The National Wildlife Refuge System

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife

Refuge encompasses approximately

45,000 acres of land and water in

northeastern South Carolina and is

one of more than 500 refuges in the

National Wildlife Refuge System, the

world’s most outstanding network of

lands and waters dedicated to wildlife.

Consisting of more than 90 million

acres in all 50 states, these refuges

protect and enhance a wide array of

habitats, ensuring the survival and

continuing welfare of America’s fauna,

flora, and other natural resources.

USFWS

This blue goose,

designed by J.N.

Ding Darling,

has become the

symbol of the

National Wildlife

Refuge System.

USFWS

History

When Carolina Sandhills Refuge was

purchased by the federal government

in 1939 under the provisions of the

Resettlement Act, the land was badly

eroded and very little wildlife was to

be found. Efforts began immediately

to restore this damaged, barren land

to a healthy, rich habitat for the plants

and animals that once lived here.

The longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem,

the characteristic habitat of the refuge,

once covered more than 90 million acres

across the southeastern United States

from Virginia to Texas. This unique

ecosystem, shaped by thousands of years

of natural fires that burned through

every two to four years, has been

reduced to less than two million acres.
Today, only scattered patches remain

with most occurring on public lands.

Factors contributing to the demise of

this ecosystem include aggressive fire

suppression efforts, clearing for

agriculture and development, and

conversion to other pine types.

Carolina Sandhills Refuge serves

as a demonstration site for land

management practices which

preserve and enhance the diminishing

longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem.

Wildlife Habitat on Carolina Sandhills

The refuge lies along the fall line which

separates the Piedmont Plateau from

the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Elevations

range from 250 feet to more than 500

feet above mean sea level.

Rolling beds of deep sandy soils are

host to an extensive longleaf pine

forest. Longleaf pine is easily

recognized by its long needles and

large cones. Scattered scrub oaks

make up the understory and the

dominant ground cover is wiregrass.

Numerous small creeks and

tributaries flow through the refuge

and drain into either Black Creek

on the east side or Lynches River on

the west side. Several bottomland

hardwood species and dense stands

of evergreen shrubs occur along

these streams forming pocosin

areas throughout the refuge. Thirty

man-made lakes and ponds and 1,200

acres of fallow fields, forest openings,

and cultivated fields contribute to the

diverse habitat found on the refuge.

Refuge Wildlife

The refuge supports a wide variety

of plants and animals including

190 species of birds, 42 species of

mammals, 41 species of reptiles, and

25 species of amphibians which are

known to occur.

Historically, bison, Florida panther,

red wolf and black bear were all

found in the refuge area before

habitat fragmentation caused their

demise. Although these magnificent

creatures have disappeared from the

landscape, an abundance of other

wildlife species are still found and are

protected on the refuge, including

several that are rare or unusual.

Several state and federally listed

threatened and endangered species

are found on the refuge including

the pine barrens treefrog, southern

bald eagle, and the red-cockaded

woodpecker. Unlike other

woodpeckers, the red-cockaded

roosts and nests in cavities of living

southern pines. RCW’s serve as an

indicator species for the health of the

longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem.

It is also referred to as a “keystone

species: having dozens of other

animals use its cavity either as a

convenience or a requirement. There

are also several plant species of

concern to be found on the refuge.

Ted Borg, SCDNR

Threatened

and Endangered

Species

Green-winged teal

(top) and hooded

merganser

Bill Alexander Bill Alexander

Ted Borg, SCDNR
Native Wildlife

Several species of waterfowl may

be found in the fall and winter,

including mallards, black ducks,

pintails, green-winged teal, American

widgeon, ring-necked ducks, and

hooded mergansers. Canada geese

and wood ducks may be seen year

round.

The refuge provides stop-over or

nesting habitat for many species of

neotropical migratory birds and

resident songbirds, including the

prairie warbler, Bachman’s sparrow,

American redstart, and Kentucky

warbler.

Great egrets and anhingas are seen

using refuge ponds in spring and fall,

and a resident population of nesting

great blue herons are frequently

seen throughout the refuge. Raptors

are numerous with red-tailed hawks,

northern harriers, and American

kestrels being commonly seen.

Southern bald eagles and osprey are

uncommon visitors to the refuge.

After the refuge’s establishment,

restocking of beaver, wild turkey and

white-tailed deer was necessary. In

the fifty years since the refuge was

founded, the deer population has

grown from an original restocking of

twelve deer to a capacity population

of healthy individuals, and beaver

and wild turkey populations have also

made impressive recoveries. Other

resident mammals which may be

seen include raccoon, opossum, otter,

fox, bobcat, fox squirrel and

cottontail rabbit.

Of the many reptile and amphibian

species found on the refuge, the pine

barrens treefrog is the most unique.

One of our more picturesque

amphibians, this bright green frog

inhabits boggy areas and breeds in

slow moving streamlets. Many places

on the refuge provide the unique

shrub-bog situation required for their

breeding.

Habitat Management

The refuge conducts a variety of

management programs to enhance

the diversity of habitats on the

refuge, benefitting a wide array of

wildlife species.

The endangered red-cockaded

woodpecker (RCW) receives special

consideration on the refuge. This

woodpecker needs older pine trees

for its cavities and extensive pine

forests to meet its foraging

requirements. Such habitat is

plentiful on the refuge and more is

being created as a result of

management practices which include

the installation of artificial nesting

cavities, population monitoring, and

progressive timber management

techniques.

Migratory and

Resident Birds

White-throated

sparrow (top)

and great blue

heron

Pine barrens

tree frog

Yellow-bellied sliders

Bill Alexander

Ted Borg, SCDNR

Bill Alexander

USFWS USFWS

USFWS

Red-cockaded

woodpecker

Installing

artificial RCW

cavity
151

145

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MC BEE

FIRE

TOWER

SCL RAILROAD

RUBY

FIRE

TOWER

HOPEWELL

CHURCH

McBee

Middendorf

Woodland 

Pond Wire Trail Road

1

Visitors

Drive

Visitors

Drive

Scotch

Road

Ruby

Hartsville

Road

To

Chesterfield

Catarrah

Road Refuge

Trail 1

OXPEN FARM UNIT

Little

Black 

Creek

Big

Black 

Creek

Pool L

Beaver 

Pond

Skipper

Creek

Lake

17

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

Lynches

River

Swift

Creek

Honkers Lake

Oxpen

Lake

Big

Sandy

Creek

Mays

Lake 

Black

Creek

Ham Branch

Creek

Little Alligator

Creek

Pool J

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Carolina Sandhills

National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Boundary

Freeway

Paved Road

Unpaved Road

Walking Trail

Office/Visitor Station

Visitor Information

Auto Tour Route

Interpretive Foot Trail

Lookout Tower

Closed Area

See enlargement on back inside cover.

Legend
Prescribed burning is conducted

to mimic the natural fires that

historically burned through longleaf

pine/wiregrass areas every few

years. These fires suppress the

growth of hardwood trees, creating

an open park-like situation preferred

by the RCW and many other animals

and plants native to this ecosystem.

The refuge now supports more

than 100 groups of RCW’s, making

it the largest population of this

endangered species found in the

National Wildlife Refuge System.

Their cavity trees have been

marked with a distinctive white

band for easy recognition and can

readily been seen throughout the

refuge, particularly in the Lake

Bee, Martins Lake, and

headquarters areas.

Pond water levels are manipulated

seasonally to encourage growth of

desired emergent aquatic vegetation

and control unwanted submergent

vegetation. This vegetation could

degrade a pond if left unchecked.

Water level manipulation can also

provide vegetation and invertebrate

food for fish and waterfowl.

Certain fields and forest clearings

are planted to food crops for wildlife

such as waterfowl, quail, dove,

turkey, and deer. Other areas are

planted to drought tolerant legumes

and grasses for soil enrichment and

stabilization. Still other areas are

mowed and/or burned periodically to

mimic the historic natural occurrence

of forest openings, contributing to

the overall habitat diversity.

Artificial nesting boxes are placed in

open areas for bluebirds and near

water for wood ducks. These boxes

supplement natural cavities, and are

regularly maintained by refuge staff T

and monitored for production.

ed Borg, SCDNR

Wood duck (top)

and red bellied

woodpecker

Ted Borg, SCDNR

USFWS USFWS

Ted Borg, SCDNR
January February

March

April

May

June

July

September

October

November

December

Seasonal Wildlife Events

In general, early morning and late

afternoon are the best times to view

wildlife. Following is a calendar of some

of the more notable “natural events”

occurring on Carolina Sandhills Refuge. Waterfowl concentrate on several

refuge ponds, especially Martins

Lake. An occasional bald eagle may

be seen soaring over refuge fields or

water areas. Hard freezes occur most

frequently in January. Wood ducks begin nest building in

artificial boxes and natural cavities. Trailing arbutus and butterwort are

among the earliest flowers to bloom.

White-tailed deer begin shedding old

antlers.

Great horned owls are tending to

young. Look for strutting turkeys in

open fields, particularly during early

morning hours. On dry, sandy ridges,

the rare Well’s pixie moss shows its

pale, pinkish-white colors. Depending

on water temperature, largemouth

bass may begin spawning.

The early arriving blue-gray

gnatcatcher builds its nest along

water courses as the resident

Bachman’s sparrow begins to sing in

field edges and mature pines.

Bluebird nestlings extend eager

beaks from within the many nesting

boxes on the refuge.

Neotropical songbird migration is in

full swing. Endangered red-cockaded

woodpeckers are nesting in mature

longleaf pines. Young wood ducks are

seen in vegetated perimeters of

ponds and lakes.

Near seepage bog edges, the pine

barrens treefrog can be heard calling at

night. White-tailed deer are giving birth

as are many other wildlife species. The

flower of several species of carnivorous

pitcher plants is prominent.

Most wildlife activity has slowed due

to hot weather. This, however, is the

best month for observing white-tailed

does with their fawns. Abundant

rainfall during the month is quickly

soaked up by the deep, sandy soils on

the refuge.

Many fall wildflowers, including

lobelia, blazing star and hairy falsefoxglove begin blooming on roadsides

and field edges. Listen for the call of

the chuck-will’s-widow and the whippoor-will. Noticeably cooler mornings

may occur late in the month.

One can see hawks, warblers and

other songbirds in fall migration

along pool edges and water courses.

Pine barrens gentians are one of the

last wildflowers to bloom.

October is an opportune time for bald

eagle observations. White-tailed

bucks begin rubbing the protective

velvet off of their antlers and stake

out a territory. The first frost arrives.

Early in the month, mockernut

hickory, red maple, blackgum, and

dogwood show their radiant fall

colors. Ducks, such as mallard,

gadwall, and widgeon have begun

arriving.

Canada geese are heard calling from

refuge ponds and lakes. Fox, bobcat

and raccoon may be seen with the

coming of winter and the reduction of

natural cover.

August

Bill Alexander

Bill Alexander

Bill Alexander

Brian Von Eerden

USFWS
Public Use Opportunities

The refuge offers numerous

experiences which enable visitors to

become acquainted with wildlife.

Facilities include an auto tour route,

two nature trails, two observation

towers and a photography blind.

Wildlife interpretive displays and

literature may be found at the main

entrance, refuge office, and Lake Bee

area to help the visitor better

understand the refuge and its

objectives. Environmental education

programs are conducted throughout

the year for school children, civic

organizations, and the general public.

Numerous ponds and lakes are open

for fishing, and limited hunting is

permitted for several species.

Consult the refuge office for current

regulations.

Enjoying the Refuge

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife

Refuge, located approximately

70 miles northeast of Columbia,

South Carolina and 75 miles

southeast of Charlotte, North

Carolina, is free of charge and open

year-round from sunrise to sunset.

The refuge office/visitor contact

station, located on U.S. Highway 1,

four miles northeast of McBee, is

open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm,

Monday through Friday.

In order to lessen the impacts to

wildlife and habitats, camping and

the use of off-road vehicles is

prohibited on the refuge.

All government property, including

natural, historical, and archaeological

features are protected by Federal

law. Searching for or removal of

objects of antiquity or other value is

strictly prohibited. Please do not pick

flowers or remove other vegetation.

Firearms are allowed only during

special hunts and must be unloaded

and encased or dismantled when

transported in vehicles.

Layered clothing during cool months

and the use of insect repellent during

warm months are recommended.

Binoculars, spotting scopes, and field

guides are also suggested.

For additional information, write to

Refuge Manager

Carolina Sandhills

National Wildlife Refuge

23734 Highway 1

McBee, SC 29101

Pool H

Pool G

Lake 16

Pool D

Twin

Lakes Martins

Lake

Lake 12

Lake Bee

Pool F

Pool E

145

Tate's Refuge Trail 9

Trail

Visitors Drive

Yellow pitcher

plants

USFWS

USFWS USFWS
Carolina Sandhills

National Wildlife Refuge

23734 Highway 1

McBee, SC 29101

803/335 8401

r4rw_sc.crs@fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://southeast.fws.gov

April 2002

Cover: USFWS