Pee Dee was established in 1963 with local and state support, with the purpose of providing sanctuary and wintering habitat for migratory birds. Forest covers approximately 6,100 acres of the refuge, including 2,900 acres of hardwood and 3,200 acres of pine and pine-hardwood forests. The upland pine habitat is managed to support the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The bottomland hardwoods are critical areas for neotropical migratory songbirds. The refuge also contains approximately 1,500 acres of agricultural and open land managed for waterfowl, including 13 draw down field impoundments, seasonally flooded to attract thousands of ducks and geese. The diversity of habitats and management programs enables the refuge to support a broad spectrum of wildlife species, including more than 168 birds, 49 amphibians and reptiles, 28 mammals, and 20 fish species.
