Community Invited to Beach Mouse and Dunes Day June 27

Escambia County, in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Brevard Zoo, City of Orange Beach Coastal Resources, Florida State Parks, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program invite the community to Beach Mouse and Dunes Day, a fun, family-friendly event celebrating the Perdido Key beach mouse and its contributions to the dune ecosystem.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Johnson Beach, located at 13333 Johnson Beach Road on Perdido Key. During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with representatives from each organization to learn more about the beach mouse, enjoy educational games, and more. Please note there is a $25 entrance fee per vehicle to access Johnson Beach.

Listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1989, the Perdido Key beach mouse is only found on Perdido Key, with a home range of approximately 1.25 acres across the coastal ecosystem. The beach mouse plays a vital role in protecting the community from hurricanes, helping strengthen dunes by dispersing seeds back into the dunes when feeding. Learn more about the Perdido Key beach mouse here.

Escambia County implemented the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan in 2015 in partnership with Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Alabama State Parks, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help protect the beach mouse and other critically endangered species and their habitats on Perdido Key. Learn more about the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan here.

Help protect the beach mouse by remembering the following:

• Lights Out! Both beach mice and sea turtles need dark beaches to navigate the environment. Leave the flashlights and cell phones at home or use a red flashlight when on the beach at night. Turn off exterior lights when not in use, and close windows and curtains to keep the beach dark.

For more information, contact Jordan Wingate, Escambia County Environmental Program Manager, at [email protected].