While visiting the Lower Keys, be sure to plan a stop on
Big Pine Key, home of the National Key Deer refuge. These tiny deer are not found anywhere
else in the world. It is believed that the Key deer migrated to the Keys from the mainland
thousands of years ago. The Wisconsin Glacier melted, and the sea rose dividing the land
into small islands now known as the Florida Keys and trapping the deer. The Key deer are a
subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer and are the smallest of all white-tailed
deer. The shoulder height of the Key deer is between 24 - 28 inches. Does weigh 45 to 65
pounds while bucks weigh 55 to 75. At birth, the Key deer weighs only 2 to 4 pounds. They
feed on native plants and can tolerate small amounts of salt in their water. With only 250
to 300 of these tiny deer remaining, Federal law prohibits the disturbance and feeding of
the deer. Driving on Big Pine Key will almost always provide you with a photo opportunity
of the Key deer from your car. But trying to approach, feed or touch the deer, only
encourages them to loose their natural fear of humans and become easy targets for would-be
poachers. When on Big Pine Key, respect the Key deer and their habitat. Take a photo, it
will last forever. We'd like for the Key deer to as well.
While visiting the Lower Keys, be sure to plan a stop on
Big Pine Key, home of the National Key Deer refuge. These tiny deer are not found anywhere
else in the world. It is believed that the Key deer migrated to the Keys from the mainland
thousands of years ago. The Wisconsin Glacier melted, and the sea rose dividing the land
into small islands now known as the Florida Keys and trapping the deer. The Key deer are a
subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer and are the smallest of all white-tailed
deer. The shoulder height of the Key deer is between 24 - 28 inches. Does weigh 45 to 65
pounds while bucks weigh 55 to 75. At birth, the Key deer weighs only 2 to 4 pounds. They
feed on native plants and can tolerate small amounts of salt in their water. With only 250
to 300 of these tiny deer remaining, Federal law prohibits the disturbance and feeding of
the deer. Driving on Big Pine Key will almost always provide you with a photo opportunity
of the Key deer from your car. But trying to approach, feed or touch the deer, only
encourages them to loose their natural fear of humans and become easy targets for would-be
poachers. When on Big Pine Key, respect the Key deer and their habitat. Take a photo, it
will last forever. We'd like for the Key deer to as well.