Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge located in Titusville, Florida. Refuge History: Lake Wales Ridge is part of an ancient sand dune and beach system stretching across over 100 miles of central Florida from Orange County to Highlands County. The ridge, which ranges from 4-10 miles wide, was dry land when most of Florida was still under the ocean millions of years ago. This refuge helps protect many rare plants that are found nowhere else in the world. It is estimated that when the European settlers first arrived that there were about 80,000 acres of scrub along Lake Wales Ridge but over time farms as well as residential and commercial development came and that number is only 15% of what is used to be. Flora and Fauna: Within the refuge boundary there are at least 31 known species of plants and 22 of them are listed as threatened or endangered. Some of the plants that grow here include sand pines, shrubby oaks, scrub hickories, and Florida Rosemarys. Some of the wild animals who call this place home include Florida scrub jays, eastern indigo snakes, and many others. Please treat their home with respect. Due to the fragility of this ecosystem Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is not open to public access.