Key West National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe County, United States
Key West National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area off the Florida Keys made up of mangrove islands, shallow lagoons, and forested islets. No roads connect these islands, as they are surrounded by water channels and seagrass beds that support a wide range of wildlife.
President Theodore Roosevelt created this refuge in 1908 to protect birds from hunters who collected feathers for the hat trade. It ranks among the oldest federal wildlife refuges in the country, and its founding helped establish the idea of government-led conservation.
The refuge provides nesting and feeding areas for over 250 bird species, from frigatebirds to herons that rely on these islands for survival. Visitors can observe these birds in their natural habitat, especially during breeding seasons when activity peaks.
A boat is the only way to reach the refuge since it is made up of islands and water channels with no road access. Daytime visits by kayak work well for getting close to the islands while staying within the areas open to the public.
The hawksbill sea turtle, one of the rarest sea turtles in the world, uses the refuge's beaches as one of the very few known nesting sites in the United States. The same females return to the same beaches year after year to lay their eggs.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
