Wildlife Parks

Working to keep the Gulf Coast’s remaining wild places wild, nature preserves and refuges make for a great escape from more “ordinary” coastal activities.

From south Florida to the Texas/Mexico border, the Gulf Coast is teeming with life. Under the ocean, on the beaches, in the salt marshes and everywhere in between, species representing every animal kingdom and countless plants are abundant. In an effort to ensure this bio-diversity is around for years to come, wildlife refuges and nature preserves have been established across the Gulf Coast region.

While they share a common goal–conserve the resident flora and fauna and provide a platform for conservation education—they are as unique as their inhabitants. And just because the emphasis is on protecting Mother Nature, that doesn’t mean we humans aren’t welcome. Most of these areas offer a bounty of outdoor activities for individuals or entire families.

MISSISSIPPI

Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

In an area designated by the Nature Conservancy as one of “The Last Great Places” in America, The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in coastal Mississippi’s Jackson County (made up of the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi and Alabama and the Grand Bay Savanna Coastal Preserve) protects nearly 18,000 acres of marine environment. The Reserve celebrated its 10^th anniversary in December 2009, and its success is the result of collaboration on grand scale. Established in 1999, the Reserve is managed by a local, state and federal partnership that includes the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, Mississippi State University, The Nature Conservancy, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Within the Reserve, you’ll find rich coastal wetland habitats, some that are unique to the area. Places like pine savannas, bays, maritime forests and salt marshes support many critical species like speckled trout, sea turtles as well as oysters and brown shrimp, which are important to the area’s commercial fishing industry.

The Reserve’s manager, Dave Ruple, explained the importance of keeping these areas intact and undisturbed. “It is crucial that we protect places like Grand Bay because of the continued pressures on resources elsewhere,” he said. “As time goes on, protected areas like this will become more and more important, and essentially be our green spaces,” he said.

But aside from their overall ecological significance, places like Grand Bay serve a simpler purpose—They speak to our souls. The Reserve is open all year and encourages exploration. Visitors to Grand Bay can expect a wealth of interesting experiences, the kind that wash away the stresses of our everyday lives. According to Ruple, “The Reserve offers many opportunities to observe and enjoy our coastal resources, things like the wide variety of wildflowers, motor boating, kayaking and saltwater fishing.”

Now Grand Bay has even more to offer its guests. In December 2009, the new Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center opened. The facility is the headquarters for the Reserve’s staff and also houses an interpretive area and laboratories.  “It is one of the greenest buildings in the state of Mississippi and demonstrates the Reserve’s commitment to sustainability. Our interpretative area is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.”

LOUISIANA

America’s WETLAND Birding Trail

Whether you’re a hardcore birder or just enjoy a nice outdoor excursion, a hike along some or all of America’s WETLAND Birding Trail on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast is one you’ll definitely want to add to your itinerary. The paths link with other birding trails in Mississippi and Texas, but in Louisiana, you’ll find four trails, each offering a distinct look at this special place and promising some serious bird-watching opportunities.

The land now dubbed “America’s WETLAND” is comprised of one of the largest and most productive expanses of coastal wetland in the country. The trails traverse land contained in numerous state parks, state historic sites, state preservation areas, National Wildlife Refuges, wildlife management areas and other natural spots throughout the state.

Since the 1930s, Louisiana has lost 1,900 square miles of land. Currently, Louisiana has 30 percent of the total coastal marsh and accounts for 90 percent of the coastal marsh loss in the lower 48 states. Commercial and recreational fishing and other activities centered around the wetlands have a massive positive economic impact on the state, a scenario American’s WETLAND managing director Val Marmillion explained in more detail. “Approximately 480,000 used the America’s WETLAND Birding trails in 2008, and Louisiana expects to generate approximately $30 million in direct and indirect economic impact from bird and wildlife watchers annually,” he said. “The importance of preserving America’s WETLAND goes beyond its status as an area of world ecological significance and as America’s largest wintering ground for waterfowl and songbirds. The wetlands are essential in protecting over 2 million citizens from damaging hurricanes, home to one of America’s most remarkable cultures, and strategically important to the national economy and domestic energy security.”

In the face of these facts, Louisiana is working tirelessly to maintain the integrity of these protected areas, launching a massive public awareness campaign with the America’s Wetland Foundation to educate citizens on their value. Find out how you can support this cause by visiting americaswetland.com.

ALABAMA

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Walk one of the nature trails at Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, and it’s like taking a step back in time. These protected lands in and around Gulf Shores boast a unique feature—the last intact dune ecosystem in the state. “When you see these dunes, you’re looking at remnants of what the entire Alabama Gulf Coast used to look like eons ago,” said Jereme Phillips, refuge manager at Bon Secour.

Part of the network of national wildlife refuges that is 545 strong, Bon Secour contains 7,000 acres of wildlife habitat for migratory birds, nesting sea turtles and the endangered Alabama beach mouse. While it is one of the smaller National Wildlife Refuges, it is no less essential. As a last bastion for some of the species it protects, the name Bon Secour, meaning “safe harbor” in French, is certainly fitting.

Phillips outlined how vital this “safe harbor” truly is, particularly for some migratory birds. “It is so important that this habitat be protected,” he said. “We have a spectacular migration in the spring, and we have really large number of bird ‘fallouts.’ That’s when birds, after traveling the long distance across the Gulf, will literally fall out of the sky. They’re exhausted, but they can rest here.”

Bon Secour is a bird-watchers’ paradise, with more than 370 different species flying in and out during the migratory season, including several species of hummingbirds.

“In the winter there is not as much diversity, but there are a lot of birds, including several warbler species and yellow-bellied sap suckers,” said Philips. “But during migration, we often get some very rare species, cerulean warblers for example. There are also peregrine falcons and bald eagles around the lagoon year round.”

But you can also observe loggerhead and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles as well as red and gray foxes, coyotes and armadillos. And you can discover all Bon Secour has to offer on its well-maintained trails. “There’s something for everyone at Bon Secour,” Phillips said. “Our trails make for a great nature walk amid beautiful landscapes. You’ll trek through maritime forest on your way to huge 30-foot dunes before you reach the Gulf.” If you hike at dawn or dusk, you have good chance of getting lucky and spotting a bobcat or a fox.

“The best times to visit are in the spring and fall, even winter is nice,” Phillips said. “The dead heat of summer not the best time for birding; that’s when we have our lowest bird population. In fall, we have the monarch butterfly migration. That peaks in October.”

And according to Philips, the one refuge resident you probably don’t want to meet on the trail is still the one most people would like to see. “Most folks want to see alligators, and they are actually most visible not on a trail, but on Mobile Street, the road that goes down to the beach.” That way you can get a look from the safety of your car.

FLORIDA

J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Named after a famous political cartoonist, The J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge provides sanctuary for an abundance of migratory birds—over 220 species depend on the refuge for safe nesting and roosting locations. Located on the Sanibel Island, it is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.

Covering nearly half of the Island, the refuge is 6,400 acres of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes and West Indian hardwood hammocks that shelter and support roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, ospreys and ibis, to name few of its more famous feathered inhabitants. Raccoons, alligators and otters can also be seen, and the best way to catch your glimpse is to bike, walk or drive the main thoroughfare on the refuge, Wildlife Drive. You can also catch a ride on an open-air tram and benefit from the expertise and eagle eye of the naturalist on board. There are a few walking trails too or you can choose to take to the water in a kayak or canoe.

TEXAS

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Thanks to its unique mix of temperate, subtropical, coastal and desert habitats, extreme south Texas is home to an amazing group of plants and animals, some found no where else. Here, thick patches of prickly brush and clay dunes called “lomas” dominate the landscape of thorn forest, wetlands, coastal prairies and beaches.

Today, almost 95 percent of this original brush habitat has been cleared, leaving local wildlife very little space and making the remaining 5 percent crucial to their survival. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is diligently protecting the little that is left. “The lower four counties of Texas are some of the most biologically diverse area in the country,” said Nancy Brown, the public outreach specialist for the South Texas Refuge Complex, which includes Laguna Atascosa NWR. “We have 20 federally listed endangered species.”

One of those species is the ocelot, a reclusive, medium-sized wild cat with a golden and black dappled coat. “Laguna Atascosa NWR has one of the last two known breeding populations of ocelots,” Brown said. “We center a lot of our management around the them, but if we get it right for them, it will be great for everything else here.”

“Everything else” includes 42 mammal, 33 reptile and 10 amphibian species as well as numerous fish and invertebrates.

Laguna Atascosa isn’t content to just safeguard the land within its borders either. “We aren’t just protecting the lands we manage; we’re always working with private land owners to preserve habitat on their land too,” Brown said.

And out of the 545 NWRs in America, Laguna Atascosa ranks No. 1 for bird variety. “You can see more bird species here than any other NWR, over 413,” Brown said.

If you’d like to get up close and personal with an ocelot, make plans to attend the NWR’s 11^th Annual Ocelot Festival, on Saturday, Feb. 13 in Harlingen, Texas.

(SIDEBAR)

Coming Soon…

East End Lagoon Park and Nature Preserve

The City of Galveston, Texas, is working to turn 685 acres of land at the east end of Galveston Island into a sustainable, natural recreational park and nature preserve. The purpose of the preserve will be to make Galveston’s citizens more aware of the natural resources and wildlife all around them.

The vision includes trails and an interpretive center. The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, a community-based volunteer organization, has partnered with the city to bring the vision to life, and seems to be right on track. A master plan is scheduled to be complete by mid-2010.