There is a quiet little corner of Navarre, Florida, where a three-legged opossum named Peggy holds court, a red-tailed hawk named Aries occasionally takes a swim, and a corn snake named Dwight is perfectly happy to be petted by curious strangers. This place is not a zoo, and it is not trying to be one.
It is a working wildlife refuge with a big heart, a passionate staff, and a rotating cast of animals that could not survive on their own in the wild. I visited on a weekday morning, and I left two hours later feeling like I had learned more about Florida’s native wildlife than I had in years of living near the Gulf Coast.
If you are anywhere near the Navarre area, this spot deserves a spot on your itinerary, and I am here to tell you exactly why.
Where the Refuge Calls Home
Tucked away on 2.5 donated acres at 3051 Cloptons Circle in Navarre, Florida 32566, the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge sits just far enough off the main road that many visitors drive right past it without knowing it is there…