Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Pelicans and an Oil Rig off Bon Secour NWR (Krista Schlyer)

We made it to Mobile, Alabama on a mission to see the national wildlife refuges along the gulf and what is at stake before the oil slick hits shore. Once we landed, we immediately headed down the coast to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The name comes from the French meaning “safe harbor” which seems appropriate, and hopefully not ironic, as over the next few weeks oil threatens the shore line. What struck me immediately was the beautiful white sandy beaches, which could sadly turn black from the impending oil. We walked along the Jeff Friend Trail to the shoreline, passing lizards running for cover, a small and patient copperhead snake (who posed for a few pictures for Krista, our photographer, before moving back into the scrub) and numerous migrating song birds and dragon flies. When we hit the beach, it became all too real what a sanctuary this place is for the many plants and animals that reside here. The refuge is surrounded by beach houses and other shoreline development. We all do love the same beautiful places that the wildlife love, don’t we? This refuge is fairly small, compared to most national wildlife refuges, but is the largest undeveloped parcel of land left along the Alabama coast and has been designated one of the 10 natural wonders of Alabama. All too critical for the many critters that call this place home.

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Trees in Bon Secour NWR (Krista Schlyer)

Posted by Krista Schlyer, a photographer for Enviro-pic.org and member of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama

On a late afternoon walk in Bon Secour NWR an eerie normalcy prevails in the upbeat melody of birds and frogs. This is the first day of a three day trip with Defenders of Wildlife to document the coastal wildlife habitats of the Gulf, before and after the impending resolution to the mass of oil accumulating from an exploded offshore oil rig.

I’m traveling with Defenders’ Executive Vice President Jamie Rappaport Clark and Cindy Hoffman, Vice President of Communications to try to get a sense of exactly what is at stake here for some very rare remnants of coastal habitat and their inhabitants. One of those remnants is Bon Secour—a French phrase that translates as “safe harbor.” Depending on Gulf currents, these brilliant white beaches may soon be anything but safe for the wildlife they were first protected for in 1980. Read the full story