Susan Miller

Fish and Wildlife Biologist,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Susan Miller has been working with the USFWS as a fish and wildlife biologist for more than 14 years. She works in the sandhills region of North Carolina focusing primarily on intensive monitoring of the red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers are one of eight woodpecker species found within the state of North Carolina. They can be found roosting in live pine cavities. These unique woodpeckers prefer longleaf pine, but have been found to inhabit other pine habitats. At one time, there were an estimated 1.4 million family groups at the height of the historical longleaf range.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers exist in territorial family groups consisting of one male and female breeding pair. Helpers within the family will aid in raising, incubating, and feeding young. These family groups need old growth pines for cavity creation and large patches of intact forest. They prefer to live in longleaf forests that are on a 3-5 year fire regime interval. Red-cockaded woodpeckers have evolved within this pine ecosystem and depend on fire to maintain their preferred habitat with grasses, insect diversity, and openness for predator detection.

Please explore the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet for more information on the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Kelly Douglass

Forest Stewardship Biologist,
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)

Kelly Douglass works with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). She serves as a Forest Stewardship Biologist. Her primary role at the NCWRC is to aid private landowners in managing their property for wildlife. One component of her job is to educate individuals on the importance of fire for maintaining an ecosystem suitable for a variety of plant and wildlife species.