National Key Deer Refuge

Welcome to the National Key Deer Refuge located near Big Pine Key, Florida.

Refuge History: In 1957 the National Key Deer Refuge was established in order to protect the habitat of Key Deer and other wild animals living in the Florida Keys. At the time, there were less than 50 key deer remaining but like the American Alligator and Bald Eagle, it has made a comeback but it's numbers still classify it as an endangered species. Today the Fish and Wildlife Service works hard to help protect it's habitat and does prescribed burns in order to help flush out invasive plants such as the Australian pine, lead tree, and Brazilian pepper.

Wildlife: Much of the refuge's landscape consists of saltwater and freshwater wetlands, tropical hardwood hammocks, mangrove forests and pine forests protecting the home of numerous wild critters including key deer, marsh rabbits, silver rice rats, peregrine falcons, piping plovers, and many others. Please treat their home with respect

For the lover of the outdoors this refuge boasts nature trails and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!