​Thanks to support from many partners, Nantahala National Forest trail users of all ages in Graham County now have additional opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding and more.
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The Santeetlah Lake Trail has been enhanced to offer access for mountain biking and horseback riding through a partnership with Graham County Travel and Tourism, providing a new recreation experience along the 8.5-mile former Forest Service road.
 
Daniel Allison of Graham County Travel and Tourism Authority said, “This project brings lots of the folks that live here together and provides something that I think is going to be a real asset to this community,” at the recent trail dedication celebration.

With support from the Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team (G.R.E.A.T) and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, two new Kids in Parks TRACK Trails have also been installed.

Anyone who comes in contact with the liquid vaccine should wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and call the phone number listed on the bait for further instructions and referral.

Although the oral rabies vaccine products are safe, the USDA Wildlife Services program has issued these precautions:

• If you or your pet find a bait, leave it where you found it unless it is on your lawn, driveway or other area unlikely to attract raccoons. While wearing a glove or other barrier, you can move the bait to an area of thicker cover where raccoons are more likely to find it and pets are less likely to encounter it.
• Eating the baits won’t harm your pet but consuming several baits might upset your pet’s stomach.
• Do not try to remove an oral rabies vaccine packet from your pet’s mouth, as you could be bitten.
• Wear gloves or use a towel when you pick up bait. While there is no harm in touching undamaged baits, they have a strong fishmeal smell.
• Instruct children to leave baits alone. If a bait is ingested by a child or adult, call 1-866-4-USDA-WS. NCDHHS has never received a report of a human ingesting a bait packet.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if there is any chance the vaccine packet has ruptured.
• A warning label on each bait advises people not to touch the bait and contains the rabies information line telephone number.

Rabies is most commonly found in wild animals in North Carolina. This poses a risk to people and domestic animals that encounter wildlife. It is a fatal disease in mammals, including people. However, there are highly effective vaccines that prevent infection and illness in people and domestic animals. By North Carolina law, cats, dogs and ferrets must be vaccinated by four months of age and be kept up to date throughout their lives.

For more information on rabies prevention or the oral rabies vaccine program, call the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free rabies line at 1-866-487-3297 or the NCDHHS Division of Public Health at 919-733-3419.

Baiting should be completed by mid-October. The Oral Rabies Vaccination program, originally implemented in the 1990s. helps prevent the raccoon rabies epizootic from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains, where raccoon rabies does not exist. The program has been successful in that regard and the vision is to gradually move the vaccine barrier east until raccoon rabies is eliminated.

In addition to the initiation of the ORV program, Sept. 28 is celebrated as World Rabies Day. This day marks the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first vaccines against rabies, among many other advancements.

You can also find information on the USDA website at
www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/news/sa_by_date/sa-2022/orv-efforts.

For general information on rabies, please see www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.

 
New Program Part of Broader Effort to Transform Food System, Create Jobs 
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​ As spring fire season enters its third month, the USDA Forest Service and N.C. Forest Service are reminding the public to keep drones away from wildfires. Flying drones or unmanned aircraft systems near wildfire activity is not only extremely dangerous, but illegal.

“Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of forest service pilots and ground crews and interferes with firefighting efforts,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “It’s important to remember that if you fly, we can’t.”

Firefighters use a variety of tactics when containing and suppressing wildfires from the air and on the ground. Unauthorized drone flights hinder all of them. Helicopters, planes and other aircraft that deliver hundreds of gallons of water and fire retardant to a burn site are already flying low, with minimal visibility and under smoky and windy conditions. When drones and firefighting aircraft share the same airspace, the risk of a midair collision increases.

To avoid the threat of midair collisions, all aerial wildfire operations are suspended when a drone is present, thus delaying wildfire suppression response and allowing the wildfire to grow larger. “The longer an uncontained wildfire burns, the greater the risk for loss of life to residents and firefighters, property and valuable resources and increased cost,” said State Forester David Lane. “There’s also the possibility of a drone malfunctioning while in flight, only to fall onto responders and members of the public below, potentially injuring them.”

According to the USDA Forest Service, 172 drone incursions took place between the years of 2015 and 2020. Since there is no centralized system to report these situations, the actual number is believed to be much higher.

The Federal Aviation Administration implements a temporary flight restriction around wildfires to protect aircraft engaged in firefighting operations. Individuals in violation of this law will be subject to civil penalties, including fines up to $25,000 and criminal prosecution.

It’s important to know the rules and remember if you fly, we can’t. To learn more about the unauthorized use of drones, go to www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/uas/if-you-fly.

Children ages 5 to 11 years old can receive a COVID-19 booster five months after the date of their most recent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose. 

“Summer brings vacations, play dates and family gatherings, and it’s important for everyone to stay up to date on their vaccines,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “Children ages 5 to 11 can now have the extra protection of a booster dose, which significantly increases protection against serious illness, hospitalization, death and long-term complications from COVID-19.” 

The Food and Drug Administration’s authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that children ages 5 to 11 get boosted comes as COVID-19 cases are on the rise again across North Carolina.  

Long-term COVID-19 symptoms can include multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, which can cause inflammation in different parts of the body, as well as coughing, body aches, shortness of breath, headaches, brain fog, difficulty sleeping and more. It may also cause lasting damage to the heart, kidneys or other organs. 

“Children are vulnerable to the virus and long-term complications just like everyone else,” said NCDHHS State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson. “Cases that start with mild symptoms can progress quickly, and even mild cases can have symptoms that last for several weeks or months.”  

During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were seven times less likely to be hospitalized and 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated.  

“Prevention is the best treatment to protect against COVID-19,” said Secretary Kinsley. “Make sure you and your entire family are up to date on your vaccines, including boosters when eligible.” 

Booster shots are available anywhere COVID-19 vaccines are available and are free regardless of insurance or immigration status. The Pfizer booster is the only brand currently available to children ages 5 to 11. Call ahead to make sure the location you choose has the age-appropriate Pfizer vaccine available. 

North Carolina’s actions are based on recommendations from the FDA, CDC and evaluation by NCDHHS. Read the CDC’s full statement here.

For more information about how vaccines for children work and where you can find a vaccine or booster appointment nearby, visit MySpot.nc.gov. The North Carolina COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center can also help you make an appointment by calling 888-675-4567. The help center is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends. 

​The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding agricultural producers that Monday, February 28th, is the deadline to apply for the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, or NAP.
 
NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insured crops impacted by natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses, or prevents crop planting. 

Commercially produced crops and agricultural commodities for which crop insurance is not available are generally eligible for NAP. Eligible crops with a coverage deadline of February 28th include most annual fruit and vegetable crops, such as sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, and melons.  February 28th is also the deadline to apply for coverage on hemp.
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Eligible causes of loss include drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind or hurricanes, earthquake, flood. These events must occur during the NAP policy coverage period, before or during harvest, and the disaster must directly affect the eligible crop.
 
NAP Service fees can be waived for beginning, qualifying veteran, female, minority, and limited resource farmers. These farmers can also receive a 50 percent reduction in the premium.
 
For more information on the NAP program or to apply, contact your local FSA county office in Murphy, at (828) 837-2721, extension 2.

​National Forests in North Carolina, in collaboration with AmeriCorps, is excited to announce that it is hiring for two full-time temporary VISTA positions for the Appalachian and Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger Districts.

With support of the United States Forest Service Southern Region Volunteers & Service Programs, VISTAs will further partnership and resource development opportunities. Additionally, VISTAs will assist with the recruitment and management of volunteers and service participants as well as support integrative projects for different program areas (recreation, biology, fire, archeology, etc.) in their assigned national forests. VISTAs engage the community they serve to generate interest and commitment to impact-driven activities. These positions stand to benefit local communities by increasing sustainable recreation, workforce developments and resource development.

Current AmeriCorps VISTA member Lindsey Nelson says, “This position has given me the tools and experience needed to move forward with my career while providing opportunities to engage in hands-on work at some of the most beautiful sites in western North Carolina."

Successful applicants will receive a non-compete hiring authority for Forest Service positions, a benefit which expedites the hiring process by allowing qualified candidates to be placed into positions following the completion of their service. In addition to the direct hiring authority, VISTAs will receive a living allowance, training, professional development funds, a relocation allowance, health care benefits and childcare assistance for those who are eligible. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in joining the Forest Service or working in natural resource management.

Interested applicants can apply online for the Appalachian and Cheoah-Tusquitee positions. The priority application deadline is February 11, 2022. The positions will begin April 11, 2022. VISTAs will have the option to serve one to two years. Applicants must be 18 years or older. For more information, please contact Patricia Silva at 304-860-0371 or psilva@conservationlegacy.org.