Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis of salt mashes, tropical hardwood hammocks, and mangrove forests located on the coast of southeast Florida. This refuge was first established in 1980 in order to protect the habitat of the endangered American crocodile and other resident wildlife. The American crocodile is widespread throughout the tropics of central and south America but this is the only place in Florida where they can be found. Before this land became a National Wildlife Refuge, it was slated to become a residential development but today it protects one of the largest remaining tracts of tropical hardwood hammock which is a globally threatened habitat type.

 

Wildlife: Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the home of numerous wild animals including the federally-listed Key Largo woodrat, Key Largo cotton mouse, Schaus swallowtail butterfly, Stock Island tree snail, and Eastern indigo snake. Please treat their home with respect. This refuge is not open to the public.