An opportunity for you to walk where Francis Marion did in 1781 with costumed volunteers and
to view life on the backcountry frontier of the Santee River and experience the natural setting and the Wildlife Expo. 

Once  arriving  on Persanti Island, refuge staff along with naturalist Josh Arrants  will  take  a  short hike around the island, and will hopefully be able to  spot  the  elusive  red-cockaded  woodpecker  along  with  other songbirds.  The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is about the size of the common  cardinal  or robin, approximately 7 inches long, with a wingspan of about 15 inches.

For  more  information on International Migratory Bird Day and ways you can help, visit their website at http://birds.fws.gov/imbd.birdw
Call  Santee  National Wildlife Refuge at 803-478-2217 for more information on  migratory  bird conservation or to learn about wildlife observation and public  use  opportunities  on the refuge.  We encourage folks to check out the  Friends website at www.santeerefugefriends.org for more information on the  refuge  or  to  find  out  how  to join the Friends of Santee National Wildlife Refuge.  

The  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  is  the  principal  Federal agency responsible  for  conserving,  protecting  and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants  and  their  habitats  for  the  continuing  benefit of the American people.  The  Service  manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands  and  other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish  hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services  field  stations.  The  agency  enforces  federal  wildlife  laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores  nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat  such  as  wetlands,  and  helps  foreign  governments  with  their conservation  efforts.  It  also  oversees  the Federal Assistance program, which  distributes  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars  in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

          Santee Refuge Receives Funding for Special Projects
     It was recently announced that three project proposals submitted by Park Ranger Kay McCutcheon to improve visitor use facilities on Santee Refuge had been approved for funding.  Two projects funded through the Southeast Regions' Recreation Fee program included replacement of the Bluff Unit entry sign and various regulatory signs with signs that provide the public with clear information on activities permitted or prohibited on this unit, and design and production of visitor contact stations at several adjoining public boat landings to include a refuge map and visitor use regulations.  A total of $7,500 has been allocated to the refuge for these two projects.

The other project proposal funded was a $5,000 project submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for a Friends Group grant to establish a visitor contact station at the Cuddo Unit entrance along with erection of interpretive signs and numerous other improvements to visitor use areas on this unit.  In addition, the refuge also received special funding through the YCC program to replace the wooden boardwalk on the Wrights Bluff Nature Trail. 

Anyone willing to volunteer their time and expertise on any of these projects, especially the Cuddo Unit visitor contact station and improvements and replacement of the existing boardwalk should contact Park Ranger Kay McCutcheon for details.  (803-478-2217)