St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, in Wakulla County, Florida, is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the United States. Established in 1931 as a wintering ground for migratory birds, it encompasses 68,000 acres (280 km²) spread between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor Counties in the state of Florida.

St. Marks Lighthouse

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge shoreline near Lighthouse
Map of the United States
Location	Wakulla County, Jefferson County, Taylor County, Florida, United States
Nearest city	St. Marks, Florida
Coordinates	30°09′03″N 84°08′50″W
Area	68,000 acres (280 km2)
Established	1931
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Biking/cycling trail

The refuge includes several Gulf of Mexico coastal habitats, such as saltwater marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and the estuaries of seven north Florida rivers. It is home to a diverse range of plant and animal life and also has a long history of human use, including structures such as the St. Marks Lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in Florida.

The refuge is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Heron at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge is inhabited by black bears, bobcats, otters, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, amphibians, alligators, snakes, and many different species of birds, including wading birds, waterfowl, and raptors. During migrations, bird species and numbers dramatically increase. There are numerous fishing venues and many different freshwater and saltwater fish for fishing enthusiasts. A boat ramp near the lighthouse offers direct access to the St. Marks River and, subsequently, the Gulf of Mexico. The boat ramp is subject to tidal influence, and low tides may affect launching and retrieving abilities. Kayakers have direct access to the Gulf from the Lighthouse parking lot. There is a biking trail that runs about 20 miles from the south side of Tallahassee all the way down to the nearby town of St. Marks following an old railroad corridor.

The refuge draws a sizable volunteer base that helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service out by giving their time to outreach initiatives, research projects, and public events, including field excursions for kids, festivals, and holidays. The St. Marks Refuge Association's friends group and the photography club are both significant sources of volunteers for the St. Marks NWR.

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is home to a wintering site for the endangered whooping cranes that are led south by the ultra-light aircraft of Operation Migration. Operation Migration begins training whooping crane chicks with the aircraft shortly after birth and continue to the time of migration ,when they act as surrogate parents ,leading the birds south and imprinting their first annual migration. The refuge is also a stopping point for the yearly monarch butterfly migration. A festival is hosted annually around the time of the migration each October to educate people on the practice of tagging monarchs as they continue through their migration.

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge also served as the inspiration for the setting of author Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy.