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Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia
The Okefenokee Swamp is a 438,000-acre, shallow, peat-filled, freshwater wetland straddling the Georgia-Florida state line. The name “Okefenokee” stems from Native American language meaning "Land of the Trembling Earth.” Most of the swamp is protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. The Okefenokee is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, serving as the headwaters of the St. Mary’s and Suwanee rivers. Most of the swamp is located in Southeastern Georgia and is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the state. Due to its physical attributes and immense size, the Okefenokee Swamp has an array of habitats including cypress swamps, peat bogs, marshes, open lakes, and wooded hammocks. The diversity of ecosystems encompasses an assortment of over 620 plant species (including four carnivorous plant species), 39 fish, 37 amphibian, 64 reptile, 234 bird, and 50 mammal species.
In 1945, 1,200 acres of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge were sub-leased to the Okefenokee Association, Inc. Included in this piece of land was Cowhouse Island, which became the core of the Okefenokee Swamp Park, a tourist destination located in Waycross, Georgia. The Okefenokee Swamp Park, which has recently partnered with the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology, will serve as the site of our lab's research within the swamp.
Teaming Up on Tracking Alligators
We are actively seeking sponsorship for satellite tags to track American alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp! If you are interested in sponsoring a satellite tag for this exciting project, please contact Kristen Zemaitis at kzemaitis@uga.edu!
Additionally, the Okefenokee Swamp Alligator Project has its own Amazon Wish List for all the equipment needed to study alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp. You can also make a donation to the project through the University of Georgia's crowdfunding website.
For additional information, visit the crocodilians research page.