Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge includes forested wetlands in the lower 130 miles of the Roanoke River from the fall line at Weldon, NC downstream to the Albemarle Sound near Plymouth, NC. The refuge includes part of an extensive wetland ecosystem that contains excellent examples of several southeastern plant communities and habitat types. These include levee forest, cypress-gum swamp, oak-hickory ridges, mixed hardwood flats, oxbows, beaver ponds, and blackwater streams. These communities add to the rich mosaic of habitat types in the river's floodplain. The refuge includes some more valuable wetlands for fish and wildlife, especially waterfowl, neotropical migrants, and anadromous fish. Historical economical uses have been commercial fishing and logging. Recreational uses are primarily hunting and fishing. The refuge has excellent birding opportunities.