View source for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

{{Short description|Protected area in Florida, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area 
| name = Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
| iucn_category = IV
| map = USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Map of the [[United States]]
| map_width = 300
| photo = Birds at Merritt Island NWR.jpg
| photo_caption = Ibises, roseate spoonbills and egrets at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve, Florida United States.
| photo_width = 
| location = [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merritt Island]], [[Brevard County, Florida]], [[United States]]
| nearest_city = [[Titusville, Florida]]
| coordinates = {{coord|28|31|N|80|40|W|region:US-FL|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = 
| area_acre = 140000
| established = 1963
| visitation_num = 
| visitation_year = 
| governing_body = [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]]
| website = [http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/ Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]
}}
'''Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge''' is a {{Convert|140,000|acre|adj=on}} [[United States|U.S.]] [[National Wildlife Refuge]] (NWR) on the [[Atlantic Ocean|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 [[Merritt Island NWR]] Complex, which provides [[hiking]] and driving trails for the public, subject to access restrictions from [[NASA]]. It is a 'gateway site' for the [[Great Florida Birding Trail]].

==Location and extent==
[[File:Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.jpg|thumb|left|{{center|View of refuge from Max Brewer Memorial Parkway near Gator Creek}}]]
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is located due east of [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]] on [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merritt Island]] in [[Brevard County, Florida]], and occupies {{convert|140000|acre|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 (Florida)|Indian River]] run through the refuge.<ref name=merrittmap1>{{cite book|title=Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Map|publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|date=September 2012}}</ref>  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 [[NASA]] in the early 1960s for the development of the Space Center and its non-operational purposes. Until then, there had been little development in the area because of the high number of salt marsh [[mosquitoes]]. Public access is normally permitted, and several [[state highway]]s run across the refuge. However, the public can be excluded if necessary for NASA's purposes, as is done in the days before a launch.

==Habitats and species==
[[Image:Bald Eagle Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.jpg|thumb|Bald eagles inhabit the refuge.]]

The refuge provides a range of habitats, from saltwater [[estuary|estuaries]] and freshwater impoundments and [[marsh]]es, to [[dune]]s, [[hardwood]] [[hammock (ecology)|hammocks]], and [[scrubland|scrub]]. It contains over 1000 species of plants, 117 species of [[fish]], 68 [[amphibia]]ns and [[reptile]]s, 330 [[bird]]s, and 31 [[mammal]] species. Of these species, 21 are listed as [[endangered]] either by the state of Florida or by the US federal government. The following are some of the more important species using the refuge; most of them nest there{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}:
*[[Sea turtle]]s 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 shoveler]] are resident in small numbers
*Many species of [[shorebird]]s, some resident and some using the refuge in the course of their [[Bird migration|migration]]
*Several species of [[rail (bird)|rails]]
*[[Anhinga]]
[[File:Bobcatonwires.jpg|thumb|Bobcat in Kennedy Space Center]]
*Several species of [[heron]] and [[egret]]
*[[Glossy ibis|Glossy]] and [[American white ibis|white ibis]]
*[[Roseate spoonbill]]
*[[Florida scrub jay]]
*[[West Indian manatee]]
*[[Bobcat]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbbd.com/photos/Animals2/|title=Crustaceans of North Brevard - Part 2 - Titusville, Florida|website=www.nbbd.com|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[Dwarf siren]], a recently discovered [[salamander]]
<!-- Listing jaguarundi here is nonsensical. Jaguarundis are only native to Texas in the US; it is possible that there is an introduced population in Florida. At any rate, the Refuge would not try to protect jaguarundis as they would possibly compete with native species.-->

==Facilities==
Subject to the needs of NASA, public access is relatively unrestricted, though it is only allowed during daylight hours; [[camping]] is only allowed for certain organized [[youth organization]]s.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

The refuge provides [[hiking]] and driving trails for visitors, with opportunities for observing wildlife without causing disturbances; most of the species listed above can be seen by a casual visitor. An observation deck is provided near the [[Bascule bridge|drawbridge]] that carries [[State Road 3 (Florida)|State Road 3]] over the [[Haulover Canal]], in the northern part of the refuge, since manatees frequently congregate there. Boating is permitted on the waters around and within the refuge, and provides an opportunity for observing the wildlife. There are facilities for launching pleasure boats at several places. In addition the refuge includes, and gives access to  [[Playalinda Beach]] on the outer barrier island. [[Fishing]] is generally permitted, and [[hunting]] for wildfowl is allowed on a strictly limited basis. There is a Visitor Center.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==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]].
<ref>[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/About_the_Complex.html Merritt Island NWR Complex]- Retrieved 2017-12-25</ref>

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.<ref>[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Pelican_Island/About_the_Complex.html Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Complex]- Retrieved 2017-12-25</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Prescribed_Fire.html.aspx FWS: ''Prescribed Fire'']- Retrieved 2017-12-24</ref>

== Roads in the refuge ==
[[File:Black Point Wildlife Drive sign.jpg|thumb|Black Point Wildlife Drive sign]]
Black Point Wildlife Drive is a one-way seven-mile dike road allowing wildlife viewing of the refuge<ref>[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Black_Point_Wildlife_Drive.aspx FWS: Black Point wildlife drive]- Retrieved 2017-12-25</ref>

=== Kennedy Parkway ===
Kennedy Parkway traverses the John F. Kennedy Space Center and the refuge. In the John F. Kennedy Space Center, it is {{convert|12.21| miles}} long with a [[divided highway]]. North of Beach Road, it is two lanes wide. In total, it is {{convert|28.36|miles}} long, from the southern border of the Space Center to [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. 1]], near [[Oak Hill, Florida|Oak Hill]]. North of Dummit Grove, it forms the western boundary of the Canaveral National Seashore.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/ Official website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22IlBi3cR2I Merritt Island YouTube link]

{{Include-USGov|agency=United States Fish and Wildlife Service}}

{{Protected Areas of Florida}}
{{National Wildlife Refuges of the United States}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Merritt Island, Florida]]
[[Category:National Wildlife Refuges in Florida]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1963]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Brevard County, Florida]]
[[Category:Wetlands of Florida]]
[[Category:Landforms of Brevard County, Florida]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Marshes of Florida]]