Portrait of Winnie Blount. Photo courtesy of Ocracoke Preservation Society
By Connie Leinbach
Among the unusual street names on Ocracoke is one named Winnie Blount Road, which is off Cedar Lane alongside the bank.
Across the way is Bryant Lane, off Lighthouse Road, which is named after the Blounts’ children.
Winnie Bragg Blount and her husband Harkus (Hercules) Blount were former slaves who moved to Ocracoke after the Civil War ended in 1865 while other former slaves who had lived and labored on the island fled.
According to Alton Ballance’s 1989 book “Ocracokers,” the 1790 census, which covered Portsmouth and Ocracoke, listed 31 slaves. The 1800 census, which applied only to Ocracoke, listed 16 slaves; the 1810 census, 39 and the 1820 census, 57.
For more than 100 years, members of the Blount family were the only African Americans to live on Ocracoke.
While Aunt Winnie, as she was called by islanders, worked as a domestic, Harkus came from Blount’s Creek in Beaufort County and worked on the island as a carpenter and boat builder.
Of the couple’s 12 children, only two — Annie Laura and Elsie Jane — lived to adulthood.
In the late 1800s, Jane married Leonard Bryant, who was born in Engelhard and was a coworker at the Doxsee Clam factory, which was located near the entrance to the harbor.
They chose to stay on Ocracoke. They had nine children, including Muzel Bryant, known on the island as Muzie, who was born in 1904 and died at the age of 103 in 2008.
Jane and Leonard purchased a large tract of land from Mary Jane Bragg, the daughter of John Bragg, with whom Aunt Winnie appears to have had a connection. That tract is now honored with their name, Bryant Lane, off Lighthouse Road.
Aunt Winnie and Harkus built a small frame home on their land, just south of where the Island Inn sits today.
Few details about their lives exist and no photographs of Harkus Blount have survived.
According to Mildred Bryant, Muzie’s sister, as related in “Ocracokers,” Winnie, who lived to the age of 105, cured and sold yaupon leaves, which were used to make tea.
Yaupon leaves prepared by Pat Garber are available in the Ocracoke Preservation Society museum shop, which is scheduled to open March 15.
Today, Ocracoke continues to honor the history of this important island family.
While the Blount homestead may be gone, Winnie Blount Road is named in Aunt Winnie’s honor.
The Winnie Blount road sign. Photo courtesy of Ocracoke Preservation Society.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input on a draft environmental assessment for the removal of invasive carp from Lake Mattamuskeet on mainland Hyde County.
Fish and Wildlife is seeking comments on the benefits and impacts from maximum carp removal and commercial fishing as one of the tools to remove carp from Lake Mattamuskeet and the four outfall canals.
According the studies, carp removal is directly related to the biological integrity of the lake. An overabundance of carp has resulted in severe reduction of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and consequently an increase in nutrients and reduction in water clarity. Removing carp will allow SAV to recover and promote an increase in overall ecological health of the lake ecosystem.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. These actions include decisions on permit applications, adopting federal land management actions, and constructing highways and other publicly owned facilities.
Using the NEPA process, the refuge can evaluate the environmental and related social and economic effects of these proposed actions.
National Wildlife Refuges are required by law to determine the compatibility of any proposed or existing use with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the purpose for which a particular refuge was established.
“The mission of Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is to protect migratory birds and other native wildlife and their breeding grounds and habitat for the benefit of the American people,” Refuge Manager Kendall Smith, said. “We want the community to be informed about the work being proposed and to have an opportunity to weigh in on the pros and cons of that work.”
To review the draft Environmental Assessment and draft Compatibility Determination, copies are available at:
Written comments may be sent to: Refuge Manager, Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge 85 Refuge Road, Swan Quarter, NC 27885, or email: mattamuskeet@fws.gov.
All comments must be submitted no later than 4 p.m. on April 29.
For more information, or to request documents in alternative formats, please contact Refuge Manager Kendall Smith at 252-926-4021 x43901 or Wildlife Biologist Wendy Stanton at 252-926-4021 x43904.
This disabled Bald Eagle on Ocracoke suffered from lead poisoning. Photo by Rebecca Carbis
To catch up on Ocracoke news and much more, click here
By Rita Thiel
Bald Eagles are exciting to see but one of these visitors on Ocracoke didn’t fare so well.
In early February, Melinda Sutton noticed an odd-looking cat on top of one of the feeding stations behind her Tradewinds Tackle shop.
Not having her contacts in, she said, she didn’t have the clearest view, and when she approached it, she saw a large bird–a Bald Eagle.
Noticing her approach, the eagle did not fly away nor did it seem to be afraid.
As Sutton watched, he jumped to the ground and began walking toward her, and after turning in circles a few times and attempting to fly, the eagle made its way to the back dock of the post office.
Thinking that this eagle was not exhibiting normal behavior and was in trouble, Sutton called wildlife rescuer Rebecca Carbis for help.
Sutton kept an eye on the eagle as it jumped off the post office loading dock and eventually into the edge of the woods.
“I felt incredibly blessed to have seen such a regal bird up close,” she said. “Even as he was stomping through the marsh, he was majestic.”
When Carbis arrived, she and friend Kyle Miller found the eagle literally “butt in the marsh” not moving.
Carbis, who had wildlife rehabilitation certification when she lived in Georgia and hopes to obtain North Carolina certification, began trying to capture it.
“This beautiful bald eagle had me wading through brambles and marshes for over two hours trying to get to it,” Carbis said.
Eventually they captured the eagle, and after securing it in a large box, Carbis drove it to Lou Browning at Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Frisco for treatment.
This encounter shows the danger for people approaching raptors or any wild birds or animals.
Jim Warren, executive director of the North Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, cautioned people should be extremely careful when trying to rescue any raptor (bird of prey) and especially Bald Eagles.
“These injured birds do not understand you want to help them,” he said. “Rather, they view you as a predator and will react accordingly.”
Trained staff use welder gloves for protection against dangerous talons.
Carbis posted updates on the eagle’s progress on Facebook noting that the bird had significant lead poisoning, causing damage to one eye that affected his ability to fly and hunt, as well as signs that it had been grounded for a while as it was underweight and in rough shape.
If the bird could not recover from these issues it would have to be euthanized.
“The eagle came in with severe blood poisoning from lead along with facial wounds and scratches and cuts on the talons and feet, possibly from territorial battles,” Browning said in an interview.
He verified the retinal detachment and determined the bird was a male.
Its severe condition made it unreleasable, Browning said, and untamable for educational purposes.
Before it became disabled, the Eagle was spotted Jan. 1 off South Point Road. Photo: C. Leinbach
He shipped the eagle to the Cape Fear Raptor Center, which euthanized the bird.
“It’s an unhappy outcome, but it’s the way it had to be,” he said.
Lead poisoning is an increasing problem for all birds of prey and waterfowl, which can be a health issue for humans.
Browning said nine in 10 injured eagles have lead poisoning, but he only sees about six a year.
“The number is going up,” he said. “Hatteras is loaded with (eagles).”
In 1991, federal legislation was enacted restricting the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl on federal land.
A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that even after the ban, lead toxicity in eagles increased, especially during deer hunting seasons. Once in the environment, lead does not dissipate.
Eagles, ospreys, hawks, owls, vultures and other scavenger animals have fallen victim to lead ammunition in “gut piles from deer cleans,” especially at this time of the year, Browning said.
One solution is for hunters to use steel or copper pellets for shotguns and rifles.
Once ingested, lead becomes toxic. As the toxicity levels rise in the birds, their ability to take flight quickly is affected, leading to many being hit by cars.
Raptors’ ability to hunt decreases to a critical level, leading many to starvation or dehydration, followed by seizures caused by neurological damage and death.
If the poisoned birds are found in time and lead levels haven’t led to irreparable neurological damage, treatments can be successful, Browning said.
The Cape Fear Raptor Center treated seven eagles for lead poisoning in a month’s time from January to February last year.
Browning said that if people see raptors or owls just sitting along the sides of roads that can mean the birds are suffering from lead poisoning, but not always.
Once ingested, lead becomes toxic. As the toxicity levels rise in the birds, their ability to take flight quickly is affected, leading to many being hit by cars.
Red Tail Hawks, after feeding may sometimes sit quietly while digesting, he said. The telltale sign of this is a bunch of feathers around the bird.
There are a lot of federal regulations around eagles, Browning said.
“Eagles are the most protected bird in the United States and of national significance to native Americans,” Browning said.
Dead eagles are sent to the National Eagle Repository in Commerce City, Colorado, as a legally regulated method for Native American tribes to obtain eagle parts for use in various cultural rituals.
Even eagle feathers are protected, as Carbis noted.
She said, “There were some loose feathers in the box (in which she transported the bird) and I had to leave them there.”
No matter where in the state, people can call the Raptor Medical Center directly for injured and orphaned raptor 704-875-6521 x111. More information is on the center’s website: http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org.
On Ocracoke, for injured birds, call Carbis at 678-558-7899.
The state will speed up the COVID-19 vaccine distribution timeline by moving Groups 4 and 5 for vaccine eligibility with the rest of Group 4 eligible on March 31 and all North Carolina adults aged 16 and over will be eligible beginning April 7.
Gov. Roy Cooper and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., announced the accelerated vaccine timeline during a Thursday press conference.
“In the next couple of months, we’ll have enough supply for everyone who wants a vaccine to get one,” Cooper said. “And when that happens, each of us is going to have to talk to our friends and family who are hesitating about getting vaccinated and convince them to do it because the vaccine is our path to recovery.”
Beginning on March 31, additional essential workers and people living in other congregate settings such as student dormitories will be eligible for vaccination.
Ocracoke residents are urged to register for a vaccine at the Ocracoke Health Center. Call 252-489-3622.
As of today (March 26), Hyde County Health Department reports no active COVID-19 cases.
To see the current status of full and partial vaccinations statewide, click here.
A new public private partnership, Healthier Together: Health Equity Action Network, will enhance the state’s equitable delivery of vaccines. Healthier Together will conduct outreach and education efforts, coordinate local vaccine events, help people schedule and get to vaccine appointments, provide on-site translation services, and help ensure people get to second dose appointments.
A new report expands upon this work. Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Equity in North Carolina reports the share of vaccinations in the past week going to Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and American Indian or Alaskan Native populations as well as key metrics for promoting accountability through data transparency. The report will be updated every two weeks.
According to state data, the weekly average of people hospitalized with COVID-19 continued to fall Thursday, reaching a level not seen since last October.
After steadily declining since January, the seven-day average of new cases has started to level off in the last week, hovering between 1,600 and 1,800 new cases each day.
Since Tuesday, the seven-day average has climbed slightly, from an average of 1,693 new cases over the past week to 1,723 new cases.
Over the last week, North Carolina hospitals have reported an average of 957 people hospitalized with COVID-19 per day. The seven-day average of hospitalizations has steadily declined since Jan. 18.
For accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or the NCDHHS COVID information hub.
The Army Corps of Engineers’ Dredge Murden off Ocracoke. Photo: P. Vankevich
From our news sources
Further update April 7: The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division suspended all service on Pamlico Sound between Cedar Island, Swan Quarter and Ocracoke through Monday, April 12, due to worsening shoaling issues in the ferry channel just outside of Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Dredge Murden and/or Dredge Merritt will continue to work in the Bigfoot Slough channel to clear the shoaling, but dredging operations are dependent on weather and tides. Once the dredging work is complete and water depths and channel widths return to acceptable levels, the Ferry Division will resume the schedule on both routes.
Shoaling occurs when sand and sediment fill into a ferry channel, making water depths too shallow for safe operation of the ferry system’s largest vessels.
Once the dredging work is complete and water depths in the ferry channel return to acceptable levels, the Ferry Division will resume its regular schedule on both routes.
Justin LeBlanc, chair of the Ocracoke Waterways Commission, had reported on March 26 that the ACE said funding for the Murden would last until the first week of April. The Murden has to leave for another job on April 9, but the side caster dredge Merritt will be available after that.
The ACE had planned to conduct a survey of the primary shoal in Big Foot Slough on March 28 so they can better assess the conditions and make adjustments as needed.
For up-to-the-minute information on schedule changes on the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes, please follow @NCFerryPamSound on Twitter.
The NC Ferry Division today halted the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries due to shoaling in Big Foot Slough.
This is the area where the hopper dredge Murden is working, but Ferry Division Spokesman Tim Hass said today that this area filled in “last night or this morning.”
The Ferry Division tweeted this around 8:30 this morning.
The Murden will continue to dredge this area and the Ferry Division will do a survey later today.
“Hopefully, we will have a partial schedule tomorrow,” Hass said.
Hass on Tuesday said that the Murden, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), arrived on Ocracoke on March 17 and worked for a day and a half in Big Foot Slough, which is just outside of Ocracoke, before halting due to inclement weather the last several days.
Since early March, the Ferry Division has canceled some ferry runs in the Pamlico Sound due to shoaling in Big Foot Slough.
Instead of wholesale suspending service, the Ferry Division has canceled various runs each day, Hass said.
For daily updates, islanders are urged to monitor the N.C. Ferry Pamlico Sound routes on Twitter: @NCFerryPamSound.
Hass said the Swan Quarter, the largest boat in the Pamlico route fleet, drafts deeper than the others and will be out of service until the slough is dredged.
North Atlantic right whale photo by Moira Brown and New England Aquarium, Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
Editor: Just last week, an aerial survey team from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium spotted a North Atlantic right whale mother and her newly born calf off the coast of Lea-Hutaff Island here in North Carolina, in Pender County near the New Hanover County line.
This is a big deal, folks. There are only around 360 of these gentle giants remaining in the world, and they could go extinct in our lifetimes. As these mother whales have their calves off the southeast Atlantic coast, they are simultaneously being decimated by collisions with vessels and entanglements in fishing gear.
Even a single human-caused death in a year threatens this species’ changes of survival, which is why we all must give them their space. Federal law requires vessels, paddle boarders, aircrafts, and even drones to stay at least 500 yards away from North Atlantic right whales. This restriction helps to reduce the risk of disruptions to or collisions between the whales and boats, but it is not enough.
We must do more for these rare whales, like requiring vessels to slow down and reducing the amount of fishing gear in their habitats. If we fail, this will be the first large whale species go extinct in the Atlantic Ocean for centuries, and it will have been on our watch.
We are better than this. The government has the ability and the responsibility to strengthen protections for North Atlantic right whales and prevent their extinction.
North Carolina, join me in demanding our government to take action before it’s too late. Visit oceana.org/RightWhaleToSave to learn more.
Randy Sturgill, Senior Campaign Organizer, Oceana Wilmington, NC
The Ocracoke Health Center urges all adults to register for a COVID-19 vaccine. Call 252-489-3622.
By Connie Leinbach
As COVID-19 cases continue to wane, the Ocracoke Health Center urges all island residents who want a vaccine to register to get one.
“We received our allotment this week, but we don’t have enough people who have signed up,” said Mandy Cochran, RN, who coordinates the COVID-19 vaccines.
She said that all people 18 and over should register, although they are still prioritizing by groups. That means that if an 18-year-old and a 65-year-old register, the 65-year-old will go first.
Cochran vaccinates in groups of 10 and does not want to waste the vaccines, which last refrigerated for 30 days. The health center has not wasted any vaccines, she said.
There are three ways to preregister. ONLINE:https://ocracokehealthcenter.org/covid-19-vaccine…/ PAPER FORM: You can get a copy at the Ocracoke Health Center or click on the above link. PHONE: Call the designated phone number for COVID vaccines at 252-489-3622. Leave a message with your name, DOB, and phone number. Someone will call you back. Multiple messages will delay callback times.
To date, Ocracoke Health Center has vaccinated 500 islanders out of a population of about 1,100, she said.
Although people from the western part of the state and beyond have registered with the health center, they have to understand that if they want the shot, they have to come to Ocracoke.
“We’re not coming to them,” she said.
Off islanders who have property here can register with the health center. The Ocracoke Health Center has a special number, 252-489-3622, for COVID testing or prescription refill requests only.
As of March 22, Hyde County Health Department reports a total of 643 cases. There is one active case in the county and 634 recovered and eight deaths.
In the meantime, North Carolina’s COVID-19 trends continue to show improvement, according to Gov. Roy Cooper in a press briefing on Tuesday.
The statewide mask mandate is still in effect.
Vaccine distribution increases with 31.7% of North Carolinians over 18 having received at least one dose of vaccine,
Because of these favorable trends, Cooper eased more restrictions in a new executive order No. 204, which states:
All businesses must continue to maintain the 6 feet of distance requirement between patrons and implement other safety protocols as they expand their capacity.
Executive Order No. 204 will also increase mass gathering limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase to 50 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase to 100.
This order also fully lifts the restriction on the late-night sale and service of alcoholic beverages on bars, restaurants, and other establishments.
Indoors and outdoors up to 100% capacity, subject to masks and 6 ft. social distancing: Museums and Aquariums Retail Businesses Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors
Indoors up to 75% and outdoors up to 100% capacity, subject to masks and 6 ft. social distancing: Restaurants Breweries, wineries and distilleries Recreation (e.g., bowling, skating, rock climbing) Fitness and physical activity facilities (e.g., gyms, yoga studios, fitness centers) Pools Amusement parks
Indoors and outdoors up to 50% capacity, subject to masks and 6 ft. social distancing: Bars Movie theaters (may operate up to 75% outdoors) Gaming facilities (may operate up to 75% outdoors) Meeting, reception and conference spaces Lounges (including tobacco) and night clubs Auditoriums, Arenas, and other venues for live performances
Sports Arenas and Fields (includes professional, collegiate, and amateur activities and settings are lower risk when they involve interacting with fewer people, being outside, keeping masks on the entire time, keeping interactions with people short (under 15 minutes), staying physically distant, and avoiding singing, yelling, and cheering, according to public health officials.
State health officials are continuing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to have a mask mandate and continue to practice safety precautions, including the Three Ws: Wear a mask, Wait 6 feet apart, and Wash hands often.
To catch up on Ocracoke news and much more, click here
After a year’s Covid-related hiatus, the third annual Ocracoke Waterfowl Festival, produced by the Ocracoke Island Decoy Carvers Guild, is set to take place Saturday, April 17 9 am to 5 pm.
Unlike the first two events that took place at the Ocracoke School gym, this year it will be on the Berkeley Manor grounds and inside the barn.
“We want to make sure that we still be respectful of all the state, federal, different guidelines,” said the Guild’s president John Simpson. “There is plenty of space on the grounds and in the open-air barn for safe distancing, and we ask that all be respectful by wearing masks. We have a lot of older folks that will be exhibiting.”
This year’s featured carver will be William Nathan Spencer. He chose the Ring-necked Duck, which nests in freshwater marshes and bogs across the boreal forests of northern North America and which winters in small numbers on the Outer Banks.
More than 20 exhibiters will be hand to sell and display their works. Former featured carvers Dave O’Neal and Dan Robinson will be there, and legendary Carver Oliver Larson from Crisfield, Maryland, and Casey Arthur from Carteret County will be back.
Founded in January 2018, the Ocracoke Island Duck Carvers Guild organized the first waterfowl festival that April and again in 2019. Both well-attended events were held in the Ocracoke School gym. Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 caused so much damage to the school that it and the gym are not expected to be rebuilt until 2022.
Despite recent loosening of some COVID-19 restrictions, Simpson cautioned that should there be a resurgence of the pandemic, the festival would follow state guidelines and cancel if ordered to do so.
Several islanders, including Simpson, brothers Vince O’Neal and Dave O’Neal, dad and son Dan and Scotty Robinson, Trudy Austin and Stephanie O’Neal, formed the guild to preserve Ocracoke’s long, rich tradition of decoy carving.
“Waterfowling has been a dramatic part of Ocracoke’s heritage and this folk art needs to be kept from becoming a lost art,” Simpson said at the time.
The Guild has monthly meetings, 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month in the Community Center. All are welcome to attend.
Folks can bring decoys to the meeting to discuss including ones that aren’t signed since decoy sleuthing is a welcomed challenge by the members.
The dredge Murden can be seen faintly on the horizon near Big Foot Island, which is alongside Big Foot Slough. Photo: C. Leinbach
Editor’s note: The Observer misprinted the Swan Quarter to Ocracoke ferry cancellation. It should have read 1:30 p.m. Swan Quarter to Ocracoke. It is corrected below.
By Connie Leinbach
After a few days of inclement weather, the hopper dredge Murden is on the job scouring out the shoaling sands in Big Foot Slough while dredging in the South Ferry Channel, at the north end, will benefit commercial fishing vessels.
Ferry Division Spokesman Tim Hass said today that the Murden, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), arrived on Ocracoke on March 17 and worked for a day and a half in Big Foot Slough, which is just outside of Ocracoke, before halting due to inclement weather the last several days.
Since early March, the Ferry Division has canceled some ferry runs in the Pamlico Sound due to shoaling in Big Foot Slough.
The Ferry Division tweeted today that due to shoaling the following Pamlico Sound routes are canceled through March 25: 7:30 a.m. Cedar Island to Ocracoke; 10 a.m. Ocracoke to Swan Quarter; 1:30 p.m. Swan Quarter to Ocracoke and 4:30 p.m. Ocracoke to Cedar Island.
They have canceled these runs to prevent suspending service entirely on these routes, Hass said.
For daily updates, islanders are urged to monitor the N.C. Ferry Pamlico Sound routes on Twitter: @NCFerryPamSound.
Hass said the Swan Quarter, the largest boat in the Pamlico route fleet, drafts deeper than the others and will be out of service until the slough is dredged.
“We need the channel to be safe,” Hass said about the current dredging project. “(The Murden) will be there however long it takes.”
Islanders and visitors to Ocracoke may see the side caster dredge, Merritt, if they are on a ferry between Ocracoke and Hatteras.
That dredge is finishing up a project to dredge the South Ferry Channel on the Ocracoke side of Hatteras Inlet, but this project won’t benefit the ferries traveling to and from Ocracoke.
The Dare County Board of Commissioners on March 8 approved $60,000 to help pay for additional dredging that the side caster dredge Merritt has been working on.
This channel benefits commercial and recreational fishing boats and the Coast Guard on their way from Hatteras out into the ocean, Dare County Project Manager Brent Johnson said in an interview today.
Dredging was temporarily suspended, Johnson said, because the Merritt bent a rudder last Friday when it got pushed into some shoaling. It’s on its way to the Ferry Division’s boatyard in Mann’s Harbor for repair and he expects it back on the job this Friday.
The project will go beyond its allotted time because of the intense shoaling in this part of the inlet.
Johnson said that in the mornings when the tide is higher, the Merritt works in the South Ferry Channel then moves to the Hatteras Inlet in the afternoon.
Johnson said that the Merritt needs to scoop out an area seven feet deep by 100 feet wide and has only done five feet of depth and 60 feet of width.
At the March 16 Ocracoke Waterways Commission meeting, Todd Horton of the ACE, noted Dare’s contribution and said after the Merritt and the Murden were done in Hatteras, they would come to Ocracoke to dredge Big Foot.
In this Army Corps of Engineers survey of the South Ferry Channel area, area outlined by a dotted line shows the area where the Dare County commissioners appropriated more money for dredging. Ocracoke’s South Dock (at the north end) can be seen at the bottom.
The side caster dredge Merritt works in the Hatteras Inlet in the afternoons. Photo: C. Leinbach
