Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: A Wild Kingdom Beside the Launch Pads

In one of the most surprising pairings in Florida, a vast and thriving wildlife refuge shares an island with America’s spaceport. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge wraps around the Kennedy Space Center, and the same buffer of land that keeps the rockets safe has become a haven for an astonishing array of wildlife.

The refuge covers more than 140,000 acres of marshes, lagoons, scrub, and hammock. Because so much of it is closed to development, it shelters one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the Southeast, including a remarkable number of threatened and endangered species.

Birdwatchers consider it hallowed ground. In the cooler months, ducks and wading birds crowd the shallow impoundments, and a slow drive along the Black Point Wildlife Drive can reveal roseate spoonbills, herons, ibises, and bald eagles. Alligators bask on the banks, and manatees gather in the warmer waters.

A boardwalk trail winds through the marsh, and the visitor center helps newcomers know what to look for. With patience, you may spot bobcats, otters, or armadillos.

There is something wonderful about watching a flock of spoonbills lift off against the backdrop of a launch tower. Merritt Island proves that wild Florida and the space age can not only coexist but flourish side by side.

Official page: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge