Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 and features an extensive, relatively undisturbed coastal marsh, along with pocosin and woodland habitat. The marsh and surrounding waters provide wintering habitat for thousands of ducks and nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds and secretive marshbirds. The brackish marsh is home to North Carolina’s largest population of eastern black rail (threatened) as well as the rare McGillivray’s seaside sparrow.
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Wildlife Management
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully manages trapping activities on national wildlife refuges to ensure that safe, effective practices are used, to ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations, and to protect refuge infrastructure. Trapping may be used as a wildlife management tool...
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The refuge offers numerous hiking, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, boating, fishing, and hunting opportunities. The refuge’s marshes are alive with waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, wading birds, marsh birds, mink, otter, and other wildlife species; the sounds of songbirds, wood ducks, and deer echo in the forests. There are two public boat ramps with launching and parking facilities. The refuge’s firebreaks and access roads are used by the public for hiking, biking, and bird watching. Visitors may (carefully) pull off on the side of NC Highway 12 to view wildlife.
