The Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect birds and other wildlife. The refuge welcomes human visitors and has reasonable rules to protect the wildlife and the visitors from harm.
One such rule is the leash requirement for pets. Pets must be on a leash at all times. Sadly many people (including people who know better) allow their dogs to run unleashed on the beach and around the lighthouse.
Letting pets run unleashed can have tragic consequences. In 2015 a dog was eaten by an alligator at the boat launch.
The story can be viewed on the Tallahassee Democrat web site.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2015/07/01/dog-eaten-alligator-st-marks-refuge/29554797/
According to the pet owner Mike Karris “I couldn’t catch up to the gator. It was so fast,” Karris said Tuesday. “The whole thing, start to finish, didn’t last 5 seconds and the dog wasn’t on the ground for more than a minute.”
Sadly many visitors think there no alligators near lighthouse because there are so many people around. That is not true, I have seen and photographed alligators walking across the lighthouse parking lot, swimming in the bay, crossing the boat ramp road, and lying on the trail behind the picnic area restrooms.
Here are a some of my photographs of alligators in unexpected places.
If you love your pet please do not allow it to run free!
One more thing, on hot sunny summer days the black pavement can get very hot and burn the pads on your dog’s feet. I have also seen barefoot children dancing in distress on the parking lot when they tried to walk on the pavement.
St. Marks NWR is a wonderful place to visit but it can be dangerous if you don’t follow the rules.
Thanks for reading this!
Jim