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Wildlife Expo
this weekend
By Jefferson Weaver
Staff Writer
The Coastline Convention
Center will go wild again this weekend as outdoors
enthusiasts of all types come to the second Cape
Fear Wildlife Expo.
The event will be held Saturday and Sunday in the
Coastline Convention Center on the Wilmington
waterfront.
“We had an outstanding
turnout last year,” said W.C. Lanier, organizer of
the event. The expo will feature around 100 vendors
and displays from groups like the N.C. Trappers,
Quality Deer Management Association, N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission, N.C. marine fisheries,
and Ducks Unlimited. Representatives of the
N.C. Bass Federation Team Bass Master will return
with the kids’ casting contest. The N.C. Bowhunter’s
Association is bringing back Archery Alley for
demonstrations and target practice.
Last year’s event drew
several thousand people to the Coastline Center each
day.
“We’re going to have even
more activities for the kids this year, and we
expect an even bigger crowd,” Lanier said. “People
are looking for more things to do closer to home,
and this is something that is very family friendly.”
Lanier said the event is
aimed at encouraging youth to enjoy the outdoors
through hunting, fishing and other sports.
“The expo’s goal is to heighten
public awareness of our natural resources and to
encourage conservation of these natural resources,”
he said. “It’s about fun, but learning and
appreciating the outdoors as well.”
Interactive kid-friendly
stations are designed to connect families with
nature, test their outdoor skills, and educate about
wildlife conservation. There’s also a ‘Glitter Gulch
Mine’ station where kids can ‘mine’ for gem stones.
Mobile exhibits include
the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Sensory
Safari, a 36-foot wildlife exhibit-on-wheels and
Aquatic Trailer, an aquarium with two 300-gallon
tanks. Other exhibits include a wildlife and
conservation display, courtesy of the N.C. Quality
Deer Management Association.
In the outdoor display
area, the Core Sound Decoy Guild will demonstrate
the art of decoy carving. A Junior Duck, Swan and
Goose-Calling Contest on Sunday at 10 a.m. for ages
17 years and younger. Registration begins Sunday at
9 a.m.
Kids will also have the
opportunity to participate in scavenger hunts with
the chance to bag some prizes. By solving wildlife
riddles, children will learn about conserving
natural resources.
They’ll learn why deer
shed their antlers every year; how many white spots
are on a whitetail fawn; how much a 9-foot long
Atlantic sturgeon weighs; why fire can actually help
wildlife; and much more. Two hunts will be offered:
one for kids under age 10 and another for ‘tweens
and teens.
Scavenger hunt gear will
be available at the information desk at the
entrance.
Tickets are $6 per day or
$10 for both days. Children 10 and under are free
with an adult. The expo opens Saturday and Sunday at
9 a.m., and closes at 7 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m.
Sunday.
For more information go
to
www.capefearwildlifeexpo.com.
–
Weaver is a syndicated
columnist who lives in Kelly. He does not like the
month of February. Email him at
jeffweaver@whiteville.com, or catch up
to him on facebook.com.
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