Not all the trees are changing color. With highs in the 80s expected to persist for quite a while, you won’t think it’s fall at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges. With terrific fishing and the chance to see tiny key deer, we doubt you’ll be disappointed with the blue water, green plants and white sand. But if you really need to see bright yellow and orange, the sunrises and sunsets could help you out. Enjoy! Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
At the most southern reaches of the continental U.S., the sun rises swiftly over calm Atlantic waters. The colorful light brings the surrounding area into focus. At Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge, that means sandy beaches, mazes of mangroves, trails through forests, steamy wetlands and unique wildlife everywhere. Exotic birds discuss the day’s activities, snakes slither towards their next meal and miniature deer frolic to the delight of all. We could sit here all day. Photo by Kristie Killam, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
As far as we know, there’s no pot of gold at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge, but there are other treasures. Tiny Key deer frolic among tropical plants and alligators bask in the sunlight. In February, wintering birds are everywhere. Enjoying the southern warmth before their spring migration, brown pelicans, egrets, herons and teals add color and song to this enchanting refuge. Visitors can admire the wide variety of wildlife as they roam the forests, wetlands and shorelines, but please remember to respect the animals and keep your distance. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
One of the best things about getting outdoors is seeing wildlife. We can admire their uniqueness and imagine their lives. How high can a bluebird fly? Do deer get sad in the rain? What do alligators eat? How nervous is that turtle right now? These are the questions we ask ourselves on World Animal Day. Discover more fascinating wildlife stories at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of Mickey Foster, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer.
Take a moment to relax and enjoy this gorgeous tie-dye sunrise at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge. This delightful refuge is a place to experience warm air, gentle waves, soft bird calls and miniature deer slowly prancing by you. The refuge was established to protect Key deer and other wildlife in the Florida Keys and includes pine rockland forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh wetlands, mangrove forests and absolutely stunning views. Photo courtesy of refuge volunteer Mickey Foster.
On public lands across the country, we are working to protect turtle habitat, monitor turtle nests and ensure hatchlings make it to the ocean. At Dry Tortugas National Park – the most active turtle nesting site in the Florida Keys – park biologists have been monitoring sea turtle nesting activity within the park since 1980. Learn more about different types of turtles found on public lands: https://on.doi.gov/2rTZ7gf
Sea turtle hatchlings at Dry Tortugas by National Park Service.
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in Florida is a haven for great white herons, migratory birds and other fascinating wildlife. The refuge consists of almost 200,000 acres of open water and scattered islands, and is known in the Keys as the “backcountry.” The refuge provides critical nesting, feeding and resting areas for hundreds of species of birds and sea turtles. The beaches, mangroves and sparkling blue water are favorites for the visitors who explore this beautiful and fragile place. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The craggy arms of a large, red mangrove stretch out to greet the morning sun at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex. Rising above the water line on aerial prop roots and thriving on tropical coastlines, mangroves provide shelter for plants and animals. They’re just one of the many interesting sights you’ll see near the continental United States’s southernmost point. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Loggerhead Key – located almost 70 miles west of Key West, Florida – is the largest island of Dry Tortugas National Park. Covering about 49 acres, it is home to a 160-year-old lighthouse and some truly excellent sites for snorkeling and diving. Along with amazing coral formations, divers can find a variety of colorful reef fish, including parrotfish, angel fish, triggerfish and damselfish. Just remember, look but don’t touch. Not only will an accidental brush up against the coral probably kill it, you may be bumping into any number of potentially dangerous animals, include fire coral, jellyfish, sea urchins or the exotic venomous lionfish. Photo by Bryan Goff (www.sharetheexperience.org).
We can’t help but smile after seeing this big grin from one of the fishes at Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Comprised of four refuges situated in the Florida Keys, the complex protects the critical habitats on the land and in the water for wildlife like the American crocodile, the endangered Key deer, the Great White Herons and others. Photo by Kristie Killam, USFWS.
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