Address: Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, Rt. 1 Box 92; Wadesboro,
NC 28170
Phone: (704) 694-4424
Directions: Six miles north of Wadesboro, NC off of Highway 52
Endangered & Threatened Species on the Refuge: The red- cockaded
woodpecker is a year-round resident, and the bald eagle and peregrine falcon are transient
visitors. There are 19
other listed endangered, threatened, or species of special concern in the two counties that the
refuge is in.
Other Wildlife Species: Twenty-eight species of mammals can be found,
including beaver,
bobcat, fox, white-tailed deer, and pine vole. The refuge bird list contains over 170 species,
including Canada geese, prothonotary warblers, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. There are also
over 56 "herps", reptiles and amphibians, that includes such species as Fowler's toad, eastern
musk turtle, six-line racerunner, and the rough green snake.
Habitat Description: Situated on the banks of the Pee Dee river in the
southern portion of the
lower Piedmont, the refuge's 8,443 acres range from bottomland hardwood forest to upland pine.
This diverse wildlife habitat also includes abandoned fields, naturally reforested areas, cultivated
land, and over a dozen ponds and creeks.
Focus Activities: The primary refuge objectives are to provide wintering
habitat for Canada
geese and ducks, provide sanctuary for wood ducks, protect and enhance habitat for the
endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, and provide interpretation and recreational opportunity
for the public.
Opportunities for Public Use: The refuge is open year-round from sunrise
to sunset. The
headquarters, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, is where one may obtain
refuge literature and ask questions. There is one 3 + mile nature trail, a three mile auto tour
with interpretive kiosks, a 1/4 mile handicapped-accessible nature trail, and two wildlife
observation blinds. Fishing is open from March 15 to October 15, and there are hunting seasons for dove, white-tailed deer, raccoon/opossum, squirrel, quail, and rabbit. Consult the required refuge hunting permit for specific regulations.
