U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo National Wildlife Refuge System Logo Celebrating a Century of Conservation
Banner graphic displaying the Fish & Wildlife Service logo, the National Wildlife Refuge System logo and the Celebrating a Century of Conservation tagline
Savannah
National Wildlife Refuge		 Photo collage of Tupelo Trail, a 14 ft. American alligator, a Virginia rail feeding in the marsh and one of Savannah NWR's many freshwater impoundments.
Administrative Office - 1000 Business Center Drive
Suite 10 - Savannah, GA
Hardeeville, SC   31405
E-mail: savannahcoastal@fws.gov
Phone Number: 912-652-4415
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://www.fws.gov/savannah/		 The 3,000 acres of freshwater impoundments, managed for waterfowl and home to the refuge's most notorious resident, the American alligator, were formerly the rice fields of pl
Blue horizontal line
  Overview
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah NWR, which lies on both the South Carolina and Georgia sides of the Savannah River just upriver from the city of Savannah, Georgia, was established April 6, 1927. The refuge 28,168 acres include bottomland hardwoods and tidal freshwater marsh. A 3,000 acre fringe area of upland hardwoods exists along the eastern boundary. An additional 3,000 acres forming an impoundment system are managed for migratory wading birds and waterfowl. These freshwater impoundments were formerly the rice fields of plantations dating back to the mid or late 1700's. Many of the dikes enclosing these pools were originally built during the rice culture era.

The refuge is home to a large variety of wildlife including: ducks, geese, wading birds, shorebirds and several endangered and/or threatened species including bald eagles, wood storks, manatees and shortnose sturgeon. The refuge also provides nesting areas for wood ducks, great horned owls, bald eagles, osprey and swallow-tailed kites among others.

Motorists are welcome on the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, off of S.C. 170, which meanders along four miles of earthen dikes through the managed freshwater pools and hardwood hammocks. During the spring and fall, you will usually see many alligators sunning themselves on the banks of waterways, along with an assortment of wading birds. During the winter months, waterfowl and other migratory birds are visible in the impoundment system.


Getting There . . .
Savannah NWR is located on SC 170, six miles south of Hardeeville, South Carolina via US 17 (exit 5 off I-95) or one mile north of Port Wentworth, Georgia on GA 25/SC 170 (take I-95 Exit 109 to GA 21 South, then east on GA 30 to GA 25 North).

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address:

Your full starting address AND town and state OR zip code


Google Maps opens in a new window

NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service domain. We do not control the content or policies of the site you are about to visit. You should always check site policies before providing personal information or reusing content.

These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

horizontal line


     Recreation and Education Opportunities
Environmental Education
Fishing
Hunting
Interpretation
Photography
Wildlife Observation
 Learn More >>

Dark blue horizontal line

Managment Activities

The majority of Savannah's management program is focused on the vast freshwater impoundment system which provides habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl. Techniques like moist soil management, mowing, discing, water level manipulation, and occasional farming are used to provide these birds areas for food, cover, and rest. Due to the presence of a full-time fire crew at the Savannah NWR, prescribed burning has also become an extremely effective tool for managing the impoundment system.

Deer and other upland game species are managed with a public hunting program. Certain areas of the refuge are open to deer, hog, squirrel, turkey, and waterfowl hunting in accordance with state regulations and seasons.