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St. Johns

National Wildlife Refuge


Ron Hight, Project Leader
St. Johns NWR
P.O. Box 6504
Titusville, FL 32782
Phone: 321/861 0667
Fax: 321/861 1276
E-mail: FW4RWMerrittlsland@fws.gov


Refuge Facts
* Established: 1971.
* Acres: 6,194.
* Located in Brevard County, FL.
* Headquarters location: Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge,
five miles east of Titusville on
State Road 402.
* Administered by Merritt
Island NWR.
Natural History
* St. Johns NWR was established
to protect and provide habitat for
the Dusky Seaside Sparrow
(Ammodramus maritimus
nigrescens). However, in
December 1990, the critical
habitat was delisted and the
species was officially
declared extinct.
* The refuge lies adjacent to the St.
Johns River, a major watershed
in the State of Florida. Because
of its value as a protected natural
resource and a buffer zone for the
river, the St. Johns NWR is being
managed for biological diversity.
Refuge Objectives
* Restore and maintain remnant
salt marsh habitat adjacent to the
St. Johns River to maintain
biodiversity and benefit all native
plant and wildlife species.
* Provide habitat and management
for migratory birds including
several species of special
management concern.
* Provide breeding habitat for
species of special concern
including black rail, loggerhead
shrike and eastern meadowlark.


Management Tools
* Prescribed fire.
* Chemical and mechanical control
of exotic plants.
* Public education and outreach to
help instill conservation ethics.
* Research projects.
Public Use Opportunities
* Public use such as birding is
allowed only under a special use
permit at this time. Plans are
currently underway to allow
more types of compatible,
wildlife-oriented uses in
conjunction with Brevard County
and potentially other
cooperators.
Questions and Answers
Where is the St. Johns National
Wildlife Refuge located?
The St. Johns National Wildlife
Refuge is actually divided into two
tracts of land. The first, the Beeline
Unit, is located on the south side of
SR 407 (which connects to SR 528 or
the Beeline) west of exit 212 off
Interstate 95. The Highway 50 Unit is
located just west of Titusville on the
north side of SR 50. There is a sign on
Highway 50 near the entrance to
the refuge.

Is the refuge open to the public?
At the present time, the refuge is
only open to the public under a
special use permit which may be
applied for by contacting Merritt
Island NWR at 407/861 0667. Plans
are underway to open the St. Johns
NWR to some compatible, wildlife-
oriented public uses.