A new family-friendly event is coming to Perdido Key this month to celebrate one of the area’s smallest and most important coastal residents.

Escambia County’s first Beach Mouse and Dunes Day will take place Saturday, June 27 from 9 AM to 2 PM at Johnson Beach on Gulf Islands National Seashore. The event will be held at the Johnson Beach pavilion, located at 133333 Johnson Beach Road.

The free educational event will focus on the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse, the dune ecosystem it calls home, and the simple ways residents and visitors can help protect both.

Please note there is a $25 entrance fee per vehicle to access Johnson Beach.

Event Details

What: Beach Mouse and Dunes Day
When: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Time: 9 AM to 2 PM
Where: Johnson Beach Pavilion, Gulf Islands National Seashore
Address: 133333 Johnson Beach Road, Perdido Key
Cost: Event is free, but Johnson Beach has a $25 vehicle entrance fee

What to Expect

Beach Mouse and Dunes Day will bring together several local, state, and federal partners for a day of education, games, and conservation activities.

Partnering organizations include Escambia County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Brevard Zoo, City of Orange Beach Coastal Resources, Florida State Parks, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program.

Organizations will have educational booths set up at the event, along with games, beach mouse swag, and information about the Perdido Key beach mouse and the coastal dunes that help protect the island.

The event is designed to be family-friendly and gives visitors a chance to learn more about a species that many people may never see, but that plays an important role in the health of Perdido Key’s shoreline.

What Is the Perdido Key Beach Mouse?

The Perdido Key beach mouse is a small, endangered mouse found only on Perdido Key.

It was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1989 and lives within the coastal dune ecosystem. Each beach mouse has a small home range of about 1.25 acres, making healthy dune habitat especially important for its survival.

While the beach mouse may be small, its role in the environment is significant. As beach mice feed, they help spread seeds back into the dunes. That natural seed dispersal helps strengthen the dune system, which can provide protection for the community during hurricanes and strong coastal storms.

Why Dunes Matter

Dunes are more than just sand hills along the beach.

They help protect coastal communities from storm surge, high winds, and erosion. They also provide important habitat for wildlife, including the Perdido Key beach mouse and nesting sea turtles.

When dunes are damaged by foot traffic, development, storms, or artificial lighting, the animals that depend on them are affected too. Events like Beach Mouse and Dunes Day help educate the public on why these habitats matter and how small actions can make a difference.

How to Help Protect the Beach Mouse

Escambia County is reminding residents and visitors that one of the easiest ways to help protect the beach mouse is to keep the beach dark at night.

Both beach mice and sea turtles need dark beaches to safely navigate their environment.

Ways to help include:

Turn off exterior lights when they are not needed

Close curtains and blinds at night to reduce light on the beach

Avoid using bright flashlights or cell phones on the beach after dark

Use a red flashlight if you need light at night

Stay off dunes and use marked beach walkovers

Do not leave food or trash behind on the beach

Respect posted signs and protected habitat areas

These simple steps help protect both the Perdido Key beach mouse and sea turtles during nesting season.

Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Efforts

Escambia County implemented the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan in 2015 in partnership with Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Alabama State Parks, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The plan was created to help protect the Perdido Key beach mouse and other critically endangered species and habitats on Perdido Key.

Beach Mouse and Dunes Day gives the community a chance to learn more about those conservation efforts and understand how protecting the dunes also helps protect the future of Perdido Key.

More Perdido Key and Beach Guides

Planning a beach day on the west side of Pensacola?

Beach Mouse and Dunes Day is a good opportunity to visit Johnson Beach, learn about the local ecosystem, and spend time in one of the most scenic parts of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

If this guide helped you plan your trip, you can support Must Do Pensacola by grabbing a sticker.

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Beach Mouse and Dunes Day Celebrates the Perdido Key Beach Mouse at Johnson Beach