Welcome to St. John's NWR

ESTABLISHED: 1971
SIZE: 6,194 acres
OWNERSHIP: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

There is no public access to Saint Johns NWR.

Fish & Wildlife Service PROFILE

PURPOSE
The St. John's National Wildlife Refuge, located off highway 50 just west of Titusville, was established to provide adequate habitat to recover the dusky seaside sparrow from extinction as directed by The Dusky Seaside Sparrow Recovery Plan. Channelization, interbasin diversion, and other flood control projects had significantly altered the habitat of the sparrow over the years and their numbers declined since its discovery in 1872. In 1967, the dusky was listed as endangered by the Department of the Interior. In December 1990, the species was declared extinct and the critical habitat of SJNWR was delisted.

ACTIVITIES
The initial primary objective for St. John's Refuge was to restore the marsh to its original condition through prescribed burning and marsh restoration. The area has been closed to the public from the establishment date to eliminate human disturbance and provide habitat for its resident species. The habitat is currently managed for biodiversity through prescribed burning. A Black Rail research project initiated in 1992 concluded in 1996. The area currently has a healthy population of this very secretive species.

MAJOR ISSUES
The marshes of SJNWR remain valuable resources because of their water based values and related marshland species of wildlife, including the use by federally listed wood storks. Development has been initiated in close proximity to SJNWR. Also, current legal issues are pending concerning illegal dredge and fill of refuge wetlands.

 

For additional information on Saint John's NWR, contact the refuge headquarters at (321) 861-0667 or write to:
Merritt Island NWR
P.O. Box 6504
Titusville, Florida 32782