National Key Deer Refuge

{{Short description|Protected area in Monroe County, Florida, USA}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = National Key Deer Refuge

| iucn_category = IV

| map = Florida#USA

| relief = 1

| map_caption =

| map_width = 300

| photo = Key_deer_male.jpg

| photo_caption = Male Key deer on No Name Key in the Florida Keys.

| photo_width =

| location = Monroe County, Florida, United States

| nearest_city = Big Pine Key, Florida

| coordinates = {{coord|24|44|N|81|24|W|region:US-FL|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area_acre = 8542

| established = 1957

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

| website = [http://www.fws.gov/refuge/National_Key_Deer_Refuge/ National Key Deer Refuge]

}}

The National Key Deer Refuge is a {{convert|8542|acre|adj=on}} National Wildlife Refuge located on Big Pine Key and No Name Key in the Florida Keys in Monroe County, Florida.

Overview

=Fauna=

The refuge is home to the endangered Key deer, a subspecies of the white-tailed deer that is endemic to the Florida Keys and has a current population of around 800 animals. 21 other threatened and endangered species of plants and animals are also found on the refuge.

=Geography=

The refuge which includes {{convert|2400|acre|ha}} of upland forests, {{convert|5100|acre|ha}} of wetlands, and {{convert|1050|acre|ha}} of marsh. {{convert|2278|acre|ha}} of the refuge have been designated as a wilderness area.

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Great White Heron NWR, and Key West NWR are administered by the National Key Deer Refuge.{{cite web |title=Managed Areas |url=https://ocean.floridamarine.org/boating_guides/florida_keys/pages/nwr.html |website=Florida Marine |access-date=8 January 2024}}

References

{{Reflist}}