North Carolina
Although I’ve been to North Carolina several times I’ve only spent two weekends looking for mammals, a 2016 weekend in Cape Hatteras, and a 2022 visit to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding area.
Alligator River National Wildlife Reserve
Red Wolf, Canis rufus
In February 2022 it took Todd Pusser about 16 hours driving around the Alligator River NWR to find Charles Foley and I one of the last 25 Red Wolves left in the wild. Other species included numerous River Otters, Virginia Opossums, Raccoons, White-tailed Deer, Black Bears, Raccoons, Coypu and a White-footed Mouse. We also saw Bottle-nosed Dolphins off of Nag’s Head.
North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis
Cape Hatteras
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Stenalla frontalis
In August 2016 I spent two days at sea on consecutive Cape Hatteras birdwatching pelagic trips I saw the Atlantic Spotted Dolphins I had hoped for, and a pod of Gervais’ Beaked Whales that I had only dreamt of!
Gervais’ Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon europaeus (photo Kate Sutherland). Note the “Tiger striping”.
Gates County and the Great Dismal Swamp
Golden Mouse, Ochrotomys nuttalli
In February 2022 Charles Foley and I visited Floyd and Signa Williams home near the Great Dismal Swamp. With their, and Todd Pusser’s help, we found Golden Mice, as well as four more common rodents species: White-footed and Cotton Mice, Marsh Rice Rats and Hispid Cotton Rats.
Hispid Cotton Rat, Sigmodon hispidus
Community Reports
Alligator River, 2024: William Henri Lewis, 2 days & 8 species including River Otter, Black Bear and Red Wolf.
Red Wolf (North Carolina) and New England Cottontail (Cape Cod), 2022: Aidan Place’s report of seeing both species this year.
Alligator River NWR, 2022: Greg Easton, 3 days & 4 species including Black Bears and a Red Wolf.
Alligator River NWR and around, 2022: Jon Hall, 3 days & 12 species including Red Wolf, River Otter and Golden Mice.
Cape Hatteras Pelagic, 2016: Jon Hall, 2 days with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins and a Gervais’ Beaked Whale.
Alligator River NWR, (2013): Cheryl Antonucci, 2 days & 4 species including River Otters and Black Bears. But no Red Wolves or Marsh Rabbits.
Also See
RFI Red Wolves in Alligator River, May 2023.
New Trip Reports Arizona, New Mexico and North Carolina (May 2013) with some information – in the comments – on Marsh Rabbits and other species in NC.
RFI Texas and North Carolina (May 2011).
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