![]() Wild animals may become stressed in captive situations, resulting in further injury or death. Key deer are not domesticated, captive bred, or 'semi-wild' animals. Wild animals and domesticated animals have different needs when it comes to treatment and care of injury or disease. While Key deer live near humans, they remain wild animals. "The Service is committed to providing Key Deer with every opportunity to exist as a healthy, wild population," said Christian Eggleston, Project Leader for the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the National Key Deer Refuge and Great White Heron Refuges. ![]() The National Key Deer Refuge and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge encompass much of this range. ![]() Key deer once occupied an area extending from Vaca Key to Key West but now reside in just 26 islands from Big Pine Key to Sugarloaf Key. Largely plant eaters, they feed on dozens of native plant species with their primary food source being the red mangroves and selections of plant foods that change seasonally. Living in areas from the pine forests of the lower Keys to the freshwater wetlands and mangroves, these wonderful animals unique to the Florida Keys travel among these different habitats, walking, wading, and swimming from island to island. Image Details A Key deer doe stands with her fawn
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