Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge The Bon Secour

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 • • • 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 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

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