"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge

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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge

We are a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
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“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, the non-profit Friends of the Refuge organization, supports environmental education, services, and conservation at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Education and conservation efforts may extend beyond the complex’s borders. We partner in these efforts where possible with like-minded conservation organizations.

06/19/2026

Did you know that Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) have existed here in Florida for millions of years? Florida manatees are a subspecies of the West Indian manatee and are protected by federal and state laws.

Their prehensile upper lips work similar to the mechanism of the tip of an elephant's trunk, which is their distant relative. This flexibility allows them to "grab" aquatic plants and bring them to its mouth. Manatees also have stiff whiskers around their mouths and hairs across most of their bodies to help them sense currents and wakes. Manatees are on the threatened species list since human activities pose a danger to their survival. They are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978.

Photo credit: Liz Noffsinger, Peg D’Entremont, Rebecca Clemens, Libby Erickson

06/18/2026

"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society was happy to host our 2nd annual Wine for the Wild Ones, honoring the hard work and dedication of all Sanibel and Captiva non-profits. 2026 was an amazing year! May 2027 bring more opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to working with you all.

06/17/2026

The word 'bunting' refers both to a group of birds and to the patriotic flag adornment. Swipe to read about the Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris), and the history of the decoration.

The male Indigo Bunting appears blue because blue feathers contain tiny pockets made of air and a protein, keratin. Visible light interacts with the feathers and the keratin-air nanostructures. The size of the nanostructure aligns with that of the wavelength of blue light. So, while all of the other colors pass through the feather, the blue does not-it is reflected. If a feather is backlit you will observe how as this type of light is transmitted the feather will appear brown. The blues are lost since the light isn’t reflected and the brown is due to the melanin in the feathers.

The Painted Bunting is considered to be a near threatened species due to the demand for the males' bright plumage and habitat loss. Interestingly, the Painted Bunting’s French name is nonpareil, meaning ‘having no equal’. This is to describe their green, blue, and red coloring.

So while they have the same name, the etymology is quite different!

06/16/2026

Want to help J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Official) restore our marshes? We have the perfect opportunity for you! Join us as we plant sand cordgrass on July 8-10 from 8 - 9:30 am each day. These native grasses help to reduce soil erosion in addition to provide important habitat for wildlife. Swipe to find out more information about how to sign up.

We hope to see you there!

Email [email protected] with the subject line Marsh Planting Volunteer if interested.

06/14/2026

The Common Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a species of turtle named for the unique shape of its shell. The shell consists of a high domed upper shell and a hinge-like lower shell that closes like a box lid. This shell mechanism allows the turtle to protect its head and limbs from threats. They typically have small home ranges spending their lives in a range of 0.5-7 acres. They can live 50-70 years and have a high survival rate once they reach adulthood.

George Campbell, a Sanibel naturalist and writer, described the Florida Box Turtle subspecies (Terrapene carolina bauri) as “The Jewel of Sanibel”. This is an apt description as the turtle has beautiful yellow streaks on its dark carapace that look like little fireworks. These yellow markings help the turtle camouflage with vegetation.

These turtles are threatened by illegal collection for the pet trade, road mortality, and habitat loss. Because box turtles take many years to reach maturity and reproduce relatively slowly, population declines can be difficult to reverse. Fortunately, turtles on Sanibel are protected from collection and commercialization. Fortunately the turtles on Sanibel are protected from collection and commercialization.

Photo by Daniel Suarez

06/12/2026

This pint-sized predator is the Eastern Screech-Owl, scientific name (Megascops asio). They are named for their distinctive call often described as trills and high pitched horse-like whinnies.

They can be slightly elusive but are most easily spotted at dawn and dusk. The Screech Owl has incredible camouflage with a plumage that blends in against tree bark. During the day this owl will sleep hidden away in hollows, as well as other nooks and crannies on trees.

Their feathers blend in well against the bark and you can easily mistake them for part of the tree. They have been observed covering the entrance of a hollow with their bodies using their camouflage to hide the opening entirely.

These birds start to hunt at dusk into the night, swooping down from perches or catching flying prey mid air. The screech owl’s diet mainly consists of insects and rodents, but can include birds, lizards, frogs, spiders, earthworms, crayfish, and many other small creatures. After long cool nights of hunting screech owls have been observed warming up at sunrise before going to sleep for the day.

Photos By: Terry Baldwin, Oskar Garcia, Ron Bishop, Sarah Lathrop, Sue Wetmore, and Patty MacInnis

06/10/2026

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society is proud to partner with the School District of Lee County through our bus-in program. We bus thousands of students each year to the Refuge so that they can have firsthand experience with the wildlife in its natural habitat.

Special thanks to Susie Hassett and John Bailey, the Environmental Resource Teachers, and Bruce Gifford the Environmental Education Support. Thanks to their hard work "Ding" was able to welcome 25 schools, grades K-12, to the refuge, during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Photo from Left to Right: Susie Hassett, Bruce Gifford, John Bailey, we couldn't do this without you.

06/08/2026

Make a difference, connect with like-minded individuals, and contribute to the wildlife protection of the Refuge by becoming a volunteer at the Nature Store.

As a Nature Store Volunteer, you'll help visitors discover eco-friendly products and learn how everyday purchasing decisions can support conservation, reduce waste, and promote a more sustainable future.

100% of the profits support the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge when you shop at the Nature Store!

No experience is necessary, we provide training. Scheduling is flexible. If interested, please email [email protected] for more information.

06/07/2026

The WOW team was honored to present the “Ding” Science Awards at Tice Elementary’s 5th grade graduation. Over the past 5 years we have collaborated with the school to give out the science awards. Over the years of collaboration, the “Ding” team has watched many of these students grow up and graduate elementary school. Congratulations to the recipients of the science awards and to the 5th graders for graduating, we hope you have an amazing summer break!

Address

PO Box 565
Sanibel, FL
33957

Telephone

+12392920566

Website

http://dingdarlingsociety.org/

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