Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | |
---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Map of the United States | |
Location | Merritt Island, Brevard County, Florida, United States |
Nearest city | Titusville, Florida |
Coordinates | 28°31′N 80°40′W / 28.517°N 80.667°W |
Area | 140,000 acres (570 km2) |
Established | 1963 |
Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Website | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge |
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 140,000-acre (57,000 ha) U.S. National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on the Atlantic coast of Florida's largest barrier island. NASA's Kennedy Space Center and visitor complex are also situated on the island and NASA can restrict access to the refuge based on its operational needs.
The NWR contains over 1000 species of plants, 117 species of fish, 68 amphibians and reptiles, 330 birds, and 31 mammal species, of which 21 species are listed as endangered by the state of Florida or by the US federal government. Management of the NWR is provided through the
Location and extent
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is located due east of Titusville on Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida, and occupies 140,000 acres (570 km2), overlaid with the Kennedy Space Center. To the north, it borders on the Canaveral National Seashore; to the south it encompasses non-public portions of the Kennedy Space Center (with which it also shares some history), which in turn abuts Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River run through the refuge.[1] Since public access to all these areas is controlled in various ways, the refuge is part of a very substantial area of relatively undisturbed wildlife habitat.
History
The land occupied by the NWR was acquired by
Habitats and species
The refuge provides a range of habitats, from saltwater
- Sea turtles including
- Loggerhead sea turtle
- Green turtle
- American alligator
- Osprey
- Bald eagle
- Many species of waterfowl use the refuge as a wintering ground; blue-winged teal and northern shovelerare resident in small numbers
- Many species of shorebirds, some resident and some using the refuge in the course of their migration
- Several species of rails
- Anhinga
- Several species of heron and egret
- Glossy and white ibis
- Roseate spoonbill
- Florida scrub jay
- West Indian manatee
- Bobcat[2]
- Dwarf siren, a recently discovered salamander
Facilities
Subject to the needs of NASA, public access is relatively unrestricted, though it is only allowed during daylight hours;
The refuge provides
Management
Merritt Island NWR Complex acted as an administrative center for a number of other NWR's in central Florida but since 2012 management of the Merritt Island NWR, St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge are administered by the Merritt Island NWR Complex located on SR 402, 5 miles east of Titusville, Florida. [3]
The Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, and the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area are administered by the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Complex.[4] headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. Water levels are controlled in most of the refuge, to conserve its range of habitats. Controlled fires are used regularly.[5]
Roads in the refuge
Black Point Wildlife Drive is a one-way seven-mile dike road allowing wildlife viewing of the refuge[6]
Kennedy Parkway
Kennedy Parkway traverses the John F. Kennedy Space Center and the refuge. In the John F. Kennedy Space Center, it is 12.21 miles (19.65 km) long with a
References
- ^ Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Map. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. September 2012.
- ^ "Crustaceans of North Brevard - Part 2 - Titusville, Florida". www.nbbd.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Merritt Island NWR Complex- Retrieved 2017-12-25
- ^ Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Complex- Retrieved 2017-12-25
- ^ FWS: Prescribed Fire- Retrieved 2017-12-24
- ^ FWS: Black Point wildlife drive- Retrieved 2017-12-25
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.