Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge located in southwest Florida near Naples. Refuge History: For thousands of years, Native American tribes lived in this region and fished it's waters. When Spanish explorers arrived the germs that they brought with them caused many casualties in the local tribes. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries commercial fishing became a big industry in the region. The Arizona-Florida Land Exchange Act of 1988 authorized the creation of Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge in 1996. Flora and Fauna: Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the home of numerous plant and animals species. Some of the plants that grow inside the refuge boundaries include Jamaican dogwoods, sea grapes, gumbo limbos, cattails, and cordgrass. Some of the wild animals who call this place home include loggerhead sea turtles, cuckoos, and bald eagles. Please treat their home with respect. For the lover of the outdoors this refuge boasts a one mile nature trail and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!