Established in 1996 and spanning 35,000 acres in Collier County on the southwest coast of Florida, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refugee (NWR) is an important refuge for the rich diversity of native wildlife and threatened mangrove habitats found in this region. Comprising almost two-thirds of the largest expanse of mangrove forest in North America, the refuge is also home to small coastal pockets of tropical hardwoods such as gumbo-limbo, cabbage palms, and oak trees.
Threatened and endangered species of wildlife call the refuge their home, including the West Indian manatee, Atlantic loggerhead turtle, peregrine falcon, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, along with more than 189 species of birds. Visitors to the refuge can enjoy several outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, monitored duck hunting, and photography.
Address: Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, 12085 State Road 29 South, Immokalee, FL 34142, 239-657-8001
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