American_Beaver_by By Steve from washington, dc, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0

Date: August 17, 2024

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve

Speaker: Colleen Olfenbuttel, Black Bear & Furbearer Biologist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Colleen will discuss the important role, both historically and currently, of beavers in North American and North Carolina, as well as fascinating beaver biology basics, and how North Carolina currently manages beavers.

Colleen Olfenbuttel has worked in the wildlife profession for over 25 years and has co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed scientific publications. She was the Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission from 2007 to 2024 and was responsible for managing and conserving black bears and 17 furbearer species. She is now the Game Mammals and Surveys Supervisor. Colleen is a past-president of the North Carolina Chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS) and is chair of TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group. She is also on Council for the International Bear Association and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist®.

The Walnut Creek Preserve Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Preserve.

*Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).  Thank you.

Contact Pam Torlina, pam@conservingcarolina.org, with questions or for more information.