​Good food, good friends, and a good cause—join us at Black Prong on October 1.

​Come out for a good meal and a great cause! On October 1, Black Prong Bar & Grill is hosting a Night of Giving to benefit Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges. Friends board members, refuge staff, and members of our Friends community will be there—and we’d love to see you, too! Black Prong has pledged $1,000 plus 100% of the evening’s proceeds to support the refuges. Grab a table, bring some friends, and join us for a fun evening in support of our special public lands.

​After taking a short summer sabbatical from its regular meeting schedule, the Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges Board reconvened in September with plenty on the agenda. While there was no August board meeting, both Friends volunteers and refuge staff have continued moving a wide range of projects forward.

Refuge staff have been busy with habitat restoration, road improvements and visitor access. Work is underway on roads and fire lines, hurricane debris is being cleared, and habitat restoration projects are moving ahead. Plans are also taking shape for another round of longleaf pine planting, with the Friends helping support next year's seedlings.

​Invasive Brazilian pepper and feral hogs remain on the management list, too. And yes, even the bears have gotten into the act—discovering that the corn intended for hog traps makes a pretty good bear buffet!

Improvements are underway that should make exploring the refuge easier. Dixie Mainline Road is receiving attention, kayak access at Sanders Creek has been cleared, and work is being planned for additional trail and paddling opportunities.

The Friends are also developing a calendar of walks, bike rides and kayak/canoe outings. There’s plenty to explore, and we’re looking for members who would like to help lead the way.

The return of the Seahorse Key Open House was a big success, with nearly 300 visitors making the trip. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the most common complaint was essentially, “When's the next one?”
Good news: another open house is being planned!
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Meanwhile, engineers are studying erosion issues around the historic cemetery and lighthouse area. The Friends and refuge are also looking at ways to continue sharing the remarkable history of Seahorse Key with visitors.

The Vista property remains an active topic for both the Friends and the refuge. Work continues to sort, protect and relocate historic materials from the site, while discussions continue about the Friends' potential role in interpretation and other projects there. Much remains to be determined as we wait for safety inspections, assessments and review of the facilities by the FWS that will be a major determing factor on if how projects can safely move forward. The planned Vista dock is also moving through the engineering and planning process. And, in a bit of unexpected refuge archaeology, survey work turned up something nobody knew was hiding in the woods: an 8-by-30-foot amphibious World War II-era DUKW “duck boat.” You just never know what you'll find out there!

​The Friends and refuge are continuing to explore opportunities for trail improvements and other visitor projects, while coordinating with the Water Management District on longer-term goals for the island.

​The Friends' own work is expanding as well. Plans are taking shape for a calendar of guided walks, bicycle outings and paddle trips, taking advantage of improving refuge roads and the new Cedar Key paddle trail. The organization is also preparing for a busy season of public outreach, including the Cedar Key Seafood Festival in October and additional programs leading into the winter and spring.

The board is also working on some less visible, but important, business: renewing the Friends' partnership agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, refining the types of projects the Friends can undertake, strengthening communications, preparing merchandise and recruiting additional volunteers and board members.
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So yes, August was a sabbatical. But it wasn't exactly a vacation for the refuges or for the people who care about them. September is here, the Friends are back around the table, and there's plenty happening on the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges.

Stay tuned—and come join us!

​In November, voters will make choices that will determine the future of the Florida Keys Wildlife Refuges’ 208,308 acres of land and water. Your vote on November 3, 2026, is the most direct mechanism for citizens to safeguard these critical public lands.
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The Direct Link Between Voting and Public Lands
The health of national wildlife refuges, including those in the Keys, depends on elected officials who control federal funding and environmental legislation. Congress determines the annual budget for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency tasked with managing the refuge system. This funding directly impacts staffing levels, habitat restoration projects, law enforcement on public lands, and public education programs.                                   
When we vote in federal elections, we choose the lawmakers who hold the power of the purse, either for good or …not.. With proper funding, our refuges can combat invasive species, restore degraded wetlands, and maintain trails for the public. Conversely, a lack of legislative support leads to budget cuts, closed areas, dangerous, unmaintained infrastructure, and reduced protections for vulnerable flora and fauna ecosystems.

Protection for Threatened and Endangered Species      
National wildlife refuges provide sanctuary for more than 380 threatened or endangered species, including 23 just in the National Key Deer Refuge. From the Florida panther to the Key Deer to the whooping crane, these lands provide the specific habitats necessary for endangered species to survive and recover.

Climate change, urban sprawl, and habitat fragmentation threaten these lands daily. When we vote, we elect leaders who decide whether to maintain, strengthen, or weaken the Endangered Species Act and other bedrock environmental laws, or … not. Supporting candidates who value conservation ensures that refuges retain their legal protections and the resources needed to shield species from extinction.

Preserving Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Wildlife refuges also provide essential services to human communities. Wetlands within refuges act as natural sponges that absorb floodwaters and protect nearby populated areas from storm surges. Forested refuges filter drinking water and sequester massive amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate the impacts of global climate change. When we vote to elect leaders who will safeguard these areas through the ballot box, we protect global biodiversity. Your vote on November 3 is critical to enact policy choices that recognize nature as vital infrastructure.

Economic Benefits to Local Communities
National wildlife refuges are powerful economic engines that generate billions of dollars in economic activity annually through eco-tourism. Ecotourism and ocean recreation are massive drivers in the Florida Keys. Visitors spend roughly $3.5 billion annually in Monroe County. Studies from Visitfloridakeys.com show that ecotourism within the Florida Keys exceeds $2.3 billion in annual sales and supports over 23,000 local jobs. Refuge visitors travel here each year for birdwatching, hiking, photography, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, and fishing. This tourism fuels local economies by supporting small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and outdoor outfitters.

When you vote on November 3, please vote for elected officials who support the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which allows the refuge system to acquire critical inholdings from willing sellers, expanding public access and boosting local economies. November 3, please vote for candidates who understand the economic value of conservation.

Securing Public Access and Outdoor Heritage
The National Wildlife Refuges in the Keys provide unparalleled opportunities for our visitors to connect with the natural world. Unlike some public lands focused solely on preservation, refuges emphasize wildlife-dependent recreation, and they provide safe, accessible spaces for families to experience wilderness.

Decisions made by elected officials influence whether these lands have the budget to remain open and accessible in the near term and for future generations. Your vote determines whether public lands stay in public hands or face pressure for privatization and unsustainable resource extraction.

Combating the Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change poses an existential threat to habitats worldwide, and wildlife refuges are on the front lines. Rising sea levels threaten coastal refuges, while shifting weather patterns alter the vegetation and water availability. Addressing these challenges requires forward-thinking policy and robust federal investment in climate resilience.

Voters in November will decide which climate strategies the nation will pursue. When you vote, please select leaders committed to science-based land management that allows refuges to implement adaptive strategies, such as building living shorelines and creating wildlife corridors that allow species to move as habitats shift.

Your Vote is a Voice for the Land
Wildlife, clean water, and pristine forests cannot advocate for themselves in the halls of government. Your vote is their proxy at the ballot box. Public lands belong to all Americans, making their preservation a shared democratic responsibility.

Elections are frequently decided by slim margins, meaning every individual vote can shape environmental policy for years to come. Casting your ballot on November 3, 2026, provides a clear, actionable way to protect biodiversity, support our Keys economy, and ensure our Keys’ unique natural heritage endures.

​Our GPS-tagged Swallow-tailed Kite, first captured on the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in June 2025, has checked in with some exciting news. The latest GPS data show that Suwannee Scout has made his way to Colombia and is preparing to cross the mighty Andes Mountains.

​The update comes from Gina Kent, Senior Conservation Scientist with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI), which is conducting the tracking project. Kent was delighted to receive this latest batch of data because researchers did not receive transmissions from Suwannee Scout while he was in South America last year. Once he gets farther into South America, the signal may once again go quiet—but for now, we have a fascinating glimpse of his journey.

​Suwannee Scout was fitted with his GPS transmitter after being captured on the refuge in June 2025. Researchers also collected a feather sample that will help determine whether our traveling celebrity is a male or female.

So where will he go next? We don't know—but crossing the Andes is certainly a big adventure for a bird that began his journey right here on the Lower Suwannee!