In which US state is the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge?

The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is in North Carolina. It lies in the state’s eastern Coastal Plain, mainly across Dare and Hyde Counties along the Atlantic coast.

Established in 1984, the refuge protects about 152,000 acres of pocosin wetlands, marshes, swamps, and associated coastal habitats. Its name comes from the nearby Alligator River, which flows into Albemarle Sound.

The refuge is especially notable for its wildlife. It supports black bears, alligators, waterfowl, wading birds, and the endangered red wolf. It became a major site in the red wolf recovery program when captive-bred wolves were released there beginning in 1987.

A common mix-up is confusing the refuge with similarly named protected areas in South Carolina or Florida. Although all three states have important coastal wetlands and wildlife refuges, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is specifically a North Carolina preserve.