provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Four Sanibel non-profit organizations agree to continue their “Sanibel Wild Mile” outreach campaign, with a goal of broadening public awareness and appreciation of the island’s natural resources and wildlife.
The initiative includes organizations with shared values in education and conservation, located within about a mile of each other along a beautiful, largely undeveloped stretch of Sanibel-Captiva Road and the island-wide bike path.
The partners include the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF).
Through pooled efforts in marketing and communications, the objective of The Sanibel Wild Mile is to increase awareness for locals and visitors alike of opportunities to access, learn about, and enjoy the ecology and biodiversity that make Sanibel so unique through abundant trail systems, exhibits, and education centers featured at the partner organizations and elsewhere on the island.
Visitors to The Wild Mile may experience the islands’ legendary conservation history by kayaking meandering mangrove trails, taking a deep dive into Sanibel’s reputation as a seashell capital of the world, hiking miles of island forest and wetlands, visiting an animal hospital to learn about the region’s diverse wildlife, and exploring one of the nation’s most breathtaking national wildlife refuges to view countless birds and vistas of Southwest Florida’s wild landscape.
Said the partner organizations in a joint statement: “By continuing to promote the Sanibel Wild Mile we hope to encourage more people to take a closer look at our islands’ natural environment, to actively participate in ways to access it, and, most importantly, to enjoy it and come away with a deeper sense of its uniqueness and the importance of conserving and protecting it.”
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau supported the initiative by creating the Sanibel Wild Mile Pass, a digital passport that allows island visitors to earn rewards as they explore the amazing wildlife, trails, and educational experiences along the Sanibel Wild Mile.
A new version, the Sanibel Wild Mile Pass 2.0, launched on April 1 with newly added locations, exciting prize opportunities, and monthly challenges to earn bonus points by attending special events.
Visit SanibelWildMile.com to plan a visit to these four incredible non-profits and download the Sanibel Wild Mile Pass 2.0.
The Sanibel Wild Mile partner organizations:
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium: With a mission to educate and inspire an understanding of mollusks, their shells, and their habitats using exceptional experiences, collections, and science, the Museum includes exhibits of shells from all over the world and aquariums with hundreds of marine animals, including octopuses, Giant Clams, conchs, and many more. Opportunities also include hands-on touch pools and daily gallery and aquarium talks at the only accredited museum in the United States devoted primarily to shells and mollusks.
Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW): Founded in 1968, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the sick, injured, and orphaned native and migratory wildlife of Southwest Florida and beyond. Through veterinary care, educational programs, and a visitor center, CROW strives to improve the health of wildlife and the environment. Its state-of-the-art Harkey Sea Turtle Complex is anticipated to open in 2026. For more information, please visit http://www.crowclinic.org. If you find an animal in need of help, call (239) 472-3644 ext. #222.
J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge: The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems in the United States. Renowned for its spectacular migratory bird populations, the refuge offers miles of trails for walking, biking, and driving, along with a free Visitor & Education Center featuring interactive exhibits. It is also home to the only screened‑in picnic area on Sanibel Island, inviting visitors to experience wildlife and conservation up close.
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation: Created by islanders to protect and care for the island’s unique ecosystems in 1967, SCCF is headquartered on the Wild Mile. SCCF invites visitors to experience more than 8 miles of trails across the island, deepen their ocean love at Sanibel Sea School, and engage in Voluntourism opportunities to restore and protect native habitats through plantings and cleanups.
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