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Story by Cindy Reid
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One of our true local treasures is right at our doorstep. Our Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is home to an incredible amount of wildlife, plant diversity and local history within its 30,000 acres, and it is convenient and free to visit! Spread across two states—Chatham and Effingham counties in Georgia and Jasper County in South Carolina—the refuge is a popular spot for hikers, bird watchers and nature photographers.
The Savannah NWR contains a multitude of habitats such as freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods. The hardwood trees are primarily cypress, gum, and maple— trees not found in most areas anymore.
Because the Savannah River and other smaller rivers run through the refuge, it is able to support an enormous array of wildlife. Deer, bobcats, fox, otters and alligators all make it their home. Birders come from far and wide to catch sight of the huge variety of resident and migratory birds that populate the refuge.
In addition to being a wildlife habitat, the Savannah NWR is a significant historical location with 36 historic and prehistoric archeological sites that have been located and inventoried. For thousands of years, Native Americans both occupied and passed through the area and by the mid-18th century, rice planters were farming much of the land. The old rice levees—built by hand—form the basis for the current impoundment dikes that are an important part of the eco system today. Remnants of the original structures can still be seen in some places.
National Wildlife Refuge Designation
The Savannah NWR was originally established in 1927 as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds. In 1931, another 207 acres were added to the refuge and it was named the Savannah River Wildlife Refuge. In 1936 an additional 6,527 acres were added to the refuge and on July 25, 1940, it was renamed the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
As with the National Park system, the first National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. An ardent conservationist, he would go on to create 50 more federal bird reserves and four national game preserves within the refuge system.
Refuges are not the same as national or state parks. They are designated conservation areas with minimal development used mainly for wildlife observation, photography, education, hunting and fishing. Camping is not permitted at refuges. Although refuges are primarily ‘left alone’ refuge management will step in to help restore natural habitats if necessary.
The Savannah NWR is one of seven refuges administered by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex, headquartered in Hardeeville SC. The seven refuges span a 100-mile stretch of coastline and total 57,226 acres.
Wildlife Abound
The Savannah NWR is birders paradise. As a safe fly-over and rest stop during spring and fall bird migration, the Savannah NWR is an important link in the chain of wildlife refuges along the Atlantic Flyway. It provides nesting habitat for wood ducks, purple gallinules, bald eagles, anhingas, and swallow-tailed kites, among many others. Wood Storks, federally endangered, forage here. Redcoakaded Woodpeckers and Least Terns, also endangered, nest here. Thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and colonial waterbirds use the refuge yearround and seasonally. You truly never know what bird you may see here!
The American alligator lives in the refuge wetlands and although they are considered dangerous, they typically pose no serious threat if left alone. It is a violation of state and federal law to feed or harass alligators in any way.
