Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019 - 22

COUNTRY ROADS

BATS PROTECTED IN NORTH CAROLINA

30 Years Ago

in Blue Ridge
Country

"A

verage annual snowfall
is 104 inches and snow
flurries have been recorded in
every month of the year. The
mountain had 18 inches of
snow the second weekend in
April. Freezing temperatures
have been recorded as late as
June 8, and the record low for
the mountain is 34 below. The
record high is only 81."
-Robert Satterwhite in his
July/August 1989 piece, "Mount
Mitchell: What Happened to the
Trees?"
(The record high and low
temperatures, by the way,
remain through 2018.)

P

rompted by somewhat unusual circumstances, the
Blue Ridge Conservancy has protected 174 acres in
Watauga County that include key habitat for the federally
endangered Virginia long-eared bat. Biologists knew a
population of the bat hibernates on Grandfather Mountain,
but when the state planned to widen Highway 105 nearby,
they began searching in earnest for the summer roost
where the sensitive bats raise their young. Using radio
telemetry on tagged bats, they discovered the roost on
Beech Mountain, out of the way of the highway expansion
but on land slated for development. The conservancy
contacted eight landowners who all agreed to
sell and, working with other conservation
partners, raised $1 million to purchase
the land, which is now transferred
to the N.C. State Parks as a
State Natural Area. Watch a
wonderful video on the
conservancy's website:
blueridgecountry.com/
NCBats
-CAT MCCUE
The long-eared bat is safer on 174 Watauga County, North Carolina acres.

"Home of the
Overmountain
Victory National
Historic Trail"

Come experience our countless
miles of state stocked waters!
Enjoying trout fishing and private
trophy fishing with miles of
beauty all around!
With the unique diversions
that our area offers, you'll
discover rest and relaxation and
adventurous activities tailor made
for the whole family!

Stretching 330 miles through four
states (Virginia, Tennessee, North and
South Carolina) the Overmountain
Victory National Historic Trail traces the
route used by patriot militia during the
pivotal Kings Mountain campaign of
1780. People can follow the campaign
by utilizing a Commemorative Motor
Route which uses existing state
highways marked with the distinctive
trail logo, or 87 miles of walkable
pathways. Gaffney's "main street" is
actually part of the commemorative
motor route of the Overmountain
Victory National Historic Trail.

Gaffney Visitors Center and Art Gallery
210 W Frederick Street, Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 487-6244 | www.getintogaffney.com | events@getintogaffney.com

22

BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

(304)257-9266

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Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019
