Valerie Preziosi, founder and president of the nonprofit Save Our Key Deer Inc., works to save lots of the indigenous and federally protected herd of about 800 small Key deer from human-provoked tragedies.
A former 35-year vital care registered nurse, Valerie can be a passionate nature photographer. In late December, she’s opening a brand new state-authorized Key deer rehabilitation facility on Massive Pine Key.
The brand new facility, with an outside enclosure, is to supply look after orphaned fawns and medical help to Key deer injured by automobiles — or needing consideration from entanglements, objects embedded of their hoofs or legs, sickness, infections or wounds.
With a rehabilitation allow issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee, the care facility will have the ability to nurture orphaned child fawns for as much as 90 days. For grownup Key deer, it’s going to present post-injury or sickness therapy look after as much as 60 days to organize them for launch.
“It’s not a sanctuary for non-releasable Key deer, however a spot to deal with the sick, injured or orphaned animals and get them again into the wild,” Valerie stated.
Whereas it received’t be open to the general public, the brand new facility will present webcam viewing and academic info on social media platforms.
Valerie additionally organizes instructional seminars and distributes brochures outlining methods to guard the herd, corresponding to not feeding them human meals like pizza.

As a part of her work on behalf of Key deer, Valerie checks the salinity of water within the Decrease Keys.
One quarter of a Key deer’s nutritious diet usually is from pink mangrove, its leaves and stems, with the remaining generated by 150 native Keys crops, she identified. The deer can swim as much as 1.5 to 2 miles offshore to forage on native vegetation.
Valerie and a workforce of volunteers share a ardour for the endangered deer along with her husband, scientist Jan Svejkovsky, who serves as treasurer of Save Our Key Deer and based Ocean Imaging Corp., specializing in satellite tv for pc information processing for environmental monitoring purposes.
Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?
Valerie Preziosi: Within the late Nineteen Seventies to dive into the gorgeous reefs, benefit from the surroundings, and expertise the genuine island-style vibe. We moved to Massive Pine Key completely in 2015 from San Diego to dwell among the many endangered Key deer and all the opposite distinctive wildlife that make the Keys a nationwide treasure.
VP: We like to hike, bike, and kayak in stunning, pristine environments wealthy with wildlife.
KV: Who or what impressed you to turn into obsessed with respecting and defending the Keys’ pure world?
VP: My mother took care of any sick or injured wildlife present in our New York neighborhood. She taught me concerning the significance of each residing factor. Jan and I’ve traveled worldwide to distant areas to expertise self-guided expeditions. All of our “holidays” have been backpacking or kayak-oriented.
KV: How does that keenness affect your work or occupation?
VP: We’ve devoted our lives to advocating and caring for the endangered Key deer. This is our calling.
KV: What are some of the methods, personally or by means of your work, that you simply join with and/or assist shield the native surroundings and distinctive way of life?
VP: I take advantage of my Keys wildlife images on social media to teach and encourage the general public. We contain the group to take part in tasks corresponding to sign-making and outreach training cubicles. We additionally manage common seaside clean-ups to scale back the possibilities of entanglement (and harm or dying) by the deer in ropes and plastic. We set up self-supporting highway indicators warning motorists to decelerate, and place them alongside high-risk highway areas throughout fawn season. We have now proof that these have helped keep away from fawn deaths brought on by vehicles.
KV: What retains you energized, challenged, and centered in your path?
VP: Photographing our spectacular surroundings and wildlife, and sharing that with residents and guests.
KV: What do you hope your optimistic environmental actions will accomplish?
VP: To create a tradition the place all of us perceive the significance of a secure, clear habitat for Key deer and all of our wildlife.
KV: What message would you like your actions and instance to speak to folks you encounter?
VP: It’s not sufficient to like our wildlife and surroundings. You could educate and encourage others, and to take part! It takes a village.
KV: What’s your favourite pure or eco-friendly exercise within the Keys?
VP: Getting outdoors to observe and {photograph} our distinctive wildlife whereas climbing or kayaking. Each time I step outdoors, I see one thing stunning and superb!