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Nature

Sunset as seen from the reef at Looe Key

Tropical sunsets are the norm here in the Lower Keys. You'll enjoy nature everytime you walk out your door.

The Saltwater Ecosystem of the Florida Keys consists of three distinct habitat types. (1) Lush, green mangroves fringe the shores of the islands, creating a densely interwoven forest that provides coastal protection, acts as a substrate for helpful algae, barnacles and other organisms, and offer a splendid nursery area for young fish and invertebrates. Mangroves derive fresh water from salt water. (2) Shallow water seagrasses in the surrounding coastal waters provide food, shelter and breeding grounds to a multitude of fish and invertebrates. All seagrasses are flowering plants. (3) The living coral reef is composed of millions of tiny coral polyps. The surface of the so called hard corals, are covered in a hard calcium carbonate skeleton, which is really a complex network of living animals. The so called soft corals, or Gorgonians, such as sea fans and sea whips, are composed of a flexible core skeleton, covered in soft coral polyps. The Gorgonians sway in the ocean currents like colorful exotic plants.

Key Deer Abound

The Key Deer, found only in a 6 mile region here in the Keys, have a very limited population. It is believed to have reached a low of 27 animals in 1957 but has rebounded to approximately 800 today. The tiny Key Deer, weighing only 40 to 80 lbs full grown, are thought to have migrated to the Keys from the mainland thousands of years ago. The Wisconsin Glacier melted, and the sea rose dividing the land into small islands now known as the Florida Keys and trapping the deer. They feed on native plants such as red, black and white mangroves, thatch palm berries and over 150 other species of plants. Key deer are the only variety of Whitetail deer who can tolerate any salt in their water and they will drink brackish water, but fresh water is also essential for their survival.

Please, only enjoy Key Deer from a distance. State and Federal regulations prohibit feeding Key Deer. Feeding the deer just make them more likely to stay near the roadways and more than 100 deer are killed by motorists each year.

Visit the Official Website of the National Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge and learn about the 22 endangered and threatened species found in the Refuge - 5 of which are found nowhere else in the world! Other wildlife you may see includes red-shouldered hawks, black racers, box turtles, and raccoons. Throughout the Lower Keys, sea turtle, manatee and bottle-nosed dolphin are occasionally seen near shore or while kayaking.

Wildlife is everywhere - and they know they're protected!

Near the center of Big Pine Key (mile marker 30.5) is an old quarry, filled with freshwater, and home to a diverse array of wildlife — the Blue Hole. The Blue Hole has visitor facilities including an interpretive kiosk, staffed by volunteers, and an observation platform. It is a popular look-out spot for visitors to Big Pine Key. Just north of the Blue Hole are two interpretive nature trails: one penetrating the tropical hardwood hammock, the other a wheelchair accessible journey through pine rocklands to a freshwater wetland slough.

Visit the Great White Heron National Sanctuary, accessible only by boat, to see - you guessed it - Great White Heron. As one the last two off-shore (and raccoon free) island areas in the Lower Florida Keys, these isolated islands are critical nesting, roosting, wading, and loafing habitat for over 250 avian species — particularily wading birds. The Refuge includes mostly mangrove islands (all unpopulated) and wetlands, with a few sandy beaches and dunes that are critical nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles.

Click here for a listing of Parks and Recreation in the Keys.

Wildlife is everywhere - and they know they're protected!