Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina.
Roanoke River NWR was established in 1989 to protect and enhance wooded wetlands consisting of bottomland hardwoods and swamps with high waterfowl value along the Roanoke River. The extensive bottomland hardwood habitat of the Roanoke River NWR is part of what the Nature Conservancy calls "one of the last great places." Refuge lands consist of bottomland hardwood forest interspersed with cypress-tupelo sloughs that 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, bottomland hardwoods, oxbows, beaver ponds and blackwater streams. These communities add to the rich mosaic of habitat types in the river's floodplain. The refuge includes valuable wetlands for fish and wildlife; especially waterfowl, neotropical migrants, and anadromous fish. The refuge hosts 214 species of birds, including 88 breeding resident species and the largest inland heron rookery in the state; white-tailed deer; one of the largest natural wild turkey populations in North Carolina; and a remnant population of black bear along with numerous small game and a diversity of fish species including anadromous fish.
The Refuge itself is made up of various tracts of land. Contact the office for directions to the different locations.
Refuge Headquarters:
From Williamston – Take US Hwy 13/17 N, then turn right onto US Hwy 17 Business N. In approximately one mile, you will turn right into the Headquarters Office driveway. There is a wooden farmer's market building in front of ours and a Refuge sign next to the driveway. Follow the driveway to our parking area in the front of the building.
From Edenton – From the HWY 17 S Bypass, turn left onto Business HWY 17/South King Street. Continue until you reach the stoplight. Turn left onto Business 17; in a couple blocks you will turn left into the Headquarters Office driveway. There is a wooden farmer's market building in front of ours and a Refuge sign next to the driveway. Follow the driveway to our parking area in the front of the building.
From Ahoskie – Take US Hwy 13 S. into Windsor on King Street. Turn right (at the 2nd Stoplight) onto Bus 17. In a couple of blocks you will turn left into the Headquarters Office driveway. There is a wooden farmer's market building in front of ours and a Refuge sign next to the driveway. Follow the driveway to our parking area in the front of the building.