Accessibility Florida State Parks are in various stages of accessibility, and are working to improve access to services and facilities. Should you need assistance to enable your full participation, please contact the individual park office as soon as possible. Sometimes as many as ten days may be needed to schedule a particular accommodation. Management & Protection Florida State Parks are managed as natural systems. All plant and animal life is protected in state parks. Hunting, livestock grazing and timber removal are not permitted. Do not remove, deface, mutilate or molest any natural resources. For your safety, do not feed any animals. Intoxicants and firearms are prohibited. Hours of Operation Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. Pets Pets are not allowed in camping areas, on bathing beaches, in concession areas and may be restricted in other designated areas of the park. Where pets are allowed, they must be kept on a six-foot, hand-held leash and well-behaved at all times. Service dogs are welcome in all areas of the parks. State Park Guide To discover and experience all of the Real Florida at Florida's 145 state parks, ask a Park Ranger where you can pick up a copy of the Florida State Park Guide, or call 850/488-9872. The park is located on CR 865 between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach in Lee County.

Reservations for Florida State Parks are now made through Reserve America, toll free, at 1-800-326-3521

LOVERS KEY / CARL E. JOHNSON STATE RECREATION AREA Made up of Black Island, Lovers Key, Inner and Long Key, this 712-acre area features canals and tidal lagoons fringed with mangroves, which support an array of fish and other aquatic animals. Although the park has been disturbed in the past by dredge and fill activities and the invasion of non-native plants, today the area provides habitat for numerous animals. WILDLIFE The remnant maritime hammock on Black Island hosts several species of woodpeckers, hawks, owls and warblers. Osprey may be seen regularly fishing in the water and nesting in area trees. Marsh rabbits, raccoons and gray squirrels may also be observed in their natural setting. Many shore birds and wading birds, including roseate spoonbills and reddish egrets, may be seen feeding in the lagoons and along the beach area. Bottle-nosed dolphins and the endangered West Indian manatee also inhabit the nearshore waters. ACTIVITIES Beach access waterway Recreational activities offered at Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Recreation Area include boating, fishing, swimming and shelling. Trout, redfish, snook and tarpon are caught seasonally. Castnetting for mullet in the bay is a popular activity. A boat ramp is available for access to adjacent Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. A canoe launch is also available. Beach related activities such as shelling and hiking are encouraged in the park; however, swimming in the canals is prohibited. Florida law also prohibits the collection of live shells or collecting of artifacts on state-owned land. To preserve the scenic beauty and the ecology, fences and warning signs have not been installed in some areas of the park. Caution and close supervision of children is required while visiting these areas. The park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until sundown. For more information, contact the park at: Lovers Key / Carl E. Johnson State Recreation Area 8700 Estero Blvd. Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931 or call (941) 463-4588.

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