Aguirre State Forest facts for kids

The Aguirre State Forest (called Bosque Estatal de Aguirre in Spanish) is a special nature area in Puerto Rico. It's located on the south coast and is one of Puerto Rico's 20 state forests. This forest covers about 2,393 acres (9.68 square kilometers). It's mostly made up of mangrove trees and forests that grow in flood-prone areas. The forest is right next to the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The government of Puerto Rico owns and manages the Aguirre State Forest. It was created in 1918 by Governor Arthur Yager. The main goal was to protect the important mangrove forests between the towns of Guayama and Santa Isabel.

Amazing Nature

This forest is famous for its thick mangrove forests and salt ponds. It's a very rich natural area with many different kinds of plants and animals.

Animals of the Forest

The Aguirre State Forest is home to many cool creatures. You can find:

• 13 different kinds of reptiles
• 4 types of amphibians
• 3 species of bats

It's also a super important place for birds. At least 184 different bird species live here, and many come to nest their babies. Some of the interesting birds you might see include:

• Yellow-crowned night herons (Nyctanassa violacea)
• Mangrove rails (Rallus longirostris)
• Yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia)

There are also some special birds that are in danger of disappearing, like the yellow-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus). You might even spot manatees swimming in the lagoons around the forest.

Plants of the Forest

The main types of mangrove trees you'll find in the forest are:

• White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)
• Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)
• Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
• Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus)

Around the salt ponds, you'll mostly see these grass species:

• Batis maritima
• Sesuvium portulacastrum
• Sporobolus virginicus

Fun Activities

The Aguirre State Forest is a great place to visit and enjoy nature. You can:

• Go bird watching to spot all the different bird species.
• Take nature walks along the trails.
• Go camping in special areas.
• Go kayaking in designated water spots.

Most of the places for visitors are found near Laguna El Toconal in Jobos, Guayama.

Gallery

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  Sphaerodactylus macrolepis

• 

  Anolis pulchellus

• 

  West Indian manatees can be found in the state forest.

See also

In Spanish: Bosque estatal de Aguirre para niños

• Ceiba State Forest
• List of Puerto Rico state forests
• List of National Natural Landmarks in Puerto Rico