We're excited to expand our online presence by launching our new LinkedIn page!

According to LinkedIn's advertising tools, an estimated 10–12 million LinkedIn members live in Florida. As our community continues to grow on Facebook, through our website, and among the 700–1,000 readers of our monthly newsletter, we wanted to establish a presence on the world's largest professional networking platform as well.

Our LinkedIn page reflects the look and mission of our website and Facebook page, sharing much of the same news, resources, and updates while reaching a broader professional audience.

If you're on LinkedIn, we'd be grateful if you would follow our page, like our posts, and share any content that may be valuable to your professional network. Every follow and share helps us connect with more people who care about our mission.

Thank you for helping us spread the word!

​​Refuge staff have been exceptionally busy this summer, with projects underway that range from habitat restoration, visitor improvements and wildlife management to hurricane recovery. 

Here's a look at some of the work happening across the refuge.

New water safety signage is being installed throughout the refuge, including signs warning visitors about the presence of snakes in key waterways. Approximately six signs have already been installed this month, Plant ID signage is being developed by Friends Dennis Creek team. On completions these will be funded by the Refuge for the Dennis Creek Trail .

Recreational access also continues to improve. Staff recently cleared the kayak launch at Sanders Creek on Dixie Mainline Road, reopening another popular paddling access point while carefully avoiding any protected plant species.

The refuge also celebrated the first Seahorse Key Open House since Hurricane Helene. The event was made possible through the collaboration of refuge staff, the University of Florida Biological Station, Friends of the Refuges, volunteers, and local vendors. Visitor response was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees already asking for additional open house opportunities in the future.

Meanwhile, the newly revised hunt program has officially been released. The updated hunt schedule and regulations have generated an enthusiastic response from hunters, with positive feedback highlighting the improvements and no significant concerns reported to date.

Habitat restoration continues to move forward through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. Contractors have begun restoration work around the southern end of Dixie Mainline Road, marking another important step toward improving wildlife habitat.

Hydrology restoration is also gaining momentum. Refuge staff have partnered with the State of Florida, the University of Florida, and Ducks Unlimited to pursue funding opportunities aimed at restoring the refuge's historic water flow. An $85,000 materials grant has already been requested to support initial restoration efforts, and the team is optimistic about receiving the award.

Invasive species management remains another priority. Refuge staff are working with the State of Florida on a new aerial survey using drones to identify Brazilian pepper infestations across the refuge. This will allow crews including our very own Pepper Busters to target treatment and eradication efforts more efficiently.

The Florida Forest Service has been contracted, using outside funding, to maintain critical fire lines with bulldozers. Work is currently underway in Dixie County, with Levy County work expected to follow.

Wildlife management efforts are also increasing during the off-season. The USDA is conducting helicopter operations and ground trapping to reduce feral hog populations. One unexpected challenge has emerged: local black bears have discovered the bait corn before the hogs can, requiring USDA crews to develop creative solutions to keep bears away from the traps.

Recovery and construction projects funded through disaster assistance continue to advance, with 11 separate construction projects moving forward.

One unexpected discovery came during survey work for the new Vista dock. Survey crews located a remarkably well-preserved World War II-era DUKW amphibious vehicle—better known as a "Duck Boat"—hidden in the woods. The rare military vehicle is an exciting piece of history that had previously gone unnoticed on the refuge.

Recovery work from past hurricanes is also accelerating. After completing debris removal along the entire length of Nature Drive using a rented excavator with a mulching attachment and operators from Pelican Island and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuges, crews are preparing to expand operations dramatically. Two additional mulchers are scheduled to arrive on July 28, with a third likely to follow. The goal is to clear debris from every refuge road, both inside and outside the gates, while simultaneously mowing and resurfacing Nature Drive.

Road maintenance partnerships are also paying dividends. Working alongside Dixie County, refuge staff have coordinated improvements to Dixie Mainline Road using refuge-owned limerock. The county is providing all labor at no cost to the refuge, and recent inspections confirmed that minor washouts near bridges do not present any safety concerns.

Several efforts are underway to improve operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. The refuge has begun downsizing older equipment by selling surplus vehicles, airboats, trailers, tractors, and other equipment, while transferring a dump truck to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and donating a utility vehicle.

At the same time, new equipment is being added where it provides the greatest value. A replacement 24-foot skiff and a new 10-foot rotary mower have been ordered to support ongoing field operations.

Staff have finished clearing a climate-controlled 12-by-24-foot storage building, with excess materials transferred to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The newly available storage space will provide secure, air-conditioned storage for sensitive artifacts and materials from the Vista house and outbuildings. Funding has also been procured for, and design is in progress for interpretive signage at Vista.

Refuge leadership continues working with the Suwannee River Water Management District to revisit long-term goals for Atsena Otie Key. A planning meeting is expected in the near future to help align priorities and identify future opportunities.

Law enforcement staff also continue their work protecting refuge resources by addressing ongoing poaching activity and ensuring the refuge remains a safe place for both wildlife and visitors.

Together, these projects reflect the tremendous amount of work happening across the refuge. From restoring habitats and improving visitor experiences to recovering from hurricanes and strengthening partnerships, the refuge continues making meaningful progress toward a healthier, more resilient future.

​Sometimes the best conservation stories are about much more than wildlife, they're about people coming together.

​This year's long awaited Open House at Seahorse Key was a tremendous success, bringing together the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Florida Seahorse Key Marine Laboratory, the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, the City of Cedar Key, local tour operators, volunteers, and community partners to welcome visitors to one of the Refuge's most treasured islands.

​The response exceeded everyone's expectations. By early that morning, tour boat operators were already posting "Sold Out" signs, something Refuge staff had never seen for an open house event. While a typical open house might attract around 100 visitors, this year's event welcomed almost 300! The actual number may even be higher as visitors continuously arrived and departed throughout the day.

​The enthusiasm demonstrated something many in Cedar Key have long known: people value opportunities to experience the refuge islands, Seahorse Key in particular, and those opportunities can benefit the refuges, conservation and the local community.

​Events like this don't happen by accident. The open house was the result of collaboration between Refuge staff, the University of Florida, the Friends organization, local businesses, volunteers, and the City of Cedar Key. Together, they coordinated transportation, educational opportunities, logistics, and visitor support to create a memorable experience while protecting the island's natural resources.

​​Visitors explored the island, learned about its unique ecology and history, and many even participated in small beach cleanups. By the end of the day, Seahorse Key was actually cleaner than it had been before the event began. A fitting outcome for a day centered on stewardship.

​The event also demonstrated how conservation and local economies can work hand in hand. With tour boats operating at capacity, visitors weren't just spending time on the island. They were dining in local restaurants, purchasing fuel, staying in area hotels, and supporting Cedar Key businesses before and after their excursions.

​Local business owners noticed the impact and were enthusiastic about the possibility of hosting more events like this in the future. Expanding opportunities for carefully managed public access can help connect more people with the Refuge while providing meaningful economic benefits to our surrounding community.

​This is exactly the kind of partnership the Friends organization strives to foster: supporting the refuges and supporting conservation and at the same time providing benefit to the communities that surround and support our National Wildlife Refuges.

​Every successful event has a behind-the-scenes story, and this one may be the most memorable.

​Following past hurricane damage, one of the biggest obstacles to restarting Seahorse Key open houses wasn't transportation or staffing, it was the lack of a functioning restroom. For nearly two years, managers, engineers, and university staff searched for a permanent solution while navigating permits, construction requirements, and regulations.

Then Brian Wirth of the University of Florida suggested something refreshingly simple. Instead of waiting years for the perfect answer, why not install a portable toilet and connect it to the existing septic system?

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones.

The temporary solution was inexpensive, practical, and fully functional. It allowed the open house program to return while plans for a permanent facility continue. It may not be glamorous, but that humble porta-potty deserves a little credit for helping hundreds of visitors enjoy Seahorse Key once again.

​The overwhelming success of this year's open house reinforces the value of continuing these opportunities whenever they can be offered without compromising the Refuge's wildlife and habitats.

​Seahorse Key is a remarkable place, and visitors were deeply appreciative of the chance to experience it. By working together, conservation organizations, government agencies, volunteers, local businesses, and community leaders demonstrated what can be accomplished through collaboration.

​The Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges are proud to have been part of this effort and look forward to supporting future events that connect people with these extraordinary public lands while benefiting the communities that help protect them.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone—from Refuge staff and University of Florida personnel to volunteers, tour operators, local businesses, and community partners who made this unforgettable day possible.