Florida KeysNationalWildlifeRefuges

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Key DeerKey WestGreat White HeronCrocodile Lake

The National WildlifeRefuges of the Florida Keysare unmatched anywhere inthe world. They are a part ofthe National WildlifeRefuge System- anextensive network of landsand waters protected andmanaged especially forwildlife and its habitat. Abranch of the U. S. Fishand Wildlife service, theNational Wildlife RefugeSystem protects more than92 million acres of land andwater from Alaska to theFlorida Keys and from theSouth Pacific to Maine,preserving critical habitatfor 170 - federally listedthreatened or endangeredspecies and other wildlife.Symbolized by the BlueGoose, these nationaltreasures inspire more than30 million visitors a year.

Pelican

This blue goose,designed by J. N.“Ding” Darling,has become asymbol of theNational WildlifeRefuge System.

Welcome to the Florida Keys! Thereare four National Wildlife Refugeslocated in this extraordinary andseemingly endless expanse of sea,islands and sky - the National KeyDeer Refuge, and Great WhiteHeron, Key West, and CrocodileLake National Wildlife Refuges.These refuges are part of a vastsubtropical ecosystem. Thisdistinctive chain of islands stretchesalmost 150 miles from thesoutheastern tip of Florida, curvinggently westward dividing the aqua-green waters of the Gulf of Mexicofrom the distant deep blue AtlanticOcean. These refuges supportseveral habitats that sustain a widevariety of plants and animals, someof which do not exist anywhere elseon earth.

The fourrefugesinclude morethan 416,000acres of landand openwater. Mostkeys arefringed alongthe shorelineby red andblack

mangroves. On larger keys, thisgives way to a wide variety oftropical and subtropical trees andshrubs on slightly higher ground.These lands maintain a unique

biodiversity by protecting andpreserving importantfreshwater wetlands,mangroves, tropical hardwoodforests (hammocks), and pinerockland forests. Together,these habitats provide the fourbasic components of a habitat -food water, shelter, and openspace, necessary for the

survival of 22 - federally listedthreatened or endangered speciesand other native wildlife. Ascommercial and residential

Florida KeysNationalWildlifeRefuges

Schaus SwallowtailButterfly

Green andLoggerhead Nestlings

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cover photo:USFWSKey Deer

developmentin the Keysincreases,pressure onlimited landand waterresourcesbecome morecrucial to thesurvival of thisfragileecosystem.

The bird life on the refuges include avariety of long legged wading birdssuch as egrets and rare species suchas the roseate spoonbill. One canoccasionally see these wading birds ontheir spindly legs patiently stalkingthe flats, stabbing the water for fish inthe company of pelicans. Also, on therefuges, one may find more elusivebirds such as the white-crownedpigeon. A birding checklist is availableat the refuge visitor center.

Visitors may also see diminutive Keydeer, toothy alligators, and colorfulbutterflies. You might even catch aglimpse of a leaping dolphin or a raygliding along the bottom of theshallow flats. The waters teem withbrilliantly colored tropical fish.Anglers have opportunities to catchchallenging sportfish such as bonefish,tarpon, and permit. Catch and releaseof these sportfish is a tradition andencouraged.

Visitor Center/HeadquartersThe visitor center for the FloridaKeys National Wildlife Refuges islocated in the Big Pine Key Plaza onKey Deer Blvd., 1/4 mile north of thetraffic light on US 1 at mile marker30. Visitors are encouraged to stop infor more information about therefuges and see the wildlife displays.The center is accessible to thedisabled. The administrativeheadquarters for the Florida KeysNational Wildlife Refuges is located

Dowitcher

Bald Eagle

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on Big Pine Keyat the west end ofWatson Blvd.

Managing theNationalWildlife RefugeSystemThe NationalWildlife RefugeImprovement Actof October 9, 1997recognizes as law

that the primary function of aNational Wildlife Refuge is toconserve fish, wildlife, plants and theirhabitat for the long-term benefit ofthe American people. Public use of arefuge may be allowed only when theactivity is compatible with the missionof the System and purpose of theindividual refuge. Wildlife-dependentactivities such as fishing, hunting,environmental education,photography, and wildlife observationwill take precedent over other publicuse activities. Your cooperation inobeying refuge regulations will helpprotect you, the wildlife, and wildlifehabitat. They are printed toward theend of this brochure for yourreference

National Key Deer RefugeNational Key Deer Refuge is locatedin the Lower Keys and consists of apatchwork of small and large tracts ofpine rockland forest, dense mangroveforest flooded by salt water, hardwoodhammocks and freshwater wetlands.Most of the refuge is open to thepublic. The refuge has three selfinterpreted areas - the Blue Hole, theJack Watson Wildlife Trail and theFred Manillo (wheelchair accessible)Wildlife Trail. Refer to the map fortheir location. Also, visitors arewelcomed to hike refuge fire roadsthat are open for access. There areadditional hiking trails on Cudjoe Key,Upper Sugarloaf Key, and LowerSugar Key and the trail locations areshown on the map.

Blue Hole on BigPine Key

Key Deer Fawn

Big Pine Keyhas extensivegrowths ofFlorida slashpine, silverpalms, thatchpalm, andpoisonwood.Poisonwoodproduces anoil which cancause a rash to

humans similar to poison ivy. Toidentify it, look for telltale “burn”marks on the leaves.

Orchids, cactus, and air-plants add tothe rich variety of plants. At least 466species of plants have been found onBig Pine Key alone. Within the Key’sunderlying rock are natural solutionholes created by rainfall dissolvingthe island’s limestone substrate.These natural depressions act asefficient rain water collectors andhistorically have enabled the Keydeer to thrive on Big Pine Key whenother islands were dry.

The Blue Hole is an abandonedlimestone quarry. The rock materialremoved was used to build many ofthe original roads on Big Pine Key.Since there is no inlet or outlet to theBlue Hole, its existence is dependent

Poisonwood Tree

Alligator

on rainfall andfrom saltwater whichflows throughthesurroundinglimestone. Inthe Blue Holecan be foundfish, turtles,and alligators,and theoccasionalwading bird.Alligators canoften be seenhugging theshoreline,lazily sunningthemselves.Do not feedor molest thealligators - itis dangerousand illegal!Access for thedisabled isprovided.

The Jack C. Watson Wildlife Trail is a2/3 mile loop through pine rocklandforest and freshwater wetlands. TheFred C. Manillo Wildlife Trail is an800-foot wheelchair accessiblepathway, ending at an observationplatform overlooking a freshwaterwetland. Both trail heads are locatedin a parking lot locatedapproximately 1/4 mile north of theBlue Hole on Key Deer Blvd.

All wildlife and plants on a NationalWildlife Refuge are protected.Endangered and threatened wildlifeas listed on the federal EndangeredSpecies List receives priorityprotection. This refuge protects theendangered Key deer, Lower Keysmarsh rabbit and the silver rice rat toname a few.

Key Deer

Key deer arefound onapproximately 30islands in thelower keys. TheKey deer is thesmallest sub-species of theVirginia white-tailed deer. Theywere isolated

here about 4,000-10,000 years agowhen the Wisconsin glacier meltedand ocean levels rose, creating achain of islands They aregeographically and geneticallyisolated from other populations ofwhite-tail deer and have evolved andadapted to a subtropic environment.Because the Key deer population islow and remains under threat ofextinction from human interaction,the subspecies is listed asendangered receiving protectionunder the Endangered Species Act.Increased human interaction ishaving many influences on the Keydeer and causing changes in theirbehavior. Feeding them causes themto congregate making them moresusceptible to disease. Loss of alarmand flight response makes the deermore vulnerable to harassment ordeath from dogs, cars, and poachers.

Under federal and state law, it isillegal to feed or disturb endangeredor threatened species and refugeregulations prohibit feeding ordisturbing any wildlife on a nationalWildlife Refuge. The least obtrusiveway to observe wildlife whiletraveling along the roads is to remainfully within your vehicle. If you areout of your vehicle or hiking on therefuge, do not approach wildlife,extend your arms towards them orattempt to call them to you. NationalWildlife Refuges are havens for wildanimals - please do not treatwildlife as pets or expect them tobehave as pets! For moreinformation about the Key deer, see

Key Deer

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the refugebrochureFacts on theKey Deeravailable atthe refugevisitor center.

Also,protected aresuch wildlifespecies as theEastern

diamond back rattlesnake, songbirds,wading birds, shorebirds, and avariety of unique West Indian plants.For more information on birds of theKeys, a checklist, and suggestedplaces to observe birds, see therefuge brochure Birds of the FloridaKeys National Wildlife Refugeswhich is available at the refugevisitor center.

Key West and Great White HeronNational Wildlife RefugesEncompassing numerous islandsknown locally as the Backcountry,Key West and Great White HeronNational Wildlife Refuges are amongthe oldest refuges in the nation.These areas were set aside for theprimary purpose of maintaining apreserve and breeding ground fornative birds. In contrast to the ‘main’Keys (linked by the Overseas Hwy/

EasternDiamondback

Women Key

US 1), theBackcountry, witha few exceptions,is a pristine,uninhabited areaof islandsscattered amidstthe biologicallyrich waters of theFlorida Bay andthe Gulf ofMexico. In 1975,Congressrecognized the

special qualities of these refuges bydesignating many of the islands aspart of the National WildernessPreservation System, providing themwith additional protection. Bothrefuges are of great interestscenically and scientifically,exemplifying a subtropical regionunlike any other part of the UnitedStates.

Peering westward from Key West,the southernmost point in thecontinental U. S., one gazes upon KeyWest National Wildlife Refuge. Thisrefuge was the first National WildlifeRefuge designated in the FloridaKeys, established by TheodoreRoosevelt in 1908 to curtail theslaughter of birds whose featherswere highly valued in the hat

industry.Wading birdswerethreatenedwithextinctionbefore thisrefuge beganproviding asafe haven forthem andotherthreatenedplant andanimalspecies.

Snowy Egret

Shore birds

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Great White Heron

Encompassing more than 300 squaremiles of open water and 2,019 acres ofland on 26 islands, the refuge protectshabitat for a wide variety of birds,including nesting and /or winteringpopulations of terns, frigate birds,white-crowned pigeons, ospreys, andgreat white herons. The sandy beachesare nesting areas for the endangeredAtlantic green and loggerhead turtlesand is the only breeding site in the U.S.for the endangered hawksbill turtle.

Great White Heron National WildlifeRefuge is a vast array of pristine,isolated keys extending more than 290square miles of open water in the Gulfof Mexico from Key West to Marathon.Refuge lands total 6,297 acres. Thehabitats of these keys are almostwithout exception, low mangroves andare not easily accessible. Established in1938, the refuge provides permanentprotection to the largest of NorthAmerica’s wading birds - the greatwhite heron. With long graceful plumes,this color variation of the great blueheron is found only in the Florida Keysand south Florida. The only knownbreeding colony of laughing gulls in theLower Keys also nest here as well.Equally significant, the few beaches onthe islands of this refuge also providesnesting habitat for loggerhead andgreen turtles. The marine waters arehabitat for leatherback and Kemps

Crocodile

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ridley turtles, theoccasionalmanatee, and arevital nurserygrounds forhundreds ofspecies of fish andshellfish. Therefuge alsopreserves thescenic, wildcharacter of theFlorida KeysBackcountry. Formore informationabout boating inthese two refuges,please obtain acopy of the KeyWest and GreatWhite HeronNational WildRefugesBackcountryregulationsbrochure.

Crocodile LakeNational WildlifeRefugeCrocodile LakeNational WildlifeRefuge wasestablished inNorth Key Largoon April 2, 1980 toprotect andpreserve criticalhabitat for theendangeredAmerican

crocodile. The mangrove wetlands of therefuge provide habitat, solitude, and theonly known nesting area on Key Largofor this shy reptile. Mangrove forestsfringing the shoreline also support a widevariety of wildlife including wading birdsand songbirds, as well as serving asimportant nursery habitats for many fishspecies.

The refuge also protects a uniquetropical hardwood hammock, which

Gumbo Limbo Tree

Bromeliads inButtonwood Tree

supports a highdiversity ofplant species,80% of whichare of WestIndian origin.The refuge andthe adjacentKey LargoHammockState BotanicalSite contain the

largest continuous tract of hardwoodforest remaining in the Florida Keys.Nearly 100 species of native trees andshrubs can be found in thesehammocks, more than found in someentire states! These forests are hometo several endangered and threatenedspecies including the Key Largowoodrat, Key Largo cotton mouse,Schaus swallowtail butterfly, Easternindigo snake and Stock Island treesnail. Hardwood hammocks alsoprovide important seasonal habitat formigratory neotropical songbirds andpermanent homes to colorful tree snailsand butterflies.

Due to the small size of the refuge andsensitivity of the habitat and wildlife tohuman disturbance, the refuge is closedto general public use. Access to therefuge for research and organizededucational groups is by Special UsePermit only. An interpreted butterflygarden is open to public access next tothe refuge headquarters. The gardenand office are located on County Road905 in Key Largo, approximately twomiles north of the US 1/C-905intersection (Card Sound Roadturnoff at mile marker 106.3). Thepublic can visit the self-guided naturetrail located at the Key LargoHammocks State Botanical Siteadjacent to the refuge to see similarhabitat and wildlife species. For furtherinformation, contact the RefugeManger. The address is found on theback panel.

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Wildlife Management - Part Scienceand Part ArtWildlife management is not a purescience though management uses thebest scientific information available atthat time. Usually, the results are whatis expected, however, not always. Sometechniques in wildlife management arestill experimental. However, learningcomes from experimentation andchanges are made for the better. Also, aproven wildlife management techniqueused in one area of the country may notwork in another area of the country. Thefirst rule in wildlife management is, if itis not broken, don’t fix it. Humaninteraction quite often changes thebalance of nature. Long before humansbegan manipulating the habitat in theKeys, habitat and wildlife evolvedadapting to the forces of nature -wildfires and floods for example.Humans have interrupted these natural

occurrences by suppressing wildfires toprovide a more comfortable life. Tocorrect this on the refuges of theFlorida Keys, management techniquessuch as controlled prescribed burns areused to mimic natural wildfires. A sidebenefit to this controlled burn is areduction in forest fuels making awildfire a lesser threat to adjacenthomes. Another management techniqueis to educate boaters about how tominimize disrupting wildlife. Wherepublic opinion favors stronger action or

Prescribed burn

when the need for stronger action isapparent, some public use activities maybe restricted if they disrupt wildlife.Where restriction is not enough, thenthe activity may be banned as forexample public opinion for thebanning of personal watercraft fromKey West and Great White HeronNational Wildlife Refuges.

Natural History of the Florida KeysIt has taken 100,000 years forgeological, environmental, andphysical processes to set the stagefor the current natural environmentof the Florida Keys. Specific physicalconditions had to exist before thisregion’s biological communities couldbecome established and flourish intothe unique plant and animal

communities that comprise thisintricate and dynamic ecosystem.During periods of warm climates, thepresent day Keys lay under thesurface of the ocean, flourishing attimes as coral reefs. When theclimate became cooler, polar ice capsgrew and the oceans receded toexpose vast areas of the sea floor.Terrestrial plants and animalscolonized what was a sea bed.

FLORIDA100,000YEARS AGOSea-level 25 feet higherthan today’s level

The sea level remained low untilabout 15,000 years ago when theclimate began to warm, releasingwater held in the ice caps and causingthe sea to rise. About 4,000 years agoislands were created in this area andresulted in what we call the FloridaKeys.

FLORIDA20,000YEARS AGOMean sea level 300 - 350 feetlower than what it is today

FLORIDA TODAYTerrestrial plants andanimals colonized what wasonce a sea bed

Excerpt,courtesy of theMonroe CountyEnvironmentalEducationAdvisoryCouncil andtheirpublication, theFlorida KeysEnvironmentalStory, GeologicalHistory of theFlorida Keys byEric Mueller,PhD, andGeorge O.Winston.

Cultural HistoryThe Tequesta and Calusa nativeAmerican tribes arrived in SouthFlorida approximately 5,000 yearsago, but did not expand into the Keysuntil 800 A.D. There they remained,living off the land and sea for another1,000 years until European explorersdiscovered the Keys. The 18th centurysaw changes in ownership as theislands passed from Spain to Britain,back to Spain, and finally to theUnited States. Enslavement andEuropean diseases greatly reducedthe number of Native Americans.Survivors fled to Cuba, resulting inthe loss of 5,000 years of prehistoricculture in the Keys. Over the next100 years, hardy Europeans,Americans, Cubans, and Bahamians,known as conchs, made their homesin the Keys - salvaging wrecks,hunting turtles, sponging, rum-running, perfecting cigars, farmingpineapples, and logging thehardwood hammocks.

In 1904, Henry Flagler extended hisrailroad service from Miami down toKey West and 20 years later, the firstever road-ferry route followed.During the depression of the 1930’s,FEMA encouraged a change towarda tourism-based economy. However,the 1935 Labor Day hurricane swept

Turkey Vulture

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into the Keys, destroying the Flaglerrailroad and killing more than 400people. By the 1950’s the OverseasHighway was built, followed byelectricity, water, and better roads. In1980, the new Overseas highway wascompleted, spurring a jump indevelopment that significantlyincreased the population of the Keysover the next two decades.

Calender of EventsWildlife viewing is available yearround. Visitors have opportunities tosee Key deer, alligators, turtles, birdsincluding great white herons andpelicans, lizards, and an occasionalsnake. Other birds migrate throughin October and April.Spring - Key deer fawns, ospreys,wading birds, gulls and song birds.Earth Day cleanup late April.

Summer - Key deer fawns and somewaterfowl.

Fall - Raptors, wading birds, gulls,and song birds. Guided walks.

September - Beach Cleanup Day

October - Florida Keys Birding andWildlife Festival, Fall migration andNational Wildlife Refuge Weekactivities.

Winter - Raptors, wading birds, gullsand songbirds. Guided walks andprograms Volunteer meetings

Public Use ManagementPublic access is permitted on almostall of the lands of National Key DeerRefuge, many of the beaches of KeyWest National Wildlife Refuge, andwith a Special Use permit several ofthe islands in Great White HeronNational Wildlife Refuge. For moreinformation on Key West and GreatWhite Heron National WildlifeRefuges, please obtain a copy of theKey West and Great White Heron

Mangrove Shoreline

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National Wildlife Refuges Backcountry regulationsbrochure available at the visitor center. In recent yearsthough, large increases in the number of people livingand vacationing in the Florida Keys has resulted inconflicts with wildlife and degradation of wildlands. Bylaw, the primary purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge ismanaging, protecting and enhancing habitat for wildlife.Public use is permitted so long as it is compatible withprimary purpose of the refuge. Wildlife can best beviewed quietly from a distance. If you observe a problemon your refuge, please let us know. Enjoy your visit to theFlorida Keys National Wildlife Refuges.

NATIONALWILDLIFEREFUGE

UNAUTHORIZED ENTRYPROHIBITED

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

U.S.FISH & WILDLIFE

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AREABEYONDTHISSIGNCLOSEDAll public entry prohibited

This sign indicates the boundary ofthe refuge. The Refuge Manager hasauthorized this area open duringdaylight hours to public access forwildlife-dependent activities

This sign means that there is NOpublic access permitted in the areabeyond this sign. Access isprohibited to protect wildlife andhabitat and/or to protect visitors.

To enhance your visit, the followingwildlife-dependent activities arepermitted:Fishing on Key West and GreatWhite Heron NWR’s

Environmental Education

Wildlife and wildlands observation

Personal photography

Hiking on designated trails

Pets on leashes

Bicycling is permitted on refugetrails and fires roads except whereprohibited, to protect pedestrians.

To protect you, other visitors and theenvironment, the following activitiesare prohibited.Weapons are prohibited unless casedand left in vehicles or boats.Discharging of firearms is prohibitedin the county except at authorizedranges. Hunting is not permitted inthe Florida Keys.

The use of metal detectors to searchfor antiquities, artifacts, or treasureis prohibited. Cultural resourcesbelong to everyone. Removal forpersonal use prohibits theopportunity for anyone else toexperience our cultural heritage.

Horses are prohibited on refugelands.

Bicyling is prohibited on the FredMannillo, Jack Watson and Blue HoleTrails.

Pets are prohibited on refugemanaged lands within Key West andGreat White Heron National WildlifeRefuges. Pets leave waste that is anuisance to visitors and may attractfire ants and carry diseases injuriousto wildlife. Seeing-eye dogs for thevisually disabled are permitted.

Camping on Refuge lands isprohibited. There are no sanitaryfacilities and tent poles on beachescan intrude into turtle nests.

Fires on refuge lands are prohibited.Fires can start destructive wildfiresor destroy turtle nests.

No poles or pipes (such as beachumbrellas) may be stuck into theground. These can penetrate turtlenests and destroy eggs.

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Deer Viewing

Wildlife Viewing

Refuge Lands.Look for Refuge Boundary Signs

Private Property.Respect PrivateProperty rights.

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Long Beach Road

Feeding, injuring, molesting orremoving wildlife, or natural items isprohibited. Feeding is harmful towildlife and molesting an animal maycause it to attack. Bones are used bysmall rodents as a food source.Seashells are used as homes forcertain animals such as hermit crabsand help form beaches.

Disturbing, injuring or removingplants and shells is illegal. Plants arefood and shelter for wildlife and helpprevent erosion. Some plants arethreatened or endangered.Unauthorized removing increases therisk of extinction.

Introducing plants or animals ontothe refuge is prohibited. Exoticplants and animals compete forresources with native plans andanimals. Introducing additionalnative wildlife will also causecompetition with the local wildlifepopulations or may introduce diseaseor parasites.

Storing equipment or property onrefuge lands is prohibited.Abandoned property is unsightly andcosts taxpayers for its removal.

Commercial activity on refuge landswithout a refuge permit issued, isprohibited.

Organized groups visiting the refugesshould make reservations at therefuge visitor center at least twoweeks prior to their visit.Reservations may be made by callingthe refuge visitor center at 305/8720774. Commercial activities require amonth’s notice for consideration andmay only be conducted by theissuance of a Special Use Permit. Toreceive information on how to applyfor a Permit, contact the refugevisitor center by writing or calling305/872 0774.

Volunteering - Doing the Keys aFAVORThere are many things you can do tohelp preserve and protect the Keysunique natural resources. One wayyou can help is by volunteering yourtime, expertise and services and byvolunteering with the Friends AndVolunteers of Refuges (FAVOR) - anonprofit organization that supportsthe National Wildlife Refuges of theFlorida Keys in fulfilling refugemanagement goals. If you would likemore information about FAVOR orvolunteering, contact:

FAVORP. O. Box 431840Big Pine Key, FL 33043 - 1840305/872 0645

Volunteers at BlueHole

National Key Deer RefugeKey West & Great White HeronNational Wildlife RefugesP. O. Box 430510Big Pine Key, Florida 33043 - 0510

Visitor center - 305/872 0774FAX - 305/872 2154administrative office - 305/872 2239FAX - 305/872 3675fw4_rw_key_deer@fws.gov

Crocodile LakeNational Wildlife RefugeP. O. Box 370Key Largo, Florida 33037phone - 305/451 4223FAX - 305/451 1508fw4_rw_crocodilelake@fws.gov

June 2002