Pocosin LakesBrochure |
Brochure of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Pocosin Lakes
National Wildlife
Refuge
“Wherever you
meet this sign,
respect it. It
means that the
land behind the
sign has been
dedicated by the
American
people to preserving,
for themselves and
their children, as
much of our native
wildlife as can be
retained along with
modern
civilization.”
Boundary sign created by J.N. “Ding” Darling
In 1903, President Theodore
Roosevelt established the National
Wildlife Refuge System, by creating
Pelican Island National Wildlife
Refuge in Sebastian, Florida. There
are now more than 540 National
Wildlife Refuges. In 1989, through
the donation of 93,000 acres to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from
The Conservation Fund in
conjunction with the Richard Mellon
Foundation, Pocosin Lakes National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) became part
of this nationwide network of lands.
USFWS
Introduction
USFWS
The refuge is located in northeastern
North Carolina, and stretches
through Hyde, Tyrrell, and
Washington Counties. The refuge
includes the Pungo Unit, which was
originally established in 1963 as
Pungo National Wildlife Refuge.
Today, the refuge encompasses
110,000 acres which are used to
provide habitat for migratory birds
Quote to the left
and waterfowl, protect and enhance
by Rachel
Carson, author of the pocosin habitat, protect and
enhance habitat for those species
“Silent Spring,”
which are classified as endangered,
scientist and
threatened or of special concern, and
chief editor for
the U.S. Fish and provide opportunities for wildlife
interpretation, outdoor recreation
Wildlife Service
and environmental education.
from 1932- 1952
What is a
Pocosin?
The term Pocosin is an Algonquian
Indian word meaning “swamp on a
hill.” Though there are no obvious
hills, the land is slightly elevated
compared to the surrounding
landscape. Pocosin wetlands are
extremely flat and their natural
drainage is poor. The top layer of soil
is comprised mostly of organic
material, more commonly referred to
as peat, varying in thickness
throughout the refuge. This organic
matter is made up of leaves, sticks
and other organic debris that was
once submerged in water and
decomposed slowly. Once lost, it
takes over 100 years to create one
inch of peat soil. The pocosin habitat
is unique in that it is a fire tolerant
shrub/scrub complex with a pond
pine over story growing on organic
soils with depths up to 12 feet. A
large portion of the land that is now
refuge had been ditched and drained
for farming and mining of the peat
soils by previous owners.
Refuge
Management
The refuge staff manages its
resources through protection of lands
from wildfires, water management,
cooperative farming, law
enforcement, restoration of native
habitat, removal of invasive species,
public hunting, environmental
education/interpretation, and
partnerships with other agencies.
Wildfire Protection and Suppression
A large portion of the refuge was
ditched and drained, then cleared to
support farming. The altered state of
the soils make the lands more
susceptible to disastrous wildfires
during periods of hot, dry weather.
The refuge staff and its cooperators
work quickly to suppress wildfires to
prevent them from growing into
large, catastrophic fires like ones
seen in past years. The fire
management program has also
enhances habitat through prescribed
burning of selected areas.
USFWS
USFWS
Habitat
management
through
prescribed
burning
AWC stand
Prescribed Burning
While fire during time of drought can
damage the organic soils of the
pocosin, fire is a very useful tool for
habitat management when used
under appropriate weather
conditions. Fire will release nutrients
back into the soil, remove
undesirable vegetation, and stimulate
growth of early successional plants
that are eaten by a variety of wildlife.
It also serves as a tool to prevent
large wildfires from occurring. Once
a prescribed burn has occurred, the
fuels from the land will have burned
and will not burn again, or will not
burn as intensively compared to
lands that were not burned.
Restoration of
Native Habitat
In an effort to
restore a native
habitat type, a
restoration
project of the
Atlantic white
cedar (AWC),
commonly
known as
Juniper is under way on the refuge.
The AWC has been classified by The
Nature Conservancy as a globally
threatened ecosystem. Several AWC
stands have been planted throughout
the refuge. One of the stands is being
restored through a partnership with
the local community.
USFWS
Water Management
Water control is a key tool for
managing the pocosin habitat and
other habitats used by migratory
birds and waterfowl. Lakes, marshes,
moist soil areas, and open water
provide a resting area as well as a
feeding area for waterfowl. Diving
ducks, such as the canvasback can
feed in deep waters. Dabbing ducks,
such as the wood duck can only feed
in 12 inches (or less) of water.
Another important aspect of water
management on the refuge is the
prevention of flooding of adjacent
private lands and habitats.
Water Bodies
Found on the
Refuge
Pocosin Lakes NWR owns or has
lands surrounding five major water
bodies: the Scuppernong River,
Pungo Lake, New Lake, the
northwest and southwest forks of
Alligator River, and Lake Phelps.
These water bodies interspersed in
the vast pocosin landscape led to the
refuge’s name – Pocosin Lakes.
USFWS
Scuppernong River
The Scuppernong River runs along
several tracts of refuge land providing
habitat for wildlife, recreational
opportunities, and the water resource
for forested wetland habitat.
Tundra swans
on Pungo Lake
Pungo Lake
Believed to have
been formed by
a ground fire
which later filled
up with rain
water, the 2,800
acre Pungo Lake
provides habitat
to more than
80,000 snow geese and tundra swans.
These birds arrive for the late fall
and winter months and use the area
as a wintering ground in between
their migrations from and to the
Arctic. Waterfowl use the lake as a
resting and/or roosting site, leaving
the lake during the day to feed in
USFWS
School group on
Scuppernong
River
Interpretive
Boardwalk
behind the
Walter B. Jones,
Sr. Center for the
Sounds
fields and moist soil units and
returning to the lake at dusk. The
black color of the water in the lake is
caused by tannins and particles from
peat soil and native vegetation. Since
the dark water does not allow light
penetration, there is no submerged
aquatic vegetation found in Pungo
Lake. Pungo Lake is also used as a
site to catch and band waterfowl. The
banding program is used to gather
information and data to manage the
birds throughout the flyway.
New Lake
New Lake is approximately 4,900
acres in size, 4,200 of which are
owned by the refuge. Access to New
Lake is difficult and hunting is
prohibited. New Lake is also a black
water lake used as a roosting/resting
area by migratory waterfowl.
Northwest and Southwest Forks
of Alligator River
The northwest and southwest forks
are some of the headwaters of the
Alligator River. They drain most of the
eastern portion of Pocosin Lakes NWR.
Lake Phelps
Approximately 16,600 acres in size,
Lake Phelps is owned by Pettigrew
State Park. The refuge owns
approximately four miles of shoreline
on the south side of the lake. Lake
Phelps offers great opportunities for
fishing, as well as a wintering site for
thousands of waterfowl.
What Can You
Expect to See on
the Refuge?
USFWS/Larry Wade
USFWS
Lang Elliott, Nature
Sound Studios
Top to bottom:
green tree frog;
rainbow snake;
yellow-bellied
sliders
Throughout the refuges 110,000
acres, more than 300 different
species depend on the habitat that is
provided. There is a diverse range of
fish and wildlife that inhabit the
refuge. Everything from fish, to
amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and
birds all make the refuge their home
throughout the various seasons.
Fish
Fishing is allowed on the waters of
the Pungo Unit and New Lake from
March 1 to October 31. All other
waters are open year round. Fishing
in canals is popular during spring
and summer months. The primary
species caught include black fish,
black crappie, several species of
sunfish, and catfish. Though fishing
on New Lake is permitted, access is
difficult.
Amphibians
This class Amphibia spend part of
their lives in water and part on land.
Of the more than 36 species of
amphibians on the refuge, a few are
the eastern newt, spotted
salamander, and dwarf mudpuppy.
Toads and frogs, such as the eastern
spadefoot toad, oak toad, green tree
frog, bullfrog, or spring peeper may
also be observed.
Reptiles
The class
Reptilia includes
turtles, lizards,
snakes, and
alligators.
Reptiles are airbreathers and
have a dry outer
covering of
scales or scutes
which provides
protection from
dehydration. Of
the more than 40
species of
reptiles on the
USFWS
USFWS/Larry Wade
Black bear
with cubs
refuge, a few are the American
alligator (North Carolina is its most
northern range), snapping turtle,
yellowbelly slider, slender glass
lizard, cottonmouth snake,
copperhead snake, and the pigmy
rattlesnake.
Mammals
Pocosin Lakes NWR is home to more
than 40 species of mammals. The
refuge supports a large population of
black bears and white-tailed deer.
Other mammals include the
endangered red wolf, raccoon, red
fox, gray squirrel, cotton-tail rabbit,
marsh rabbit, bobcat, gray fox,
eastern mole, big brown bat, and the
coyotes.
Birds
The forests of the refuge become
painted with a variety of beautiful
songs and colors, as more than 200
species of birds make their
appearances at the refuge
throughout the year. Some of the
birds are migratory such as the
tundra swan, snow goose, hooded
merganser, ruddy duck, least
sandpiper, and a variety of warblers
and sparrows. Many other species
make the refuge their year round
residence, including the yellowthroat,
northern towhee, eastern
meadowlark, northern cardinal,
northern mockingbird, eastern
screech owl, and the endangered
red-cockaded woodpecker.
USFWS/Larry Wade
What are We
Doing for
Endangered
Species?
USFWS
Above: flock of
red-winged
blackbirds;
below: red wolf
release
In 1973, Congress passed the
Endangered Species Act. The
purposes of this Act are to conserve
the ecosystems upon which
endangered and threatened species
depend and to provide programs to
protect such species. According to
the Act, endangered and threatened
species are of aesthetic, ecological,
educational, historical, recreational,
and scientific value to the Nation and
its people. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is instrumental in providing
protection and recovery efforts for
endangered and threatened species.
Two endangered species found on
Pocosin Lakes NWR are the red wolf
and the red-cockaded woodpecker.
The refuge has
been working on
re-introducing
red wolves
(Canis rufus) to
the wild in
efforts to
prevent
extinction of the
species and to
restore the
habitat in which
red wolves once occurred. On the
brink of extinction, the eastern North
Carolina red wolf population had
been eliminated from the wild and
the total population was believed to
be less than 100 individuals. Through
the cooperation of many agencies,
private organizations and local
citizens, the red wolf numbers are
slowly increasing and there are now
close to 100 animals in their native
habitat in eastern North Carolina.
Jim Hanula
Red-cockaded
woodpecker
Pocosin Lakes
NWR Partners
The red-cockaded woodpecker makes
its home in mature pine forests. Longleaf pines (Pinus palustris) are most
commonly preferred, but other species
of southern pine are also acceptable.
While other woodpeckers bore out
cavities in dead trees where the wood is
rotten and soft, the red-cockaded
woodpecker is the only one which
excavates cavities exclusively in living
pine trees. Cavities generally take
from one to three years to excavate.
The red-cockaded woodpecker plays a
vital role in the intricate web of life of
the southern pine forests. Refuge
management for this woodpecker
includes protecting nest trees such as
Pond pine, inventory of the population
and providing mature trees for future
nests.
Many of the ongoing projects and
programs at the refuge are
championed by our partners. The
refuge is one of several organizations
concerned about the environment in
eastern North Carolina. Pocosin
Lakes NWR relies on the support
and coordination of several key
groups in order to succeed.
Partnership for the Sounds
The Partnership for the Sounds
(PFS) promotes ecotourism in the
Albemarle-Pamlico Region by
appealing to those who enjoy and
appreciate the sustainable use of an
area’s natural, cultural, and historic
resources. The PFS was instrumental
in obtaining support for the
construction of the Walter B. Jones,
Sr., Center for the Sounds.
Pocosin Arts
The mission of Pocosin Arts is to
expand understanding of the
relationship between people and
places, culture and environment
through the exhibition, production
and teaching of the arts of the
Pocosin region. Founded by
Executive Director, Feather Phillips,
Pocosin Arts has been a crucial link
between the worlds of science, art
and culture.
Red Wolf Coalition
The Red Wolf Coalition advocates for
the long-term survival of red wolf
populations by teaching about the
red wolf and by fostering public
involvement in red wolf conservation.
The Coalition works very closely with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to
stay apprised of events and needs
within the red wolf program.
Pettigrew State Park
Pettigrew State Park, which is one of
30 state parks, is located at Lake
Phelps. The park and refuge staff
work together on paralleling
activities, including prescribed burns,
water control management,
environmental education and
outreach, wildlife recovery and
management, and providing
recreational opportunities for the
public. With more than 1,200 acres of
land and 16,600 acres of water,
Pettigrew State Park is an ideal
blend of nature, history and
recreation. Explore Lake Phelps and
examine dugout canoes as ancient as
the pyramids. Or cast your line into
crystal-clear waters where
largemouth bass reign. Pettigrew
exhibits its history among
picturesque natural surroundings.
Majestic cypress trees tower above
as the branches of tulip poplar and
swamp chestnut oak provide perches
for songbirds. Wildflowers decorate
the landscape with a splash of color.
Visitor
Opportunities
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
has established its “Big 6” visitor use
activities which are hunting, fishing
wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, environmental
education, and interpretation. These
USFWS
USFWS
six activities are
given priority
consideration
within the
National Wildlife
Refuge System,
but all public
uses must be
compatible with
the wildlife
mission of a
refuge to be
allowed. Pocosin
Lakes NWR
offers all six
uses, but some
are restricted to
designated
areas.
Above: whitetailed deer;
below: fishing on
the Scuppernong
River
Hunting
Hunting is a
popular activity
on the refuge
and is allowed in
specific areas.
White-tailed deer is one of the more
popular species hunted, yet small
game such as rabbits, squirrels, and
waterfowl are hunted as well. All
State regulations apply and a permit
is required in order to participate in
any hunt. Hunters need to obtain a
current hunting regulations brochure
from the refuge office in Columbia,
North Carolina. The brochure
becomes your permit once signed,
lists federal hunting regulations, and
depicts which areas are open to hunting.
Fishing
Fishing is a popular activity among
both lone anglers and families. As
with hunting, State regulations apply.
Visitors are usually most successful
fishing in the canals around Pungo
Lake. More than 20 species of fish
exist on the refuge, including flier,
bullhead, and channel catfish. For
specific regulations, please check the
Hunting and Fishing Regulations
brochure.
USFWS
Observation on
Pungo Lake
Wildlife
Observation
Early mornings
and late
afternoons are
the best times to
observe wildlife.
Bear and deer
can often be
observed along
refuge roads or
feeding in farm fields in the Pungo
Unit. Large concentrations of
waterfowl can be viewed in the late
fall through the winter in
impoundments (a manmade pond),
farm fields, or Pungo Lake. The best
way to observe wildlife is via a
vehicle or bicycle. Not all roads are
open to vehicular traffic.
Wildlife Photography
Photography opportunities are
endless at Pocosin Lakes NWR:
from shooting photos of a black bear
with her cubs as they forage and feed
on sweet cane along the roadside, to
tens of thousands of migrating
waterfowl, to a leaping white-tailed
deer as it darts into the forest, to a
snake that has slithered out of a
canal to sun itself on the road next to
a canal, to a sunset over the
Scuppernong River from our
boardwalk. With a little patience and
a spare roll of film, any visitor can
discover limitless possibilities to
capture the beauty of the refuge.
Environmental Education
Since the refuge is located within
three counties, there are many
diverse opportunities for a variety of
environmental education programs.
In addition to activities held in the
refuges’ indoor and outdoor
classrooms, there is a national
wildlife celebration almost monthly.
Local schools are encouraged to
discover their neighboring refuge by
participating in a variety of activities.
If there are any specific needs you
USFWS
may have, please
contact the
refuge office to
arrange a tour
or to host an
environmental
activity.
USFWS
Refuge staff
sharing
conservation
vision with
school children.
Interpretation
The Walter B.
Jones, Sr.
Center for the Sounds located at
refuge headquarters in Columbia,
NC is a great way to see and learn
about the wildlife that exists on the
refuge. The Center gives visitors the
opportunity to examine displays of
some of the wildlife they otherwise
would be unlikely to see on their own.
Scuppernong
River
Interpretive
Boardwalk
The Scuppernong River Interpretive
Boardwalk offers a wonderful
opportunity to explore the wetlands
along the Scuppernong River.
Strolling along the boardwalk is a
great and accessible way to see a
variety of small animals and birds.
Interpretive signs placed throughout
the self-guided walk explain the
wildlife found in this type of habitat
and encourage visitors to look, listen
and learn. The boardwalk was
constructed by the Tyrrell County
Youth Corps in 1995. The project was
sponsored by the Eckerd Family
Foundation and funded by the
Partnership for the Sounds.
How You
Can Help
Volunteer
Opportunities
The volunteer
program
provides
individuals who
want to give
back to their
communities,
land stewards,
retirees, and
passionate
people who enjoy
the outdoors,
hands-on
opportunities to
engage in
wildlife
conservation and
be involved on
lands that belong
to them.
Top: refuge
volunteer
conducting
outreach and
environmental
education at
annual Farm
City Festival;
below: interns
work with refuge
staff on black
bear study.
Refuge Policies
Intern Program
The refuge relies
heavily on its intern program for
conducting research and many of the
on-the-ground projects. Available
year-round, internships will typically
last 12-16 weeks.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
The purpose of the Youth
Conservation Corps program is to
further the development and
maintenance of the natural resources
of the United States by America’s
youth, and in so doing to prepare
them for the ultimate responsibility
of maintaining and managing these
resources for the American people.
The youth are provided an
opportunity to increase their selfesteem and learn self-discipline.
The refuge is open from 30 minutes
before legal sunrise until 30 minutes
after legal sunset except for certain
hunting activities. Pungo Lake, New
Lake, Duck Pen Road, the Pungo
YCC student
teaches a visitor
about wildlife on
the refuge.
Lake banding
site, Jones Dike,
Shepard’s Dike,
the Riders
Creek banding
site, and the
Dunbar Road
banding site are
closed to all
public entry
from
November 1
through the last
day of February
annually. The
Pungo Unit is
closed to all
public entry,
except for permitted hunters, during
the special, two-day Pungo Deer Gun
Hunts in late September and
October.
Refuge roads can become hazardous
if driven on when wet. When rainy
conditions occur, the roads become
impassable and are closed to vehicles
until they dry out. There are no
towing services available. When in
doubt, do not attempt to drive on wet
refuge roads. You may need to
consider parking and walking in to
access the refuge.
How to Get Here
There are two main sites for visiting
the refuge. One is our headquarters
and Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for
the Sounds, along with the
Scuppernong River Interpretive
Boardwalk, located immediately south
of Route 64 in Columbia. Following
Route 94 South, many recreation
opportunities exist west of Route 94.
The other main access points to the
refuge are located south of Shore
Drive in Creswell, and east of Routes
45 and 99.
Pocosin Lakes
National Wildlife Refuge
64
Roper
Newland Road
Am
Railroad Road
Shore
Drive
S. Pungo
Pungo
Shop
45
99
Clayt
Boerma
Pungo
Lake
ke
La
S.
Pungo
Observation
Platform
Allen
45
Hyde Pa
rk
99
D-Ca
nal
W. L
ake
Field Station
Albemarle
Sound
Columbia
Scuppernong River
Creswell
Old Cherry Rd.
Weston Road
mbrose Road
Northern
Newland Road
Nodwell
Middle
Lake Phelps
Evans
ton
Seagoing
Dehoog
Harvester
Western
New Lake
N
0
Miles
0
Kilo
4
4
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 329 (mailing)
205 South Ludington Drive (shipping)
Columbia, NC 27925
252/796 3004
pocosinlakes@fws.gov
http://pocosinlakes.fws.gov
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
http://www.fws.gov
USFWS
July 2004