Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Refuge in 2014
Nearest city	Goodland, Florida
Area	35,000 acres (140,000,000 m²)
Established	1996
Governing body	US Fish & Wildlife Service
Website	Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Southwest Florida. It's located in Collier County, between Marco Island and Everglades City, Florida. This refuge was created in 1996 and covers a huge area of 35,000 acres, which is about 14,164 hectares! It's part of the Ten Thousand Islands area.

This refuge protects a large area of mangrove forests, which are unique trees that grow in salty water. It has both fresh and saltwater environments, making it a home for many different plants and animals.

What Can You Do Here?

You can enjoy many activities at the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. These include:

Fishing
Hunting
Bird watching
Kayaking
Camping

Amazing Plants and Animals

The refuge is bursting with life! It's home to about 200 types of fish and 189 kinds of birds. There are also countless plant species here. Let's explore some of them!

Mangrove Trees

Mangroves are super important trees that grow in coastal areas. They help protect the land from storms and provide homes for many animals.

Red Mangrove

Red mangrove trees growing by the water's edge.

The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is the most common type of mangrove in Florida. It can be a small bush or a tall tree. These mangroves are special because their seeds start growing while still on the tree. These young plants, called seedlings, then drop into the water and float away to find a new place to grow.

Black Mangrove

Black mangrove trees with their unique roots.

Black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) love very salty soil, just like red mangroves. They have special roots called pneumatophores that stick up out of the mud. These roots help the tree breathe and also support it in the soft soil.

White Mangrove

A white mangrove leaf.

Unlike red and black mangroves, the white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) usually grows on higher, drier land. Their leaves are thick and roundish, which helps them store water.

Coastal Grasses

These grasses are important parts of the coastal environment.

Cordgrass

Cordgrass growing in a marsh.

Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is often found in marshy areas. If there's too much of this grass, it can reduce the muddy areas where shorebirds like to find food.

Sea Oats

Sea oats growing on a sand dune.

Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) usually grow on sand dunes. They are very good at handling salt spray from the ocean, which most plants can't do.

Invasive Plants

Some plants are not native to Florida and can cause problems by taking over habitats.

Brazilian Pepper

Brazilian pepper tree with its many branches.

The Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) is also known as Florida holly. It can grow up to 12 meters (about 40 feet) tall with many tangled branches. This plant was first brought to the United States in 1898. It has now spread across thousands of acres in South Florida and is growing very quickly, pushing out native plants.

Melaleuca Tree

A melaleuca tree.

The melaleuca tree (Melaleuca quinuenervia) is another invasive tree in South Florida. These trees are harmful because they can dry up areas that are supposed to stay wet for most of the year. This changes the environment for many native animals and plants that need wet habitats.

Shore Birds

Many different birds live along the shores of the refuge.

Least Tern

A least tern.

The least tern (Sternula antillarum) is the smallest type of tern found in America. They build their nests on sandy shores in the southern parts of the United States. Small fish are their main food.

Black Skimmer

A black skimmer flying low over the water.

Black skimmers (Rynchops niger) get their name from how they hunt. They fly low, skimming the lower part of their beak in the water to catch small fish. They often live in large groups on sandy beaches.

Mammals

You might spot some interesting mammals in the refuge.

Raccoon

A raccoon.

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) can sometimes cause problems for sea turtles. They are a main reason why loggerhead sea turtle nests can be destroyed. When raccoons are moved away from smaller islands, the turtle nests often start to do better.

North American River Otter

A North American river otter.

River otters (Lontra canadensis) mostly live in rivers, marshes, and swamps. They enjoy eating fish, amphibians (like frogs), turtles, and crayfish.

Bottlenose Dolphin

A bottlenose dolphin swimming.

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the most common type of dolphin. You can find them in both deep ocean waters and closer to the coast.

Reptiles

Reptiles are also an important part of the refuge's wildlife.

Brown Anole

Two brown anoles.

The brown anole (Anolis sagrei) is an invasive lizard that has very large populations. They seem to be taking over the places where green anoles used to live. Brown anoles have even been seen eating green anoles.

Green Anole

A green anole.

Green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) eat many different spiders, insects, and other small creatures. They mostly live in trees.

Fishes

The waters of the refuge are home to many types of fish.

Tarpon

An Atlantic tarpon.

Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) are usually found in coastal bays, river mouths, and lagoons lined with mangroves. They eat a wide variety of animals, from smaller fish like mullet and sardines to crabs.

Common Snook

A common snook.

Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) can be found close to shore, around mangroves, bridges, and seawalls. All snook are born male, but when they grow to be about 18-22 inches long, some of them change into females.

Red Drum

A red drum fish.

The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), also called redfish, gets its name from the drumming sound it makes when it's spawning (laying eggs). Young redfish stay in rivers and bay areas. As they get older, they move towards coastal areas and open water.

Spotted Sea Trout

A spotted sea trout.

Spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus) can be found around seagrass beds or oyster bars. Their main diet includes shrimp, pinfish, or pigfish.

Threatened and Endangered Animals

Some animals in the refuge need special protection because their populations are at risk.

West Indian Manatee

Two West Indian manatees.

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) has been considered an endangered species since 1967. Manatees travel to different places depending on the changing temperatures. They can live in fresh, slightly salty (brackish), or salty water.

Bald Eagle

A bald eagle.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782. They mostly eat fish and other birds. You can find them near rivers, lakes, marshes, and coastal areas.

Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtle

An Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle.

The Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is considered a threatened species. Their population today is much smaller than it used to be.

Images for kids

Refuge in 2014
Red mangrove trees growing by the water's edge.
Black mangrove trees with their unique roots.
A white mangrove leaf.
Cordgrass growing in a marsh.
Sea oats growing on a sand dune.
Brazilian pepper tree with its many branches.
A melaleuca tree.
A least tern.
A black skimmer flying low over the water.
A raccoon.
A North American river otter.
A bottlenose dolphin swimming.
Two brown anoles.
A green anole.
An Atlantic tarpon.
A common snook.
A red drum fish.
A spotted sea trout.
Two West Indian manatees.
A bald eagle.
An Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle.

All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.