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Cape Canaveral's Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

The Merrritt Island Wildlife Refuge Hours are from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily.

The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge was created in the early 1960's at the beginning of the U.S. space program. It encompasses more than 140 thousand acres of salt-water and fresh-water marsh, grass plains, hardwood hammocks, pine highlands, active citrus groves and miles of the most beautiful beach on the Atlantic Coast. The refuge acts as a buffer zone around the Kennedy Space Center.

HABITAT

The Refuge supports a very wide variety of wildlife:

310 species of birds including Bald Eagle, Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret and Florida Scrub Jay

25 mammals including Bobcat, Wild Boar, Raccoon, Opossum, Brown Rabbit and even a recent sighting of the endangered Florida Panther.

117 fishes

65 amphibians and reptiles

LOCATION

The refuge is located in East Central Florida bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the East and the Indian River on the West. The north entrance to the refuge is accessible from State Road 3, off of U.S. Highway 1 in Volusia County. The West entrance is on state road 406/county road 402, 3 miles east of Titusville, Florida.

As you cross the A. Max Brewer causeway from Titusville, look for the Brown Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants and Anhinga flying around or resting on the bridgework. In winter, look for Black Scoters and the American Coot feeding in the river to your right. Once past the entrance pay close attention to the top of the utility poles for Osprey and the wires for the Belted Kingfisher.

THINGS TO SEE

Visitor Center: Open 9:00 to 4:30 weekdays and 9:00 to 5:00 on weekends.
(Center is closed on Sundays from May - October and on all federal holidays)
Black Point Wildlife Drive: On RT406, Open from sunrise to sunset 7 days a week. This 6 mile self-guided wildlife auto drive takes you through excellent areas to see wading birds, Shore birds and waterfowl.
Cruickshank Trail: The trail is located at stop #8 along the Black Point Wildlife Drive. The trail circles a shallow marsh. It is an excellent trail for bird watching.
Length: 5 miles, walking time 2-3hrs.
Palm Hammock Trail: See the original Florida as it appeared to the early Spanish Conquistadors. The trail winds through hardwood forest, palm hammock and open marsh.
Length: 2 miles, walking time 1hr.
Oak Hammock Trail: A walking trail through sub-tropical forest.
Length: 1/2 mile, walking time 30 minutes.

Palm Hammock and Oak Hammock trails are located about 1 mile east of the visitor center.

NOTE: The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is closed 2 days prior to every Space Shuttle Launch and will remain closed until the shuttle returns to earth.
Look for "U.S. Orbiter" on the launch schedule.

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East Central Florida Birding Locations

Cape Canaveral's Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

HABITAT

LOCATION

THINGS TO SEE

NOTE: The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is closed 2 days prior to every Space Shuttle Launch and will remain closed until the shuttle returns to earth. Look for "U.S. Orbiter" on the launch schedule.

NOTE: The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is closed 2 days prior to every Space Shuttle Launch and will remain closed until the shuttle returns to earth.
Look for "U.S. Orbiter" on the launch schedule.