Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

This 220-square mile (140,000 acre) refuge hosts more than 22 threatened/endangered species including the 2,000-pound Florida manatee, eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise and peregrine falcon, more than any other refuge in the United States. You will find up to 400 Manatees making the North Banana River home in the spring. The area teems with more than 31 species of mammals, 331 types of birds and 113 species of fish - over 500 species of wildlife in all. You can seek out the 1045 species of flora that are found here.