About Us

The refuge includes over 600 acres 18 islands and consists of densely forested red and black mangroves with little uplands habitat. Several of the islands are important nesting and roosting areas for colonial water birds, including the brown pelican, great egret, snowy egret, reddish egret, great blue heron, little blue heron, tricolored heron, double-crested cormorant and anhinga. You can find dolphins, manatees, loggerhead, green, and kemp's-ridley sea turtles in the surrounding waters.

Other Facilities in this Complex

Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The majority of the lands in these refuges are nesting and roosting islands. The entire complex is approximately 8,000 acres. The Refuge Complex headquarters is located at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957. 

Red Mangrove in the midst of blue rippling waters
Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge was established by President Woodrow Wilson on July 1, 1920 as a ". . . preserve and breeding ground for native birds." Originally, the Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge consisted of several mangrove islands. Today, shoreline development, dredging of the river, and construction of...
National Wildlife Refuge
Sanibel,FL
Sunset oranges and yellows at J.N. Ding Darling NWR
Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 as a ". . . preserve and breeding ground for native birds." Located in a vast complex of mangrove islands and brackish waters, Island Bay Refuge consists of six undeveloped, roadless tracts of land totaling 20 acres occupying the higher...
National Wildlife Refuge
Sanibel,FL
Bright pink birds with round, spoon shaped bills wading in blue water
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for spectacular migratory bird populations and the best place to start your visit is the FREE Visitor and...
National Wildlife Refuge
Sanibel,FL
Matlacha NWR sunrise bright orange across the water
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge was established on September 26, 1908, as three small islands created a, "preserve and breeding ground for native birds." Since then, the refuge has grown to 31 islands encompassing over 500 acres. The refuge islands are surrounded by the Matlacha Pass State...
National Wildlife Refuge
Sanibel,FL