Story Ideas
Natural
Partnership
There’s a new “first” in one of
North Carolina’s least populated
counties. Since Tyrrell County
has such an abundance of natural
attractions, our local
businesses, government agencies,
non-profits and concerned
citizens decided that it was
just natural for them to work
together to promote and protect
the county’s wild side—and
develop a new economic base.
It’s the state’s first
partnership of its kind… and it
could be a model. Learn
more about the diversity, goals
and partnering success of The
Tyrrell County Ecotourism
Committee. Contact Jill
Simonetti at (919) 967-2223 ext.
9 or email
jsimonetti@conservationfund.org.
The
Wild Side
Don’t let the quiet fool you.
This place is absolutely wild!
Thousands of visitors travel
U.S. Hwy 64 each year on their
way to and from the busy Outer
Banks. Without a clue, they
hurry through some of North
Carolina’s most wild territory.
 This
area of eastern North Carolina
is the only place in the world
with mainland populations of red
wolves in the wild. The Red
Wolf Recovery Program is a
reintroduction first— attempting
to restore a carnivore declared
extinct in the wild to a portion
of its former range. Take part
in a Howling Safari and enjoy
the rare opportunity to hear the
harmonious calls of red wolves.
Who knows? One may even answer
your call of the wild!
Get the fascinating story of
this recovery program and its
potential for Tyrrell
County.
 The
largest population of the
endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker surviving on private
land in North Carolina is found
on Palmetto-Peartree Preserve.
The preserve features 10,000
acres that serve as a mitigation
bank for the rare bird. Other
wildlife found here includes the
bald eagle, peregrine falcon,
red wolf, black bear, bobcat,
and more than 100 migratory bird
species. And you’ll find a
growing number of activities
available for people,
too! The Conservation Fund is
developing the preserve as a
public park for recreation,
environmental education, and
economic development.
The Emily and Richardson
Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve
covers more than 27,000
 acres,
making it the largest single
property in the Coastal Reserve
and its first inland
site. Located between the
Alligator River and Pocosin
Lakes National Wildlife Refuges,
the Reserve is part of the East
Dismal Swamp. This site
maintains habitat for special
concern, rare or endangered
species. They include the red
wolf, bald eagle, red-cockaded
woodpecker, Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeons and American
alligator. High priority
neotropical migrants that are
dependent on
southeastern-forested wetlands
of the coastal plain are the
black-throated green warbler,
Swainson’s warbler and
prothonotary warbler.
 Enjoy
outstanding Native American and
archeological programs at
Pettigrew State Park or learn
more about the Scuppernong grape.
Hike or bike along the carriage
trail, through the cypress and study
the local plantation history.
Explore the carnivorous plant area.
Boating, camping, fishing,
picnicking, and photography are
popular activities here. Educational
materials have been developed for
grades 4-8 and are correlated to
North Carolina's competency-based
curriculum in science, social
studies, mathematics and
English/language arts.
 Walk
the unique Scuppernong River
Interpretive Boardwalk at
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife
Refuge, designated a National
Recreation Trail. In only three
quarters of a mile you can
experience a wetland habitat with
unique plants and wildlife and use
the same walkway to reach
downtown Columbia with its
waterfront heritage. Take part in a
workshop or other event. Use the
refuge’s outdoor classroom;
photograph the plants and animals,
or plan fishing or hunting
 expeditions.
At the Walter B. Jones Center for
the Sounds, explore on your own,
visit the exhibits and gift shop or
view a 12-minute video film.
Tyrrell County is the home of the
state’s second-largest natural lake,
the largest Atlantic white cedar
trees in the state (probably, in the
nation), and some of the biggest
black bears in North Carolina.
You’ll find bears, bobcats, tundra
swans, snow geese, ducks, silky
camellias, wood lilies…the list goes
on. With 85% of the county
classified as wetlands and over a
third of the county in natural
areas, parks and preserves, getting
close to the wild side is easy.
There are plenty of places and ways
to experience the wild side in
Tyrrell County.
A Youth
Center for All Ages
Groups of young, old & in-between
find outstanding facilities for
custom-designed workshops,
environmental education and outdoor
learning fun at the Eastern 4H
Environmental and Conference Center
on Bull Bay, just outside
Columbia, NC. This exciting facility
is a first in the area!
Features include indoor and outdoor
classrooms, environmental and
outdoor education; team
challenge/high ropes courses, as
well as comfortable lodging and
bayside dining facilities. The
facility accommodates cultural and
other workshops easily, too.
Its location—only 45 minutes from
the Outer Banks—makes it an ideal
base for taking in a rich diversity
of natural areas and historical
sites. Just a short distance from
the Center you can touch ancient
archeological findings at Pettigrew
State Park. Study a newly collected
specimen from the bay under a
microscope. Get up close and
personal with native and non-native
species of reptiles and amphibians.
The Center becomes a great hub for
regional field trips as well as a
time-saver when combining trips with
effective on-site programming. Even
groups traveling to the Outer Banks
can schedule a stop at Columbia for
a tour or program, or plan a day
trip to get away from the busy beach
crowds.
Gator
Country
 You
might not think of northeastern
North Carolina as gator country, but
it is…and was even before the
earliest colonial expeditions.
Alligators were nearly hunted out of
existence due to the value of their
skins and the perceived threat to
humans. This is the northernmost
part of their range, however, and
seeing one of the wary creatures is
a real treat. Alligators in North
Carolina live in the fresher parts
of coastal estuary systems, usually
in the sluggish, dark-colored water
of smaller streams and canals. They
are protected by law now, which has
given some stability to their
populations. Mature alligators in
this habitat reach about 6 feet in
length but a rare few have grown to
13 feet. To survive in this climate,
they dig dens which are usually
accessed below the waterline and
which offer shelter from the extreme
heat and cold.
According to experts, alligators are
not a threat to humans unless they
perceive you as a threat to their
young, unless they are injured, or
unless they have been fed by humans
and are looking for food.
Gators may be unusual “natives” but
they’re just one more feature of
Tyrrell County’s wild side! |
