Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Junior Refuge 

Ranger Booklet
1

Complete this activity booklet and

return it to the Visitor Information Center

where a staff member or volunteer will review 

it with you then you will receive your official

Merritt Island

Junior Refuge Ranger Badge!

So you want to

become a Junior

Refuge Ranger?
2

To earn your badge and certificate, complete all the activities required for your age class. 

When you have completed all the requirements to become a Junior Refuge Ranger, bring your 

completed booklet to the Visitor Center, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A staff member 

or volunteer will review the booklet with you and award you a certificate and badge.

Age Classes

There are symbols located at the bottom of each page to show what ages the activity is best 

suited for.

Earning Your

Junior Refuge Ranger Badge

Wildlife Viewing Tips and Ethics

•	 Be considerate and respectful of wildlife.

•	 Move slowly and quietly, enjoy wildlife from a distance.

•	 Do not feed or disturb wildlife.

Rules and Safety Information

•	 Take an adult with you as you do these activities.

•	 Stay on refuge boardwalks and trails.

•	 Wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.

•	 Learn what poison ivy looks like. (page 3)

Alligator (ages 11+):

Complete at least 10

of the 21 activities.

Crane (ages 8 -10):

Complete at least 8

of the 21 activities.

Manatee (ages 4-7): 

Complete at least 6 

of the 21 activities.
3

 Refuge Video – page 5

 Refuge Map – page 6

 Refuge Fun Facts – page 7

 USFWS Emblem Color Page – page 8

 Nature Notes – page 9

 Climate Change – page 10

 Black Point Wildlife Drive Search – page 11

 Manatee Deck – page 12

 Prescribed Fire – page 13

 Wildland Fire Protective Gear – page 14

 Tools Wildland Firefighters Use – page 15

 Let’s Go Hiking! – page 16

 Gopher Tortoise Color Page – page 17

 Habitat Comparison Activity – page 18

 Shadow Catching – page 19

 All Plants Have Special Features! – page 20

 Pishing – page 21

 Bird Olympics – page 22

 Scrub Jay Coloring Page – page 23

 Scavenger Hunt – page 24

 Seek and Find – page 25

Booklet Activity Checklist

Poison Ivy

Leaves of three? Let it be!
4

National Wildlife Refuge System

Can you count how many wildlife refuges are in your home state? ______

How many are there in Florida? ______
5

I watched a video, and the name of it was _______________________________________________.

Refuge Rangers manage habitat, an area that consists of enough food, water, shelter, and living 

space for plants or animals. Merritt Island NWR has _______ main types of habitat: 

prairie, pine flatwoods, scrub, and wetland.

Choose one of the habitats to investigate, and begin your fact finding mission by answering the 

questions below. (Suggested habitat: Scrub Ridge Trail)

1. Describe what the habitat looks like. What kinds of plants are present? 

(Trees, grasses, bushes, wildflowers) 

2. Name or draw any animals you see or hear.

3. What would the animals in this habitat eat?

4. Where do the animals in this habitat seek shelter?

5. Determine if there is enough space for all the animals in this habitat to live. 

(Note: some animals gather in large groups and may appear cramped. In this case, 

does the group have enough space to move?)

Please write your answers below:

Refuge Video
6

Refuge Map
7

The bald eagle was chosen as a national symbol of the United States in 1782.

A bald eagle’s eyesight is five to six times sharper than a human’s.

The largest bald eagle nest on record was in Florida and measured 9.5 ft. (3 m) wide and 20 ft. 

(6 m) high. It weighed almost three tons. 

Bobcats are excellent swimmers.

A female bobcat is called a Queen.

Alligators only eat about once a week.

The alligator became the official state reptile of Florida in 1987.

A group of hawks is referred to as a cast or a kettle.

All dolphins are carnivores (meat-eaters). Small dolphins eat fish and

squids, while large dolphins like orca eat seals, sea lions and other types

of dolphins and whales.

Frogs don’t drink water through their mouths; they absorb it through their skin.

The monarch butterfly is the only insect that migrates 2500 miles.

Grey squirrels are pregnant for about a month and a half and typically give birth to a litter 

of 2-3 pups. 

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species

Gopher tortoise burrows can be up to 10 feet deep and 40 feet long. 

Gopher tortoise burrows are very important to the animals around them. They are also used by 

more than 350 different species, some of which are indigo snakes, Florida mice, gopher frogs, 

burrowing owl and rattlesnakes.

Refuge Fun Facts!
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Color in the USFWS Emblem according to the numbers:

1 - Blue 2 - Tan 3 - Orange 4 - White 5 - Yellow

USFWS Emblem

1

1

1

4

4

5

3

2

1
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Nature notes, also known as nature journaling, is a great way to record the world around you. 

Many scientists use notebooks to track when migrating animals arrive, the first tree to leaf out, 

and what season certain plants are flowering. Take some time while you’re out on the refuge to 

find a place that you like, and make some observations about nature.

Date _______________ Weather Conditions _________________________

 

Refuge Name ___________________________________________________

Location on refuge ________________________________________________

What does your site look like? (Are there many trees? Are there flowers blooming? Are you near 

the Merritt Island NWR visitor’s center?)

What plants do you see? Do they have flowers? If so, what is their color and shape? Where are 

they found (in the shade, in the sun, in water, or on land)?

Extra Notes:

Nature Notes
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I am a bird species that needs open scrub habitat so I can 

defend my nest against snakes that like to eat my eggs. There 

is very little habitat left for my kind, and rising sea levels will 

mean even less habitat for us to survive.

I am a marine mammal. I can eat 100 lbs. of plants a day. 

Warmer water and different salt levels change the plant life in 

my habitat. It is getting harder to find enough food.

I’m a small mammal and I live in a burrow under the dunes 

on the ocean shore. Extreme storms sometimes flood and 

kill a whole colony. Merritt Island is the last stronghold of my 

species.

 

I am a reptile that lives in the ocean, but I return to the place 

where I hatched to dig a nest in the sand and lay my eggs. 

Rising seas, stronger storms and erosion mean my eggs may 

have less of a chance to survive.

Directions: I am an animal at Merritt Island NWR that is affected 

by climate change. Draw a line from my picture to the words that 

describe me and the impact of climate change on my species.

Climate Change: What Am I?

Florida Manatee

Sea Turtle

Beach Mouse

Florida Scrub Jay
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How many can you see?

Black Point Wildlife Drive Search

Bobcat

American Coot

Red-Winged Blackbird

White Pelican

Gulf Fritillary

Black Vulture

River Otter

Sable Palm

Great Blue Heron

Tri-colored Heron

Roseate Spoonbill

Saw Palmetto

Feral Hog

Marsh Rabbit

Alligator

Brazilian Pepper (Non-native) Indian Blanket
12

Manatee Information

Number of manatees observed: ______

Number of adults: ______

Number of calves: ______

In feet, how long is a newborn manatee? ______

Count the number of:

Motorized boats ______

Non-motorized boats ______

People watching manatees ______

How many of the manatees observed have the scars 

from boat propellers? ______

Manatee Deck

Find the thermometer that 

measures water temperature.

What is the temperature of 

the water? _____

Is it warm enough to see 

manatees today? _____
13

Prescribed fire benefits many different types of wildlife by: 

• Opening sandy areas for animals to make burrows

• Adding minerals and nutrients which help plants to grow

• Keeping plant height low so scrub jays can observe their predators in the open

• Preventing large wildfires, making it safer for humans

Here are a few animals that benefit from prescribed fires on the refuge.

Can you name some of them?

Choose the correct animal name from below, and place the letter in the box under each picture.

A. Gopher Tortoise B. Beach Mouse C. Eastern Indigo Snake 

D. Florida Scrub Jay E. Bobcat

Prescribed Fire
14

Wildland firefighters carry a lot of tools and protective gear for their use and safety.

 

Match the arrows in the picture with the correct word below,

then place the letter in the arrow on the picture.

A. Helmet B. Gloves C. Drip Torch D. Radio 

E. Fire Resistant Pants F. Fire Resistant Shirt G. Fire Pack

Wildland Fire Protective Gear
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Here are some of the tools that wildland 

firefighters use to fight wildfires and 

conduct prescribed burns.

Helicopter

Fire Truck

Rogue Hoe

All-Terrain Vehicle

Terra Torch

Wildland Firefighter Tools
16

Circle the items you think you might need when going on a 

hiking adventure at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Let’s Go Hiking!
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Gopher Tortoise Coloring Page

The gopher tortoise here at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is known as a keystone 

species, a species that has a major influence on the way an ecosystem works. Gopher tortoises 

dig burrows that are used by many animals such as the beach mouse, the Eastern indigo snake, 

dung beetles, rabbits, skunks, and lizards, for shelter and protection. If all the gopher tortoises 

stopped digging burrows, then these animals would not have a place to live. Next time you see a 

gopher tortoise, remember how its hard work helps other species.
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Let’s take a hike! OAK & PALM HAMMOCK TRAILS

The word hammock is a Native American term used to describe a cool, shaded place. These 

hammocks are formed where there is a slight rise in elevation creating more moist soil.

Oak Hammock Trail: As you enter the trail, to the right of the kiosk you will see a large patch of 

Boston ferns and laurel oaks. Prior to the formation of the refuge, this was once a mobile home 

park where people planted the ferns and citrus trees. The soil here is dark, indicating a large 

amount of organic matter and moist soil.

Palm Hammock Trail: This walk will take you through four unique habitats in a short two miles. 

The first habitat encountered is the oak hammock. The soil here is moist but not wet with the live 

oak providing shade for various understory plants. Watch for armadillos rooting for insects in the 

soil. Overhead, listen to the warblers and vireos as they flit through the trees during migration 

seasons. Walking quietly may reward you with a sighting of the elusive bobcat. Stepping out of 

the oak hammock, suddenly the sky is unobstructed. You feel the sun beat down on you warming 

your body and drying the soil.

Scrub Habitat: This is Florida’s most endangered habitat. You will notice the dominant plant is 

now the saw palmetto. Many of these saw palmettos show scorching from a recent fire. Fire from 

frequent lightning strikes shapes this ecosystem enabling scrub species like Chapman’s oak to 

survive. Watch along the trail for the burrows of the endangered gopher tortoise.

Moving out of the scrub, you enter a small section of palm hammock before entering the marsh 

habitat. Stepping onto the boardwalk, you notice the soil here is black and wet. The moistureloving red maple, wax myrtle, and red bay thrive in this area.

Finally, leaving the boardwalk through the marsh, you enter the looped path through the palm 

hammock. Here you feel the cool shade provided by the cabbage palms. Below the palms you 

see the shiny leaves of wild coffee. Note the soil here is dryer than the marsh but not as dry as 

the scrub.

How many habitats did you walk through? ________ Did you see any birds? ______________

Did you see an endangered gopher tortoise burrow? ________________

Habitat Comparison Activity
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Look for things that have “cool” shadows.

Stop at a sunny spot. 

Look for shadows made by small (flowers, grass, leaves) or large (tree, branch) objects.

Place your paper so that a shadow falls on it, and trace it in the space below (if the whole 

shadow does not fit in the box, just trace part of it). 

Describe the object that made this shadow. 

Do you know its name? ________________________________________

Shadow Catching
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All plants have special features called adaptations 

which help them survive in what can be a very harsh 

environment. Waxy, hairy leaves help to retain water; 

deep roots enable the plant to grow after a fire or 

during a drought; thorns/spines prevent animals from 

eating the plant.

Find a plant you really like. Look at it as though you’ve never seen it before! 

Use the eye of a photographer to take “pictures” in your mind of the parts of the plant. Use an 

artist’s eye to see colors, shapes, and textures. Use an ant’s view to examine the leaves, flowers, 

or seeds. Step back to see the plant sway in the wind.

Draw your plant below, remembering not to pick or collect any plants. They provide homes for 

wildlife!

All Plants Have Special Features
21

There is a bird call you can do with no special tools. You only need your MOUTH! 

When you want to attract birds to you, make a “pishing” noise. This sound makes an “alarm call” 

that many kinds of birds know. After hearing it, they may fly near you to see what’s happening. 

Here are some simple sounds you can start with:

The LOUD pish: PSH....PSH....PSH

The REGULAR pish: SSH....SSH....SSH....SSH

The HIGH pish: SSS....SS....SS....SS 

For best results, try this:

1. When you hear birds near you, stand still by bushes or trees to hide yourself.

2. Start pishing—stopping after three or four tries of making the same sound to listen for birds. 

When birds come close, stay quiet so you can get a good look at them. Different calls work 

with different birds. 

3. Try other beats to find the calls that attract the birds where you are.

Can you name the birds you found? ___________________________________________________

If not, that’s okay. What do they look like? _______________________________________________

Draw a bird that you saw in the box below.

Pishing
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Challenge #1: Winging It! 

See how your “flapping rate” compares with birds. Count the number of times you can flap your 

arms in 10 seconds. 

BIRD WING BEATS/10 SECONDS 

Crow................................................... 20 

Peregrine Falcon ................................ 43 

Hummingbird.................................... 700 

I have a wing beat of ................... ______ 

Challenge #2: What’s Your Wingspan? 

See how your wingspan compares with birds. Have a partner measure your arm span.

BIRD WINGSPAN

Green-winged Teal ................................. 23 inches

Red-tailed Hawk............................................4 feet 

Florida Scrub Jay ................................ 13.5 inches 

Roseate Spoonbill .......................... 4 feet 2 inches

Bald Eagle ...................................... 6 feet 6 inches 

I have an arm span of......... _____feet _____inches 

Challenge #3: Breath Control 

Fish-eating birds dive underwater to chase and catch fish. 

A cormorant can hold its breath for 15 minutes (900 seconds). 

I can hold my breath for ______ seconds. 

Challenge #4: Staring Contest: See how your stare stacks up! 

An owl can stare for hours while hunting for prey. 

I can stare for _____ minutes _____ seconds without blinking. 

Adapted from: Flying Wild

Bird Olympics
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Scrub Jay Coloring Page

The Florida scrub jay is found only in Florida scrub habitat, an ecosystem that exists here at

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Scrub habitat has dwindled in the past several decades

due to an increase in human population leading to habitat destruction. The refuge has made a 

strong effort at preserving Florida’s remaining scrub through applying prescribed fire that mimics 

nature’s frequent wild fires. Fire keeps the trees from growing too high and creates open, sandy 

areas which are just what the Florida scrub jay needs to survive.

Scrub jays eat a wide variety of acorns, seeds, insects, fruit and berry, tree frogs, snakes, 

lizards, and young mice.
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Scavenger Hunt

I “Sense” a Scavenger Hunt

(circle what you find)

Can you see something:

Red Green Flying Wet Fuzzy

Can you hear something:

Birds Singing Insects Buzzing Wind Blowing

Can you smell something:

Flowers Scat (animal poop) Dead Grass

Can you use your senses to find:

A Nest A Spider Web Flowers A Hole in the Ground
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Seek and Find

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1963, has a unique partnership with 

Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The refuge is an overlay of KSC, managing 140,000 acres for

wildlife and wildlife-based recreational activities.

Search below for words relating to the refuge and Kennedy Space Center.

ASTRONAUT

CLIMATE

HABITAT

HAMMOCK

KENNEDY

LAUNCH

NASA

NATURE

RANGER

REFUGE

ROCKET

SPACE

H M S P A C E A N T

L N E G U F E R A A

E A Z Q M R K A S T

B T U E A C T Z A I

T U A N O R T S A B

G R G M C Z M O O A

B E M P I H M H L H

R A T G H L V S K E

H L O B R O C K E T

K E N N E D Y Y C S
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Watch for the Blue Goose

Each national wildlife refuge is identified by a posted sign with the emblem of a “blue” goose. 

It was designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling and has become the symbol of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System.

Look for signs with the Blue Goose, like the one above, as you explore the refuge. 

How many signs did you see?

Refuge staff sometimes comes across signs that need to be replaced. Did any of the signs you 

saw need to be replaced? If so, please write down, in as much detail as possible, where the sign 

is located in order for us to replace the sign. 

THANK YOU for helping YOUR National Wildlife Refuge!

“Whenever you meet this sign, respect it. It means that the land 

behind the sign has been dedicated by the American people to 

preserving, for themselves and their children, as much of our 

native wildlife as can be retained along with modern civilization.”

—Rachel Carson
27

I promise to help protect Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, my 

community and the earth. I will practice the “pack it in, pack it out” 

motto by not leaving any trash on the refuge.

I will not feed or disturb wildlife, pick plants, or disturb 

any living or non-living thing on the refuge. I will always show 

respect to others and to historical and cultural places.

I will continue to learn about Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 

and other refuges in our great nation. I will help teach others about 

the great resources found at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 

and continue to learn about nature.

Junior Ranger Signature

Staff or Volunteer Signature

Merritt Island National Wildlife 

Refuge Junior Refuge Ranger

Read the pledge below, and turn it in at the Visitor Center.
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Visitor Center Hours: 

Seven Days a Week: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, November through March

Closed Sundays, April through October

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Contact Information:

P.O. Box 2683

Titusville, FL 32781

Phone: 321-861-0667/0669 Fax: 321-861-1276

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Let’s Go Outside

http://www.fws.gov/letsgooutside

www.fws.gov

Visitor Center longitude and latitude: N28.38.490 W080.44.144

http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/

Email: Merrittisland@fws.gov

In case of emergency, call 321-861-7911 by cell phone. 

Kennedy Space Center dispatch will send an ambulance or security.

Special thanks to ...

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Fire Crew, Interns, Staff and Volunteers who gave generously 

of their pictures and time, freely sharing information from their special areas of expertise, 

and without whose kind help this Junior Refuge Ranger Booklet would surely have suffered. 

Amy Lombardo, Graphic Designer at Abacus Technology, for her brilliance in graphic design and her 

kindness and patience.

Matthew Young, Illustrator at Abacus Technology, for the character symbols and coloring pages.

~CMF

Printed Spring — 2014 CMF