Discover NC! Buncombe County

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Asheville, NC (http://wildwnc.org/)

Provider: Western North Carolina Nature Center

Resource summary

• Appropriate grades: 3–12
• Subjects: science (general, agriculture, biology and life science, environmental science)

More from LEARN NC

• Trees of North Carolina Students complete activities including tree and leaf identification, species comparison, online research, measurement, and creative writing in conjunction with monthly visits to the "Iredell County Outdoor Education Site"

More on the web

• Postcards from the edge: Endangered species Students learn about endangered species in the United States, some of the reasons they are endangered (e.g. habitat destruction or the introduction of invasive species), and what is being done to protect them. Students will choose one species to focus on and examine the reasons it is endangered, and why it is important to make an effort to save it.
• Threatened and Endangered Animals and Plants This site has listings of endangered species for each state and for countries other than the United States. It also lists those species that have been removed from the list and explains the rationale for why they have been removed from the list. The Service also maintains a list of plant and animals native to the United States that are candidates or proposed for possible addition to the Federal list.
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Wildlife Species and Habitat Information A North Carolina Wildlife Resources site with detailed information about wildlife resources and management in the state. Information about animals such as the wood duck, white-tailed deer, beaver, wild turkey, quail, sea turtles, and predators such as various owls, osprey, black bear, wild boar and the gray fox is found here.

Students can learn about native trees, habitats, animals and endangered species of the western area of North Carolina on this website. There are also links to numerous sites concerned with and about wildlife and there is a calendar of events at the nature center. Featured nature news articles are about wildlife dilemmas, species, or situations. An academic guide for teachers who want to plan a visit to the center and a web tour of the wildlife areas of the living museum which exhibits plants and animals native to the Southern Appalachians are also available through the site. The areas on the tour include a petting area, predator habitat, otter habitat, nocturnal hall, nature trail, educational farm, and the main exhibit area of the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

The Nature Center is located at 75 Gashes Creek Road in Asheville, North Carolina. For information or to plan a visit, call (828) 298-5600.

Teachers, also see: Alternative s to the Animal Report by Melissa Thibault.