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This 700-foot boardwalk, constructed over a section of wetlands in the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge near Wadesboro, was built entirely out of recycled plastic. It offers a close-up view of fish and other wildlife that inhabit the area’s swamps
The Pee Dee refuge is near what was once "Lockhart Gaddy's Wild Goose Refuge," which was visited by people from 47 states and 11 foreign countries from the 1930s through the 1950s and was home to an estimated 10,000 geese.
The 8,443-acre refuge, six miles north of Wadesboro, is home to a variety of wildlife, including waterfowl like ducks and geese, as well as white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, bobcat, squirrels, and the cottontail rabbit. There are also all sorts of amphibians and reptiles, such as frogs, salamanders, turtles and copperhead snakes.
"The best time to look for wildlife is early morning and late afternoon," said J.D. Bricken, refuge manager and federal law enforcement officer, adding that the refuge is open to the public from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
Although it is in name and title a wildlife refuge, the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge offers more than just a glimpse of wild animals in their natural habitat.
"There are actually six public use objectives," Bricken said— fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, wildlife photography and public education.
Each year, the refuge hosts all second- and third-grade classes in the county for environmental education field trips. It also hosts hunting days, like a turkey shoot that was held on Thursday, April 16.
The 300 acres located directly behind the office are always open to the public and closed to hunting, Bricken said. That includes Sullivan Pond, which is open year-round for fishing. In fact, a pier was recently built on the pond, allowing for even easier access to fishing. Directly behind the pond is a 700-foot boardwalk over wetlands, leading to a deck situated in the trees, offering a cool spot in the shade. The boardwalk was built entirely of recycled plastic, Bricken pointed out.
The wetland area, also known as a swamp, is home to baby green sunfish, as well as various types of aquatic grass and other fish.
In addition to the picturesque pond and wetlands, the refuge also offers three hiking trails, which are open to the public. The Tall Pines Nature Trail, which is half a mile, and Brown Creek Nature Trail, a quarter of a mile, are both accessible from Wildlife Drive, while the Gaddy Covered Bridge Nature Trail, made up of two quarter-mile segments, can be reached from One Way Road. The Gaddy Covered Bridge is open, although a section of the trail just beyond the bridge is currently closed to help build the waterfowl population.
Every now and then, Bricken explained, portions of the refuge are closed off to rehabilitate the habitat for certain animals, like waterfowl in the fall and winter. To draw in waterfowl, fields and some wooded areas are intentionally flooded. The ducks and geese can then feed off old corn in the fields, or other food sources in the forests.
"That's why refuges exist— it wouldn't be profitable for anyone else to do that," Bricken said.
Parts of the wooded areas are also burned every few years to root out sweet gum trees, which can be intrusive on the more productive pines. The refuge's largest lake, Arrowhead, is also closed for fishing until March 15, 2011, while it is restocked with several fish species. However, Bricken pointed out, the public is still welcome to come out and enjoy the pier at the lake by sitting and reading a book, for example.
Interested?
For more information about the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge and the activities it offers, call 704-694-4424 or visit www.fws.gov/peedee.
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