Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Bon Secours National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area spanning five units across Baldwin and Mobile Counties, featuring beaches, dunes, marshes, and coastal swamps. The refuge encompasses more than 7,000 acres of habitat supporting many plant and animal species across its different environments.
Congress established this refuge in 1980 to protect habitats for migrating songbirds and endangered species. This decision marked the start of focused protection for the region's diverse habitats and wildlife.
The name comes from French meaning 'safe harbor', reflecting how this place serves as refuge for native plants and animals along Alabama's coast. Visitors notice this protective role everywhere as they move through the different natural areas.
The Perdue unit offers four main walking trails totaling about 8 kilometers, including Pine Beach Trail, Jeff Friend Trail, Gator Lake Trail, and Centennial Trail. These paths lead through varied landscapes and allow visitors to explore different ecosystems within the refuge.
The refuge is home to more than 400 bird species and provides critical habitat for the Alabama beach mouse, found nowhere else on Earth. This mouse species is so rare and tied to these coastal dunes that it holds special importance for conservationists.
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