Local National Wildlife Refuges Announce Beginning of Summer Visitor Programs

Today, Rebekah Martin, Project Leader for the Coastal NC National Wildlife Refuges Complex, announced the summer schedule for guided interpretive and educational programs at Pea Island and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuges. Programs will begin June 15 and run throughout the summer. Offerings will include the popular interpretive canoe tours at both refuges, turtle talks, bird walks, and open-air tram tours. For more information about the programs, a current schedule, and information about reservations, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/ncgatewayvc/spec.html or call 252-216-9464.

“Our staff and volunteers are ready and excited to offer programs that will help you make lasting memories while learning about the wildlife and wildlands of the national treasures that are our national wildlife refuges,” said Martin.

In addition to the weekly programs, Martin announced another popular annual event taking place in 2021. The traditional, long-standing Pea Island Refuge Crabbing/Fishing Rodeo will be held June 12 from 9am to noon.

The Pea Island Visitor Center and the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center (NWRVC) on Roanoke Island are open to the public from 9am until 4pm each day, except NWRVC, the Roanoke Island facility, is open noon to 4pm on Sundays. Volunteers operate both facilities, greeting visitors with refuge information about the local national wildlife refuges.

The Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society (CWRS), the Friends Group that supports the nine refuges in eastern North Carolina, operates gift stores in both Visitor Centers. CWRS uses profits from the gift stores to support the volunteer program on the refuges and to provide funding for enhancements and improvements on visitor trails, information signage, overlooks, and equipment, such as binoculars. Mike Bryant, President of the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, expressed a warm welcome to visitors planning to attend programs this summer, visit wildlife refuges in eastern North Carolina, or stop in at a Visitor Center. Bryant shared, “We’re thrilled and excited to get back to doing what we do best – helping refuges give visitors a high quality and memorable experiences on these national wildlife refuges. We want you to value them as much as we do!”

For more details about these facilities, programs, and activities, follow us on Facebook @USFWS.NC and/or check our web pages: https://www.fws.gov/ncgatewayvc https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alligator_river/ https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pea_island/