Site Description: Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is located in Anson and Richmond Counties approximately six miles north of Wadesboro, NC. The site consists of a variety of habitat types along the Yadkin-Pee Dee River.  Freshwater wetlands are found throughout and include small creeks, five ponds, one lake, two moist soil units, six impoundments and one green-tree reservoir. Uplands inlcuding mixed deciduous forests, upland pine forests, old fields and farmland are found throughout. Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 "for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose for migratory birds." It is located adjacent to the famous "Lockhart Daddy Wild Goose Refuge" that provided sanctuary to over 15,000 Canadian Geese during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Habitats: Bottomland hardwood forest, mixed forest, agricultural fields, open fields, managed impoundments

Land Use: wildlife conservation, recreation/tourism

Primary Threats: water pollution, energy generation, deforestation/tree cutting, recreational overuse, residential/commercial development

Protection Status: protected and managed by US Fish and Wildlife Service

Conservation Issues: Water Pollution by Non-point discharges upstream on Brown Creek is a major concern to the aquatic environment to all species. There is a proposed landfill upstream. There is a hog operation nearby on Hurricane Creek that spray irrigates. Primarily, the conservation issue with bird management is clear-cutting on adjacent lands, then converting it to loblolly pine

Birds: For 34 years the refuge has been managed primarily for waterfowl and the Southern James Bay Canada goose. However, special emphases has been placed on the neotropical migratory songbirds by establishing, in recent years, a M.A.P.S. station. In addition to M.A.P.S., research and monitoring projects have been conducted fro more than 25 years (Criteria 5). The 3000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest is the largest and last intact community of this type left in the state (Criteria 3). The refuge has been managed for endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker and will continue to reach the recovery goal of 10 clusters. Bald Eagles are seen frequently during the winter along the floodplain of the Pee Dee River. The refuge is currently updating the bird list which contains 170 species. Approximately 17 birds of NC Special Concern and Watchlist species are documented on the refuge. The variety of habitat is diverse to suite the needs of several different bird species. Waterfowl have peaked to over 10,000 birds in one season.