Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge
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| Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge | |
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| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location | Lee County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city | Fort Myers, Florida |
| Area | 538 acres (2.2 km²) |
| Established | September 26, 1908 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
The Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located within the Matlacha Pass estuary, approximately 8 miles northwest of Cape Coral, Florida. The 538 acre (2.2 km²) refuge was established on September 26, 1908. It is administered as part of the J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
[edit] Flora
Trees that can be seen here include red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangroves, buttonwood and cabbage palm. Also found in the area are tropical species like seagrape, strangler fig and gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba).
[edit] Fauna
Some of the threatened or endangered animal species which make the refuge home are the West Indian Manatee, American crocodile, eastern indigo snake, wood stork and bald eagle.
