Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge

Infobox_protected_area | name = Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge
iucn_category = V

---

caption =
locator_x = 226
locator_y = 156
location = Pinellas County, Florida, USA
nearest_city = St. Petersburg, Florida
lat_degrees =
lat_minutes =
lat_seconds =
lat_direction =
long_degrees =
long_minutes =
long_seconds =
long_direction =
area = convert|394|acre|km2
established = 1951
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = National Park Service

The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located off shore from St. Petersburg, Florida, and only accessible by boat.. The convert|394|acre|km2|sing=on refuge was established in 1951, to act as a breeding ground for colonial bird species. Islands within the refuge include Indian, Tarpon, Mule, and Jackass Keys, and all are within the St. Petersburg city limits.

The refuge is one of the three 'Tampa Bay Refuges', and is administered as a part of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Fauna

Brown pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants and many other species nest on the islands. Tarpon Key has the largest brown pelican rookery in the state.

Access

Public use of the islands is not allowed in order to protect the species there.

External links

* [http://www.fws.gov/southeast/Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge] at [http://www.fws.gov U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]