Winter events at the WNC Nature Center

The Western North Carolina Nature Center is a living museum of plants and animals native to the Appalachian region. Its mission is to increase public awareness and understanding of all aspects of the natural environment of Western North Carolina through hands-on and sensory experiences.And there are plenty of experiences at the Center during the winter months.

Petting Area Hours Will Vary During the Winter - If meeting the sheep and goats at the contact yard is a stop you don't want to miss when you visit, call ahead (828-298-5600 ) or check the board in the lobby when you come in to see when the petting area will be open.

Nibbles with Nibbles plush toy

February 2, Ground Hog Day at the Center presents Carlton Burke's program about groundhogs  at 2:00 PM. Explore the folklore of this native rodent species with stories and song, and meet live groundhogs, including Nibbles, the Nature Center's own Animal Ambassador.  Celebrate Ground Hog's Day in a special way: Adopt Nibbles, the Nature Center's groundhog,  in honor of Groundhog  Day!

Being a "Wild Parent" to Nibbles is great - she's cute, she's a Nature Center star, she'll let you know when to put away your winter clothes and bring out your spring clothes. Plus, she won't keep you up all night since we'll take care of feeding her for you. The Nature Center's  Wild Parent adoption packages begin at $25 and include an adoption certificate, a photograph of Nibbles, an invitation to the annual Wild Parents Day event at the Nature Center, and more. Adopt at the $50 level and a cute plush groundhog will be included in the package.   

Wild Walks begin in February - Wild Walks is a "behind the scenes" tour of the Nature Center.  If you've ever been curious about what happens behind the STAFF ONLY doors in the Appalachian Station, now's your chance to find out! Starting in February, the Friends of the WNC Nature Center will be offering a special look into the care of the Nature Center animals.  Dates and Times TBA $50 for adults / $25 for children (no strollers).

The WNC Nature Center four-day wildlife rehabilitation workshop will be held February 18-19 & 25-26, 2012 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The workshop is designed to educate those with or without prior rehabilitation experience to care for orphaned or injured small mammals, birds and reptiles. Workshops include lecture, demonstration and hands-on experience about all aspects of animal rehab, including feeding, housing and general medical care. Speakers will include state and federal licensed rehabilitators, wildlife vets, Nature Center staff, and more!

photo by Jessica Krippel

Nature photographers - professional and budding alike - are invited to share their very best glimpses into life at the WNC Nature Center by submitting photographs to the monthly photography contest.  Every month, a winner will be featured in the WNC Friends of the Nature Center Wild ENews.  Submissions are open to anyone, any age, and any experience level. Your photo should be from within the WNC Nature Center grounds, and can feature any of the animals and landscapes. Please include your name when submitting, so   proper credit to the artist can be attributed.  Submissions for February will be due Tuesday, January 31and should be sent  to Jill Sharp at americorps@wildwnc.org  Remember to specify in your email that your photo is for the contest.  Unselected photos will be under consideration for future months.

The WNC Nature Center is located at 75 Gashes Creek Road in Asheville NC. Operating hours are: 7 days a week 10 AM - 5 PM with admittance until 4:30. Get a link for the WNC Nature Center and other Asheville NC Attractions HERE.