Attraction Review: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Near Tallahassee, Florida

Some call it "The Forgotten Coast." Others call it "The Big Bend" or"The Real Florida." By any stretch, the area between Steinhatchee and Appalachicola that extends north to the Georgia border is the least developed region of Florida. Tens of thousands of acres are reserved for flora and fauna in Apalachicola National Forest, Tate's Hell State Forest, and the St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge. Large paper companies also own much land in the region and grow trees for the paper industry. While small coastal towns have their rustic charms and gulf seafood and the capital has its capitol, the scenic jewel in the heart of the region is undeniably, the St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). If there is one place in the eastern United States where your a guaranteed to see wildlife from your car, it is St. Marks NWR. While the refuge encompasses miles of coastal marshes, swamps, and wetlands in Florida's Wakulla, Taylor, and Jefferson counties, it is neatly bisected by Light House road. An aptly named two-lane road, Light House road runs from the coastal highway 98 to the refuge gates and on down to the St. Mark's Lighthouse by Apalachee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Once you have shown your park pass or paid your $5 entry fee to the ranger at the gate or at the nearby self-serve kiosk, drive slow because the fun begins soon. Established in 1931, St. Marks NWR may be the best location in the eastern United States for birdwatching and wildlife viewing from your car. The road emerges from the pine forest, winds through a cypress swamp, and then opens up to a mix of lakes, woods, wide-open marsh vistas, and ends at the St. Marks lighthouse and the gulf. The custom in the park is to drive slowly and scan the shoulder and nearby canals and lakes for birds and wildlife. When you sight something interesting, pull off into the shoulder to take pictures and observe with binoculars or spotting scopes. While St. Marks NWR is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and has American Coots (see video), Egrets, Herons, Anhingas, Whooping Cranes and other birds, you may prefer the drama presented by the apex predator: the American Alligator. On most days with any sun and warmth, they can be seen swimming or basking on the little islands, canal banks, or on fallen logs.

Alligators can sometimes be seen going after prey. You may see an alligator gliding slowly through the water and stalking a raccoon on the banks of a lake or dragging a turtle through the water in hopes of making it a meal. Bobcats, deer, armadillos (see video), opossums, raccoons, boar, and even bear live in St. Marks. A few of these critters bring up the issue of safety. While this isn't a western park where buffalo and bear come to your car, it is a wild area where the locals have plenty of teeth, fangs, and venom. At St. Marks NWR, you have to use common sense and follow the rules for coexisting with alligators. Dogs are allowed in the refuge, but they must be on leash. Since they fit the prey profile foralligators, owners with good judgment would restrict them to a small swatch of lawn near the visitor center, a heavily travelled yard between the lighthouse and the light house parking lot, and coldest winter days when the alligators are hibernating.

There are a number of special events at Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge during the year. As a vital stop for migratory birds and butterflies, the refuge hosts celebrations and events to celebrate the annual migrations. The Wildlife Heritage and Outdoors Festival, tours, Whooping Crane welcome, birdwatching events, and butterfly watching events are all on the schedule. The refuge also hosts an active photography club and sponsors an annual photography contest. Recreational activities at St. Marks NWR include hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, photography, and birdwatching. While the Lighthouse Road entrance is the most popular part of the part of the refuge, there are 68,000 acres of wildlife refuge spanning three counties. The refuge is managed in four units: St. Marks, Wakulla, Aucilla River, Panacea Unit. The refuge offers less developed, less publicized, entrances that are often used by sportsmen. For refuge hours, fees, park passport information, and rules and regulations, check out the St. Marks NWR website.

What to see for yourself? Check out this slide show.

Sources:
Personal Experience
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge ( http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks/ )
St. Marks Refuge Association ( http://www.stmarksrefuge.org/index.cfm )