J.N. “Ding” DarlingNational Wildlife Ref-uge Fishing and Boating Regulations2000

J.N.”Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Map

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Observation Guidelines

WS 1

WS 2

WS 3WS 4

WS 5

WS 6

WS 7

Indigo Trail

WS 8

Colon’s Point

Cross Dike

Sanibel-C

aptiva Road

Calusa S

hell Mound Trail

The National Wildlife Refuge System...

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 560 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge

System. The System, encompassing over 150 million acres, is the nation’s largest network of lands and

waters managed specifically for wildlife. The refuge system is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior.

This blue goose, designed by Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, is the a symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge 1 Wildlife DriveSanibel, Florida 33957www.fws.gov/dingdarling239-472-1100

Printing made possible by “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society May 2015

Tram pick-up/drop-off

January-April along Sanibel-Captiva Road

Wildlife Education Boardw

alk and Tower

Visitor Education Center

Canoe Launch

Mangrove Outlook

Cross Dike Pavilion

Observation Tower

Restrooms

Fishing Pier

Water Control Structures

Refuge Lands Closed to Public Access Use designated trails only

WiLDLiFE DRiVE

CLOSED TO ALL ACCESS

On FRiDAyS

The 2-mile Indigo Trail enables

visitors to see alligators, wading

birds, and other wildlife. The indigo Trail

starts at the Visitor/Education Center and ends at the Cross Dike. Visit the W

ildlife Education B

oardwalk and observation tow

er3/10 m

ile along the way.

The 1/3 mile W

ulfert Keys Trail takes visitors to an open view

of the Pine island Sound.

The 1/3 mile Calusa Shell M

ound Trail has interpretive signs to inform

visitors of Calusa indian life history.

Over 1 3/4 miles of trails are located at the B

ailey Tract on Tarpon Bay Road, w

here alligators, herons, egrets and other w

ildlife are found (see other side).

Respect wildlife – Remember you are in their home.At the J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR, we encourage visitors to respectfully enjoy wildlife at a safe distance. However, occasionally some visitors go to extra lengths to enhance their experience without regard to the health and safety of wildlife. This can result in the disturbance or harassment of wildlife. Disturbance or harassment of wildlife is defined as any activity that affects or changes the natural behavior of wildlife, which can be detrimental to the animal’s health, safety, or productivity.

Types of activities that can cause disturbance or harassment are:

• Gettingtooclosetoorchasingwildlife • Usingflashphotographyincloseproximitytowildlife • Playingrecordedbird/wildlifecalls • Movingorcuttingvegetationnearanest • Feedingwildlife • Throwingobjectsatwildlife

The disturbance or harassment of wildlife on a national wildlife refuge is unethical and illegal, and can result in hefty fines or arrest.

Witnesses to any of these types of violations are encouraged to report them immediately to Refuge Management at (239)472-1100. Respect wildlife and other visitors when viewing,photographing wildlife.

For an enjoyable visit ...Leave nothing but footprints; take nothing but pictures. To all who take pictures, use courtesy to fellow visitors and wildlife.

WildlifeDriveisone-way,15mphroad,SeatbeltsRequired.Cars make good observation blinds because the wildlife have become accustomed to them. For better observation

of feeding, resting, and preening birds, minimize noise by turning downradios,closingdoorsquietly,andspeakingsoftly.Parkattheedge of the road, on the right hand side but not where birds are close to the road.

Pleaseplacealltrashandrecyclablesinreceptacles.otherwise, wildlife could ingest or become entangled in plastic and other trash. They often become ill and die.

Observe all speed zones and closed areas when boating. Manateescanbeinjuredbyboatpropellersandbirdscanbe disturbed when approached too closely.

Carry binoculars, water, sunscreen, and bugspray

Nature at your fingertips Download the FREE Discover Ding Game&WilflifeSpottingApp

Head out on Wildlife Drive and test your knowledge using the first of itskind–place-basednaturetriviagamethathelpsyouseemore(withSeymour)!Sharephotos&fieldtips,andseewhatothersarepostingevenwhenyoureturnhome.AvailableforbothiPhoneandAndroid.

Stay Connected #dingdarlingnwr@J.N.“Ding”DarlingNationalWildlifeRefuge(official)@“Ding”DarlingNationalWildlifeSociety-Friendsoftherefuge

@ Ding Darling Wildlife Society

@ dingdarlingwildlifesociety @ DingDarlingWS

Causeway Boulevard

Bowman’s Beach Road

BU

CK

KEY

KAYA

K TR

AIL

PROH

IBITED

REFUG

E ACTIVITIES

Hu

ntin

gB

ow

fishin

g fro

m lan

dC

ast nettin

g at w

ater con

trol stru

ctures

Co

llecting

Cam

pin

gFeed

ing

or d

isturb

ing

wild

lifeU

nleash

ed p

etsD

ron

esPo

ssession

of u

nau

tho

rized firearm

sS

kating

/rollerb

ladin

g/skateb

oard

ing

Crab

bin

g w

ith b

aited lin

e or trap

En

tering

areas that are clo

sed to

pu

blic

Usin

g areas after su

nset

Bikin

g again

st traffic flow

on

Wild

life Drive

En

tering

Wild

life Drive fro

m W

ulfert R

oad

EMERG

ENCY CA

LL 911Sanibel Police D

ept. (239) 472-3111

Visito

r/Ed

ucatio

n C

enter

Free en

try

Ho

urs vary, call fo

r info

rmatio

n

(239) 472-1100

Main

picn

ic area in p

arking

lot

Wild

life Drive - C

LOS

ED

FRID

AY

S

Mo

torized

vehicles $5

H

iker/biker $1 (C

hild

ren 15 an

d u

nd

er FRE

E)

Fed

eral passes availab

le for en

trance fees o

nly

O

ne-w

ay for veh

icles and

bicycles, 15 m

ph

speed

limit

Tram

tou

rs available (239) 472-1351

Ind

igo

Trail

Hiker/b

iker $1

Visit Wild

life Ed

ucatio

n B

oard

walk along the w

ay

Bailey Tract

Free en

try

Refu

ge land

s

Refu

ge land

s closed

to p

ub

lic accessU

se desig

nated

trails on

ly

Refu

ge water b

ou

nd

ary

Can

oe/kayak trail

Foo

t/bicycle trails

Walk bikes on all boardw

aIks.

Wild

life Drive

Closed to all access on Fridays.

One-w

ay for vehicles and bicycles

J.N. "D

ing

" Darlin

g W

ildern

ess Area

Motor boat use allow

ed except in No

Motor Zone.

No

Mo

tor Z

on

e - po

le/pad

dle o

nly

Wu

lfert Flats Pole/Tro

Il Zo

ne

Seagrass protection area.

No com

bustion engine zone - pole/troll only.

Wild

life Ed

ucatio

n B

oard

walk

and

Tower

Visitor/Education C

enter and A

dministration H

eadquarters - Tram

Ticket sales. Tram

tickets at E

ducation Center

Can

oe/kayak lau

nch

site

Man

grove O

verloo

k

Cro

ss Dike Pavilio

n

Restro

om

s

Ob

servation

tower

Picn

ic areas

Pu

blic b

each access

NE

W! Tram

pick-u

p/d

rop

-off:

Janu

ary-Ap

ril ON

LY!

Along S

anib

el-Cap

tiva Ro

ad.

Fishin

g access - A

ll refuge waters

are open to fishing. Florida State

fishing regulations apply. Crabbing

permitted, see specific crabbing

regulations.

Tarpo

n B

ay Recreatio

n A

reaTarpon B

ay Explorers

Rentals: kayaks/canoes, bicycles,

boats, stand-up paddle boards, G

uided tours: pontoon boat, kayak, and fishing.N

ature gift shop. (239) 472-8900

Clin

ic for th

e Reh

abilitatio

n O

f Wild

life H

ealing Winds Visitor E

ducation Center

San

ibel-C

aptiva C

on

servation

Fo

un

datio

n - N

ature Center

Bailey-M

atthew

s Sh

ell Mu

seum

San

ibel H

istorical M

useu

m an

d V

illage

For m

ore in

form

ation

visit ww

w.fw

s.gov/din

gd

arling

or call (239)472-1100.

All visito

rs mu

st exit refuge lan

ds an

d w

aters no

later than

1/2 ho

ur after legal su

nset.

Colon’s Point

Algiers Lane

CR

OS

S D

IKE

TR

AIL

Periwinkle W

ay

East Gulf Drive

Dixie Beach Road

Casa Ybel Road

West G

ulf Drive

Middle G

ulf Drive

Sanibel-Captiva Road

Rabbit Road

Summerlin Road

Palm R

idge Road

Dunlop

Road

Wooster Lane

CO

MM

OD

OR

EC

RE

EK

KA

YAK

TR

AIL