South Carolina Wildlife Refuges

Incredible. Wonderful. Beautiful... And wild.

You may not know that there are more than 20 South Carolina wildlife refuges, or that many are recognized as some of the finest in the nation. These diverse refuges seek to protect South Carolina river wildlife, mixed hardwoods, mixed pine-hardwood, pine plantations, marsh, croplands, old fields, ponds, impoundments and open waters located throughout the Palmetto State.

South Carolina wildlife refuges also seek to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and provide protection for endangered and threatened species including the bald eagle, red wolves, the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, American alligator and other South Carolina river wildlife.

During the winter months, the bald eagle and even the endangered peregrine falcon can be seen. From November through February migrating waterfowl such as mallards, pintails, teal and wood ducks along with Canada geese are frequent flyers. Throughout the year red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks can be viewed soaring overhead, as can a variety of songbirds in the trees, and wild turkey in the underbrush. 

For casual sightseers some of the forests also provide a home for white-tailed deer and other woodland creatures such as raccoons, squirrels and bobcats. The ponds and marshes provide a home for South Carolina river wildlife such as alligators, not to mention a number of other reptiles and amphibians.