Editing Big Pine Key, Florida (section)

==Key deer==
[[Image:KeyDeerLick.jpg|thumb|Key deer (buck)]]
The island of Big Pine Key is home to the National Key Deer Refuge. The majority of the [[Key deer]] population are found on this island.

The Key deer is the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer. The largest bucks are less than a yard high at the shoulders and weigh approximately 80 pounds. The does are 24 to 28 inches at the shoulders and weigh approximately 65 pounds. They have many habitats in the Florida Keys including pine rocklands, hardwood hammocks, mangroves, and freshwater wetlands. Key deer are only found from Big Pine Key to Sugarloaf Key.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Land Mammals - Key Deer |url=https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/key-deer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224063536/https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/key-deer/ |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission}}</ref>

As Key deer are [[endangered species|endangered]], many precautions have been taken to preserve as much Key deer habitat as possible:
*Signs are prominently placed along US 1 to inform drivers that they are entering Key deer habitat, and warning them that feeding Key deer is prohibited.
*About 2 miles of US 1 on the eastern end of Big Pine Key are elevated and fenced off to allow Key deer to pass under the road.
*The stretch of US 1 in Big Pine Key has a night-time speed limit of 35 miles per hour (as Key deer are most active at night) and the speed limits (45 MPH in the day) are "strictly enforced" according to signage.

{{wide image|Big Pine Key from west.jpg|1100px|alt=View of a portion of the west side of the island as seen from the Overseas Highway|align-cap=center|View of a portion of the west side of the island as seen from the Overseas Highway.}}