J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

One more place to enjoy near Sanibel Island in Florida

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge covers over 6,400 acres on Sanibel and Captiva, including offshore waters and islands. It was named after a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist and conservationist. On Sanibel, the refuge provides a home for various habitats such as mangrove forests, marshes, and seagrass beds. It also supports a diverse range of wildlife, including alligators, bobcats, and over 240 species of birds. Many migratory birds, including herons, white pelicans, warblers, and ospreys, consider this refuge an important rest stop along their journey southward.