Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

We had the absolute pleasure of enjoying a beach day at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in the Gulf Shores! We swam in the Gulf of Mexico, caught some fish, walked on the beach, saw a ton of wildlife and relaxed in the sun! 

​Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge encompasses some of Alabama’s last remaining undisturbed coastal barrier habitat. It was established by congress in 

1980 for the protection of neotropical migratory songbird habitat and threatened and endangered species. There are a few hiking trails that you can enjoy through the refuge. We took the Pine Beach Trail which begins in a maritime forest, passes between Little Lagoon (a saltwater system) and Gator Lake (a freshwater system), and ends at the beach. The trail is 4 miles round trip and there is a trail guide along the way to learn about the native plants. 

​I thought the deer moss was the coolest thing because it is a dual plant (lichen). The fungas and algae live together for mutual benefit. The fugus supplies the algae with water and minerals whereas the algae contains chlorophyll and can use the sun’s energy for photosynthesis. This moss is primarily found on patches of bare sand in dry or scrubby areas with frequent fires.

​My favorite part of the hike, besides hanging out at the beach and seeing dolphins, was passing through Little Lagoon and Gator Lake. Little Lagoon is an eight mile long saltwater lagoon connected to the Gulf of Mexico by a man-made pass. Major hurricanes periodically breach the southern shoreline of the lagoon and create a new pass to the Gulf, which soon fills in naturally. Although it averages only a few feet deep, the lagoon provides important nursery habitat for marine life such as fish, shrimp, and crabs. This enclosed environment is protected from predators compared to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Visitor Center is located on State Highway 180 on the Fort Morgan Peninsula in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Directions.

Blog post written by Amy Karras
Unnamed Adventures