Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

The Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 1,194 acres across four separate tracts of protected Florida scrub and sandhill ecosystems east of US 27.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service established this refuge in 1990 as the first designated area for endangered and threatened plant species protection.

Scientists from Archbold Biological Station conduct research studies in this refuge to understand the Florida scrub habitat and its endemic species.

The refuge remains closed to public access to safeguard its 23 listed plant species, four listed animal species, and 40 endemic invertebrates.

The Carter Creek tract contains nine listed plants and houses one of twelve populations of Ziziphus celata, among Florida's most endangered plant species.

Location: Florida

Inception: 1990

Website: http://fws.gov/lakewalesridge

GPS coordinates: 27.36840,-81.33100

Latest update: March 13, 2025 22:32