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Swanquarter
National Wildlife Refuge - North Carolina
The Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge is located in Hyde County, North Carolina near the village of Swan Quarter.
The bird species that breed on the refuge are characteristic of species that inhabit other coastal plain communities. They include warblers, nuthatches, thrashers, and blue-gray gnatcatchers. Wading birds, such as the great blue heron are common and breeding has been documented in at least one rookery on this refuge. Bald eagles and ospreys have also historically nested on the refuge and viable nests remain. The most common winter bird species are the American robin, yellow-rumped warbler, the red-winged blackbird, and sparrows.
Mammalian species of black bear and white-tailed deer range over the entire refuge. The refuge is also home to american alligators.
Fact Sheet of Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Swanquarter NWR
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/swanquarter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_River_National_Wildlife_Refuge
The Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge is located in Hyde County, North Carolina near the village of Swan Quarter.
The bird species that breed on the refuge are characteristic of species that inhabit other coastal plain communities. They include warblers, nuthatches, thrashers, and blue-gray gnatcatchers. Wading birds, such as the great blue heron are common and breeding has been documented in at least one rookery on this refuge. Bald eagles and ospreys have also historically nested on the refuge and viable nests remain. The most common winter bird species are the American robin, yellow-rumped warbler, the red-winged blackbird, and sparrows.
Mammalian species of black bear and white-tailed deer range over the entire refuge. The refuge is also home to american alligators.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Swanquarter
National Wildlife Refuge
Refuge Facts:
■ Established: 1932.
Acres: 16,411.
■
Other management responsibilities:
photo: USFWS
■
Swanquarter Presidential
Proclamation (27,000 acres in
Pamlico sound).
Swanquarter National Wilderness
Area (8,800 acres).
photo: USFWS
photo: USFWS
■
Location: North shore of Pamlico
Sound east and west of the village
of Swan Quarter accessible by boat
only except for the Bell Island Unit
(2 miles west of Swan Quarter by
US Highway 264) in Hyde County,
NC.
Natural History
■ Most significant feature is an
extensive coastal marsh which
includes the Swanquarter National
Wilderness Area.
■
■
Concentrations of diving ducks
(lesser scaups, redheads,
buffleheads, surf scoters and
canvasbacks), sea ducks, American
black ducks, wading birds and
shorebirds. Wading bird rookeries,
osprey nesting and colonial nesting
birds occur.
Habitat consists of irregularly
flooded brackish marsh (13,200
acres) and forested wetlands (3,200
acres).
photo: Ditto
Financial Impact of Refuge
■ Staff: none (administered from
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife
Refuge).
Bruce Freske, Refuge Manager
Swanquarter NWR
38 Mattamuskeet Road
Swan Quarter, NC 27885
Phone: 252/926 4021
Fax: 252/926 1743
E-mail: FW4RWMattamuskeet@fws.gov
■
50,000 visits annually.
Refuge Objectives
■ Provide habitat and protection
for endangered species such as
American alligators.
■
Provide habitat and protection for
migratory waterfowl and other
birds.
■
Provide wildlife-related recreation
and environmental education for
the public.
Management Tools
■ Prescribed fire.
■
Mechanical/chemical control of
noxious plants.
■
Education/interpretation.
■
Law enforcement.
Public Use Opportunities
■ Fishing (saltwater by boat or pier).
■
Crabbing.
■
Wildlife observation.
■
Photography.
■
Waterfowl hunting.
Calendar of Events
January-December: fishing (best
during spring and fall).
November-January: Waterfowl
hunting.
Questions and Answers
Are there alligators here?
Yes, Swanquarter Refuge supports
one of the northern most populations
of the American alligator.
What fish are commonly caught at
Bell Island?
Commonly caught species include
Atlantic croaker, spot, weakfish,
spotted seatrout, Atlantic flounder,
red drum and bluefish.
Can I hunt waterfowl on
Swanquarter Refuge?
A 6,120-acre area of marsh is open to
duck and coot hunting in accordance
with applicable state and Federal
regulations.