Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a large protected area on Florida’s Atlantic coast that sits adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. The refuge conserves a mosaic of salt marsh, freshwater impoundments, coastal scrub, pine flatwoods and mangrove habitat and is a major site for migratory birds, sea turtles, and other coastal wildlife.

The 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive, which offers roadside stops and short walks to view shorebirds, wading birds, raptors and sometimes manatees. The refuge’s mix of freshwater impoundments and coastal marsh concentrates wildlife year-round and is particularly active during winter bird migration.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the refuge to protect these coastal and estuarine habitats while coordinating with NASA land use on Merritt Island; the refuge has been managed to balance wildlife conservation with limited public access. Over time the area has become notable both for its biodiversity and for offering public viewing opportunities close to a major spaceflight complex.

The refuge occupies Merritt Island and adjacent lands in Brevard County, Florida, immediately north and west of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center; the nearest city is Titusville, with the Atlantic coast and launch facilities a short drive east of the refuge.

• Size and setting: The refuge covers roughly 140,000 acres of barrier islands, marshes and uplands adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral; it combines wildlife conservation with opportunities to view launches and coastal wildlife.
• Visitor access: A 7-mile auto tour with interpretive pullouts provides one of the most accessible ways to see the refuge's wildlife without backcountry travel.

What to See #

• Black Point Wildlife Drive: A paved, one-way, 7-mile (11-kilometre) auto route that passes through marsh, scrub, and coastal habitat with pullouts for birdwatching and photography.
• Refuge habitats: Extensive salt marshes, mangrove and coastal scrub habitats that provide nesting, foraging and wintering areas for shorebirds, wading birds, and migrating waterfowl; parts of the refuge are closed seasonally for nesting protection.