The Florida Keys received another tribute to one of the island chain’s most endangered residents on Oct. 9, as artist Jane Witmer unveiled her painted Key deer statue, named ‘Shelly,’ at Isla Bella Beach Resort’s marketplace on Knight’s Key. Created in partnership with the nonprofit Save Our Key Deer, which conducts public education initiatives, cleanups, disease monitoring and more to preserve the tiny deer, ‘Shelly’ is one of 13 Key deer statues placed throughout the Middle and Lower Keys in public spaces. The statues serve to remind the public of the threats the deer face on a daily basis as they fight to sustain an estimated population of 700 to 800 individuals. A staunch supporter of Save Our Key Deer with prior donations and cleanups, Isla Bella Beach Resort general manager Justin Nels presented Save Our Key Deer president Valerie Preziosi with an additional $10,000 donation to further fuel the group’s mission.
