Great White Heron

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges Key West National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds and other wildlife. The refuge encompasses more than 200,000 acres with only 2,000 acres of land. The area is home to more than 250 species of birds and is important for sea turtle nesting. All of the islands in the refuge are designated as a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designated wilderness areas are managed to minimize human impacts and influences and to let natural processes occur without intervention. The refuge limits human use and influence in order to preserve the quality, character and integrity of these protected wilderness lands. Sanctuary Preservation Areas have been designated at Sand Key, Rock Key and Eastern Dry Rocks (all located within Key West NWR) to protect coral reef habitats. Boating in the backcountry is challenging due to very shallow water depths. If you should run aground, please do not try to power-off the area since this results in extreme damage to the environment. Instead, trim up the motor and try to walk the boat to deeper water. You might have to wait for a high-tide to accomplish this. For the most current National Marine Sanctuary regulations please contact the Sanctuary office at 305/809 4700. Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 as a haven for great white herons, migratory birds, and other wildlife. The refuge consists of almost 200,000 acres of open water and islands, and is known locally as the “backcountry.” The refuge provides critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas for hundreds of species of birds and sea turtles. The refuge was created to protect great white herons from extinction since the population was decimated by the demand for feathered hats. Protection of great white herons was successful, and these magnificent powder-white birds can be observed feeding on tidal-flats around hundreds of backcountry islands each dawn and dusk. Mangrove islands are important bird nesting and roosting areas, and provide virtually no public use opportunities because upland areas do not exist. Islands with beaches are open to limited public access as marked with signs. Please obey refuge signs to help minimize disturbance to wildlife. Refuge Headquarters............................................................305/872 2239 n No fishing allowed in Sanctuary Preservation Areas. n Do not touch coral or anchor on coral. n Do not discharge waste water n Use dive flag when snorkeling or diving. Monroe County Sheriff.....................................................305/289 2430 n Use mooring buoys when available. Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline...............................888/404 3922 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary......................305/809 4700 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission....305/289 2320 U.S. Coast Guard Key West.............................................305/292 8856 Injured or dead sea turtles...................................................305/743 2552 For questions about allowable activities within the refuges please call 305/872 0774. Injured or sick birds Key West......................................................................305/292 1008 Marathon.....................................................................305/743 8382 Allowed Activities n n n n Great white heron/USFWS Refuge Information/Visitor Center................................305/872 0774 Sanctuary Regulations in Refuges n The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1990 and protects 2,800 square nautical miles from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas. This includes the waters of the Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges. Visitors to the refuges should be aware that the sanctuary has established additional rules to protect the marine environment. The sanctuary protects the marine portions of the refuges through a management partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This blue goose, designed by J. N. "Ding" Darling, has become a symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Tavernier.....................................................................305/852 4486 Sport and commercial fishing in accordance with state and federal regulations. Recreational boating with conventional propeller- driven crafts, kayaks, canoes and sailboats. SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Wildlife viewing and photography. Refuge hours on islands are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Monroe County Animal Control Key West SPCA..........................................................305/294 4857 Brown pelican/USFWS Prohibited Activities n Use of personal watercrafts, hovercrafts and airboats. n Landing airplanes, helicopters or ultra-lights. n Water skiing. n Camping, open fires and pets on islands. n Search for or removal of antiquities. n Camping on refuge managed islands. n No open fires. Marathon SPCA.........................................................305/743 4800 Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges National Key Deer Refuge 28950 Watson Boulevard Big Pine Key, FL 33043 Headquarters: 305/872 2239 Fax: 305/872 3675 Visitor Center: 305/872 0774 E-mail: keydeer@fws.gov Facebook: Florida Keys Refuges Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Key West Office Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex 33 East Quay Road Key West, FL 33040 305/809 4700 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Key West National Wildlife Refuge S E H TC BIG MULLET KEY ARCHER KEY NO ACCESS ZONE BOCA GRANDE KEY WOMAN KEY BALLAST KEY CO EL MULE KEY BARRACOUTA KEYS JOE INGRAM KEY CRAWFISH KEY MAN KEY PARTIAL BEACH OPENING EL NO VESSEL ZONE W E S T C H A N N A N N ROCK KEY NO ENTRY ZONE EASTERN DRY RKS. EL PERSONAL WATERCRAFT CLOSURE ZONE GULF OF MEXICO M IDLE SPEED ZONE KE Y IDLE SPEED ZONE BAY KEYS JEWFISH BASIN AN GRASSY KEYS N NO ENTRY ZONE NO MOTOR ZONE WALTZ KEY FISH HAWK KEY HARPER KEY BIG HARPER KEY OE CH AN JOHNSTON PUMPKIN PIGEON KEY KEY KEY GALDIN HAPPY KEY JACK KEY NE N TE TARPON BELLY KEYS PA RB CH N EL GULF OF MEXICO BIG SPANISH LITTLE SPANISH KEY KEY MANGROVE SS WATER KEYS ANNETTE KEY HURRICANE KEY BUDD KEYS LITTLE SWASH KEYS KNOCKEMDOWN KEY MAYO KEY Key Deer Blvd. BIG TORCH KEY MIDDLE TORCH KEY LITTLE CRAWL PINE KEY KEY MANGROVE BI G WATER S P KEY AN IS H PORPOISE C H AN KEY BIG PINE KEY LITTLE PINE KEY N WHITING KEY FRIEND KEY EL TEAKETTLE KEY BAHIA HONDA KEY NO NAME KEY 1 Refuge Visitor Center CUDJOE KEY SUMMERLAND KEY EAST BAHIA HONDA KEY COCOANUT KEY RAMROD KEY SUGARLOAF KEY WEST BAHIA HONDA HORSESHOE KEY JOHNSON KEYS KEYS HARDUP KEY LITTLE SPANISH KEY CUTOE KEY HOWE KEY LITTLE TORCH KEY SADDLEBUNCH KEYS ROUND KEYS Personal Watercraft (PWC) Closure Zone n BOCA CHICA KEY November 2015 T HA OR AN RACCOON KEY CRANE KEY CHANNEL KEY KEY WEST N A CONTENT G E KEYS LITTLE CRANE KEY L SNIPE KEYS CRANE KEYS DUCK KEY DJ JOHNSTON KEY MANGROVES MALLORY KEY SQUIRREL KEY WALTZ KEY BASIN LOWER HARBOR KEYS COON KEY IDLE CAYO SPEED AGUA ZONE NO MOTOR ZONE CH EL MUD KEYS NO ENTRY ZONE WEST HARBOR KEY BARRACUDA KEYS MARVIN KEYS IDLE SPEED ZONE SNIPE POINT UD CU NO ENTRY ZONE SAWYER KEY RIDING KEY JOHNSTON KEY CHANNEL SAND KEY NOT FOR NAVIGATION PURPOSES UPPER HARBOR KEY IDLE SPEEDZONES ANN IDLE SPEED ZONE E CH B OCA G R A ND MOONEY HBR. KEY GULL KEYS COTTRELL KEY LITTLE MULLET KEY Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge NO ENTRY ZONE NOT FOR NAVIGATION PURPOSES HW NO MOTOR ZONE NO MOTOR ZONE (3 ISLANDS) MARQUESAS KEYS O RT CO G ULF O F M EXI N PERSONAL WATERCRAFT CLOSURE ZONE NO ENTRY ZONE (1 ISLAND) Refuge Buoys and Signs n Buoys and signs are used to mark no entry, no motor and idle speed zones. Buoys are placed in areas important to wildlife and for human safety. n Follow the directions on the buoys. n These are not mooring buoys—do not tie-up to them. n Use of personal watercraft (PWC), airboats, hovercrafts, water-skiing and landing of aircrafts or ultra-lights is prohibited within the boundaries of the Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges (indicated by orange dashed line). A personal watercraft is defined as a State of Florida Class A-1 vessel, shallow-draft, jet-drive watercraft operated by standing, sitting or kneeling on or behind the vessel (in contrast to a conventional boat where the operator stands or sits inside the vessel). Propeller driven boats, row boats, kayaks, canoes and sail boats are permitted. Other state and federal regulations still apply. Restricted Boat Access Buoys n Vessel Exclusion and No Entry Zone Area closed to all boat and visitor access within areas marked by these buoys or “Area Closed” signs. n Combustion Vessel Exclusion Use of internal combustion engines is not allowed within areas marked by “No Motor” buoys. n Idle Speed Zone Watercraft must operate at no greater than idle speed within areas marked by “Idle Speed” buoys.