Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina.
The refuge was established on March 17, 1939 to provide habitat for migratory birds, to demonstrate sound management practices that enhance natural resource conservation, and to provide wildlife-oriented recreation opportunities. The Federal government purchased land from willing sellers. Much of the land was eroded from poor farming and forestry practices and supported few populations of wildlife species; initial conservation efforts focused on restoring the barren land.
Located in the Sandhills Physiographic Region of South Carolina, the Carolina Sandhills NWR is one of the Southeast’s premier sites for viewing the longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem and is comprised of 47,850 acres, including fee ownership of 45,348 acres, and nine conservation easements totaling 2,502 acres. The majority of the refuge lies in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. There is one fee title tract totaling 210 acres in Marlboro County. Numerous small creeks and tributaries, along with thirty man-made lakes and ponds and 1,200 acres of fields, support a diversity of habitats for wildlife.
Along with rolling sand hills, the refuge is home to streamside pocosins (translated “swamp on a hill”), open fields, hardwood ridges, wetlands and open water ponds. This mosaic of habitats provides for the needs of more than 190 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 41 species of reptiles, and 25 species of amphibians. More than 1,000 species of plants have been identified on the refuge, including rare species of pitcher plants, Well’s pixie-moss, and the white-wicky. The refuge supports a secondary recovery population of the red-cockaded woodpecker and numerous species of pine-grassland birds, including Northern bobwhite quail, Bachman’s sparrow, Chuck-will’s-widows, and American Kestrel.
Activities and Experiences
Nearby Activities
- Auto Touring
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Interpretive Programs
- Observation Site
- Paddling
- Photography
- Wildlife Viewing
Directions
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately 70 miles northeast of Columbia, South Carolina, and 75 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina. The main entrance is on US Highway 1, about 4 miles northeast from the small town of McBee, S.C. The nearest larger town with full services is Hartsville, S.C.
