Staff Spotlight, Mike Rajkovich
Mike Rajkovich, Park Ranger
Mike's passion for Blackwater River State Park starts with the dark tannin river, dotted with white sandbars and the diverse ecosystems.
Park Ranger Mike Rajkovich aligned his childhood passion for the outdoors with a professional environmental career when he became a member of the Blackwater River State Park team in 2020. Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Mike has spent most of his life in the western panhandle observing its geological features, insects and plants. Mike has a focused interest in the erosive processes of rivers and streams and how they create some of Florida’s unique natural features such as steep heads, river bluffs and seepage slopes. Blackwater River seemed the right place to serve in protecting natural resources and native flora and fauna.
Mike can be found “wherever duty calls” within the park. He spends his time completing maintenance projects, keeping the beaches free of litter, trimming trees, cleaning campsites, educating the public about the park and wildlife and greeting visitors and campers as they enter through the ranger station. Mike has taken on the identity of “trail specialist” as his favorite task is to maintain the hiking trails for aesthetic and safe recreation for all the visitors. Mike believes that the best way to preserve the park is to keep the trails maintained and help remove invasive species.
Off the clock, Mike loves to spend time relaxing on a sandbar that the staff have named “the employee lounge” and swimming in the refreshing ground-fed water of the river.
Mike has served the park for two years, still, the beauty of the dark tannin river, dotted with white sandbars, and the diversity found within the floodplain swamps to the rolling pine sandhills continues to stoke his passion for what he does.
Mike's favorite time of year is fall. “Huge amount of color in the park amidst the white sandy beach, especially the cypress trees.”
Because of Mike's appreciation for the park’s resources, he would like to organize more field trips and Earth Day programs to share recreational experiences and educate the public about Blackwater River and its natural communities.