James
Kraus
Refuge Manager
1502 S.E. Kings Bay Drive
Crystal River, FL 34429
(352) 563-2088
Fax (352) 795-7961
E-mail: Chassahowitzka@fws.gov
Refuge Facts
- Established: 1974.
- Acres: 328.
- Located in Hillsborough County.
- Location: the refuge is located off shore from the town of St. Petersburg, FL and is accessible only by boat.
- 160,000 visitors annually.
- Administered by Chassahowitzka NWR Complex.
- The refuge’s beach and upland habitat support more than 117 species of birds. Two bird sanctuaries protect nesting brown pelicans, royal, sandwich, and least terns , laughing gulls, black skimmers and shorebirds such as oystercatchers. Thirty to sixty loggerhead sea turtles nest on Egmont Key each year. Many gopher tortoises and box turtles inhabit the island as well.
Refuge Objectives
- Provide nesting, feeding, and resting habitat for brown pelicans, terns, and other colonial nesting water birds.
- Preserve and protect barrier island habitat and historical structures of national significance.
- Provide habitat and protection for endangered species such as manatees, sea turtles and others.
- Provide wildlife-dependent recreation and environmental education for the public.
Commercial Use on Refuge
- All commercial activities and certain other activities require special permission.
- Commercial use on the refuge requires a Special Use Permit.
