N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Holds Wildlife Expo

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 19, 2008) – Kids and their families can connect with nature, test their outdoor skills, learn about wildlife conservation and win some great prizes at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Wildlife Expo.

The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27 at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, located at 7489 Raeford Road in Fayetteville.

The Wildlife Expo is being held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day and features more than 14 activities and exhibits that highlight fishing, hunting and wildlife conservation. Most of the activities are interactive and hands-on, designed to encourage participation from visitors, regardless of skill level. A few of the activities include:

Expo visitors can test their bow-and-arrow shooting skills at the N.C. Bowhunters Association’s archery range, learn about North Carolina’s hunting heritage from Commission biologists, and get a birds-eye view of a few native raptors, such as a red-shouldered hawk, a great horned owl and a barn owl, courtesy of the American Wildlife Refuge in Rolesville.

At the reptile and amphibian exhibits, visitors can see live frogs, toads and snakes, listen to frog calls and learn about the ecological importance of these underappreciated animals. At the honeybee exhibit, visitors can learn about the fascinating world of honeybees and the skills needed to be a beekeeper.

The Sensory Safari, a 36-foot, kid-friendly wildlife exhibit-on-wheels, will give expo visitors the opportunity to learn about North Carolina’s wildlife by listening to the sounds of birds, seeing animal mounts and handling pelts of some common mammals.

Participants 16 years old and younger who visit all exhibits and fill out a “wildlife passport” are entered into a prize drawing, which will be held at 1 p.m. Prizes include fishing equipment, gift certificates to Tarheel Fish and Game, and a grand prize of a lifetime sportsman’s license, valued at $550. All participants also receive a free Fish-for-Fun bag stuffed with lots of fishing-related goodies.

After completing their passports, participants and their families will be offered free hot dogs and drinks, courtesy of Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola®.

Expo visitors are encouraged to bring sunscreen, portable chairs, fishing equipment and worms. A limited number of free loaner rods and reels will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“The Wildlife Expo is great way to encourage kids to learn more about their natural environment while teaching them about the important roles that hunting and fishing play in North Carolina’s fish and wildlife conservation,” said Bob Curry, chief of the Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “By offering hands-on activities and wildlife-related exhibits, we hope to get people interested and involved in the outdoors and, in the process, recruit future outdoor enthusiasts.”

The Wildlife Expo is being hosted by the N.C Wildlife Resources Commission, with assistance from the Cumberland County chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the N.C. Bowhunters Association, N.C. Handicapped Sportsmen and Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation.

National Hunting and Fishing Day, formalized by Congress in 1971, was created by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to celebrate conservation successes of hunters and anglers. From shopping center exhibits to statewide expos, millions of citizens learned to appreciate America’s sportsman-based system of conservation funding. That system now generates more than $1.7 billion per year, benefiting all who appreciate wildlife and wild places.

For more information about the Wildlife Expo, contact Kristopher Smith, Pechmann Center director, at 910-868-5003, ext. 14, or click here.

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Holds Wildlife Expo John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center is Site of Free, Family Fun

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Holds Wildlife Expo
John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center is Site of Free, Family Fun