St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is a protected coastal landscape on Florida’s Gulf coast spanning more than 83,000 acres in Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties. Established in 1931, it is an important wintering ground for migratory birds and includes salt marshes, islands, tidal creeks, estuaries, and open water that support diverse wildlife from waterfowl and raptors to black bears, bobcats, alligators, and fish. The refuge also contains the historic St. Marks Lighthouse, a federally designated wilderness area created in 1975, and part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. It later became known for hosting endangered whooping cranes and for its role in monarch butterfly migration and conservation education.