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PRESS ABOUT RGS
RGS’ press release picked up by Asheville Citizen-Times.com. The original story is located at http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200881201029
STAFF REPORTS • published December 2, 2008 12:15 am
HAYWOOD COUNTY – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) was awarded a $5,000 grant from the SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund to further the Cold Mountain Game Lands Murray Cove enhancement project in Haywood County.
In announcing the grant, SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund Coordinator Gary Williams said, “SportDOG Brand annually supports the conservation efforts of sportsmen and conservation organizations such as yours throughout North America and we are proud to partner with you by supporting your current project.”
According to RGS Regional Director Don Mallicoat, the project, which is also known as the Jerry Smathers Project – so named after a local forester and RGS member who died suddenly in 2006 – was spearheaded by RGS Southern Appalachian Chapter, in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and, along with cutting a road (linear wildlife opening) to a multi-stage timber harvest of nearly 150 acres, it will allow for better management of the forests including stand improvement, habitat management, control of exotic plant and animal species, and law enforcement needs.
“The Jerry Smathers Project at Cold Mountain SGL has progressed even faster than we expected, mostly because of the collaborative efforts of the NCWRC and our local chapter,” said RGS Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist Mark Banker.
“The recent grant from SportDOG was tremendously important for finishing the project that will allow for as much as 150 new acres of habitat. I know the RGS and the family of Jerry Smathers are extremely grateful for their support. We look forward to doing more habitat work with them in the future,” Banker said.
When completed the project will provide quality early successional wildlife habitat that will benefit grouse, deer, rabbit, small mammals, and various species of songbirds.
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport-hunting tradition and outdoor heritage.
Information on the RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.
