National Wildlife Refuge |28950 Watson Boulevard Big Pine Key,
FL 33043 Phone Number: 305-872-0774 |Visit the Refuge's Web
Site: |The many small islands (keys) of the Key West NWR provide
rest areas for migrating birds| Key West National Wildlife
Refuge Key West National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908
by President Theodore Roosevelt as a preserve and breeding
ground for native birds and other wildlife. This refuge was the
first established in the Florida Keys and one of the earliest
refuges in the United States. The refuge encompasses more than
200,000 acres with only 2,000 acres of land. The area is home to
more than 250 species of birds and is important for sea turtle
nesting. The islands are predominately mangrove with a few
beaches and salt ponds. Getting There . . . The refuge is
accessible only by boat. However, the refuge is administered as
part of the National Key Deer Refuge headquartered on Big Pine
Key, which is 100- miles south of Miami. The visitor center is
located 1/4-mile north of the