Due to its southerly location and the moderating effect of Lake Erie, it has a slightly milder climate than inland areas.

It is a part of an important flyway for migrating birds between Ohio, the Lake Erie islands and Point Pelee.

For many years, the island has hosted a fall pheasant hunt which attracts hunters from Canada, the United States and many other countries.

The pheasant hunt brings tourist dollars to Pelee at a time of year when virtually no other activities are available, thus generating important revenue in the offseason.

[5] European settlement of the island began in 1788 when the land was leased to Thomas McKee by the Ojibwa and Odawa tribes.

One wreck that is particularly close to the island, JJ Carroll, is just 100 feet (30 m) off the eastern shore of Fish Point.

Due to its southerly location and the moderating effect of Lake Erie, it has a slightly milder climate than inland areas.

[12] The average annual precipitation is 891 millimetres (35 in) which is evenly distributed throughout the year with January and February being the driest months.

Glaciation left a variety of habitats for wildlife, such as wetlands, sand dunes, alvars (areas of limestone with a shallow overburden), and deep soils suitable to the trees of the Eastern Deciduous Forest zone.

Pelee Island is home to numerous species at risk including both flora and fauna as well as insects, snails, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

The leisurely cruise to Pelee Island can range from one-and-a-half to just over two hours depending on departure routes.

Leaving from Leamington from early spring until August, the ferry then finishes the season (mid December) in nearby Kingsville.

In January 2004, a Cessna 208 Caravan crashed on takeoff from Pelee, killing eight pheasant hunters, the pilot and his girlfriend.

[19] In June 2015, the Ontario Government announced that it would invest $40 million in a new ferry, to replace MV Pelee Islander.

[20] A tender was awarded to Asenav of Chile to build the replacement ferry, MV Pelee Islander II, which carries 399 passengers and 34 vehicles.

Officers are present on the island four days a week during the summer, during the annual pheasant hunt in the fall, and on the long weekend in May.

Classes are held in a traditional three room school house that was built in 1927 and is located at the north west corner of the island.

Every year the children of the school raise money for an annual field trip by holding a raffle during the island's fall pheasant hunt.