In Summary:
From Pelican Island to Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida's refuge system protects some of the state's most important wildlife habitats while offering year-round opportunities for hiking, photography, and birdwatching. Nature photographer Randy Traynor encourages visitors to venture beyond their vehicles to experience the quiet beauty found along refuge trails. Conservation advocates warn that reduced staffing and funding for federal land management agencies could affect habitat restoration, prescribed burns, and wildlife management efforts.
*****
In the summer months, avid hikers and naturalists may find themselves at one of Florida’s National Wildlife Refuges.
The state has 29 of them, including Pelican Island on the Atlantic coast, and the Saint Marks Refuge south of Tallahassee, which features a 13-mile section of the Florida Trail.
Related: Florida State Parks to offer free admission July 3-5 for America's 250th anniversary.
Randy Traynor, a nature photographer, spends hours waiting for the perfect shot. He said the key is becoming part of the landscape.
“I’m dressed up like a hunter in full camouflage because I want to be able to not disturb natural wildlife,” Traynor said. “I’ve actually had birds, and I had a bobcat one time literally walk within 10 yards of me. He didn’t see me. And I’m just watching them, and I study their movements. Then I can actually get some great shots.”
For Traynor, that patience pays off with images of places that feel untouched by time.
Most Americans live within an hour’s drive of a refuge, making them accessible year-round. Traynor said many visitors never leave their cars, missing the solitude and wildlife that awaits on the trails. He encourages people to get out of their vehicles, walk the trails and experience wild Florida for themselves.
Kent Wimmer, senior Northwest Florida representative at Defenders of Wildlife, said the Trump administration is cutting funding for the Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service, and other land management agencies, which could mean fewer species for future generations.
“Those agencies need manpower so they can ensure that we’re going to have the same species for our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren that we’re enjoying for ourselves,” Wimmer said.
The refuges protect shorebirds, endangered species, and habitats along both coasts. Wimmer said staff cuts could leave them unable to maintain trails, manage wildlife, or conduct prescribed burns.
Key Points:
- Florida is home to 29 National Wildlife Refuges that protect wildlife habitats across the state.
- Nature photographer Randy Traynor encourages visitors to explore refuge trails to experience wildlife up close.
- Most Americans live within an hour of a National Wildlife Refuge, making them accessible destinations year-round.
- Conservation advocates say proposed federal staffing reductions could affect trail maintenance, prescribed burns and wildlife management.
- As America marks its 250th anniversary, refuges such as Saint Marks preserve landscapes that reflect the nation's natural heritage.
As the nation celebrates 250 years, refuges like Saint Marks, one of the oldest, stand as a reminder of what was preserved.
