"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS), a non-profit Friends of the Refuge organization, supports environmental education and services at the J.N.

[3][4] Hurricane Charley struck the refuge on August 13, 2004, causing major changes to the topography and ecology.

[5] Sea level rise has increased beach erosion on the barrier islands which protect Ding Darling's manatee habitat.

Rising temperatures are increasing the ratio of female hatchlings of Ding Darling's endangered Florida loggerhead turtle population.

The refuge's American alligator population is decreasing, due to increased salinity and a reduction of the freshwater flow in its mangroves.