Wildlife Encounters
The Florida Keys are home to remarkable neighbors, from dolphins and sea turtles to butterflies, Key deer, and countless native and migrating birds. Here you can visit rehabilitation centers, aquariums, and sanctuaries that care for injured wildlife while offering visitors a chance to learn and connect. Hand-feed giant tarpon, watch butterflies drift by, or join a charter to spot marine life in the wild. We invite you to meet these creatures, fall in love with them as we have, and help us keep The Keys clean and healthy so our wildlife can thrive for generations.
Filters
Key Largo
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1980, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge protects tropical hardwood hammocks, mangroves, and salt marsh habitats as part of the Florida Keys NWRs complex.
Key Largo
JD Butterfly Garden and Nursery
JD Butterfly Garden & Nursery — butterfly garden, plant nursery & bistro in Key Largo, where you’ll stroll tropical gardens, shop native plants and relax at a charming café.
Key Largo
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center
Rescue, rehabilitate, and protect wild birds at Florida Keys' inspiring sanctuary.
Key Largo
Morning Star Sailing Charters
Morning Star Sailing Charters offers personalized sailing experiences in the Florida Keys, including captained and bareboat charters, sunset cruises, and snorkeling tours.
Key Largo
Coral Restoration Foundation Exploration Center
The Coral Restoration Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting coral reefs through science, innovative technology, education, and community involvement.
Key West
The Underwater Gardener
The Underwater Gardener is a saltwater aquarium shop and working coral farm at 2816 N Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West, tucked into the Overseas Market plaza. It is free to walk in and fully indoors, so you can see living coral, reef fish, and invertebrates up close on a rainy afternoon or a hot August day.
Marathon
The Turtle Hospital
The Turtle Hospital — hands-on sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation & education center in Marathon, Florida Keys.
Key Largo
Mother Ocean Fund
A Key Largo nonprofit that gets injured civilians and veterans into the water, running adaptive diving programs alongside reef and beach cleanups and conservation fundraising. Its board includes the retired president of Divers Alert Network.
The Lower Keys
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge
Protected sanctuary in the Florida Keys for wading birds, sea turtles, and marine life.
Key Largo
Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance
Protect Marine Wildlife is a Florida Keys–based nonprofit dedicated to funding marine conservation, research, and rescue programs that protect dolphins, sea turtles, and other ocean wildlife.
Key Largo
Florida Keys Swim with Dolphin Tours and Tickets
Swim, play, or just watch dolphins in their natural habitat in the Florida Keys.
Key West
Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm
Beneath the elevated Stock Island jail, about 120 rescued animals live in a small free zoo tended daily by inmates, from a capybara and an alpaca to lemurs, a kinkajou and a crocodile. It opens to the public for four hours a month, on the second and fourth Sundays.
Key Largo
Capt. Sterling's Everglades Tour
Captain Sterling's Everglades Eco-Tours offers personalized, small-group boat excursions through the Everglades National Park, Pennekamp Park, and Florida Bay, led by experienced guides passionate about wildlife conservation.
Key West
Key West Wildlife Center (24 hour rescues)
Rescue and rehabilitate native wildlife in Key West to protect nature.
The Lower Keys
Blue Hole Observation Platform
Visit the trail and observation deck at Blue Hole, a cenote-like pond that is the largest body of fresh water in the Florida Keys.
