Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located near Vero Beach, Florida. Pelican Island was the first such refuge established in the United States. It was established by an executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt on March 14, 1903. It was set up to protect egrets and other birds from extinction by plume hunters. Plumes from the birds were used to adorn ladies' hats of the day and at the time were worth more than their weight in gold.

There is also an elementary school named after it; Pelican Island Elementary.

External links

• Pelican Island NWR Official Site

National Wildlife Refuges in Florida | Wilderness Areas of Florida | Indian River County, Florida