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A Carolinas Nature Experience Wishlist: Part 1

© Stephen Strother

My mind often turns to those unique nature experiences in the Carolinas that I have yet to witness. Though I am a lover of nature and also of North and South Carolina history I realize that there are thousands of Carolinas nature experiences that I have not had. These range from things as simple as watching a loon swim in the Pamlico Sound to things as daring as hang gliding off the cliffs of Grandfather Mountain. There are so many nature experiences to be had in the Carolinas (and in any state, province, or country for that matter) that no one person could possibly experience them all in a lifetime. In this article (and several others to be published later in this series) I present my wish list of those most rare and unique Carolina nature experiences that I most look forward to someday witnessing.

Wolf Howl Excursion, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, NC

Several years ago red wolves (a species previously extinct in North Carolina) were reintroduced into the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. Though it is hard to find information about viewing these wonderful animals, I did discover that the North Carolina Nature Conservancy does offer a Wolf Howl Excursion on occasional nights throughout the year. In modern movies the wolf howl is usually used to evoke a feeling of mystery, loneliness, or vulnerability. For me though it would be a magical experience to hear the howl of a wolf, signifying the miracle of this creature's rebirth into a land it had been forced from long ago.

Loggerhead Turtle Nesting Experience - Various Locations, NC and SC Beaches

As with so many other sea turtles (and other marine life) the loggerhead turtle is a threatened species. Coastal development has taken away much of the loggerhead's nesting grounds. Luckily in North and South Carolina there are some beaches that are protected as national or state seashores and therefore development is not allowed. Loggerheads that are lucky enough to find these beaches at least have a chance to help their species survive. In fact, human volunteers even try to help by insuring that female loggerheads can come ashore safely, that they lay there eggs in safe locations (and if not they often move the nests to insure better hatching results), and that the young turtle hatchlings that emerge later in the summer at least make it to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean safely. It was actually an article about the observation of loggerhead turtle nesting that first inspired me to start writing about nature. It would be a thrill to witness a female loggerhead continuing the ancient tradition of laying eggs on the shores of North Carolina's Outer Banks and even more amazing to come back later to help her young make it safely into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

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