Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge protects 152,000 acres of wetlands on North Carolina’s Atlantic Coastal Plain. Established in 1984 to preserve pocosin shrub bogs and the wildlife tied to them, it includes an unusually diverse mix of habitats such as marshes, bogs, hardwood swamps, and Atlantic white cypress swamps. Its plants range from pitcher plants and sundews to pond pine and red maple, supporting waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, otters, deer, and alligators. The refuge is especially significant for conservation, notably as a premier habitat for the American black bear and for its association with the endangered red wolf. Restoration of natural water levels also helps rebuild habitat and reduce fire danger.