Wildlife Viewing Guide
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Wildlife Viewing Guide |
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Beaverdam
Wildlife Management Area
Description: The Beaverdam WMA consists of 12,000 acres in Wilkinson
and Laurens counties. The Laurens County tract, which lies at the Fall Line
along the northern edge of the Coastal Plain, offers the opportunity to experience
one of the best stands of mature bottomland hardwood on the entire Oconee River.
This area has been referred to as the Great Oconee Swamp. The swamp occurs at
the point below the flow of the river across the Fall Line. The forest overstory
is dominated by oak species, including water, willow, cherrybark, swamp chestnut,
and overcup. Other prominent canopy trees are beech, sweetgum, sycamore, baldcypress,
and tupelo gum. The understory is characterized by switch cane and palmetto.
Big Sandy Creek runs along the northern end of the tract. A small oxbow lake
called York's Dead River lies toward the southern end of the property.
Viewing
Information: Look for wildlife common to forest and edge habitats. White-tailed
deer, wild turkeys, gray squirrels, bobcats, and pileated, downy, and hairy
woodpeckers. River otters and beavers are common near the water but both are
very wary, so stealth is required to get a good look. Also near the water, blue
herons, green herons, and kingfishers can be seen. Spring migrating songbirds
such as red-eyed vireos, white-eyed vireos, American redstarts, and scarlet
tanagers forage in the tree tops 40-70 feet above the ground. The greatest variety
are present in April and May, but these birds may be seen throughout the summer.
An American alligator is a rare sight. Cottonmouths, canebrake rattlesnakes,
non-venomous snakes, and other reptiles are relatively common. Feral pigs and
the non-native coyotes are also common.
Directions: Travel north from Dublin on US Hwy. 441 apx. 4.5 miles. Turn right on Old Toomsboro Road and go apx. 5 miles to Evergreen Church. Turn right and go apx. 3 miles and turn right at boat ramp sign. Follow road to Oconee River. Park at the boat ramp and walk along the road southward by the river.
Management: Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division, 912-825-6354
Closest Town: Dublin, GA
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