Background
Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, located in Carteret County, North
Carolina is on the end of a peninsula marking the southern end of Pamlico
Sound. The refuge lies five miles West of the Atlantic ocean and about
40 miles northeast of Beaufort, North Carolina. Established in 1964, the
refuge consists of approximately 11,000 acres of irregularly-flooded, brackish
marsh and 3,480 acres of pocosin and woodland habitat. The dominant marsh
plants include black needlerush, saltmarsh cordgrass, saltmeadow hay, and
saltgrass. The woodland areas are dominated by loblolly, longleaf and pond
pine. Live oak is also abundant on some upland sites. The marsh and surrounding
waters provide wintering habitat for thousands of ducks and nesting habitat
for colonial waterbirds.
Refuge Facts
- Established: 1964.
- Acres: 14,480.
- Location: the refuge is
approximately 40 miles northeast
of Beaufort, NC by U.S. Highway
70 and NC Highway 12 along the
confluence of the Pamlico and
Core Sounds, located in Carteret
County, NC.
Natural History
- Refuge's main feature is an
extensive, relatively undisturbed
coastal marsh.
- Concentrations of diving ducks
(lesser scaups, redheads,
canvasbacks, buffleheads), sea
ducks, American black ducks,
black rails, wading birds, and
shorebirds. Shorebird and osprey
nesting occurs on beaches,
islands and points.
- Habitat consists of irregularly
flooded brackish marsh (11,000
acres) and forested wetlands
(3,480 acres).
Financial Impact of Refuge
Refuge Objectives
- Provide habitat and protection
for endangered species such as
American alligators and brown
pelicans.
- Provide habitat and protection
for migratory waterfowl and
other birds.
- Provide wildlife-related
recreation and environmental
education for the public.
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