Key Deer NWR

Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge on Big Pine Key is one of Florida's most heartening conservation stories. The Key Deer — a miniature subspecies of the white-tailed deer, found nowhere else on earth — was once driven nearly to extinction. Today, thanks to the refuge established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a thriving population roams the pine rockland and hardwood hammock habitats of the Lower Keys. Visiting the refuge is a peaceful, rewarding experience. The deer are remarkably unafraid of people, and spotting them along the refuge's trails and roads is one of those genuinely unforgettable Florida Keys encounters that no amount of planning can fully prepare you for.