National Key Deer Refuge
National Key Deer Refuge is located in the Lower Keys and consists of a patchwork of small and large tracts of pine
rockland forest, dense mangrove forest flooded by salt water, hardwood hammocks and freshwater wetlands. Most of the
refuge is open to the public. The refuge has three self interpreted areas—the Blue Hole, the Jack Watson Wildlife Trail and
the Fred Manillo (wheelchair accessible) Wildlife Trail. Refer to the map for their location. Also, visitors are welcome to hike
refuge fire roads that are open for access. There are additional hiking trails on Cudjoe Key, Upper Sugarloaf Key, Lower
Sugarloaf Key and the trail locations that are shown on the map.
Big Pine Key has extensive growths of Florida slash pine, silver palms, thatch palm and poisonwood. Poisonwood
produces an oil which can cause a rash to humans similar to poison ivy. To identify it, look for telltale “burn” marks on the
leaves.
Orchids, cactus, and air-plants add to the rich variety of plants. At least 466 species of plants have been found on Big Pine
Key alone. Within the Key’s underlying rock are natural solution holes created by rainfall dissolving the island’s limestone
substrate.
These natural depressions act as efficient rain water collectors and historically have enabled the Key deer to thrive on Big
Pine Key when other islands were dry.
The Blue Hole is an abandoned limestone quarry. The rock material removed was used to build many of the original roads
on Big Pine Key. Since there is no inlet or outlet to the Blue Hole, its existence is dependent on rainfall and from salt water
which flows through the surrounding limestone. Fish, turtles, alligators and the occasional wading bird can be found in the
Blue Hole. Alligators can often be seen hugging the shoreline, lazily sunning themselves. Do not feed or molest the
alligators—it is dangerous and illegal! Access for the disabled is provided.
The Jack C. Watson Wildlife Trail is a 2/3 mile loop through pine rockland forest and freshwater wetlands. The Fred C.
Manillo Wildlife Trail is an 800-foot wheelchair accessible pathway, ending at an observation platform overlooking a
freshwater wetland. Both trail heads are in a parking lot located approximately 1/4 mile north of the Blue Hole on Key Deer
Blvd.
All wildlife and plants on a National Wildlife Refuge are protected. Endangered and threatened wildlife as listed on the
federal Endangered Species List receives priority protection. This refuge protects the endangered Key deer Lower Keys
marsh rabbit and the silver rice rat to name a few.
Key deer are found on approximately 30 islands in the lower keys. The Key deer is the smallest sub-species of the Virginia
white-tailed deer. They were isolated here about 4,000-10,000 years ago when the Wisconsin glacier melted and ocean
levels rose, creating a chain of islands. They are geographically and genetically isolated from other populations of white-
tail deer and have evolved and adapted to a subtropic environment. Because the Key deer population is low and remains
under threat of extinction from human interaction, the subspecies is listed as endangered, receiving protection under the
Endangered Species Act. This increased human interaction is having many influences on the Key deer and causing
changes in their behavior. Feeding them causes them to congregate making them more susceptible to disease. Loss of
alarm and flight response makes the deer more vulnerable to harassment or death from dogs, cars, and poachers.
Under federal and state law, it is illegal to feed or disturb endangered or threatened species and refuge regulations
prohibit feeding or disturbing any wildlife on a National Wildlife Refuge. The least obtrusive way to observe wildlife while
traveling along the roads is to remain fully within your vehicle.
If you are out of your vehicle or hiking on the refuge, do not approach wildlife, extend your arms towards them or attempt to
call them to you. National Wildlife Refuges are havens for wild animals. Please do not treat wildlife as pets or expect them
to behave as pets!
Also, protected are such wildlife species as the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, songbirds, wading birds, shorebirds
and a variety of unique West Indian plants. For more information on birds of the Keys, a checklist, and suggested places to
observe birds, see the refuge brochure Birds of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges which is available at the refuge
visitor center.
Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges
Encompassing numerous islands known locally as the Backcountry, Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife
Refuges are among the oldest refuges in the nation. These areas were set aside for the primary purpose of maintaining a
preserve and breeding ground for native birds. In contrast to the “main” Keys (linked by the Overseas Hwy/US 1), the
Backcountry, with a few exceptions, is a pristine, uninhabited area of islands scattered amidst the biologically rich waters
of the Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1975, Congress recognized the special qualities of these refuges by
designating many of the islands as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, providing them with additional
protection. Both refuges are of great interest scenically and scientifically, exemplifying a subtropical region unlike any other
part of the United States.
Peering westward from Key West, the southernmost point in the continental U.S., one gazes upon Key West National
Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was the first National Wildlife Refuge designated in the Florida Keys. It was established by
Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to curtail the slaughter of birds whose feathers were highly valued in the hat industry. Wading
birds were threatened with extinction before this refuge began providing a safe haven for them and other threatened plant
and animal species.
Encompassing more than 300 square miles of open water and 2,019 acres of land on 26 islands, the refuge protects
habitat for a wide variety of birds, including nesting and/or wintering populations of terns, frigate birds, white-crowned
pigeons, ospreys and great white herons. The sandy beaches are nesting areas for the endangered Atlantic green and
loggerhead turtles and is the only breeding site in the U.S. for the endangered hawksbill turtle.
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge is a vast array of pristine, isolated keys extending more than 290 square miles
of open water in the Gulf of Mexico from Key West to Marathon. Refuge lands total 6,297 acres. The habitats of these keys
are almost without exception, low mangroves and are not easily accessible.
Established in 1938, the refuge provides permanent protection to the largest of North America’s wading birds—the great
white heron. With long graceful plumes, this color variation of the great blue heron is found only in the Florida Keys and
south Florida. The only known breeding colony of laughing gulls in the Lower Keys also nest here as well. Equally
significant, the few beaches on the islands of this refuge also provide nesting habitat for loggerhead and green turtles.
The marine waters are habitat for leatherback and Kemps ridley turtles and the occasional manatee. These waters are
vital nursery grounds for hundreds of species of fish and shellfish. The refuge also preserves the scenic, wild character of
the Florida Keys Backcountry.
National Key Deer Refuge is located in the Lower Keys and consists of a patchwork of small and large tracts of pine
rockland forest, dense mangrove forest flooded by salt water, hardwood hammocks and freshwater wetlands. Most of the
refuge is open to the public. The refuge has three self interpreted areas—the Blue Hole, the Jack Watson Wildlife Trail and
the Fred Manillo (wheelchair accessible) Wildlife Trail. Refer to the map for their location. Also, visitors are welcome to hike
refuge fire roads that are open for access. There are additional hiking trails on Cudjoe Key, Upper Sugarloaf Key, Lower
Sugarloaf Key and the trail locations that are shown on the map.
Big Pine Key has extensive growths of Florida slash pine, silver palms, thatch palm and poisonwood. Poisonwood
produces an oil which can cause a rash to humans similar to poison ivy. To identify it, look for telltale “burn” marks on the
leaves.
Orchids, cactus, and air-plants add to the rich variety of plants. At least 466 species of plants have been found on Big Pine
Key alone. Within the Key’s underlying rock are natural solution holes created by rainfall dissolving the island’s limestone
substrate.
These natural depressions act as efficient rain water collectors and historically have enabled the Key deer to thrive on Big
Pine Key when other islands were dry.
The Blue Hole is an abandoned limestone quarry. The rock material removed was used to build many of the original roads
on Big Pine Key. Since there is no inlet or outlet to the Blue Hole, its existence is dependent on rainfall and from salt water
which flows through the surrounding limestone. Fish, turtles, alligators and the occasional wading bird can be found in the
Blue Hole. Alligators can often be seen hugging the shoreline, lazily sunning themselves. Do not feed or molest the
alligators—it is dangerous and illegal! Access for the disabled is provided.
The Jack C. Watson Wildlife Trail is a 2/3 mile loop through pine rockland forest and freshwater wetlands. The Fred C.
Manillo Wildlife Trail is an 800-foot wheelchair accessible pathway, ending at an observation platform overlooking a
freshwater wetland. Both trail heads are in a parking lot located approximately 1/4 mile north of the Blue Hole on Key Deer
Blvd.
All wildlife and plants on a National Wildlife Refuge are protected. Endangered and threatened wildlife as listed on the
federal Endangered Species List receives priority protection. This refuge protects the endangered Key deer Lower Keys
marsh rabbit and the silver rice rat to name a few.
Key deer are found on approximately 30 islands in the lower keys. The Key deer is the smallest sub-species of the Virginia
white-tailed deer. They were isolated here about 4,000-10,000 years ago when the Wisconsin glacier melted and ocean
levels rose, creating a chain of islands. They are geographically and genetically isolated from other populations of white-
tail deer and have evolved and adapted to a subtropic environment. Because the Key deer population is low and remains
under threat of extinction from human interaction, the subspecies is listed as endangered, receiving protection under the
Endangered Species Act. This increased human interaction is having many influences on the Key deer and causing
changes in their behavior. Feeding them causes them to congregate making them more susceptible to disease. Loss of
alarm and flight response makes the deer more vulnerable to harassment or death from dogs, cars, and poachers.
Under federal and state law, it is illegal to feed or disturb endangered or threatened species and refuge regulations
prohibit feeding or disturbing any wildlife on a National Wildlife Refuge. The least obtrusive way to observe wildlife while
traveling along the roads is to remain fully within your vehicle.
If you are out of your vehicle or hiking on the refuge, do not approach wildlife, extend your arms towards them or attempt to
call them to you. National Wildlife Refuges are havens for wild animals. Please do not treat wildlife as pets or expect them
to behave as pets!
Also, protected are such wildlife species as the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, songbirds, wading birds, shorebirds
and a variety of unique West Indian plants. For more information on birds of the Keys, a checklist, and suggested places to
observe birds, see the refuge brochure Birds of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges which is available at the refuge
visitor center.
Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges
Encompassing numerous islands known locally as the Backcountry, Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife
Refuges are among the oldest refuges in the nation. These areas were set aside for the primary purpose of maintaining a
preserve and breeding ground for native birds. In contrast to the “main” Keys (linked by the Overseas Hwy/US 1), the
Backcountry, with a few exceptions, is a pristine, uninhabited area of islands scattered amidst the biologically rich waters
of the Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1975, Congress recognized the special qualities of these refuges by
designating many of the islands as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, providing them with additional
protection. Both refuges are of great interest scenically and scientifically, exemplifying a subtropical region unlike any other
part of the United States.
Peering westward from Key West, the southernmost point in the continental U.S., one gazes upon Key West National
Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was the first National Wildlife Refuge designated in the Florida Keys. It was established by
Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to curtail the slaughter of birds whose feathers were highly valued in the hat industry. Wading
birds were threatened with extinction before this refuge began providing a safe haven for them and other threatened plant
and animal species.
Encompassing more than 300 square miles of open water and 2,019 acres of land on 26 islands, the refuge protects
habitat for a wide variety of birds, including nesting and/or wintering populations of terns, frigate birds, white-crowned
pigeons, ospreys and great white herons. The sandy beaches are nesting areas for the endangered Atlantic green and
loggerhead turtles and is the only breeding site in the U.S. for the endangered hawksbill turtle.
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge is a vast array of pristine, isolated keys extending more than 290 square miles
of open water in the Gulf of Mexico from Key West to Marathon. Refuge lands total 6,297 acres. The habitats of these keys
are almost without exception, low mangroves and are not easily accessible.
Established in 1938, the refuge provides permanent protection to the largest of North America’s wading birds—the great
white heron. With long graceful plumes, this color variation of the great blue heron is found only in the Florida Keys and
south Florida. The only known breeding colony of laughing gulls in the Lower Keys also nest here as well. Equally
significant, the few beaches on the islands of this refuge also provide nesting habitat for loggerhead and green turtles.
The marine waters are habitat for leatherback and Kemps ridley turtles and the occasional manatee. These waters are
vital nursery grounds for hundreds of species of fish and shellfish. The refuge also preserves the scenic, wild character of
the Florida Keys Backcountry.
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