Features
Looking for an Internship?
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and other refuges in eastern North Carolina offer internship experiences rivaled by no others.
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Gateway to eastern NC Refuges
The National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island is open daily, year-round, is FREE, and offers the experience of a lifetime!
National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center
Hunting
The refuge allows gun hunting for deer on the Pungo Unit by special permit only and issues a limited amount of applications.
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Wildlife Observation
Bear and deer can often be observed along refuge roads or feeding in farm fields in the Pungo Unit.
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Walter B Jones Sr Center for the Sounds
Stop by the Refuge Visitor Center for warm, friendly greetings and current information. Open 9-4, Fri-Sun, April though November.
Take A Virtual Tour
There's nothing like experiencing this refuge in person, but take a sneak peek to give you a hint of what's in store for you here!
Virtual Tour of Pocosin LakesAbout the Complex
Pocosin Lakes and five other refuges make up this diverse complex which spans from the barrier islands in the coast to the hardwood swamps of the Roanoke River.
Pocosin Lakes is managed as part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Learn more about the complex About the NWRS
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Learn more about the NWRS
Headlines! Read all about it!
Come here often to learn the facts about Refuge Projects and activities. If you don't find answers here for your questions or concerns, please email us (pocosinlakes@fws.gov), so we may prepare the information both for you and to post here for easy access to all!
Most recent questions have focused on our Resource Management, particularly our Hydrology Restoration work. Please take some time to read about the work we're doing.
And, we've created a set of pages called "Ground Truthing...." to transparently address questions and concerns. You can help us by letting us know your questions or concerns.
Ground Truthing....
Keep up with current news releases for NC National Wildlife Refuges!
What's in the News??
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge has what is believed to be one of the largest concentrations of black bear found in the southeastern United States. Limiting factors on black bear on the refuge have been identified as the amount of blackgum mast, habitat disturbance, and availability of escape cover. (photo courtesy of Beryl Ivens)
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Many young people think Wildlife Biologists handle baby animals all day. On the contrary, our claim to fame is we manage DIRT! Often, the closest we get to wildlife is seeing tracks or scat they leave behind... or feathers!
Resource Management
Hydrology Restoration involves re-wetting peat soil that was ditched and drained years ago. This re-wetting raises the water table, creating better wildlife habitat, providing protection from catastrophic wildfires, and improving water quality. Take time to learn more!
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Last Updated: Aug 16, 2016