Okefenokee Swamp: A Naturalist's Paradise
I want to take this opportunity to give some love to my favorite southeastern natural area, the Okefenokee Swamp, or more formally the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
The Okefenokee is one of the few places you can go in the eastern US anymore where you can feel like you are truly in a remote, vast and wild place. With its cypress trees, Spanish moss, abundant alligators and snakes, and meandering swampy waters, it bristles with a primeval and mystical feel. As Okefenokee Joe used to say, you gotta learn to be "swamp wise."
And as for spotting wildlife of all types, I've found no better place. Every time I go I encounter something amazing and unforgettable: a mother bear and three cubs climbing trees, a gathering of 40 gators bellowing deafeningly, a swarm of thousands of dragonflies, countless amazing bird sightings and activity. And there are a variety of sub-habitats within the swamp, allowing for remarkable diversity of species.
If you call yourself a naturalist, put the Okefenokee on your bucket list for a visit. You will not be disappointed. It is a huge refuge and there are various options for exploring. I recommend paddling and camping at one or more of the various platforms on the canoe trails. Or camp at Stephen Foster State Park near Fargo and explore the swamp on day paddles. You can search iNat Observations by place to get a flavor of what you'll see there. https://www.inaturalist.org/places/okefenokee-national-wildlife-refuge
You might want to pick up a copy of the Naturalist's Guide to the Okefenokee Swamp.
http://www.amazon.com/Naturalists-Guide-Okefenokee-Swamp/dp/0964103826
And watch one of the many videos about the swamp, including this classic
http://www.gpb.org/swampwise
Don't let this one scare you off. The gators are just being friendly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CQ1N1mAi9s
