← Back to Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Drone Rules for Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Columbia, North Carolina (NC)
• United States
205 South Ludington Dr, Columbia, NC 27925, USA
Lat: 35.9154 • Lng: -76.2538
Ground
Not allowed
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
Drones are prohibited at Pocosin Lakes NWR per USFWS regulations. Tundra swan and black bear habitat are protected.
Drone Rules - Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Drone use is prohibited at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit from the refuge manager
- Over 100,000 tundra swans winter here along with one of the densest black bear populations in the eastern US
Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pocosin-lakes