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J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Photo: Jim Mathisen (USFWS) / Public domain · source

🌺 Gardens & wildlife

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Sanibel, FL · Southwest Florida

About

Spanning more than 6,400 acres on Sanibel Island, this refuge protects one of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems in the United States. Its four-mile Wildlife Drive winds past tidal flats and estuaries teeming with roseate spoonbills, herons, ibis, and alligators. The refuge is renowned among birders and is best explored by car, bike, kayak, or on foot.

Highlights

Four-mile Wildlife DriveRoseate spoonbills and wading birdsMangrove kayak trailsWorld-class birdwatching

Getting there

1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957

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Part of these collections

Curated guides that feature J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Best Florida Wildlife14 places

Best Florida Wildlife

Where to see Florida's wildlife up close: manatees, alligators, roseate spoonbills, the Florida panther and the tiny Key deer, across springs, swamps and refuges from the Panhandle to the Keys.