U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex and their Friends group Florida Keys Wildlife Society announce the third annual photography contest as part of the Saturday, March 10th through Saturday, March 17th Outdoor Fest, an event created to help people recognize the refuges as safe havens for the creatures who live in them while also educating them on how to enjoy the areas in wildlife-friendly ways.

The free-entry contest is open to any amateur photographer in “Landscape,” “Birds,” “Key deer,” and “Other Nature/Wildlife” categories in both adult and children divisions, and is aimed to celebrate the four refuges and the wildlife within them. Images must be taken within the boundaries of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges during the past 18 months; deadline for the contest is March 1. All entries will be on display in a pop-up photography exhibition at the new National Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center on Big Pine Key through June 2017, with a special opening reception from 5:30pm -7:30pm on Wednesday, March 14th with light refreshments served.

The annual Outdoor Fest spans the four refuges and features expert-guided birding, nature walks, kayaking; evening wildlife programs; nature sketching, nature photography workshops and a photo contest; two family-fun wildlife fairs; a sneak-peek opening of the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center and the 4th Annual Run with Deer 5K in Big Pine Key.

Photo contest rules and registration info can be downloaded at fws.gov/refuge/National_Key_ Deer_Refuge. For more information about the Outdoor Fest, visit floridakeyswildlifesociety.org , contact Kristie Killam at 305.304.9625 or email Nancy or Jan at [email protected].  Brought to you in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.