On the refuge, beaches and shores of the refuge provide loafing and feeding
sites for shorebirds, gulls, and terns. The surrounding shallow bays provide
valuable feeding areas for the wading and water birds. Other vertebrates known
to use the refuge or surrounding waters include raccoons, marsh rabbits,
manatees, and sea turtles.

<p>On the refuge, beaches and shores of the refuge provide loafing and feeding sites for shorebirds, gulls, and terns. The surrounding shallow bays provide valuable feeding areas for the wading and water birds. Other vertebrates known to use the refuge or surrounding waters include raccoons, marsh rabbits, manatees, and sea turtles.</p>

Bird's eye view of the park

Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Gasparilla Island State Park

Bird's eye view of the campground

Loop A

Loop B

Cayo Costa State Park

The Pine Island NWR is located on the southwest coast of Florida, north of
Sanibel Island in the Pine Island Sound. It is administered as part of the
J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR. The refuge was established by President Theodore
Roosevelt through Executive Order 939 in 1908 to protect the thousands of
herons, egrets, and pelicans that were being hunted to support the plume trade
in the early 1900's. The refuge has also been designated as a Florida State
Aquatic Preserve. The 500-acre refuge has been expanded to over 17 islands and
consists of densely forested red and black mangroves with little uplands
habitat. Indian shell mounds located on Benedict Island show evidence of
Calusa Indians once inhabiting the area at the time of European exploration.
Several of the islands, including Hemp Island and Bird Key, are important
nesting and roosting areas for colonial birds, particularly the Brown pelican.
Raccoons are the primary mammal found on the islands and dolphins and manatees
can be seen in the surrounding waters. Small colonies of gopher tortoises may
be found on some of the larger islands. Endangered and threatened species
include bald eagles, wood storks, sea turtles and manatees.

The Pine Island NWR is located on the southwest coast of Florida, north of Sanibel Island in the Pine Island Sound.  It is administered as part of the J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR.  The refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt through Executive Order 939 in 1908 to protect the thousands of herons, egrets, and pelicans that were being hunted to support the plume trade in the early 1900's.  The refuge has also been designated as a Florida State Aquatic Preserve.



The 500-acre refuge has been expanded to over 17 islands and consists of densely forested red and black mangroves with little uplands habitat.  Indian shell mounds located on Benedict Island show evidence of Calusa Indians once inhabiting the area at the time of European exploration. Several of the islands, including Hemp Island and Bird Key, are important nesting and roosting areas for colonial birds, particularly the Brown pelican.  Raccoons are the primary mammal found on the islands and dolphins and manatees can be seen in the surrounding waters.



Small colonies of gopher tortoises may be found on some of the larger islands.  Endangered and threatened species include bald eagles, wood storks, sea turtles and manatees.

Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Gasparilla Island State Park

Cayo Costa State Park

Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge

Don Pedro Island State Park

Stump Pass Beach State Park