Locks and Keys

Scott Thompson asked:


When people think of a vacation in Key West, Florida they rarely realize that there is so much to do other than drinking and playing on the water. In fact, Key West is an old historic town that will appeal to anyone interested in history or architecture. Of course, there are still plenty of fun things to do on the water, but in the Florida Keys many of those activities are as unique as the islands.

With history comes ghost so while visiting Key West make sure to go on a ghost tour. This author has experienced one ghost tour in Key West and it was a blast. Our guide made the tour worth every penny. The stories were not only scary, but entertaining and informative as well. Of course, there is much more to do and see in Key West from historic tours to enjoying the natural environment.

The Florida Keys are known for their beautiful location stuck between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. If you don’t spend some time enjoying the water you have missed one of the highlights of the Florida Keys. One way to enjoy the ocean is with a dolphin eco tour. Swimming with dolphins in the Florida Keys is a rare event, so make sure to book a dolphin eco tour through a good company that has been in business for several years. Avoid any company that uses artificial methods, like feeding, to draw in the dolphins. There are many eco tours you can take while in the Keys, from kayaking to bird watching.

While in the city of Key West one of the best things to see and do is to simply walk around and explore. The old conch houses and buildings in Key West have a unique architecture that is all there own. The town has a fun history and the structures are current records of times past. Many of the old buildings are now restaurants, stores, and bars. You can tour many of these old homes and businesses. Favorites are Truman’s Little White House and the Hemingway Home.

A Few Top Attractions in Key West

Hemingway House - If you are a fan of the great American author Ernest Hemingway, or you are interested in viewing a beautiful Key West home from another era, you must visit this place. The tour is worth it just to see the six toed cats. 907 Whitehead St. This tour is worth the modest admission price.

Fort Taylor - This fort was started in 1845 and was adapted over the years before eventually being abandoned. It was restored in the 1960s and is now a state park. From this park you can watch the sunset or swim from the beach. When Florida decded from the Union on January 13, 1861 Federal troops immediately occupied this fort and held Key West for the Union making it the only city in the Confederacy to be held by the Federals.

Conch Train - If you can’t make the walk around Key West, or if you just want to get off of your feet for a while, the Conch Train is the best way to see the city. The tour guides are entertaining and informative.

Audubon House - The Audubon House has 28 original works from the artist John James Audubon. View the artwork and then tour the one acre garden.

To learn more about visiting Key West, Florida go to www.key-west-usa.com. Key West is a magical place that captures the hearts of thousands of people each year. Let your soul be wild and let your imagination go free in Key West.



KENT

Laura Williamson asked:


Having a home security system that is professionally installed and monitored by a centralized monitoring center is a big step in providing safety and protection for your family and home. A home security system utilizes the latest in technology and human effort to provide full coverage for your home in the event of an intrusion or home invasion.

Police can be dispatched fast to prevent a successful robbery from occurring. In addition to having a home security system, there are other recommendations for home security that will help keep your home safe and secure. Many experts agree that combining these recommendations with a professionally installed home security system will greatly reduce your chances of robbery or home intrusion.

Experts agree that having good locks on all exterior doors is a good idea. A one-inch deadbolt lock on each door is recommended. These are harder to tamper with and provide excellent protection against thieves who may try to pick the lock to enter the home or force the door down. Having good solid locks provides adequate protection when combined with a home security system. It is important to make sure all exterior doors are locked tight at night, so burglars cannot get in through an unlocked door.

One of the most common entranceways into a home for burglars is through the garage. People often leave their garage doors open which can provide a burglar easy access to your home. Even in broad daylight, burglars have been known to enter homes through open garage doors and make off with valuables very quickly. While it is sometimes overlooked, if you are not working in the garage, it is wise to keep the door closed at all times. Don’t provide burglars with an easy way to get into your home and steal your property.

While a home security system will protect your while you are away for an extended period of time, it is always a good idea to create the illusion that someone is always home. This can mean leaving lights on in rooms that are visible from the street. You can also leave a television on or a stereo so a burglar will think someone is home and may think twice about trying to break in. Exterior lighting for your property, along with strategically placed motion detectors, can also help deter crimes. It’s harder for a burglar or prowler to sneak into a house when the exterior is well lit and the area is covered by motion detectors that will trigger the home security system.

Some more tips include not advertising the merchandise that may be available in your home. Keep drapes drawn and blinds shut so burglars casing out your home cannot determine where your valuable property is. It is also a good idea to store cash and expensive jewelry in a safety deposit box or safe. Having these items lying around is just asking for a thief to come and take them. It’s also important that you don’t advertise that you are not at home. Leaving notes for friends, delivery people and service personnel are a tip off to criminals that you are not at home and your home is an easy mark for a break in. If you follow these tips, along with installing a home security system, your home stands less of a chance of being broken into and you will not become an unfortunate statistic.



GUY

Wain Roy asked:


If life seems a sloth, Florida Keys is the place to be. Very few places in the world have such an impressive array of adventurous activities as this. Not just beautiful beaches and exotic locations, Florida Keys, or simply Keys, is any adventure-lover’s delight. The variety you can indulge in, the beauty you can revel in, is second to none. So what are you waiting for? If adventure thrills you and if you can’t put down the call of the wild, pull up your socks and head straight for Florida Keys. Enjoy its store of fun and action.

Now let’s take a quick peek at what Keys offers to put the zing back in your insipid life.

Diving/Snorkeling

One of the most popular activities in the Keys is diving. Be it an easy and shallow reef diving, or a deep adventure on sunken wrecks—the Keys has it all. The living coral reef is more inviting than you can possibly imagine and the warm, clear blue water here is home to the marvelous marine creatures, which you can easily meet when you dive deep or snorkel. No wonder it’s called the Dive Capital of the world!

Fishing

If you’re in the Keys, you can’t afford to miss the fishing, for this place has one of the world’s finest fishing opportunities. Whether you fish offshore in a powerboat equipped with heavy tackle (for big catches) and light rods and reels (for small catches), or you explore the backcountry waters for sharks and barracudas, you must go fishing at the Keys to experience the real fishing delights.

Kayaking

To make your Florida Keys vacation memorable, go kayaking on the tranquil Atlantic shores with your beloved or just sail along watching the beautiful sunset. You can take full or half day kayaking tours that are usually offered. You may also go on shallow-water skiff eco-tours or the backcountry catamaran cruises.

Bird Watching

A unique chance to watch the rarest birds lies here at the Keys. Over 180 bird species are found here and some 60 are bred. You’ll find the Broadwing, Swainson, sharp-shinned hawks, mangrove cuckoo, Antillian nighthawk, Buntings, Orioles, Tanagers, Terns, Vireos, herons, egrets, gulls, yellow warblers and many more spectacular birds if you watch sharply.

Dolphin Watching

If that wasn’t enough, Florida Keys has dolphin watching fun schedules to offer as well. You can take eco-tours around the coral reefs and watch the famous Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins play in their natural environment. And if you’re vacationing with kids, dolphin-watching can be one surefire winner in your itinerary. So watch out!

Even that’s not all. When you’ve had it all—diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, bird or dolphin watching—Florida Keys still has more on its platter. You can go parasailing, or get wave-runners and aqua-cycles to get the whole family into action.



SEAN

Laura Williamson asked:


There are many options available on the market for home security and selecting one can be a daunting task if you do not know what to look for. There are many systems that you can install yourself, but is it worth the risk knowing that you may not have properly installed the system. Some systems simply have an alarm that sounds when your home is compromised, but if you are not at home, you have to rely on neighbors to call the police for you. When buying a home security system for your home, it’s important to consider what security experts believe to be the components of an effective home security system.

Most experts agree that a professionally installed home security system is the best route to go. Ideally, a home security system will have several points of protection and have multiple components that work together to provide total home security. In order to insure that these components work together properly, professional installation is highly desired and recommended. If a company provides professional installation, you know that they are truly invested in your security because they make sure the equipment is properly installed and working from day one. Professional installers have the experience of installing home security systems in thousands of home just like yours and can make recommendations based on the specifics of your home. After they have installed the system, they will instruct you on how the system functions, how to arm and disarm the system and how to interact with the monitoring center.

An effective home security system will have live monitoring as a central component to providing total home security. Professional monitoring technicians are trained to deal with emergency situations and know how to respond once an alarm is triggered in your home. You don’t have to rely on neighbors to call the police, the monitors will do that for you. Professional monitoring provides around the clock coverage, monitoring your system when you are at home and when you are away. Buying a system that includes professional monitoring is a smart way to go, because you can’t be home all the time and criminals will likely strike while you are away. The monitor will call police when an alarm is triggered and they get no response from you, so your home is always covered. People also find it comforting to have a voice on the other end of the phone, or to be able to communicate with the monitoring center with the digital control keypad. Having monitoring is very important and really sets apart superior home security systems from the rest of the pack.

In addition to professional installation and monitoring, having the latest in security technology is also very important. Technology has advanced and most security experts agree that having multiple points of protection is the best policy. To insure this, make sure the system you are buying has sensors that can protect doorways, windows and other entranceways to your home. In addition, the system should have smart motion detectors which can be pre-programmed so they can distinguish between pets and prowlers. These sensors and motion detectors work together to provide protection for your home in the event of a break in.

Buying the right security system for your home is an important investment in your family’s safety and security. Following these tips should help you pick a provider that can offer multiple layers of protection and quality service for your home.



BURT

Alex Alaska P asked:


echnology is creating devices such as ADT brink systems. Advances in technology make these systems available to the masses at relatively moderate cost, so basically it pays to install a system in your home. National statistics show that 1 in 8 people have been burglarized or robbed at least one time in their lives.

Tips and advice: security can save a life, which could be keys for you to a safer future. If you are leaving your home, always make sure your doors are locked; windows etc… and get Crime Watch put on your door so neighbors can keep the eye on your area.

In addition, remember that if you encounter someone who has broken into your house, violence is always the last resort. Call 911 for your phone set immediately. Don’t forget to stay calm and if you don’t have a house phone you should get one or otherwise get family plan cell phone just in case the kids are home alone. NOTE: All laws state that if someone breaks in your home, has the intent to cause great bodily harm, and has a weapon, you have the right to protect your self. If you cannot prove break in, intent, and that the perpetrator has a weapon and you cause harm and/or death, you may face penalties.

Sometimes it might be too late to call 911. If a perpetrator breaks in your home, with intent, and has a weapon, you can protect yourself, however, if you do not kill the perpetrator, you may face penalty as well. IT is your word against the perpetrators. Check your state laws, since the laws change rapidly.

You should get ADT brinks system or some other device installed in your home because when criminal activity occurs, your system could go off and the cops will come quicker. In addition, the criminals most likely will run. Eventually they will be captured if more people adhere to safety rules.

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A home security system isn’t just for citizens in high-crime areas. For suburban homes where the whole neighborhood seems to empty during the day, a security system may be a good choice. A simple home security system set-up, equipped with a good camera, can do much in protecting your house. You can use it to see who is at the door before opening, you can keep an eye on driveways to watch vehicles and equipment and most importantly you can check on any trespassers. A home security system can save you money on your home owner’s insurance costs.

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Thieves usually are after jewelry or money, so buy a safe or a vault. It would be harder to find if your belongings are stashed, and by the time, it is found they need to break the combination or lock. Carrying the safe or vault out is likely to be seen which some one will call the police.

Another way to protect your home is to have a silent alarm. While they are busy taking from your home, the cops will be on their way. While the criminals are running out, cops are surrounding the house, which means the criminals are likely to go to jail. In addition, the cops will probably be at your home before you get out of the house.

Camera vision is great, yet anything is possible. It is wise to have multiple cameras so when you set them up, set one for the outside and one inside. You could have an alarm installed on the camera so it faces you. The loud siren alert will draw attention to any and everyone around.

Thinking ahead is smart. If you are away from your home, ask neighbors, family, or friends to keep an eye on your place. Inform the watchers to dial 911 in the event strange actions occur around your home. Think sensibly and logically. Criminals tend to think they are slick. If they feel you don’t care, neither will they care. The ultimate rule of thumb is to think like a criminal. If you want to protect your home, set up a safeguard that defends against criminal activity and you will save face.



BURT

Find-Locksmiths asked:


When security started all locks needed keys. Things have changed slightly due to the advancement in technology. Years from now when they make all keyless entry devices the backup manual way will be always be keys regardless of the advancements in technology. So keys are still and will always be relevant today and in the future for security purposes. Using a lock with keys in combination with a keyless entry security is the best way to protect your most prized possessions. The common keys are pretty much self explanatory, but the rare keys are used in special instances at desperate measures. In spite of opting to use a common key or a rare key, it is highly imperative to keep a copy of your keys in a safe place that only you can find in case of lockout.

The road to becoming a certified locksmith varies from country to country. Actually, in the United States, there are variations in nearly every state because there are differentiating laws for particular trades. Yet the important information to have obtained in the process towards a locksmith apprentice is similar throughout the world and our country. A person must not only have an applicable knowledge of various keys but also understand each keys function and purpose. Even though there are keyless and electric locks, keys are arguably most likely the sole item that is most synonymous with the locksmith industry. Therefore, it is imperative that individuals who are interested in this field understand the discrepancies in various lock and key systems. Some types of keys include but not limited to common keys like the house key, car key, master key, control key, and do not duplicate key to rare keys with unique qualification such as double-sided key, paracentric key, skeleton key, tubular key, zeiss key, restricted key and keycards.         



CARSON

Victor Epand asked:


88 key synthesizers are made for professional music players. As the name suggests it contains 88 keys. There are several popular brands of 88 key synthesizers. Here’s providing a list of few below.

- Korg: Korg is a very reputed name in the world of musical instruments. Mr. Tsutomu Katoh founded the company in the year 1963. They first produced The Disc Rotary Auto Electric Machine (Doncamatic DA-20). After this, Korg went on creating different instruments. Today they are one of the leading synthesizer makers. Some of their very popular synthesizers are, POLY-800 Synthesizer (world’s first polyphonic synthesizer that costs below $1000), M1 Music Workstation etc.

The Korg TR88 88 key Weighted synth workstation is one of the very popular brands of 88 key synthesizers. It has got a 64MB ROM, packed up with various new sounds. This hi fi gizmo also contains USB MIDI capabilities and portable SD card data storage. It has also got a brilliant sound engine.

- Yamaha: Another big name in the instrument scenario, Mr. Torakusu Yamaha founded the company in 1887.previously the company was named as Nippon Gakki Company, Limited. The name was changed to The Yamaha Corporation in October 1987, on the eve of their 100th anniversary. Some popular products in 88 key synthesizer of Yamaha are Yamaha Motif XS8 88 Key Workstation, Yamaha MO8 Production Synthesizer etc.

Yamaha SO8 88 Key Programmable Synthesizer is a full size synthesizer. Its sound is very realistic. It has got a compilation of the best 700 voices of Yamaha. This model contains a complete XG and General MIDI Level 2 voice.

Yamaha Motif XS8 88 Key Workstation is another model of 88 key synthesizers. It has got brilliant sound quality, a huge recording facility, mixing controls, which are of studio level and scope of effect processing.

Roland: Roland is a Japanese manufacturer of instruments. Mr. Ikutaro Kakehashi founded this company on 18th April 1972. The company was at first located in Osaka. Then in 2005 it was relocated in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Roland has a varied range of synthesizers. Roland SH3A, Roland SH1000. All these are popular models of Roland.

The Roland Fantom X8 88 Key Sampling Workstation has nearly 1G.B of wave memory and 128-voice polyphone, which is very powerful.

- Alesis: This is another brand among the popular brands of 88 key synthesizers. This brand makes instruments especially for live and studio performances. Mainly professional and semi professional players use this brand. It is not suitable for beginners. The products of this brand are not that much expensive. They have made some brilliant gadgets too. Nano synth, Nano Bass, Nano Piano, AndromedaA6 etc are some of them.

The Alesis FUSION 8HD 88Key Weighted Keyboard has got four synthesizers. It also has RAM facility that can be expanded, effect processor and many other things. The pack looks fabulous.

So, these are the popular brands of 88 Key Synthesizers. There are many other brands that provide 88 key synthesizers. But these are considered to be the best in the business.



JEFFERY

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


We live in a dangerous world. Poverty, drugs, and fractured families contribute to a general sense of unrest and violence. Widening social and economic gaps create suspicion and distrust. As economies evolve from industrial to communications and high-technology, many lack the skills to adapt and keep meaningful work. A college education may be out of reach for the people who need it most. Crime becomes increasingly violent, and it spreads from inner cities to suburbs.

Every day, the news confirms that homes and families are not safe, no matter where they are. For many, their home and property are their biggest assets, and the threat of break-ins and burglary are threats to their overall well-being. Protecting home and family is a major concern for homeowners today.

Traditional precautions - locking doors and windows, installing a fence, or getting a guard dog - simply aren’t enough anymore. Burglar alarms and home security systems are an effective tool for keeping your home, possessions, and family safe.

If you have any doubts about burglar alarm and home security systems, it’s time to get over it. Criminals are not discouraged by locks, fences, or dogs. They are smart and experienced. To protect your home and family, you need a reliable burglar alarm and home security system that will discourage break-ins and get quick action when they do happen.

The technology for home security systems has advanced rapidly over the last decades, and today’s burglar alarms and home security systems are more sophisticated than ever before. Designed to monitor your home for unwelcomed intruders and to immediately alert law enforcement of intruders, a good home security is your best home insurance.

A home security system’s main parts are a central control unit and interconnected sensors that monitor specific areas in your home. Sensors can distinguish between a break-in and fire or gas leaks, so your security service can get the appropriate help to you quickly.

Alarms range from simple whistles to elaborate sirens and even silent alarms that alert the security service without any noise at all in your home. When a sensor detects a problem, it signals the service provider, law enforcement, or emergency service and alerts the home occupants by alarm of possible danger.

Burglar alarms and home security systems on the market today come with a wide range of equipment types, configurations, and prices. You can purchase a security system kit for a few hundred dollars. Or you can buy and install expensive and sophisticated automated systems that allow you to automate your home and monitor vulnerable spots with cameras.

In order for them to be effective, you must still take common-sense precautions to protect your home and family. You must remember to lock your doors and windows. You must keep spare keys in unusual and innovative hiding places. You must remember to turn the system on when you leave!

No one wants to fall victim to crime, and homeowners don’t want to lose valuable possessions and precious heirlooms to home intruders and vandals. Burglar alarms and home security systems are the basic and most important tool in protecting your home and family.

If your home is not protected by a burglar and home security system today, then get busy. Inspect your house for vulnerabilities, research system types and options, compare prices and value, talk to experts in home security, and install a reliable burglar alarm and home security system to keep your loved ones and property safe. There are no good excuses for postponing action to fight crime and protect your home. Act today and rest better tonight!



RALPH

Kamyar Shah asked:


The Florida Keys is an archipelago in the southeast United States with about 1700 islands beginning at the tip of the Florida peninsula and extending to the south southwest and then to Key West. The islands divide the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico and define one edge of Florida Bay. The southern tip of Key West is just 98 miles from Cuba and the climate is defined as tropical.

The area is divided into 4 major areas, the Upper Keys, the Middle Keys, the Lower Keys and the Outlaying islands. Big Coppitt is a census designated place and an unincorporated community on an island of the same name in the Lower Keys. The name is said to de derived from “coppice” meaning thicket. Us route 1 (or the Overseas Highway) crosses the key between East Rockland and Saddlebunch Keys. In the 2000 census there were 1,108 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.5% were non families in the Lower Keys regions. All areas are considered to be suburbs of Key West.

The Keys are the exposed portions of an ancient coral reef and there is very little sand. The northernmost island arising form the formation is Elliott Key. The Keys have taken their present form as the result of drastic changes in sea level during the ice age some 130,000 years ago. There were several lines of reefs and the reef formed Key Largo limestone that is on the surface between Key Biscayne and Elliott Keys.

Starting about 100.000 years ago the glaciers began lowering sea levels an exposed the coral reef and surrounding marine sediments. By 15,000 years ago the sea level had dropped to 300 to 350 feet and the exposed reefs and sediments were heavily eroded. The acidic water dissolved some of the limestone and it was redeposited as a denser cap rock. This formed the foundation for the lower Keys.

The main chain of islands can be reached by automobile on the Overseas Highway which is a 127 mile section of US Highway 1. It runs from Key West to Maine. ??The highway was built parallel to the original route of the Overseas Railway which was not rebuilt following the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Before the hurricane road sections and highway bridges allowed automobile traffic to travel from Miami to Lower Matecumbe Key where a car ferry connected with another roadway section through the Lower Keys. After the hurricane some of the railway bridges were converted to carry highway roadbeds. In the 1980’s new highway bridges were built alongside but many of the original railroad and highway bridges remain and are used as pedestrian fishing piers.

The overseas Railroad was opened in 1910. Until that time the Keys were accessible only by water. When the Labor Day hurricane made landfall near Islamorada in the Upper Keys on Labor Day Sept 2, 1935 a reported 600 people were killed. The new bridges under construction to connect a highway though the entire Keys were turned into death camps for the World War I veterans working at the construction camp. The evacuation train failed and more than 200 veterans perished. The Overseas Railway was damaged so badly that the tracks were never rebuilt.

The Lower Keys and Big Coppitt were connected to the Middle Keys by the Seven Mile Bridge, one of the longest bridges constructed in the area. After the destruction of the Keys railway by the Labor Day Hurricane the railroad, bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge were converted to automobile roadway.

With the takeover of Cuba by Fidel Castro many refugees fled to South Florida. Key West had traditionally had strong likes with Cuba and large number Cubans settled there. The Lower Keys also attract Cubans fleeing repression and poverty in cub and stories of the “boat people’ coming ashore in the Lower Keys in not uncommon.

The climate in the Keys is closer to that of the Caribbean than the rest of Florida. The Upper Keys islands are remnants of large coral reefs but the Lower Keys are composed of sandy type accumulations of limestone grains produced by plants and marine organisms.

The natural habitats of the Keys are upland forests, inland wetlands and shoreline zones. Soil ranges from sand to rich decomposed leaf litter. Rain falling through leaf debris becomes acidic and dissolves holes in the cap rock where soil accumulates and tree roots find purchase. The Keys has distinctive plant and animal species some are found nowhere else in American. The climate also allows many imported plant to thrive. Some exotic species which arrived as landscape plants now invade and threaten natural area.

The well known a very sour Key Limes was apparently introduced from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The tree grows vigorously and has thorns and produces small yellow fruit.

The Lower Keys around Big Coppitt and Big Pine are home to unique animal species including the Key deer. They are protected by the national Key Deer Refuge, and the American crocodile. Dry Tortugas national park is one of the most isolated and therefore well preserved in the world. When the Spanish explorers arrived there was no fresh water to be found and the small humpbacked shaped islands looked like tortoise shell from a distance

Tropical cyclones present special dangers and challenges to the entire Keys. Because no area of the islands is more than 20 feet above sea level and water surrounds them nearly every neighborhood is subject to devastating flooding as well and hurricane winds.

Because of the treat from storm surge evacuations are routinely ordered. Evacuations depend on causeways and the two lane highway to the mainland. It is estimated that is takes 12 to 24 hours to evacuate the entire population of all of the islands

Life in the Keys is laid back and the hurricane bravado is a part of that atmosphere… The major industries are tourism and fishing. Ecotourism is also part of this with many visitors scuba diving in the area’s protected waters. Anew ferry now takes riders between Key West and Fort Myers due north on the mainland.

The Big Coppitt Key and No Name Keya areas are home to the Key Deer. This endangered species lives only in the Lower Florida Keys and is a subspecies of the White tiled Deer.

This deer can be recognized by the characteristic smaller size. Adult makes usually weigh for 55 to 75 pounds. The adult females or does usually weigh between 45 to 65 pounds, in contrast to the up to 300 pound Deer of the upper Midwest. The deer is a reddish brown to grey brown and the males grow antlers and shed between February and March. The antlers regrow in June. Key Deer can easily swim between islands. Living in close proximity to humans the Key Deer has little of the natural fear of man shown by most of their mainland cousins. The deer are found in resident’s yards and along roadsides where they much tasty pants and flowers. There are many car deer collisions and the deer are more active at night. It is not unusual to see them a dusk and dawn, on lightly inhabited No Name Key, Big Pine Key and big Coppitt. Some are so tame that they will accept food directly from humans but feeding the deer is prohibited by law.

Mating may occur at any time of the year but usually peaks during September to November. Key deer have a relatively low reproductive rate.

The range of the key Deer originally encompassed all of the lower Florida Keys where standing water pool exist but is now limited to a stretch of the Lower Keys keys. The Deer only reside permanently reside in island s Of big Pine, Cudjoe, West Summerland, big Torch, Howe, Little Pine, Little torch, Middle Torch, No Name and sugarloaf. They also can be found on the other islands but are only there in the dry season where there is a lack of fresh water. The Deer use all islands during the wet season when drinking water is more generally available. Key Deer inhabit nearly all habitats within their range, including pine rock lands, hardwood hammocks, mangroves and freshwater wetland’s They feed on over 150 types of plants but mangroves and thatch palm berries make up the most important part of their diet.

Key Deer were hunted as a food supply by native tribes, passing sailors, and early settlers. The hunting of Key Deer was banned in 1939 but widespread poaching and habitat destruction caused the subspecies to plummet to near extinction by the 1950’s. The National Key Deer Refuge, a federally administered national Wildlife Refuge operated by the Wildlife Service was established in 1957.



JAVIER

Kirby Collins asked:


We have our own little taste of the Caribbean here in Florida known as the Florida Keys. The Keys stretch over 110 miles from Key Largo, considered the first ‘Key’, down to Key West. The gateway to the Keys is Key Largo, it is only an hours drive from the two major airports in South Florida and is considered by the locals to be the “diving capital of the World”. While that may be a little biased, Key Largo is known as both an excellent place to dive and also to go Sport Fishing.

Islamorada is actually made up of six different islands and is also a great place to dive and go sportfishing. While you’re there be sure to check out the newly opened History of Diving Museum or the Theater of the Sea Aquarium where you can swim with dolphins and other sea creatures.

Next is Marathon, the midpoint of the Keys, it is a ten mile long city and called ” the heart of the Keys” by the locals, it’s also where you’ll find one of the only two airports in the Keys, the other is in Key West. Just a few miles offshore here is North America’s only living coral reef, so again fill up those diving tanks and have some fun.

Big Pine Key is the start of the “Lower Keys” and home of the endangered and adorable Key Deer. The Lower Keys are known for their many RV Parks, campgrounds, licensed vacation homes and smaller quaint resorts. Bahia Honda State Park and Recreation Area is here too, stop in and enjoy the wildlife or relax on their white sand beach.

A mere 90 miles from Cuba lies Key West, the Southern most point in the U.S. Lummas Beach is one of the best beaches in Florida much less the Keys. You can snorkel, sail, and fish here, and that’s only a beginning. Land lovers can shop until they drop, then watch the sunset at Mallory Square and party all night on Duval Street in Key West.

With no shortage of cafes and restaurants, Key West offers plentiful options for indoor or outdoor dining. The bars on Duval Street are as famous as Bourbon street in New Orleans there is even a term they use when you’ve partied a little to much and are stumbling into a cab it’s called the ‘Duval Crawl’. If you end up doing it you’re in good company Ernest Hemingway was a regular at Sloppy Joe’s and his picture is up on the wall there. You can also go to Captain Tony’s, yes the one referred to in Jimmy Buffet’s song. Other popular watering holes include the Hog’s Breath Saloon, Crabby Dick’s and a host of other places to wet your whistle. Key West is definitely the perfect place to play all day and party all night.

So, can you feel it? You get to Key Largo and you start to relax, Islamorada comes along and you freely trade your blackberry and briefcase for some sunglasses and flip flops. You find yourself in Marathon yearning for a leafy tropical shirt and a fruity frozen drink. Big Pine Key makes you want to pitch a tent to stay forever and by the time you cross seven mile bridge to Key West the transformation is complete. With so many places in the Florida Keys having worked their magic once again and like one of the many game fish caught offshore, now you’re hooked.



TYSON