Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge

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 include 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 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is where one may obtain refuge literature and ask questions. There is one 3-plus 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.

Address: Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, Rt. 1 Box 92; Wadesboro, NC 28170

Phone: (704) 694-4424