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Southwest Region
Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
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CALOOSAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
CALOOSAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
1 Wildlife Drive
Sanibel, Florida   33957
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The Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), administered as a satellite refuge of J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR, is located in Lee County on the Caloosahatchee River within the city of Fort Myers. The refuge was established by President Woodrow Wilson on July 1, 1920, through Executive Order 3299 as a ". . . preserve and breeding ground for native birds". Originally, the Caloosahatchee refuge consisted of several mangrove islands. However, shoreline development, dredging of the river, and construction of the I-75 bridge has changed the physical arrangement and appearance of these islands. Today, the refuge still remains approximately 40 acres of mangrove shorelines and upland island habitats. The refuge is located adjacent to the Florida Power and Light Company's Orange River Power Plant and the Orange River's outflow. The warm water outflow from the power plant is a major wintering area for the endangered West Indian manatee.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
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Location
Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is located near Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres


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Area Campgrounds
Cypress Trails RV Resort
5400 Tice Street
Fort Myers, FL
239-333-3246
Cypress Woods RV Resort
5551 Luckett Road
Fort Myers, FL
239-208-7613
Sun-N-Shade, LLC
14880 Tamiami Trail
Punta Gorda, FL
941-639-5388
Sunseekers RV Park
19701 North Tamiami Trail
North Fort Myers, FL
239-731-1303
Tamiami Village & RV Park
16555 North Cleveland Avenue
North Fort Myers, FL
239-997-2697
Upriver RV Resort
17021 Upriver Drive
North Fort Myers, FL
239-543-3330
Seminole Campground
8991 Triplett Road
North Fort Myers, FL
239-543-2919
Labonte's Garden RV Park Inc
2830 Garden Street
North Fort Myers, FL
239-995-7417
Encore Pioneer Village
7974 Samville Road
North Fort Myers, FL
239-543-3303
Swan Lake Village & RV Resort
2400 North Tamiami Trail
North Fort Myers, FL
239-995-3397
Sun-N-Shade Campground
14880 Tamiami Trail
Punta Gorda, FL
941-639-5388
Raintree RV Resort
19250 North Tamiami Trail
North Fort Myers, FL
239-731-1441
Sun-N-Fun Mobile Home Village & RV Park
5558 Palm Beach Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL
239-694-5536
Nearby Hotels
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Directions
Access to the waters surrounding the islands that make up Caloosahatchee NWR is by boat only. The islands are not accessible to visitors. Boaters should consult navigational charts and tide schedules before attempting to visit any waters surrounding the refuge. Numerous oyster bars and shallow back bay/estuary waters are difficult to navigate and fragile seagrass beds must not be damaged. By boat, the refuge is located under the I-75 bridge as you head up the Caloosahatchee River. Boaters should note boat speed restrictions strictly enforced for the protection of the West Indian manatee. For more information, contact the J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, Florida 33957 or call (239) 472-1100.

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Florida
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