Keewaydin Island - Wildlife

Keewaydin Island Wildlife and Monitoring

Keewaydin Island is home to a diversity of wildlife, with many species listed by the federal government and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a Species of Special Concern (SSC), Threatened (T) or Endangered (E).

Listed species using the island include:

Florida panther (E).	Least tern (T)
Green sea turtle (E)	Snowy plover (T)
West Indian (Florida) manatee (T)	Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle (T)
Bald eagle (SSC)	Brown pelican (SSC)
Black skimmer (SSC)	Gopher tortoise (SSC)
Little blue heron (SSC)	Reddish egret (SSC)
Snowy egret (SSC)	Tricolored heron (SSC)

Florida Panther in the Reserve

A young male Florida panther wearing a radio tracking collar had been living in the Reserve since November. The radio collar was fitted on the animal by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission more than a year ago. Signals received from the transmitter have indicated to biologists that the panther had been spending significant amount of time on Keewaydin Island, hence his nickname, “Beach Boy”.

While in the Reserve, he was recaptured, fitted with a larger collar, and released again significantly heavier than he was at the time of his original capture. He has now left the area, apparently heading back toward Big Cypress National Preserve.

Sea Turtles

Sea Turtle Nesting

One of the biggest challenges to nesting success has been nest inundation (high water levels) and depradation by raccoons and feral hogs. Although nothing can be done to prevent the water from rising, staff and volunteers were able to protect the eggs from raccoons by placing cages around the nests.

In summer 2009, the Conservancy of SW put satellite tags on 4 loggerhead turtles. The satellite tags were put on the turtles after they nested on Keewaydin Island. One of the turtles (PPJ739) has been observed nesting on Keewaydin since 1988!

To follow the turtles and find out more about the project

Monitoring

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been monitoring sea turtle nesting activity on Keewaydin Island since 1982. Each summer, interns patrol the island nightly to document sea turtle nesting activity. Monitoring efforts include tagging and measuring nesting females, caging nests to prevent depredation and evaluating hatching success. Keewaydin Island provides important nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and periodically has been used by green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Current Research

Nesting Pattern Study:

A GPS (Global Positioning System) is used to record the locations of sea turtle nests on Keewaydin Island. This data enables researchers to compare nesting patterns before and after fallen Australian pines were removed from the beach. Results indicate that removing the fallen pines was successful in creating or enhancing nesting beach habitat.

	Sea Turtle Activity on Keewaydin Island, FL 1994 - 2007. A “false crawl” occurs when a turtle comes up on shore but does not lay eggs. Data Credit to the Conservancy.
	Hatchlings Produced on Keewaydin Island 1994-2007 Based on data collected from Conservancy of SW Florida


Graph Showing Annual Incubation Temperatures on Keewaydin Island from 2001 – 2007

Incubation Temperature Study

Data loggers were deployed in sea turtle nests to record incubation temperatures. Sea turtles have temperature dependent sex determination (TSD) so researchers can predict the sex of the hatchlings based on incubation temperatures. Temperatures above 32°C produce female hatchlings, temperatures below 28°C produce male hatchlings and temperatures near 29°C produce mixed ratios.

Based on temperature predictions it appears that predominately male-biased and mixed ratio clutches are being produced on Keewaydin Island. This research is a collaborative effort among Rookery Bay NERR, The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the University of Alabama, at Birmingham.

Map of Closed Areas

2008 Beach-Nesting Areas

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Map produced by RNBERR.

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Visitor Use

Printable Version (pdf)

Recommended Activities:
Sunbathing
Wildlife viewing
Nature photography
Camping (in designated areas)
Fishing

Fishing Licenses

Do you need a Saltwater Fishing License?

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Prohibited Activities
As part of the Wilderness Area Practice “Leave No Trace” guidelines, the following activities are prohibited.

Unleashed pets
Unattended fires
Hunting, harassing or possessing wildlife
Use of firearms or weapons
Removal or disturbance of natural or cultural resources
Pollution or destruction of property
Live shelling is prohibited throughout Collier County

Rule 18-23.007
Florida Administrative Code Chapter 253 Florida Statutes

To Report Violations
Call 1-888-404-FWCC
or (239) 938-1800 for DEP Park Patrol

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Coastal Changes

Shoreline Change
Reserve staff has been using GIS technology to map the Keewaydin Island shoreline annually since 1998. This effort was initially conducted to examine the effects of Australian pine removal from the island. Results of this monitoring indicate that shoreline change in areas where Australian pines were removed was comparable to other areas where the trees were not present. The most noteworthy changes continue to occur along the south tip of the island, which is actually accreting (expanding).

The island’s shoreline is also mapped directly following major storm events to document their impacts on this dynamic coastal area.

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Keewaydin Habitats

Habitats on Keewaydin Island prior to Australian pine removal (1995)
In the mid-1990’s, Reserve staff mapped the nonnative and native communities on Key Island using satellite positioning technology, and planned a massive habitat restoration. Restoration funds included more than $1 million of federal, state and private funds. In 1998, contractors were employed to cut down and burn 350 acres of Australian pine trees on Key Island and nearby Coconut Island.

As a result, Keewaydin Island has grown to provide more habitat benefiting many species, and sea turtle nesting on Key Island beaches increased significantly.

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Key Island Restoration
Read more information on the Keewaydin Island Restoration project.