U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
St. Vincent
National Wildlife Refuge
photo: USFWS
photo: William Chapman
Refuge Facts
■ Established: 1968.
■
Acres: 12,490, Franklin and Gulf
Counties, Florida.
■
Other management: Conservation
easements: 21 totaling 1,625 acres
in 12 counties in Florida.
■
Natural History
■ Undeveloped coastal barrier island
with representative native plants
and animals.
■
photo: USFWS
■
photo: USFWS
Migratory bird stop-over, nesting
bald eagles, nesting loggerhead sea
turtles, red wolf island propagation
site.
Open water 264 acres, wetlands
4,566 acres, forest 5,861 acres,
shrub 1,412 acres, sand dunes 387
acres.
Financial Impact of Refuge
■ Five-person staff.
■
8,000 visitors annually.
Refuge Objectives
■ Provide habitat for migratory
birds.
■
Shelley Stiaes, Refuge Manager
James Burnett, Project Leader-SMNWR
St. Vincent NWR
(managed as a staffed satellite of
St. Marks NWR)
P.O. Box 447
Apalachicola, FL 32329
Phone: 850/653 8808
Fax: 850/653 9893
E-mail: FW4RWStVincent@fws.gov
Location: 22 miles southwest of
Apalachicola, FL, boat needed to
reach island.
■
■
Provide habitat and protection for
threatened and endangered species
such as American alligator, bald
eagle, indigo snake, red wolf and
sea turtle.
To manage and preserve the
natural barrier island and
associated native plant and animal
communities.
Provide wildlife-dependent
recreation and environmental
education for the public.
Management Tools
■ Water management for waterfowl,
wood storks, wading birds,
shorebirds and fish.
■
Prescribed fire.
■
Deer management with public
hunting.
■
Education/interpretation.
■
Law enforcement.
■
Partnerships.
Public Use Opportunities
■ Fishing.
■
Hunting.
■
Wildlife observation.
■
Educational displays.
■
Hiking trails.
■
Photography.
Calendar of Events
May: Migratory Bird Day.
October: National Wildlife Refuge
Week.
November-January: Primitive
weapons deer hunting.
December: Christmas Bird Count.
Questions and Answers
Can you drive to the refuge?
No. St. Vincent is a barrier island off
the coast of Apalachicola, Florida.
Do you need a boat to access St. Vincent?
Yes. If you don’t have a boat,
contact the Apalachicola Chamber
of Commerce. They maintain a list
of vendors who will take you to the
refuge for a fee.
Do you provide tours to St. Vincent?
Yes. During National Wildlife Refuge
Week and Migratory Bird Days, we
have open house tours.
When can we apply for the Sambar
deer hunt?
Brochures and applications are
available in May.
Where is your Visitor Center located?
We are located in the John B. Meyer
Harbor House, 479 Market Street,
Apalachicola, Florida. Hours 8 am4:30 pm Monday-Friday.
