Meadows and Mottes Slight changes in elevation help determine what plant communities exist. Rising above the marches, grasslands are dominated by bluestem and other prairie grasses. Today, through controlled burning, these areas are preserved and protected from invading scrub species. Mottes of live oak and red bay growing in old sand dunes are stunted and shaped by prevailing Gulf winds. These thickets form dense cover, providing shelter for deer,javelina, and feral hogs.
Predators stalking the mottes are coyote, bobcat, and raccoon.
Too You will find the refuge to be an excellent place for looking at wildlife and plants. A paved tour road. A wildlife interpretive center museum. An observation tower. Several miles of walking trails.