Coronavirus (COVID-19) Notice
Although most refuge lands and outdoor spaces have remained open for the public to enjoy, we ask that you recreate responsibly.

  • Check alerts and local conditions on this website and call ahead for current information. Operations vary based on local public health conditions.
  • Consistent with CDC recommendations, all visitors (age 2 and older), who are fully vaccinated are required to wear a mask inside of federal buildings in areas of substantial or high community transmission.. All visitors who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.
  • Most importantly, stay home if you feel sick and continue to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 and follow CDC guidance on how to protect yourself and others.


Features

  • Belted kingfisher / L. Woodward, USFWS

    eBird Observation Entries

    Find out what birds are being seen at the refuge, including the most recent sightings.

    eBird Daily Observations

  • Swallow-tailed kite flying high

    Artful flyer

    The return of these striking beauties, the swallow-tailed kite, is celebrated each spring.

  • Baby bat

    Bats

    If you hate mosquitoes, you'll love our flying friends! Forty thousand Brazilian free-tailed bats live in the Refuge's giant bat house.

  • Fluorescent pink sunrise behind pines

    Forestry on the Refuge

    Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge was carved out of a pine plantation made of row upon row of non-native pines.

  • Prescribed fire sign posted

    Prescribed Fire

    The Refuge uses rotations of planned strategic fires to replenish the land.

Y'all Stop In!

Road Closures Due to Flooding

Road Closed Sign 150x150

Refuge roads are being reopened, but some will remain closed to vehicles if they are too wet. If the gates are closed, you are still free to walk or bike in. The Dixie Mainline is open as is the Levy Nature Drive/Loop Road. Side roads off Dixie County Highway 349 are mostly open. You can always call/text Andrew at +1703-622-3896 before you come out to visit.

Seasonal Closure

Seasonal Closure to Protect Nesting Colonial Wading and Other Seabirds in the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge 1. Snake Key, Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Island and Beaches Closed until 1 July. 2. Seahorse Key, Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge Beaches and Waters Conditionally Open.

News Release Snake- Seahorse Key 1March2021

Hunting Permits

White-tailed deer buck

Information on how to purchase a permit: https://myfwc.com/license/limited-entry/lower-suwannee-hunts/ To view the Lower Suawanee NWR hunting regulations . . .

Hunting Regulations

Friends of Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Refuges

Friends Logo

The mission of the Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges is to provide active advocacy and physical support for the successful stewardship of the Refuges. In order to support this stewardship, the Friends of Lower Suwannee will promote awareness of these refuges, their habitats and their work, assist the scientific conservation and preservation efforts of the refuges, and advocate responsible habitat use. Thus education, volunteering, and advocacy will be the primary activities of this organization. Funds will be generated to accomplish this goal.

Friends of Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Refuges
Let Us Know What Birds You Are Seeing!

On-line eBird Observation Entries Site

Little grebe juvenile / L. Woodward, USFWS

Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird website Program is a real-time, online checklist program that has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. A birder simply enters when, where, and how they went birding, then fills out a checklist of all the birds seen and heard during the outing. The observations of each participant join those of others in an international network of eBird users. The link below allows you to set-up an account in eBird to submit your observations. The Refuge appreciates you entering your bird sightings on the eBird online checklist program. For more information about eBird go to: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/

eBird On-line Program to Submit Observations

About the Complex

North Florida Refuges Complex

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the North Florida Refuges Complex.

Read more about the complex
About the NWRS

National Wildlife Refuge System

NWRS Logo

The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants.

Learn more about the NWRS
Follow NWRS Online