U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Facts ■ Protect refuge natural, cultural ■ Established: 1929. and wilderness resources to ensure their integrity and to fulfill the ■ Acres: approximately 760. mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. ■ Located in Levy County, FL. ■ Provide opportunities for ■ Location: the refuge is comprised environmental education, of 12 offshore islands, around the interpretation and wildlife- town of Cedar Key, ranging in size dependent recreation when

photo: USFWS photo: from a few acres up to 120 acres. compatible with the purpose, Access is by boat only. mission and vision of the refuge ■ Administered by Lower Suwannee and that will not negatively impact National Wildlife Refuge. critical or sensitive habitats. Natural History ■ Promote collaboration and ■ Four of the islands, Snake, partnerships with private citizens Deadman’s, Seahorse, and North and other agencies to increase are designated as Wilderness areas. research and environmental education opportunities and to ■ One of the largest colonial bird protect the coastal ecosystem. nesting sites in north Florida is photo: USFWS photo: located on the refuge. Management Tools ■ Education/Interpretation. ■ White ibis, brown pelican, great blue heron, little blue heron, tri- ■ Law enforcement. colored heron, night heron, snowy ■ Biological monitoring. egret, great egret, and cormorant nest on the refuge, as do bald eagle ■ Partnerships. and osprey. ■ The University of Florida utilizes Financial Impact the lighthouse and associated photo: USFWS photo: ■ Important part of eco-tourism in facilities as a Marine Science Cedar Key. Laboratory for research and education. ■ Protects water quality for important shell fishing and Public Use Opportunities aquaculture industry. ■ Because of its small size and importance to wildlife, Cedar Keys ■ No staff or funding. Personnel from Refuge can support only limited Lower Suwannee National Wildlife public use. Refuge have responsibility for Cedar Keys NWR. ■ Walking trail and interpretive kiosk photo: USFWS photo: on Atsena Otie Key. John Kasbohm, Refuge Manager ■ 65,000 visitors annually. ■ Birdwatching and scenic, natural Cedar Keys NWR Refuge Goals vistas. 16450 NW 31st Place ■ Manage and conserve the natural Chiefland, FL 32626 diversity, abundance, and ecological ■ Saltwater fishing from beach and Phone: 352/493 0238 function of refuge flora and fauna, the dock on Atsena Otie Key. Fax: 352/493 1935 with an emphasis on protecting E-mail: FW4RWLowerSuwannee@fws. the colonial wading bird rookery ■ In order to protect the nesting gov of Seahorse Key, threatened and birds on Seahorse Key, public entry Web: http://cedarkeys.fws.gov endangered species, and species and use is prohibited from March 1 of special concern in the State of to June 30. The closed area includes Florida. all of Seahorse Key and a 300-foot buffer zone around the island. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Calendar of Events: Are we allowed to walk where ever we January: Wintering waterfowl want on Cedar Keys NWR? abundant in Gulf. Atsena Otie Key has walking trails through the interior of the island. February: Ospreys begin nesting. For public safety and to protect the March 1 - June 30: Seahorse Key and vegetation, the interior of the other 300 foot buffer zone around the island islands is closed. These islands have CLOSED to protect colonial nesting thick undergrowth vegetation along birds. with poisonous rattlesnakes and cottonmouth snakes. Visitors are March: Spring bird migration begins. welcome to explore the beach areas of all the islands, except Seahorse Key, April: Peak of Spring migration, during the bird nesting period. Naturefest - late March, early April, annually, Cedar Keys Arts Festival - third weekend in April. When can we visit Seahorse Key? Seahorse Key supports one of the May: International Migratory Bird largest colonial bird rookeries in Day. north Florida. During the nesting period, March 1 through June 30, the June - August: Great time to explore island is closed to all public entry. This the islands and Gulf of Mexico by includes a 300-foot buffer zone in the boat. Gulf of Mexico, around the island. August 15 - September 15: Peak fall migration of shore birds. Are we allowed to visit the lighthouse on Seahorse Key? October: National Wildlife Refuge The lighthouse and other facilities Week, Open House at Seahorse Key around it are utilized by the Lighthouse, Cedar Keys Seafood University of Florida as a marine Festival-third weekend in October. laboratory and classroom. In order December: Audubon Christmas Bird to protect the university’s equipment Count. and the students that stay there, the lighthouse is not open to the public. Questions and Answers When the university is not using the How do I get to Cedar Keys NWR? lighthouse, other schools (elementary Cedar Keys NWR consists of 12 school through college) and islands off shore from the town of organizations are allowed to utilize Cedar Key, Florida. The refuge is the marine lab for environmental only accessible by boat. In the town education. Twice a year the refuge of Cedar Key there are private holds an open house on Seahorse Key. enterprises that rent boats or offer During this time, refuge staff are tour boat rides that will take you to stationed on the island and the public the islands. is permitted to visit the lighthouse.

Can any boat go to these islands? Yes, you can take your own boat to the islands. However, it is important to pay attention to the weather and tide conditions. All the islands are surrounded by shallow mud flats. During low tides the islands are relatively inaccessible. Also, if you beach your boat on the islands during high tide your boat will be out of the water during low tide. This will leave you stranded until the tide returns.