Page 18 The Shoreline January 2005
The Red Hat Ladies
at Mike’s Farm
The Red Hat Ladies of Pine Knoll Shores, together
with Red Hat groups from Morehead City and Emerald
Isle, went to Mike’s Farm in Jacksonville on Wednes
day, December 1. The weather was perfect. The bus ride
to Jacksonville was great, thanks to Walter, our driver.
The food at Mike’s Farm was delicious and the Christ
mas Festival of Lights was beautiful. The trip was a
perfect way to begin our holiday season. Come join us!
Call Pauly Brown, 247-2959.
Lee Ivey
252-422-1280
Donnie Black
252-342-0753
2500 Bridges Street * Morehead City, NC 28557
CAPE CARTERET
VRGENT
Medical Care
&Primary Care
Acute Illness/Urgent Care • General Medical Care
Occupational/Industrial Health
Laboratory Service/Diagnostic Testing • Minor Trauma
Emerald
isle
ECIM
Urgent Medical
Care
To Morehead
City
White Oak
Elementary
To
Jacksonville
Sterlmg
Golf Course
To
Swansboro
Cape Carteret
906 WB McLean Drive - Hwy. 24
252-393-9007
ECIM - Where Patients Come First
Live Otters Will Frolic
When Aquarium Reopens
Work continues on expansion of the Aquarium
in Pine Knoll Shores. The project is expected to
be 35 percent complete by the end of December.
In the meantime, the Aquarium is offering pro-
grams and activities from its offsite location in
Atlantic Station Shopping Center.
“Sea Squirts” for youngsters, “Guest Chef’s
Succulent Seafood,” nautical craft classes and
winter birding trips are on the calendar for the
cold months. These activities require advance
registration and a fee. Check the Aquarium s
web site www.ncaquariums.com. for dates and
times, or call the Aquarium at 247-4003 for
more information. The web site also features
regular updates on expansion.
The new Aquarium will showcase many new
exhibits. One of the most exciting will be a live
otter display.
Otters are frolicking, fun-loving animals that
inhabit waters across our state. They are most
numerous along the coast. This is because of
good water quality, which sustains a good food
supply, and the availability of aquatic habitats.
According to Perry Sumner, furbearer biologist
for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission,
otter populations have
expanded across North
Carolina over the past
20 to 30 years because
of successful efforts to
clean up our water sys
tems, and expanded
beaver distribution.
Oddly enough,
beavers create ideal
otter habitat in inland
areas, primarily be
cause beaver ponds
increase fish popula
tions. The Wildlife
Resources Commis
sion also translocated otters to 11 watersheds in
the western part of the state in the mid- ’90s and
indications are that those populations continue
to increase and expand.
Otters measure 3 1/2 feet long at maturity and
can weigh as much as 30 pounds. They are
related to skunks, minks and weasels, and their
streamlined bodies are built for subaquatic speed.
They are meat eaters and considered a top preda
tor in waterways. They will eat almost anything:
fish, crabs, turtles, bird eggs frogs, clams, snails,
crayfish, snakes and muskrats. Much of their
behavior seems designed strictly for play.
Otters and other new exciting exhibits are
planned for the new Aquarium, so stay tuned for
updates!