Anne
Morkill
Refuge Manager
(Managed as
a Satellite of
National Key Deer Refuge)
179 Key Deer Blvd.,
Big Pine Key Plaza
Big Pine Key, FL 33043-0510
(305) 872-2239
FAX: (305) 872-2154
E-mail: keydeer@fws.gov
Directions
to Refuge
Fact
Sheet
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 Refuge
Facts:
- Established: 1908.
- Acres: 189,497 owned, 154
managed for the U.S. Coast Guard (all 2,019 are designated Wilderness),
206,289 acres of marine waters managed with the state of Florida.
- Located:Monroe County, FL.
- The uplands portion of Key
West NWR is on unpopulated islands, west of Key West, FL.
- The refuge is located 140
miles southwest of Miami and immediately west of Key West, FL. It is
accessible only by boat.
- Administered by National
Key Deer Refuge.
Natural History:
- Refuge includes mostly mangrove
islands, with a few sandy beaches and dunes that are critical nesting
habitat for endangered sea turtles.
- Other habitat includes saltmarsh
and coastal berm hammocks, plus sea grass and coral reef communities.
- Refuge, along with the Great
White Heron Refuge, represents the last of the offshore (and raccoon-free)
islands in the lower Florida Keys available as critical nesting, roosting,
wading and loafing habitat to over 250 avian species — particularily
wading birds.
- The area managed is overwhelmingly
(99 percent) marine environment including large sand flats surrounding
the islands that are used extensively by foraging wading birds.
Financial Impact of Refuge
- Refuge has no dedicated
personnel. It is managed as a satellite of NKDR.
- No quantitative data is
available for public use of the refuge. It is estimated that 180,000
people use the managed waters of the KWNWR.
- Analyses of generated income
for the Florida Keys Refuges only take into account the number of people
that visit the headquarters on Big Pine Key — a fraction of the people
that cross into the boundaries of all four refuges. Current estimate
is: resident and non-resident visitors generated $2.1 million in expenditures
in FY 94.
Refuge Objectives:
- To manage as a preserve
and breeding ground for native birds and other wildlife.
- Provide habitat and protection
for endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, plants and migratory birds.
- Protect the character of
the designated wilderness.
- Provide opportunities for
environmental education and public viewing of refuge wildlife and habitats.
Management Tools:
- Mechanical/chemical control
of invasive exotic plants.
- Interpretation/education.
- Routine wildlife monitoring.
- Law enforcement.
- Partnerships, both locally
and nationally.
Public Use Opportunities
- Fishing.
- Wildlife observation.
- Environmental education.
- Photography.
Calendar of Events
April: Volunteer
Recognition Ceremony, National Wildlife Week.
May: Migratory Bird
Day.
August: refuge birthday.
October: National
Wildlife Refuge Week.
Questions and Answers
What islands are open for
public use?
Two of the Key West
NWR islands have portions of their beaches closed to the public. Portions
of Woman Key and Boca Grande Key are posted as closed for the sensitive
habitat they contain.
The remainder of the beaches, including those at the Marquesas Keys,
are open during daylight hours for compatible, wildlife-oriented recreational
uses such as wildlife observation, nature photography and environmental
education. Camping is not allowed on refuge lands. How do I get to Key
West NWR? Access is by boat only, personal, rental or guided. There
are many commercial outfitters in Key West that offer trips to the refuge.
One ecotour business has a permit to land on Woman Key.
What public uses occur withn
the refuge?
The waters around the islands and flats are prime locations for fishing,
snorkeling, and wildife viewing. The coral reef is a prime snorkeling,
diving and fishing area. People travel from all over the world to visit
this area. However, due to limited FWS presence within the boundaries
of the refuge, it is felt that many visitors leave without knowing that
they were within a national wildlife refuge.
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