Weather and wildlife management activities have led to the temporary closures of several refuge roads to vehicles and/or general public access. The map and descriptions below summarize current road status as of Feb 15, 2023. A complete map of the refuge can be found in the Refuge Tearsheet at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alligator-river/library .
Laurel Bay Unit
The Laurel Bay Unit is the farming unit west of Buffalo City Road. During the month of February, the unit is open to the public. Currently, all roads in the unit except those described below are open to vehicle traffic. Staff will monitor weather conditions going forward.
Management actions for wildlife will prevent the opening of the roads and the western-most impoundment south of Laurel Bay Road to all public access. Hook Road, Osprey Road, and impoundment dikes will be gated or blocked to prevent public access to this area, including foot traffic.
Bay and Cypress Rds
Due to major holes in the dirt roads, Bay and Cypress Roads will be closed to vehicle traffic starting Friday, January 6, 2023 and will stay closed until staff have time to fix the major holes in the dirt roads.
Lower Creef Unit
The Service will close Link Road at the intersection with Long Curve Road, Grouse Road at the intersection with Long Curve Road, and Bear Road at the intersection with Borrow Pit Road December 17, 2022 through February 28, 2023. Gates will be installed at the three locations, and the roads will be closed to all traffic, including foot traffic. The road closures will also result in a closure of the Lower Creef Unit to small game hunting. However, the majority of the Refuge is currently open to hunting, and all other areas remain open.
The closures are necessary to give the Milltail pack of Red Wolves an opportunity to utilize this additional area, similar to the use of the Twiford and Upper Creef Units, which close to all public entry beginning November 1. Service staff have been monitoring high visitation pressure on Link Road, Gadwall Road, and Bear Road over the past year. Staff have identified instances of Red Wolves becoming habituated or displaying a lack of fear of people as a result of vehicles remaining in an area for long periods of time, people saturating an area outside of their vehicles for long periods of time, and people accidentally or intentionally leaving food that attracts several wildlife species.
Staff have adapted over the year and implemented a number of measures to minimize human-wildlife interactions to keep the area open to visitors for as long as possible. The next few months are critical months for the Milltail pack as we approach breeding and denning season. The closures will protect the ability of the breeding pair to move as needed and prepare for a new litter. Alligator River NWR may open, and then close, the roads intermittently over the next few months based on Red Wolf activity and behavior. Visitors will still be able to travel the Wildlife Drive, the entirety of Long Curve Road, and Borrow Pit Road, as well as visit the remainder of the Refuge roads open at this time of year. Additionally, the Service has reopened Chip Road to vehicle traffic.
Red Wolf Recovery Program staff will be continually monitoring red wolf activity and occasionally trapping in the area of the closures throughout this time period. The most reliable source for current information about red wolves is the Red Wolf Recovery Program website, https://www.fws.gov/project/red-wolf-recovery-program
Original source can be found here
