keep any of the fish you catch but the experience is worth the ride and lodging! Visit ncwildlife.org for more information.
