Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan

Natural Resources Management

Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan

Perdido Key is home to white-sand beaches and stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. But it is also home to endangered wildlife like piping plovers, sea turtles and the Perdido Key Beach Mouse. All three are protected from harm by the Endangered Species Act which prohibits any activities that might negatively impact listed species.

Escambia County has obtained an U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Incidental Take Permit, as provided under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act. This authorizes Escambia County to issue permits for activities that might result in unintentional impacts or “take” of federally listed species—an activity that typically results in federal prosecution. In order to receive the Incidental Take Permit, the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan was developed. The Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan details the ways protected species may be impacted and aims to minimize these impacts by banning harmful activities and setting clear standards for land use and management.

Before Escambia County’s Incidental Take Permit, developers and homeowners had to go through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's lengthy permitting procedure. But now, if a project meets the criteria of the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan, Escambia County may issue a permit on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shortening the process to a few months. The programs and policies contained in the plan ensure any activities carried out are done so in a way that protects the Perdido Key Beach Mouse, sea turtles and shorebirds.

For more information on incidental take permits, click here.

Documents

Perdido Key Habitat Conservation/ Leave No Trace Ordinance

Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan

Incendential Take Permit

PKHCP Biological Opinion

A map depicting the extent of the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan.

Federally Listed Perdido Key Wildlife

Perdido Key Beach Mouse
The Perdido Key Beach Mouse is a small subspecies of old field mouse, found only on Perdido Key. Able to fit in the palm of your hand and light colored to blend in with the sand, these tiny rodents are nocturnal herbivores, feeding mainly on seeds and insects. They’re found in beach dunes and coastal scrub habitats, where they dig extensive burrows to rest, raise young and store food. They are a prey item for many animals including foxes, raccoons, owls and coyotes. While not a natural predator, domestic house cats commonly hunt them, especially where human developments align with beach mouse habitats.

The single largest threat facing the Perdido Key Beach Mouse is habitat fragmentation from human development. As homes and businesses are built and roads crisscross the island, the Perdido Key Beach Mouse is faced with smaller and smaller pieces of habitat. This causes problems when foraging for food and finding a mate. It also makes it harder for populations to recover from natural pressures like predation and storm events.

Sea Turtles
Four species of sea turtles nest on Perdido Key, May through October. The loggerhead is most common, accounting for 99 percent of all nests in Northwest Florida, but is also joined by green, leatherback and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. They too face threats from loss of habitat and an excess of artificial light—all four are listed as endangered or threatened. For more information on sea turtles in our area, click here.

Piping Plover and Other Shorebirds
Perdido Key and its surrounding area are home to many species of wintering shorebirds. The piping plover is a small, sand-colored shorebird, often seen feeding at the water’s edge. They roost in the dune vegetation and often retreat there if intruders are spotted.

But the piping plover isn’t the only shorebird the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan protects. Red knots, snowy plovers, least terns, black skimmers and American oystercatchers all benefit under the plan.