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Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges Wildlife Refuge System

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Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges Wildlife Refuge System U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service This blue goose, designed by J. N. "Ding" Darling, has become a symbol of the National Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges Wildlife Refuge System. Largo to the Dry Tortugas. This includes the waters of the Boating in the backcountry is challenging due to very Key West National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 USFWS, Brown Pelican as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds and Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife shallow water depths. If you should run aground, please do other wildlife. The refuge encompasses more than 200,000 Refuges. Visitors to the refuges should be aware that the not try to power-off the area since this results in extreme acres with only 2,000 acres of land. The area is home to sanctuary has established additional rules to protect the damage to the environment. Instead, trim up the motor and more than 250 species of birds and is important for sea marine environment. try to walk the boat to deeper water. You might have to wait turtle nesting. for a high-tide to accomplish this. The sanctuary protects the marine portions of the refuges All of the islands in the refuge are designated as a part of through a management partnership between the U.S. Fish Refuge Information/Visitor Center................................872 0774 the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designated and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanographic and wilderness areas are managed to minimize human impacts Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Sanctuary Refuge Headquarters......................................................872 2239 and influences and to let natural processes occur without Preservation Areas have been designated at Sand Key, intervention. The refuge limits human use and influence in Rock Key and Eastern Dry Rocks (all located within Key Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary....................743 2437 order to preserve the quality, character and integrity of West NWR) to protect coral reef habitats. these protected wilderness lands. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation For the most current sanctuary regulations please contact Commission......................................................................289 2320 Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge was the sanctuary office at 305/743-2437. established in 1938 as a haven for great white herons, U.S. Coast Guard Key West...........................................292 8727 migratory birds, and other wildlife. The refuge consists of cell phone...........................................................................*CG almost 200,000 acres of open water and islands, and is known locally as the “backcountry.” The refuge provides Monroe County Sheriff...................................................872 3311 critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas for hundreds of Sanctuary Regulations in Refuges species of birds and sea turtles. Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline..............................743 9102 No fishing allowed in Sanctuary Preservation Areas. Great white herons are a white color-phase of great blue Injured or dead sea turtles.............................................743 5376 herons and are only found in the Florida Keys. The refuge Do not touch coral or anchor on coral. was created to protect great white herons from extinction Injured or sick birds since the population was decimated by the demand for Do not discharge waste water Key West......................................................................294 1441 feathered hats. Protection of great white herons was Big Pine Key................................................................872 1982 successful, and these magnificent powder-white birds can Use dive flag when snorkeling or diving. Marathon.....................................................................743 8382 be observed feeding on tidal-flats around hundreds of Tavernier...............................................................305/852 4486 backcountry islands each Use mooring buoys when available. dawn and dusk. Monroe County Animal Control Big Pine Key................................................................872 3412 Marathon.....................................................................743 3779 Mangrove islands are For questions about allowable activities within the refuges important bird nesting and please call 305/872-0774. roosting areas, and Prohibited Activities National Key Deer Refuge provide virtually no public 28950 Watson Boulevard Use of personal watercrafts, hovercrafts and use opportunities because Big Pine Key, Florida 33043 Allowed Activities airboats. upland areas do not exist. Headquarters: 305/872 2239 Sport and commercial fishing in accordance with Islands with beaches are Landing airplanes, helicopters or ultra-lights. Fax: 305/872 3675 open to limited public state and federal regulations. Visitor Center: 305-872-0774 access as marked with Recreational boating with conventional propeller- Water skiing. Fax: 305/872 2154 signs. Please obey refuge driven crafts, kayaks, canoes and sailboats. E-mail: [email protected] signs to help minimize Camping, open fires and pets on islands. disturbance to wildlife. SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Search for or removal of antiquities. The Florida Keys National Wildlife viewing and photography. P.O. Box 500368 Marathon, Florida 33050 Marine Sanctuary was Refuge hours on islands are 1/2 hour before sunrise to Camping on refuge managed islands. designated in 1990 and 1/2 hour after sunset. 305/743 2437 protects 2,800 square No open fires. Fax: 305/743 2357 USFWS, Great White Heron nautical miles from Key U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Key West National Wildlife Refuge PERSONAL WATERCRAFT CLOSURE ZONE N O Great White Heron NO ENTRY R NO C O T ZONE G U L F O X I NOT FOR NAVIGATION PURPOSES ENTRY National Wildlife Refuge (1 ISLAND) F M E H NO MOTOR ZONE W ZONE E NO MOTOR ZONE (3 ISLANDS) S B COTTRELL KEY T O LITTLE MULLET C UPPER H C KEY IDLE SPEEDZONES GULF OF MEXICO A BIG MULLET KEY A HARBOR MARQUESAS N CONTENT PASSAGE KEY KEYS G ARCHER KEY N R NO ACCESS ZONE MULE KEY E A BARRACOUTA L HARBOR CHANNEL BIG MOONEY GULL KEYS BOCA GRANDE KEY KEYS JOE INGRAM KEY EAST HBR. KEY N SPANISH D WOMAN KEY CRAWFISH KEY KEY LITTLE SPANISH BAHIA E KEY MANGROVE HONDA IDLE MAN KEY C BALLAST CONTENT KEY SPEED H KEY LITTLE WEST ZONE A NO ENTRY KEYS WATER BAHIA N PARTIAL BEACH OPENING CUTOE SPANISH N KEYS CUDJOE CHANNEL ZONE LITTLE KEY KEY HONDA E E S T N E L L NO VESSEL ZONE W C H A N CRANE HORSESHOE KEY NO KEY LITTLE JOHNSON KEYS ENTRY CRAWL PINE KEYS HARDUP ROCK EASTERN SAWYER ANNETTE KEY DRY RKS. ZONE KEY KEY KEY KEY KEY MANGROVE SAND RIDING RACCOON NOT FOR NAVIGATION PURPOSES KEY KEY CRANE KEY KEY JOHNSTON KEY CHANNEL COCOANUT TARPON HOWE KEY JOHNSTON BELLY KEY BIG SPANISHWATER CHANNE KEY KEYS MAYO KEY TEAKETTLE PERSONAL WATERCRAFT CLOSURE ZONE BARRACUDA MANGROVES HURRICANE KEY FRIEND KEY KEY KEYS LITTLE KEY GULF OF MEXICO Key Deer PINE MARVIN BUDD KEYS Blvd. PORPOISE KEY KEYS LITTLE KNOCKEMDOWN KEY IDLE SPEED JOHNSTON PUMPKIN SWASH KEY PIGEON KEY KEY KEYS BIG MIDDLE ZONE SNIPE POINT NO KEY TORCH TORCH L MUD KEY CHANNE KEY BAHIA HONDA ENTRY GALDIN HAPPY KEY KEY ZONE KEY JACK KEY BIG PINE NO NAME KEY KEY IDLE SPEED MALLORY KEY ZONE RAMROD NO SQUIRREL KEY L KEY 1 NO ENTRY ZONE MUD MOTOR SUGARLOAF KEYS ZONE KEY WEST CUDJOE HARBOR WALTZ KEY BASIN SNIPE KEYS KEY Refuge KEY JEWFISH BASIN IDLE SPEED ZONE SUMMERLAND LITTLE LOWER KEY TORCH Visitor Center HARBOR WALTZ KEY WHITING KEY KEY KEYS BAY COON KEYS KEY CRANE KEYS SADDLEBUNCH IDLE FISH KEYS CAYO SPEED HAWK AGUA KEY ZONE HARPER DUCK ROUND KEYS KEY BIG KEY NO GRASSY HARPER MOTOR KEYS KEY ZONE Personal Watercraft (PWC) Closure Zone CHANNEL KEY Restricted Boat Access Buoys Use of personal watercraft (PWC), airboats, hovercrafts, water-skiing and landing of aircrafts or Vessel Exclusion and No Entry Zone Area closed to all boat and visitor access within areas ultra-lights is prohibited within the boundaries of the BOCA CHICA marked by these buoys or “Area Closed” signs. KEY Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges (indicated by orange dashed line). Refuge Buoys and Signs Combustion Vessel Exclusion KEY WEST Use of internal combustion engines is not allowed A personal watercraft is defined as a State of Florida Buoys and signs are used to mark no entry, no motor within areas marked by “No Motor” buoys. and idle speed zones. Buoys are placed in areas Class A-1 vessel, shallow-draft, jet-drive watercraft operated by standing, sitting or kneeling on or behind important to wildlife and for human safety. Idle Speed Zone the vessel (in contrast to a conventional boat where Watercraft must operate at no greater than idle speed Follow the directions on the buoys the operator stands or sits inside the vessel). Propeller within areas marked by “Idle Speed” buoys. driven boats, row boats, kayaks, canoes and sail boats These are not mooring buoys—do not tie-up to them. are permitted. Other state and federal regulations still apply..
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