Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 as an overlay of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center. Consisting of 140,000 acres, the refuge provides a wide variety of habitats, including: coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks, which are home to more than 1,500 species of plants and animals.
While visiting the refuge, guests can enjoy bird and wildlife observation, a wildlife drive, manatee observation deck, fishing and hunting, plus boating and paddling. The Visitor Information Center, located four miles east of Titusville, Florida, is a great place to start your visit.
The Nature & Technology exhibit at KSCVC showcases the unique balance between technology and nature at Kennedy Space Center, which shares a common boundary with the 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Working on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge comes with the responsibility to tread lightly on the environment. The Visitor Complex has a team of caring staff members who develop and implement "GreenPath®" environmental management initiatives designed to reduce the human impact on our beautiful surroundings.
To learn more about the Wildlife Refuge, visit www.fws.gov/merrittisland.