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The refuge relies on a variety of tools to manage and maintain habitats across the refuge’s landscape. Prescribed fire, mechanical treatments, water level manipulations and invasive exotic plant control are regularly required to maintain and enhance habitat for the refuge’s wild inhabitants.

Prescribed fire helps enhance and maintain native vegetative communities that are dependent upon or positively influenced by fire and for the benefit of wildlife. Regular and timely prescribed fire maintains appropriate habitat structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure , reduces woody encroachment in fresh and brackish water wetlands, and promotes nutrient cycling. Regular prescribed fire also reduces the build-up of excessive fuels, minimizing the risk of catastrophic wildfires which can be detrimental to both wildlife and humans.

While many habitat management goals can be achieved through the use of prescribed fire, mechanical treatments (including hand felling, roller chopping, and tree shearing) can be utilized to aid restoration of upland habitats that have become overgrown due to historic fire exclusion.

Seasonal water level manipulation is utilized to manage many of the refuge’s 51 salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.

Learn more about salt marsh impoundments. These manipulations can provide benefits to wading birds, migratory waterfowl and shorebirds and other wildlife. At the same time, water level management aids in mosquito control for both the Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding communities.

An important part of refuge management is the control invasive exotic vegetation. Control can be achieved through a combination of careful herbicide application, bio-control and prescribed fire.

The refuge uses trapping as a wildlife management tool for the conservation and management of wildlife populations. Trapping may be used to protect endangered species, migratory birds, prevent and address property damage, control invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species , and/or manage abundant species. All trapping activities are carefully managed to ensure that safe, effective practices are used and wildlife populations are sustainable.