Great White Heron and Key West National Wildlife Refuges

The marsh rabbit inhabits the wetlands of the Florida Keys.

The namesake of this refuge, the great white heron.

Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges include the islands known locally as the Backcountry, situated near the main chain of keys that comprise the Florida Keys.

The islands in the Great White Heron refuge are open to the public and the waters are open for boating. Some of the Key West islands' beaches are open on a limited basis and both are accessible only by boat. Personal watercraft, seaplane landings, hovercraft, airboats and waterskiing are prohibited within the boundaries of both refuges. Pets are not permitted on the islands.

To visit the Backcountry, you should obtain a copy of "Backcountry Regulations" and "Planning a Backcountry Trip" brochures.

The two refuges cover more than 600 square miles of open water and 9,000 acres of land. They protect habitat for a wide variety of birds and marine turtles.

Some common bird species include terns, frigate birds, white-crowned pigeons, ospreys and great white herons. The islands also house the only colony of laughing gulls in the Lower Florida Keys.