Seasons of Wildlife
Migrating ducks and geese begin to arrive in October and remain through early March. Visit the refuge April through October for peak butterfly watching opportunities. The refuge has several trails and areas that offer wildflower viewing opportunities and thus, good butterfly viewing. Wood ducks and a small flock of Canada geese are resident on the refuge and nest here in spring and summer. Many species of water birds, raptors and songbirds are found on the refuge throughout the year.
Featured Species
The refuge contains unique habitats, including pinelands, pocosin bottoms, freshwater ponds and lakes. This mosaic of habitats provides for the needs of more than 190 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 41 species of reptiles, and 25 species of amphibians. More than 1,000 species of plants have been identified on the refuge, including rare species of pitcher plants, Well’s pixie-moss, and the white-wicky. The refuge supports a secondary recovery population of the red-cockaded woodpecker and numerous species of pine-grassland birds, including Northern bobwhite quail, Bachman’s sparrow, Chuck-will’s-widows, and American Kestrel.