Inside look at the Big Pine Key in the Lower Florida Keys

The next stop on our adventure through the Florida Keys is Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys.

Also known as the “Natural Keys”, the Lower Keys has advocated for over 60 years for the responsible use and preservation of the natural wonders found there.

“Driving down the highway, it’s just so beautiful from Seven Mile Bridge and the panoramic view of all of those backcountry islands,” said Bill Keogh, owner of Big Pine Kayak Adventures. “That’s really what captured my imagination and my heart when I first came down here in 1980.”

This area has two national wildlife refuges, a national marine sanctuary and a state park.

The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957. It protects the endangered Key deer – which are subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer – and its habitat.

The Gulf of Mexico waters provide refuge and breeding areas to great white herons and other migratory birds and wildlife in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. White herons are North America’s largest wading bird and are only found in the Florida Keys and on the South Florida mainland.

Keogh said the most fascinating site to explore is the mangroves, which are forests that line more than 1,800 miles of shoreline. 

“Mangroves are very integral and an important component to our ecosystem in the backcountry here,” he said. “They are a thriving area, a nursery area for all kinds of juvenile sport and recreational fish that are just plentiful in this area.”

Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves and tides. They are also known for their tree crabs called aratus pisonii.

“Our famous mangrove tree crab, which is kind of creepy looking but just as gentle and as wonderful and as fun-loving as Sebastian the crab.”

CHCH viewers have the chance to win a vacation to the Florida Keys. For more information about the contest and how to enter, visit https://www.www.chch.com/keystoadventure.