Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge

Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge is in Franklin County, Florida, and is an undeveloped barrier island just offshore from the mouth of the Apalachicola River, in the Gulf of Mexico. The refuge is managed to preserve, in as natural a state as possible, its highly varied plant and animal communities. Ten separate habitat types have been identified: tidal marsh; freshwater lakes and streams; dunes dominated by live oak/mixed hardwood understory; scrub oaks; relatively pure stands of cabbage palm; and four different slash pine communities, each with its own unique understory species.

Saint Vincent is an important stop-off point in the Gulf of Mexico region for neo-tropical migratory birds. The island is a haven for endangered and threatened species, including bald eagles, sea turtles, indigo snakes, and gopher tortoises. Wood storks use the refuge during their migration. In addition, the refuge serves as a breeding area for endangered red wolves.

The refuge's Visitor Center is in the Harbor Master Building located at 479 Market Street in Apalachicola, Florida. The Center is open Monday - Thursday 10 am - 3:30 pm E.S.T. Saint Vincent Island is 9 miles southwest of Apalachicola and is surrounded by water. Boaters should be sensitive to winds, tide fluctuations, currents, storms, and oyster bars.