The
Situation
Loss of habitat is the prime enemy of the Perdido Key Beach Mouse
and other species calling Perdido Key beach dune habitat home.
Construction p ractices
which protect the dunes are favorable over destroying dunes for
condominiums, hotels, or homes. While the Perdido Key Beach Mouse
once ranged from Perdido Bay in Alabama to Pensacola Bay in Florida,
it now lives only in two protected areas on the island, Perdido
Key State Recreation Area and Gulf Islands National Seashore's
Johnson Beach.
Hurricanes and other storms are a threat to beach dune habitat.
One well placed hurricane or storm can decimate the population
of endangered species by washing away the dunes and plants the
animals rely on. The health of barrier islands like Perdido Key
is dependent on an intact dune system. Sand dunes are our first
defense in a hurricane, acting as barriers to break waves and
reduce erosion.
Lastly, pedestrian and automobile traffic in public seashore and
other beachfront areas present problems. Sunbathe rs
seeking a path to the water unwittingly trudge across dunes and
their fragile plant life, degrading beach habitat and threatening
the existence of a good number of animal species. Foot or vehicle
paths create weak points in our dune system. In the event of a
hurricane, water will wash through dune paths, eroding the beaches
and creating “blow outs” where wide expanses of beach
and dunes get washed into the Gulf. These barren, flat beaches
have no vegetation to protect them. “Blow out”
areas are especially susceptible to erosion and can result in
an island being cut into pieces if the dunes and beaches are not
replenished. Pedestrian foot and vehicular paths are very hazardous
to the health of beach dune habitat.
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Home
The Nature of Perdido Key Beach Dune Habitat
The Perdido Key Beach Mouse
Other Beach and Dune Dwellers
Got Habitat?
Predation
Economics of Dune Habitat
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