Wheeler 20200125 120053 E1740159127507 — Sandhill cranes at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, Alabama. (The Bama Buzz)

Two national wildlife refuges here in Alabama have been nominated for USA Today’s 10Best reader’s choice awards.

The outlet’s panel of experts nominated 20 protected areas across the country before opening up the voting for the public to choose which one should take the top spot. The two spots in our state are:

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores

Head to the USA Today website to vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, March 10 at 11AM The winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 19.

“The U.S. National Wildlife Refuge system protects millions of acres of land and water habitat from coast to coast, with at least one refuge in every state. The 571 refuges in the system, as well as another 38 wetland management districts, protect more than 220 species of mammal, 700 species of birds, over 1,000 species of fish, and 250 reptile and amphibian species. And more than 380 endangered or threatened plants and animals find sanctuary in these special places.”
USA Today 10Best

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Wheeler 20220118 154849 — Sandhill cranes at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, Alabama. (The Bama Buzz)

Wheeler was nominated last year with the readers selecting the refuge as the second best in the country.

Encompassing 35,000 acres along the Tennessee River, the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge includes diverse habitats including:

Bottomland hardwood forests
Wetlands
Grasslands
Agricultural fields

The refuge is a key stopover for migratory birds along the Mississippi Flyway, hosting a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and birds of prey. The sandhill cranes are a popular sight for visitors every year.

Where: 3121 Visitors Center Rd, Decatur, AL 35603
Hours: Visitor Center: 9AM-4PM, T-Sa., March-October | 9AM-5PM, 7 days a week, Nov.-Feb.
More info

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

77D12Aee 06Fa 4Bd6 B398 4867009F8C00 — “SAM_0875 (1)Bon Secour Refuge trailhead” by ken ratcliff is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Bon Secour, which means “safe harbor” in French, is a sanctuary for many threatened and endangered species near the Gulf Coast.

If you’re visiting, activities include:

Canoeing
Kayaking
Fishing
Guided bird watching
Hiking in the wetlands and dunes

Within the woodlands, beach dunes, and surrounding waters, you’ll find migratory neotropical songbirds, Alabama beach mice, and endangered species like the green, loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.