The Highlands Biological Foundation (HBF) invites you to its final Zahner Conservation Lecture of the season tonight (Aug. 15) at 6 p.m. at the Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Road.
Lori Williams, a Wildlife Diversity Biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), will present “All About Hellbenders!”.
In this program, Williams will introduce the audience to one of the most unique Appalachian treasures, the Eastern Hellbender. Her talk will cover the life history, ecology, and habitat of these fascinating creatures, as well as the threats they face and the conservation efforts underway in North Carolina to protect them.
Lori Williams conducts research about Hellbenders out in the field.
Attendees will be treated to captivating underwater video clips of hellbenders in their natural habitat and will get to meet Rocky, NCWRC’s resident species ambassador—a live hellbender!
Williams, originally from Raleigh, NC, is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with over 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation and ecology. She holds a B.S. in English from Appalachian State University, a B.S. in Wildlife Science, and an M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Virginia Tech. Based near Asheville, NC, Williams coordinates and conducts amphibian inventory, monitoring, and research projects in the mountain region for NCWRC and assists with projects on other nongame taxa.
An Eastern Hellbender swims through the water.
This is one lecture you don’t want to miss! Generously sponsored by Karen Patterson, this event promises to be an engaging and enlightening conclusion to the season’s series.
Join HBF at the Highlands Nature Center for this unique opportunity to learn about and see an Eastern Hellbender up close. A small reception will follow.
The Highlands Nature Center is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.
To learn more about the Highlands Biological Foundation, click HERE.
To learn more about the Highlands Nature Center, click HERE.