currituck wildlife center

Turn left at the first traffic light to head north on Highway 64 Business intoManteo. It is illegal to approach and pet the wild horses, however visitors are free to take photos provided they remain at a safe distance that is at least 50 feet away. In addition to the physical boats on display, a powerful visitor experience is delivered through stunning photography, breathtaking videography, hands-on exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs. Sorry, no records were found. Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education--Boardwalk Trail. The Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is open year-round to visitors, from sunrise until sunset. For more information, visit the Visitors Center. However, visitors to the refuge simply fall in love with its beauty, its undisturbed wildlife, and its miles of clear blue shorelines. 8:00 a.m. to Sunset. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center, Coastal North Carolina NWRs Gateway Visitor Center Trail Map, Coastal North Carolina NWRs Georeferenced Trail Map, Gateway National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center Flyer, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is composed of both forested wetlands and open marsh and features thousands of migratory waterfowl during the winter, including Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 and features an extensive, relatively undisturbed coastal marsh, along with pocosin and woodland habitat. Explore theVisitor Center Exhibits, browse theArt Expo, or spend some time shopping in the Wild Things Gift Shop, operated by the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society. Once spotted, the areas are partitioned off from human traffic to ensure the eggs are protected and can properly mature, and in a few weeks' time, the turtles eventually hatch and make a mad dash back to the ocean. Thank you for subscribing. The Currituck Maritime Museum exhibits historic boats, artifacts, and other displays that will tell the stories of local businesses and citizens who have lived and worked on the various waterways of the region. In front of the Visitor Center is a pollinator garden filled with native plants that support many species of native pollinators and other wildlife. Development as a resort area began in earnest in the 1800's. Currituck County Department of Animal Services and Control is responsible for the Animal. There were no paved roads along the northern Outer Banks until the 1960s and 1970s, so these vacationers had to either commission a local hunting guide to trek them up the beach to the best fishing and hunting spots, or attempt to navigate their vehicle through miles of sandy tracks, muddy ditches, and uneven paths that ran through the dune lines. Geared towards visitors of all ages, the events are typically free and can include kayaking or fishing exhibitions, craft projects, lectures and talks, and special presentations by guest speakers. Wild horses have also been spotted in wooded neighborhoods all along the 4WD area of Carova. 2022 Corolla Beach House. In fact, visitors will find a wide range of reptiles, fish, plant life, and mammals around every sand dune and unmarked trail. After about 13.5 miles, cross the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge ontoRoanoke Island. Each section of land has its own unique characteristics and habitats, and each is wide open to the public to explore. But the Corolla Wild Horses aren't the only animals who call the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge home. Many of our businesses and attractions host their own fun-filled events. With over 4,000 acres to explore, and some of the best fishing, hunting, birding, and photo opts that the Outer Banks has to offer, visitors who love a natural retreat will be happy to flock to the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, whether it's for a day, a week, or even a lifetime. This incredible collection of habitats, broken up only by a few residential communities here and there, provide virtually every kind of Outer Banks environment, from the marshlands, to the big patches of maritime woods, to the mud flats and grassy dunes, to both sound and ocean beaches. Visitors can expect to see a number of wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl while touring the site, including Canadian geese and ducks, white swans, ibises, osprey, egrets, and occasional great blue herons. Course classes begin on Thursday, September 5, 2023 and run through December 12, 2023. This refuge is so large that it actually takes up six separate components in the ten-mile stretch of beach between Corolla and the Virginia border. This makes exploring a little easier, certainly, as it only takes an afternoon or evening stroll to explore the sandy dunes and wooded maritime forests in the heart of the refuge. The refuge restores, enhances and maintains the natural processes and diversity of beach, dune, interdunal, maritime forest and marsh habitats to ensure optimum ecological productivity as well as to protect the water quality of Currituck Sound. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the refuge consists of 2,033 acres of wetlands or marshes, 778 acres of wooded forests, 874 areas of brush, and 418 acres of beaches. There are a number of restaurants located in the town of Corolla, which is just south of the refuge, however there are no restaurants in the 4WD Carova region, where the bulk of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is situated. The Gateway Visitor Center serves as an introduction to the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex, as well as two other refuges and a national fish hatchery in the area: Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Edenton National Fish Hatchery. Visitors can take NC Highway 12 north to the town of the Corolla to reach the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, which is located off of Village Lane, and is within strolling distance of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Historic Corolla Park, and the Whalehead Club. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is a first-order lighthouse, having the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes. 2 PM OfflineEventAttendanceMode N.C. Sharon Meade, the centers curator and public relations liaison said the setting is perfect. Pull up the map on your phone's browser, tap the "share" icon (arrow coming out of a box), and select Avenza from the list of apps. Where is the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education? By the time NC Highway 12 was finished, however, running all the way to the northern edge of Corolla, the secret was out and scores of vacationers headed north to enjoy some of the Outer Banks' best beaches. Subscribe to our mailing list to keep yourself updated with all the happenings at Currituck. Once you've taken in all the center has to offer, your adventure in the area's cultural history continues when you visit the Currituck Beach Lighthouse next door. Wednesdays - June 14th- September 13th, 2023, Wednesdays: June 14th- September 13th from 3pm-6pm, Currituck County Rural Center: 184 Milburn Sawyer Rd.,Powells Point, NC, Fridays & Saturdays: November 25, 2022-December 17, 2022. The open shorelines are also fine spots to catch a number of shorebirds, such as gulls, terns, sanderlings, and plovers. Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. There may also be a small fee to participate in some of the events and programs at the center. The entire building is handicap-accessible. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Fires, littering, and camping are all prohibited within the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. From there, visitors can use a 4WD vehicle, (or enjoy a long walk along the beach), to reach the varying parcels of the refuge. After about 4.5 miles, turn left at the sign for the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center. Welcome Center106 Caratoke Highway Turn left onto Highway 64 West (signs for Manteo). Also, Ducks Unlimited got it's start in the area way back when," she explained. Can you camp in the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge? Subscribe to our mailing list to keep yourself updated with all the happenings at Currituck. Consider booking a wildlife. 2017 Currituck County . After about 4.5 miles, turn left at the sign for the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center. Museums in Corolla include the new-in-2006 Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, the Wild Horse Museum, the Whalehead Club, and the original keepers quarters / museum at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Visitors can often spot the wild horses along the beaches, or in the dunes that border the shoreline. A short interpreted nature trail wanders through the woods behind the center. Update your listing by messaging us Colin Gallagher. We currently have 22 of them on display at the center and they truly are works of art," explained Meade. Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education The Whalehead Club Historic House Museum The Center offers both indoor and outdoor attractions for visitors to enjoy. Please close the gate behind you. Where can you stay at the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge? Come see us at the show for firearm raffles, free hunt raffles and to get your 2023 NCDU Calendars! Easy answer according to Meade. Website. They went through great efforts to visit the Outer Banks for one reason: Exceptional fishing. After these large parcels of land were sectioned off, developers soon realized that the eventual goal to extend NC Highway 12 all the way to the Virginia Border could never come to fruition, as it would require huge easements through several large tracts of government-protected reserves and refuges. Please turn on for a full experience. Historic Corolla Park Currituck Bulls and BBQ November 4, 2023 Currituck County Rural Center: 184 Milburn Sawyer Rd., Powells Point, NC Christmas Craft Village Friday, November 24, 2022 Historic Corolla Park Whalehead's Candlelight Christmas Fridays & Saturdays: November 25, 2022-December 17, 2022 Whalehead in Historic Corolla Part of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the Center is located in Corolla at Currituck Heritage Park. The center is located on the grounds of Historic Corolla Park. Visitors will find that a thorough exploration of the refuge, (off the oceanfront beaches, of course, which are easily accessible), will entail parking and strolling west, towards the thickets of shrubs, forests, and soundside habitats. Sorry, no records were found. Do you need a 4WD vehicle to get to the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge? Hatteras Island Ocean Center - 57204 North Carolina Highway 12, Hatteras NC 27943. In all the commotion, new developments of vacation rental homes, condos, hotels, restaurants, and shops started to spring up throughout the village, and locals, (as well as the state and federal government), began to worry about the future of the natural condition of the area. Corolla, NC 27927 252-453-9612. (The Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve, which borders the southern end of the refuge, was dedicated just one year later in 1985.). 2023 Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Currituck County Dept. We do not guarantee that the websites we link to comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Currituck DU will have a booth at the Currituck Wildlife Festival and will be hosting an online auction in conjunction with the show! When is the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education open? With little development and hundreds of acres of room to roam, the refuge is one of the best locales for birds on the Northern Outer Banks, from the dense sand along the ocean wash to the tall grassy marshes of the Currituck Sound. The refuge is located on Knotts Island in Currituck County, North Carolina, and includes lands in Virginia Beach, Virginia Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, in Bertie County, North Carolina, is named for the Roanoke River, which runs through the refuge. How much is admission for the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education? "The wild horses of Corolla have lived on the Outer Banks for nearly 500 years. The official state horse of North Carolina, the Corolla Wild Horses are descendants of colonial Spanish Mustangs brought by explorers nearly 500 years ago. Visit their website at NC Wildlife Commission. Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Learn more about national wildlife refuge, Currituck National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Regulations. How do you get to the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge? Due to a very low chance of survival in human care, adults of these . One of the most famous amphibious creatures, however, only visits the refuge for a night or even for just a couple of hours - the loggerhead turtle. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Most of the exploring through the refuge will have to be on foot. Welcome Center 106 Caratoke Highway Moyock, NC 27958 252-435-2947. The Wild Horse Museum, operated by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, is free and open to the public year-round. Colin Gallagher. With the exception of a few vacation rental home communities, Carova still remains virtually as wild and untamed as it was a century ago. Visitor Guide Visit Knott's Island Knott's Island is a little known treasure for visitors to the Currituck Outer Banks. Horses were pushed south and north of Nags Head. Who manages the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education? The Center offers both indoor and outdoor attractions for visitors to enjoy. The center hosts 5,000 square feet of displays and artifacts that interpret the rich natural and cultural history associated with northeastern North Carolina. Every community has a story and a resonant heritage, and as a result, the Outer Banks is home to a number of locally and nationally renowned museums honoring the area's unique stories, culture and landmarks. We hope to see you soon. Frequent visitors attest that the late fall, winter, and early spring months are the best time to visit the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, both because of the lack of humid weather and mosquitos, and because of the increased traffic in wintering waterfowl and migrating species of birds. The center, which opened in 2006, is an impressive and marvelous 22,000 square foot interpretive center for young and old alike to explore the history and vast diversity of North Carolina's wildlife. Three additional parking areas are located in Swan Beach and North Swan Beach, behind the residential communities, and providing easy access to a refuge big game hunting area. 8955 Caratoke Highway Point Harbor, North Carolina 27964 . You are now signed up to receive all the latest Corolla and Currituck Outer Banks news and tips! However, there are five distinct and separate administrative offices. Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve, 4WD vehicle is required to reach these refuge components, Carova region of the northern Outer Banks, https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pdf/regulations/currituck-national-wildlife-refuge-hunt.pdf, Don't have a 4WD vehicle or access to a boat? Fishing is allows throughout the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge per state regulations. Can you fish at the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge? We hope to see you soon. 2023 Currituck County, NC. While there are no public boat ramps located within the refuge on the Currituck Banks, avid boaters will find plenty of launching points on the mainland of Currituck County and on adjacent Knott's Island. 248 248 Center-for-Wildlife-Education Previous Image Next Image . The center is located on the grounds of Historic Corolla Park. Exhibit topics include: restored historical boats, fishing, lifesaving stations, lighthouses, the boat-building industry, decoy carving, weather and more. Please scroll down to explore and learn more. After the paved NC Highway 12 ends in Corolla, refuge visitors must travel along the beach in a 4WD vehicle to access even the refuge borders, which are located about three-quarters of a mile off the main paved road. As more vacationers headed to Corolla, more wild horse casualties occurred, with a number being injured or even killed by the increasing vehicular traffic. Unlike gulls, terns will dive into the water for small fish. Theres also a small parcel of the refuge and the Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve thats located on the borders of Corolla, off of Ocean Trail and North Beach Access Road. The first section of the refuge is located just north of the Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve, and stretches from the ocean to the sound. Getting there was quite the adventure in and of itself. Currituck NWR, located on the northern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks, was established in 1984 to preserve and protect the coastal barrier island ecosystem. Subscribe to our mailing list to keep yourself updated with all the happenings at Currituck. This was compounded by the effect of development on the world-famous Corolla Wild Horses, a centuries-old breed of feral mustangs that date back to the Spanish shipwrecks of the 1500s or early 1600s. We have several tour companies that can get you within picture-taking distance while also giving you a great history lesson about the horses and the area itself. Conservation Way (the entrance road to the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center) is located on the southeast side of US Highway 64 Business, just southwest of the entrance to Ft. Raleigh National Historic Site, The Lost Colony, and the Elizabethan Gardens.