Pettigrew Park Superintendent Sid Shearin is known as the "tree nut" of the state park system. 



gained control of the park in 1939, and 

 Pettigrew became the sixth state park. In 

 1998, 82,000 visitors came to the park, 

 according to Shearin. 



With its abundance of wildlife, the 

 park has become a haven for bird- 

 watchers. Ducks, geese and swans flock 

 to the park in the winter. "December is 

 the best month to view the waterfowl," 

 says Shearin. 



Osprey, owls and hawks also perch 

 on the park's giant trees and feast on 

 rodents from adjacent fields of corn and 

 soybeans. The lakeshore provides a 

 habitat for kingfishers, herons, egrets 

 and other birds that seek food at the 

 water's edge. 



It is not unusual to see white-tailed 

 deer, raccoons, muskrats, possums and 

 foxes roaming through the woods, 

 particularly on the south side. Numerous 

 black bears, which weigh up to 600 

 pounds, live in the park as well. 



"We were out fishing one day and 

 saw something black in the water," says 

 Spear. "It was a young bear swimming 

 in the water. Sometimes the mothers on 

 the south side of the lake bring their 

 cubs to the north side to wean them." 



Endangered red wolves, reintro- 

 duced in northeastern North Carolina in 

 1987, roam along a 500-acre pocosin 

 tract, an upland swamp. The tract, which 

 borders the Pocosin Lake National 

 Wildlife Refuge and is near an access to 

 the lake, has never been bulldozed. It is 

 filled with bay trees, pines, gallberry 

 shrubs and sundew, a carnivorous plant 

 that eats insects. 



With its abundant wildlife, colorful 

 history and popular fishing spots, the 

 park is a great discovery for North 

 Carolina travelers. 



"I think it is one of the most 

 beautiful lakes that I have been on," 

 says Davis. "You can find lily pads, 



reeds, trees and different birds along the 

 shore. If the lake is clear, the stumps and 

 logs on the bottom make a pretty sight. 

 When the trees turn in November, the 

 forest is absolutely gorgeous. It's like 

 going to the maoutains." □ 



Pettigrew State Park is seven miles 

 south ofCreswell off U.S. 64 and S.R. 

 1168. Park hours vary by season. 

 Daylight hours are: June through August, 

 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; April, May and Septem- 

 ber, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; March and October, 

 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ; and November through 

 February, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 



Primitive youth tent camps are 

 available. To ensure availability, 

 reseiyations are advised. Thirteen family 

 campsites are available on a first-come, 

 first-served basis. For more information, 

 call the park office at 252/797-4475 or 

 visit the park's Web site: http:/ils.unc.edu/ 

 parkproject/pett.html . 



18 HIGH SEASON 1999 



