Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Young alligator sizing me up

Alligator looking at me.

Two turtles basking in the algae infested water

I think I hear a woodpecker!

There's a woodpecker!

This pileated woodpecker looks like he could get the shock of his life at any moment.

An egret stalks its prey

Arthur R. Marshall is a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee who devoted his life to the protection and enhacement of the natural resources and environment of Florida. He had a vision to restore the wetlands associated with the Everglades, in particular the cypress forest. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge would acquire Arthur's name in 1985. This 145,800 acre refuge is currently all that is left of the magnificent and unique northern Everglades. It is currently managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior through a license agreement with the South Florida Water Management District. The refuge consists of a mosaic of habitat types including sloughs, wet prairies, sawgrass, tree islands and cypress swamps.