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Brochure of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Florida. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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The National Wildlife
Refuge System is an
extensive network of
lands and waters
protected and managed
especially for wildlife
and its habitat. Refuges
stretch across the United
States from above the
Arctic Circle in Alaska to
the subtropical waters of
the Florida Keys, and
beyond to the Caribbean
and South Pacific. The
National Wildlife Refuge
System is managed by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, which protects
and manages over 500
refuges for wildlife and
for people to enjoy.
The blue goose,
designed by J.N.
“Ding” Darling,
has become a
symbol of the
National
Wildlife Refuge
System.
Introduction
The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
was established in 1931 to provide
winter habitat for migratory birds, and
is one of the oldest refuges in the
National Wildlife Refuge System. It
encompasses about 70,000 acres in
Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties,
and includes about 43 miles of north
Florida’s Gulf coast. Congress has
designated 17,350 acres of the Refuge a
National Wilderness Area.
Elevations on the Refuge range from
the open water of Apalachee Bay to
about 30 feet above sea level. Seven
rivers and numerous creeks cross the
refuge. Annual rainfall averages 55
inches, and the driest months tend to be
April, May, October, and November.
The St. Marks NWR
is divided into four
distinct units: The St.
Marks Unit is
primarily slash pine
flatwoods, manmade pools, swamps
and marshes. The
Refuge’s Offices and
Visitor Center are
located here on Lighthouse Road, and
most public use occurs on this unit.
To the west lies the Wakulla Unit,
which is mostly hardwood hammocks,
swamps and pine flatwoods. Further
west lies the Panacea Unit, which is
mostly longleaf/wiregrass habitat,
flatwoods and sandhills, dotted with
lakes and tidal marshes. East of the St.
Marks Unit is the Aucilla Unit, which
includes a boat ramp on the scenic
Aucilla River and 640 acres of adjacent
wetlands and swamp forest.
About 300,000 visitors come to the St.
Marks NWR each year to birdwatch,
photograph, hike, fish, picnic, hunt,
bike, and simply enjoy the Refuge.
A Look Back
Paleo-Indians occupied the Florida
Panhandle over 10,000 years ago. Their
descendants, the Apalachee Indians,
encountered Spanish explorers
including DeSoto during the early
1500's. By 1639, a port was established
at the confluence of the Wakulla and St.
Marks Rivers, which is today the City
of St. Marks. Fort San Marcos de
Apalache, first built there in 1679,
suffered numerous attacks by pirates
and soldiers. Today, the Fort’s remains
and a small museum are a state park.
The St. Marks Lighthouse,
first constructed in 1831, is
located at the terminus of
Lighthouse Road (Co. Rd.
59) in the St. Marks Unit of
the Refuge, a 15-mile drive
from the City of St. Marks.
The Light-house has guided
maritime activity since 1842.
It has survived gun boat
battles, the landing of
Federal troops during the
Civil War, and many major
storms. Today it is on the
National Register of Historic Sites.
Transfer of the Lighthouse from the
U.S. Coast Guard to the Refuge is
underway.
The land which is today the St. Marks
NWR has long provided rich natural
resources for area residents. Limestone
mined from the Wakulla Unit of the
Refuge was used to rebuild Fort San
Marcos and to build the foundation of
the St. Marks Lighthouse. Refuge salt
marshes are dotted with the remains of
sea water evaporation vats, which were
used to make sea salt during the Civil
War. Timber was another source of
revenue, and much Refuge land was
logged before sale to the government.
Turpentine production in the area’s pine
forests was also a major industry in the
early 1900s. The West Goose Creek
Seineyard was a major mullet fishing
site for decades, and free-ranging cattle
and hogs fed on native grasses.
Habitat and Wildlife
The abundance and diversity of wildlife
for which the St. Marks NWR is known
is only possible because of the many
habitats it possesses and manages.
Marshes, tidal flats,
and man-made pools
(impoundments)
attract thousands of
waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds
and other animals.
Open marshes and
swamps also provide
homes for turtles and
thousands of
American alligators.
Hardwood swamps
support wood ducks,
night herons, black
bears and river
otters, to name a
few. Finally, the
extensive pine
woodlands offer
food and cover for turkeys, white-tailed
deer, bluebirds, fox squirrels, gopher
tortoises, and many more species.
Apalachee Bay is home to bottlenose
dolphins, brown pelicans, wintering
redhead ducks, sea turtles and a rich
diversity of marine life. In addition, the
salt marshes that connect the Refuge to
Apalachee Bay are a valuable nursery
area and food source for birds, marine
fish, shrimp, and shellfish, and they
provide protection during storms to
coastal birds and other animals.
Of the more than 300 species of birds
recorded on the Refuge, 98 nest here,
including bald eagles. Some 19 species
of ducks and two species of geese may
be seen from mid-November through
January. Migrating hawks, falcons, and
shorebirds also use the Refuge. The
Refuge’s 44 species of mammals include
the bobcat and raccoon, as well as the
non-native jaguarundi and feral hog. In
addition, the Refuge hosts 38 species of
amphibians and 69 species of reptiles.
Endangered, threatened or rare animals
found on the Refuge include the least
tern, red-cockaded woodpecker,
Wilson's plover, wood stork, swallowtailed kite, peregrine falcon, whooping
crane, American alligator, Eastern
indigo snake, frosted flatwoods
salamander, and Florida black bear. In
addition, visitors occasionally glimpse
loggerhead sea turtles and West Indian
manatees offshore from the lighthouse.
Finally, the Refuge’s 1,300 plant
species, on which animals depend in
various ways, include many state-listed
threatened or endangered plants.
Managing for Wildlife
One management tool for wildlife is the
protection and enhancement of natural
habitats. Such efforts include adjusting
water level in man-made lakes and
ponds (termed impoundments) for
The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of
outdoor recreation activities for the visitor. The Refuge
Visitor Center presents a general overview of what there is
to do and see. Trails for hiking, wildlife observation and
photography are available. For current information and
wildlife sightings, check at the Visitors Center.
wildlife access and growth of food;
limiting the spread of invasive plants
and certain animals (such as feral hogs);
and thinning trees to achieve multi-age
stands of pine woodlands. Artificial
nesting structures have also been used
successfully by several bird species.
Prescribed burning is used to
mimic natural lightningcaused fires, and most areas
of the Refuge are burned on a
three-year cycle. Fire plays an
important role in the
ecosystem by reducing fuels
on the forest floor, releasing
nutrients in the soil, and
stimulating certain plants to
produce seeds and fruits for
wildlife.
In some cases, restoration of
historic habitat or wildlife
populations is the goal. Planting
longleaf pines and wiregrass helps to
restore the historic environment in areas
impacted by past agricultural practices.
The population of red-cockaded
woodpeckers has been increased by
introducing birds from other areas and
creating nest holes in mature pines.
In 2009, the St. Marks
NWR joined the
Whooping Crane
Eastern Partnership
whose mission is to
reestablish a migratory
eastern population of
endangered Whooping
Cranes. For the past few
years, an ultralight
aircraft has led young
Whooping Cranes to the
Refuge, where they
mature in safety before
flying on their own back
to Wisconsin.
Environmental Education and Public
Programs
Visitor Services programs bring people
and wildlife together. Refuge staff teach
about wildlife and conservation to
around 10,000 school children each
year. Annual events for the public
include: the Monarch Butterfly Festival
(October), migratory bird tours
(November, December, January, April),
Wildlife, Heritage and Outdoors Day
(February), and Lighthouse Day (April).
Check our website for event details.
The Refuge offers a variety of
photography opportunities.
Photography classes are offered
the first Saturday of every month,
and there is an annual photo
contest. The St. Marks NWR
Photo Club meets the third
Saturday of every month, and
offers training in outdoor/wildlife
photography. (Check their website:
www.stmarksrefuge.org/photoclub.cfm)
Make Your Visit Meaningful
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
offers something for everyone who
appreciates and enjoys nature. Firsttimers especially should stop at the
Visitor Center to acquire maps and view
displays describing refuge wildlife and
habitats, before venturing out. The
Visitor Center is open Monday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and
on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Visitor Center is
closed on some federal holidays. The
Refuge is open during daylight hours
throughout the year.
The main route to view
wildlife is Lighthouse Road.
It is roughly 7 miles from
the Visitor Center to the
historical St. Marks
Lighthouse at the end of the
road. (Please drive slowly
to protect our wildlife!)
Many visitors enjoy cycling
early in the morning to see
wildlife.
A wildlife drive guide is for
sale in the Visitor Center
bookstore, as are field guides,
postcards, t-shirts, insect
repellant, etc. Supporting the
bookstore through purchases and
member-ships helps the St.
Marks Refuge Association, Inc.
assist the Refuge with various
programs.
Insects and sun can make an enjoyable
day quickly turn uncomfortable, so be
prepared before starting out. Wear a hat,
closed shoes, and carry water. You may
want to carry insect repellant and
sunscreen. Of course, bring your
binoculars, field guides and camera!
Being in the right place at the right
time ensures successful wildlife
sightings and photo opportunities.
Knowing the animals likely to be
found in certain habitats and
patiently waiting helps, too. A bird
and unusual wildlife sighting log
is kept in the Visitor Center to
assist you. Remember that wild
animals can be unpredictable and it is
illegal to feed or harass them.
Two primitive hiking trails on the St.
Marks Unit (7 and 12 miles), and two
on the Panacea Unit (5 and 9 miles),
offer views of different habitats. Shorter
nature trails include: the Plum Orchard
trail behind the Visitor Center, trails
near Headquarters Pond, around Tower
Pond, and along the Lighthouse Levee,
and the Cedar Point trail near the
lighthouse boat ramp.
The Florida National Scenic Trail
extends 49 miles through the St. Marks
NWR, and the Refuge is in Segment 5
of the Florida Circumnavigational
Saltwater Paddling Trail. Some parts
of the Refuge may be closed seasonally
to protect sensitive wildlife areas. For
more information on trails, check with
Visitor Center staff and the website.
St. Marks Refuge is open to bank
fishing all year. Boats, kayaks and
canoes are only permitted in refuge
impoundments along Lighthouse Road
from March 15 to October 15, and they
must be hand-launched and use trolling
motors or paddles. In Otter Lake, boats,
including canoes, may use motors of up
to 10 hp. Popular crabbing areas are the
tidal creek and the shore near the Lighthouse. Don’t let alligators eat your bait!
Boat launching is permitted where
marked. Saltwater access is available at
a boat ramp near the Lighthouse, the
Aucilla River boat ramp, the end of
Bottoms Road near Panacea, and the
end of Wakulla Beach Road (no ramp).
Freshwater access is available at Otter
Lake and East River Pool. Launching
of commercial or sport net boats from
the saltwater boat ramp on Lighthouse
Road is prohibited.
Hunting is allowed in designated areas
for resident game species on specific
dates from Fall through Spring. Contact
the Refuge for current dates, regulations
and how to apply for permits.
Other Refuge Regulations
• Entrance Fees are required of all
Refuge visitors traveling beyond the
Visitor Center on Lighthouse Road.
Annual passes are available.
Educational groups and official visitors
must stop at the Visitor Center for a
non-fee pass.
• Some trash receptacles are available,
but please take trash and litter home if
possible.
• Taking government property or any
natural feature, artifact, animal or plant
is prohibited.
• Pets must be on a leash under the
owner’s control at all times.
• Fireworks and ground fires are
prohibited.
• Horses must remain on roads, and
ATVs are not allowed.
For further information,
contact:
St. Marks National Wildlife
Refuge
P.O. Box 68
St. Marks, Florida 32355
Tel: 850/925-6121
www.fws.gov/saintmarks/