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Nature Appreciation
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: September - 2022
The Village Nature Series presentation set for 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 27, at the Village Green in Cashiers explains why even the squinkiest of our furry and feathered friends need a bit of love
Carlton Burke of Carolina Mountain Naturalists is theSeptember 27 presenter for the annual Village NatureSeries. From 5:00 to 6:00 P.M., he will offer a lecturetitled Animals We Love to Hate.The Village Nature Series is co-hosted byThe VillageGreenand Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and features expertsin their field presenting on wildlife, habitats, conservation, andlocal cultural heritage.Burke desires that adults and children understand some of thelocal wildlife that is often considered frightening and/or pesky.In the interactive program, he will share live animals such asspiders, snakes, vultures, opossums, and more.“I try to bring to light their role in the world … what theirjob is and the ecological aspects of their lives. All wildlife isimportant,” he says.While this is the first time Burke will present for the VillageNature Series, he has offered Animals We Love to Hate at otherorganizations and during kids’ camps, etc.Burke, who is licensed federally and with the state to keepdozens of animals, such as amphibians, reptiles, birds of prey,and more, for education purposes at his Henderson Countyhome, has been offering wildlife education programs since the1980s. By training, he’s a wildlife educator and rehabilitator. Hespent more than 25 years on staff at the Western North CarolinaNature Center in Asheville and took early retirement in 2005to concentrate on nature presentations for Carolina MountainNaturalists, which he founded in 1983.The most interesting animal he said he has ever rehabbedis a snowy owl, but he became fascinated with snakes as achild growing up in Charlotte and while visiting family everysummer in the mountains.“Because there is so much interaction with wildlife in this area,misinformation is spread and people need to know as muchabout our wildlife neighbors – the box turtle, the garter snake,for example – as possible. These are animals they may come incontact with.”The last presentation for the 2022 Village Nature series isOctober 25’s Secret Lives of Bats, and features Dr. RadaPetric, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment at theHighlands Field SiteThe 2022 Village Nature Series takes place annually, rain orshine, from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. at theVillage Green Commons atThe Village Greenon the last Tuesday of each month from Maythrough October. Programs are free and family-friendly, and noregistration is needed.
by Deena Bouknight / photo by Harrison Renfro
