lib. Prose Description of Site Significance: 



The New Lake Fork Pocosin is one of the two largest 

 relatively undisturbed pocosins remaining in Hyde County. 

 It and the Gull Rock Game Lands Pocosin are the two most 

 extensive examples of a wetland ecosystem which once was 

 a widespread and dominant aspect of the county landscape. 

 Most of the other large pocosins in the county, located 

 north of Lake Mattamuskeet and west of Alligator Lake, 

 have been ditched, drained, and in most cases cleared 

 for agriculture. Relatively small tracts of ditched 

 pocosin remain in these areas. 



Black bear are known to occur and the tract is ex- 

 tensive enough along with adjacent wooded buffers along 

 the Alligator River to support a viable population. Bob- 

 cat are also present in the natural area along with a 

 sizeable population of white-tailed deer. A small 

 breeding population of Red-shouldered Hawks, a state 

 threatened species, is present. 



The undrained condition and extensive size of the 

 natural area coupled with its location contiguous or nearly 

 contiguous with adjacent forested wetlands is of primary 

 significance. 



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