St. Marks
National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website states that The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. It is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It encompasses 68,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida. The refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to a diverse community of plant and animal life. The refuge also has strong ties to a rich cultural past, and is home to the St. Marks Lighthouse, which was built in 1832 and is still in use today.

A Diverse Wildlife Refuge St. Marks Unit: The St. Marks Unit of the St. Marks NWR is the location for the refuge head quarters and visitor center. A seven mile drive winds it way from the visitor center through fresh and brackish water impoundments and ends at the foot of the Apalachee Bay, near the historic St. Marks Lighthouse. Boat ramps, nature trails and a picnic area are located within this unit, and a road-side auto tour booklet is available for purchase in the visitor center. Uplands forests, forested swamps, fresh & brackish water marshes and a pristine salt water estuary ecosystem compose this unique area of Florida's Gulf Coast, making the St. Marks Unit a favorite for birders and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Federal entrance fees are in effect.

For more information on St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge write Refuge Manager, P.O. Box 68, St. Marks, FL 32355. Phone: (850) 925-6121 or email at: saintmarks@fws.gov.

Following are links to more St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge information:

St. Marks NWR REGULATIONS

St. Marks NWR Hunt Map

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - St. Marks NWR

St. Marks NWR Fact Sheet

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