Transcript Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Bon Secour
National Wildlife Refuge
The Bon Secour
NWR consists of
6,700 acres of
wildlife habitat
lying directly west
of Gulf Shores,
Alabama on the
Fort Morgan
peninsula of south
Alabama.
•Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge was
established by congress in 1980 to preserve
the coastal dune ecosystem and to protect
endangered species.
•The name Bon Secour comes from the French
meaning “safe harbor”.
•The Refuge has been named as one of the
ten natural wonders of Alabama.
•The refuge is home to more than 370 species
of birds.
•The refuge is home to several endangered
species.
Endangered Species of
Bon Secour
• Alabama Beach Mouse
• Loggerhead and Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles
• Piping Plover
Alabama Beach Mouse
•The Beach mouse
excavates nests in
sand dunes.
• They prefer sandcovered slopes with
patches of sea oats,
beach grass, other
grasses and herbs, as
well as interior sand
dune ridges.
Loggerhead & Kemps Ridley Sea
Turtle
Sea Turtles have
become an
endangered
species due to
predation and
human contact.
Piping Plover
•The main reason for the
decline of the Plover is
because of people and
predators.
•Habitat loss and beach
alterations were some
key factors.
•Don’t Disturb nesting
areas.
•Do not litter.
Other Species that are present on
the Bon Secour Wildlife refuge
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Racoon
Opossum
Red Fox
Coyote
Alligator
River Otter
Rabbit
Armadillo
Flying Squirrel
Bobcat
Feeding Alligators is Dangerous
Public Use of
Bon Secour
•Hiking Trails
•Bird and wildlife
observation
•Fresh and Saltwater
Fishing
•Volunteer Programs
Hiking Trails on Bon Secour
• Jeff Friend Trail-about a 1 mile long trail. A perfect short hike for
the entire family through the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge. It takes
you through pine and magnolia forests, wetlands, and to the
beaches of Little Lagoon, where you can swim, fish, and go
crabbing.
• Pine Beach Trail-It is a four mile trail where visitors can get a close
look at the marshes of southern Alabama, where American
alligators may be found. Has saltwater lagoon on one side and a
freshwater lake on the other.
• Gator Lake Trail-2 miles round trip. It intersects pine beach trail and
goes around the outside of Gator Lake.
• Centennial Trail –One of the newest trails it is made up of
boardwalks and footpaths that are connected to the Jeff Friend Trail
and the Pine Beach Trail.
Houses inside Bon Secour
• There are still
houses that
belong to private
landowners who
owned land
before the refuge
was established.
Pine Beach Trail
This trail is also used as an entrance to some of the
houses that are still located within the Bon Secour
Wildlife Refuge.
Sand Dunes
• Sand dunes are a very
important to the beach
ecosystem.
• They are home to the
endangered beach
mouse.
• They help protect the
beach during extreme
weather.
Sea Oats
Sea Oats are also very important to the beach ecosystem. They
help protect the sand dunes from erosion. They also help
provide a home to the Beach mouse and other species. The sea
oats are also much of the beach mouse’s diet.
Beach Usage
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge
Orange Beach
Beach
Conservation
Efforts
•Snow fences have
become very important
in the restoration of
sand dunes at the beach
in Fort Morgan.
•Planting sea oats,
bluestem, and other
native coastal vegetation
to restore
dunes is also very
effective. Do not plant
species of vegetation
that are not naturally
found in the coastal
dunes.
The End
My Current Conservation Project