The woods are home to white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, eastern cottontail rabbits, raccoons, and opossum. On the mainland to the west of Roanoke Island is the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 150,000 acres of wetlands and wooded fields and is home to black bears, white-tailed deer, gray fox, bobcats, raccoons, mink, beaver, squirrels, possum, river otter, nutria, alligators, and the protected red wolves. In 1987, federal wildlife officials released four pairs of red wolves onto the refuge that covers parts of mainland Dare, Hyde, and Tyrrell counties. More than 50 red wolves have been set free in this area so far, and at least 25 pups have been born in the wilds of northeastern North Carolina.
Local officials say they have no records of red wolves becoming aggressive with people.
Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary at Pine Island Audubon is a northern Outer Banks, 5,000-acre wildlife sanctuary at Pine Island, and is a protected habitat for deer, birds, rabbits, and a huge variety of plant life. There is an unmarked 2-mile trail you can walk, but the sanctuary is not really a park for people. While you are allowed to wander down the path, there is no planned parking. The land is primarily soundside marshland with lots of pine trees and waterfowl. The sanctuary runs 3 miles long north to south and is approximately 200 yards wide from east to west.