Roanoke River National Wildlife RefugeP. O. Box 430114 W. Water StreetWindsor, NC 27983252/794 3808http://roanokeriver.fws.govemail: RoanokeRiver@fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://southeast.fws.gov

For more information contact:Refuge Manager

Monday-FridayClosed holidays8:00 am-4:00 pm

September 2006

Roanoke RiverNational Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The Roanoke RiverNational WildlifeRefuge situated alongthe Roanoke River innortheastern NorthCarolina is part of a100,000 acre protectedarea involving the U.S.Fish and WildlifeService, North CarolinaWildlife ResourcesCommission and TheNature Conservancy. Itis one of over 545 refugesthat make up the U.S.Fish and WildlifeRefuge System,anextensive network oflands and watersprotected and managedespecially for wildlifeand its habitat.

IntroductionRoanoke River National WildlifeRefuge, which consists of 20,978acres, was established in August 1989to protect and enhance forestedwetlands with high waterfowl value.The extensive floodplain in the lowerreaches of the Roanoke River isconsidered to be the largest intact,and least disturbed, bottomlandforest ecosystem remaining in theMid-Atlantic Region.

cover photo:Laurie JohnsonSwainson’s Warbler

This blue goose,designed by J. N.“Ding” Darling, hasbecome a symbol ofthe National WildlifeRefuge System.

River System HydrologyWater is the driving force ofbottomland hardwood communities.Annual floods over the centuries haveovertopped the riverbanks, droppingthe coarser, heavier suspendedsediments from upriver to form thelevees and ridges of the floodplainresulting in forested communitiescharacterized by sugar berry,sycamore, green ash, beech,cottonwood, elm, sweetgum, loblollypine, and mesic oak and hickoryspecies. The finer, lighter sediments(silts and clays) gradually settle inthe slack water areas ponded behindthe levees supporting stands of baldcypress and water tupelo.

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Swamp

Patterns of water flow within alluvialsystems such as the Roanoke Riverare distinctly seasonal whenunregulated. However, near theVirginia-North Carolina border, aseries of three reservoirs establishedfor hydroelectric power and floodcontrol now regulate the flow ofwater, deviating from historical flowpatterns. These are the John H. KerrReservoir, Lake Gaston and RoanokeRapids Lake from upstream todownstream, respectively.

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WildlifeThe combination of hard and softmast producing trees and theavailability of cover provides habitatfor white-tailed deer, gray squirreland marsh rabbit on the floodplain ofthe Refuge. Likewise, a remnantpopulation of black bear is found

along the lowerRiver in one ofthe few remainingexpanses ofhabitat for thisspecies in thestate. Furbearerspresent includeraccoon, mink,nutria, muskrat,otter, fox, bobcat,beaver andopossum.

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Mammals

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White-tailed deer

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Green-backed heron

At least 219 birds including 88breeding species have been identifiedon or near the Refuge. The RoanokeRiver floodplain is believed to supportthe highest density of nesting birds,especially songbirds, anywhere inNorth Carolina.

Exceptional birding is possible on theRefuge from March through June,the spring migration and nestingseason. Some of the more notablespecies include cerulean andSwainson’s warblers, Mississippi kiteand our national symbol, the baldeagle can be frequently observedalong the River’s corridor.

The Refugesupports at leastthree activeheron rookeries,including thelargest inlandrookery in thestate. The red-shouldered hawkand barred owlare characteristic

raptor species found in the woodedswamps and bottomland hardwoods.

The ancient river ridges andterraces provide excellent food andcover for feeding and nestingturkeys. Other game species that canbe found sporadically in the Refugeare woodcock and bobwhite quail.Nesting wood ducks and hoodedmergansers can be found regularly inand around the Refuge. During the

winter, frequentlyobserved waterfowlspecies includepintail, wigeon,gadwall, green-winged teal, mallard,black duck, blue-winged teal, ring-necked duck,shoveler, bufflehead,and Canada goose.

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Yellow-crownednight heron

Turkeys

Refuge RegulationsPrimitive camping is allowed only inconjunction with Refuge hunts bypermitted hunters.

No littering—help keep your Refugeclean!

Disturbing people, wildlife, plants andgovernment property with vehicles,weapons, light and sound equipmentor personal conduct is prohibited.

Firearms, weapons or fireworks areprohibited.

Hunting is by special permit only.Contact the Refuge office or NorthCarolina Wildlife ResourcesCommission for information.

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Pets are prohibited. Retrieving dogsused during the Refuge waterfowlhunts must be under control at alltimes.

Special wildlife observation areasalong Highway 13/17 are availableseasonally. Contact the Refuge officefor information.

The Refuge is open daily fromsunrise to sunset; however, theRefuge is closed to the general publicduring permitted hunts for safetyreasons. Contact the Refuge officefor details.

Special fishing regulations apply.Contact the Refuge office forinformation.

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Refuge headquartersPublic boating accessSans Souci ferryHighwayPaved roadRefuge boundaryKuratt Trail

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The Roanoke River and theassociated Refuge floodplainwetlands are especially important toanadromous fish, marine species that

ascend rivers tospawn.Anadromous fishinclude stripedbass, bluebackherring, alewife,hickory andAmerican shad.

In addition to theanadromousspecies whichfrequent the River

during the spawning season, theRoanoke River and its tributariesprovide excellent habitat for adiverse assemblage of resident fishspecies such as crappie, catfish,longnose gar, carp, shinners,largemouth bass, darters, bluegill,and white perch.

The variety of wetland habitats foundon the Refuge support a uniquediversity of reptiles. Snapping turtle,yellow-bellied turtle, Eastern mudturtle and the rare spotted turtle,along with the five-lined skink,newts, salamanders, toads and frogscan all be found.

Associated with the floodplain is adiversity of nonvenomous snakesranging from the brown water togarter snake. However, three typesof venomous snakes can beencountered. These include theEastern cottonmouth or watermoccasin, associated more withwetter sites, with the copperhead andrattlesnake normally associated withdrier, upland sites.

Monitoring River ResourcesHuman manipulations of the River’sfloodplain during past logging effortsand altered flow regimes havecreated an imbalance within the

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River’s ecosystem. The result ofthese alterations is that areas whichhistorically flooded rarely flood now,and those which do flood do so for alonger period of time.

In cooperation with state, federal andprivate organizations, Refuge staffare researching the effect ofasynchronous river flow patterns onfish, wildlife and plant resources. Avideo addressing the complexbiological issues involved inmanaging the Roanoke River for theneeds of people, fish, wildlife, plantsand their habitats is available free ofcharge from the Refuge office.Educational instructors, communitygroups, local governments andindividuals are all encouraged to viewit.

Visitor OpportunitiesVisitors to the Refuge mayparticipate in a variety of activitiesincluding fishing, boating, hiking,photography, wildlife observation andhunting. The Refuge is most easilyaccessed by boat. Due to theintermittent swales and ridges foundwithin the vast floodplain, limitedaccess by vehicle is only available

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Striped bass catch

Water qualitymonitoring

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from Highway 17. See map fordetails.

Fishing is permitted in the RoanokeRiver proper and selected tributarieswithin the Refuge boundaries.

The Refuge hosts deer, waterfowl,small game and turkey hunts bypermit only on selected Refuge lands.Additional information is availablefrom the Refuge office.

Hikers, photographers and wildlifeviewers are also invited to take in thesights and sounds. A self-guidednature trail is located off Highway 17on the Charles Kuralt Trail. Herevisitors can learn more about thebottomland hardwood forestcommunities and enjoy the naturalsurroundings. Everyone is remindedto be alert for venomous snakes andother hazards while enjoying yourRefuge.

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Kuralt kiosk

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Great egret

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Rose Mallow

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Bald eagle

WildlifeCalendarWinter(December-February)Winteringwaterfowl canbe observed in forested wetlands andon the River. Bald eagles can also beobserved in the River’s corridor.

Spring (March-May)Fishing is at its prime with stripedbass, shad, and river herring makingtheir spawning runs up the river.Wild turkeys can be heard gobbling.Neotropical migrants, residentsongbirds and herons are nesting.Wood ducks and hooded merganserscan be seen in nesting habitat.Osprey chicks are hatching.

Summer (June-August)SoaringMississippikites canbe seenfeedingoverhead.Barred owlhoots canbe heardechoingthrough

the bottomland hardwoodforests. Fishing for breamand catfish is at a prime.Young herons can be seenflying the River’s corridor.

Fall (September-November)Neotropical birds aremigrating south. White-tailed deer bucks arepolishing their antlers,approaching rut. Fall colorsdress the River’s corridor.