In the late 1970s, biologists began to realize that many wetland com- 

 munities were being destroyed at an alarming rate, including the pocosins or 

 sponge-like wetlands that covered almost half this area. The functions of the 

 pocosin impacted the quality of the environment in a big way — especially 

 relating to diversity of wildlife and water quality. 



Through a donation of 1 1 8,000 acres from the Prudential Life Insur- 

 ance Company, the refuge was created in 1984. 



Today, the refuge — which is spread over more than 1 52,000 acres 

 — is one of the last large pocosin tracts in North Carolina. The pocosin 

 habitats are characterized by deep organic soils resulting in peat deposits 

 that can hold vast quantities of water. 



"The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge shows how the 

 mainland of Dare County must have looked for hundreds of years," 

 says Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant marine education 

 specialist. "The plants, trees, animals and most everything is like it has been 

 for decades. And now, with the reintroduction of the red wolf, it makes a 

 wonderful ecosystem to explore and experience." 



Man's biggest impact on the wetland habitats has been the long-term 

 tendency to ditch and drain. Changing the hydrology of the entire system 

 has impacted every part of the system, including species that were depen- 

 dent on the original water regime. 



To enhance water sheet flow through wedands, culverts are being 

 installed in key locations underneath roads. 



The combination of culverts and water-control structures enable 

 the refuge to maintain the habitat in a condition close to natural and still 

 manage water levels in the soil with prescribed fire and other management 

 techniques that require a dry soil surface, says Glennon. 



In 1988, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service acquired 5,100 acres of 

 farmlands within an area that offered a turn-key operation for waterfowl 

 management. Currently, the area is divided into moist soil management 

 units and agricultural lands farmed by cooperative farmers. 



About 1 ,800 acres of farmland are diked and equipped with water- 

 control structures and managed as moist soil units or managed wetlands. 

 The management's goal is to produce native annual plants with large 

 crops of seeds that are eaten by the waterfowl. Each year, the plants reseed 

 themselves. 



Although management of these moist soil units focuses on waterfowl, 

 numerous other wildlife species benefit. After the water is drained in the 

 spring and late summer, migrating shorebirds are attracted to the insects in 

 the mud flats. 



The remaining 3,300 acres of farmland are actively farmed through a 

 cooperative farming program. "In lieu of exchange of money, the fanners 

 perform services for the refuge," says Glennon. 



"They may help pump water into or out of the moist soil units, disk or 

 spray the units to remove unwanted vegetation, or plant additional crops for 

 wildlife." E 



She 



> he Alligator River 

 National Wildlife Refuge is open 

 year-round. The best way to see the 

 refuge is by boat. Visitors can launch 

 canoes, kayaks or small motor boats 

 from the south end of Buffalo City 

 Road. 



Four trails, totaling 1 5 miles, 

 are marked Co help guide visitors 

 through remote waterways. There 

 are also two fully handicapped- 

 accessible walking trails. 



The Creef Cut Wildlife Trail 

 and Fishing Area is a half-mile, paved 

 trail that leads to a 50-foot board- 

 walk with an observation platform 



that overlooks the Creef Moist Soil Unit and a 250-foot boardwalk over a 

 freshwater marsh. During the winter months, you can see wildlife on the trail. 

 You may catch a glimpse of black bears, woodpeckers and birds of prey. 



Forawalking tour of Milltail 

 Creek, take the Sandy Ridge 

 Wildlife Trail. It offers a 2,300-foot 

 boardwalk and overlook to see the 

 creek. The trail dead ends a half 

 mile from its beginning and wan- 

 ders through Adantic white cedar 

 stands and by beaver cuttings, 

 wood duck boxes and prothono- 

 tary warbler nesting areas. 



"The fall and spring are the 

 best times to visit," says Bonnie 

 Strawser. "There are few biting 

 insects, and migrating songbirds 

 often fill the air with their melodic 

 calls." 



The refuge offers wolf howl- 

 ings and other programs throughout the year. For more information about 

 the refuge, call 252/473-1 131 or visit the Web: http://alligatomver.fws.gov and 

 follow the links to calendar of events. — A.G. 



COASTWATCH 1 1 



