Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
Location in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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| Location | Virgin Islands, United States |
| Nearest city | Christiansted, VI |
| Area | 14 acres (0.06 km²) |
| Established | 1977 |
| Visitors | 0 (in 2006) |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge |
| Designated: | 1980 |
Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in the United States Virgin Islands. It's a small island, about 14 acres (which is like 10 football fields!), located in the Caribbean Sea. This island, called Green Cay, is found between the town of Christiansted and Buck Island Reef National Monument, just north of Saint Croix.
The refuge was created in 1977 to protect important wildlife. It's managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of a group of wildlife refuges in the Caribbean. There's also another, smaller "Green Cay" near Saint Thomas.
Protecting Rare Animals
Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge is super important because it protects the largest group of an endangered animal: the Saint Croix ground lizard. These lizards are very rare!
Scientists believe that these lizards disappeared from the main island of Saint Croix because of small Indian mongooses. Mongooses were brought to the island and hunted the lizards. Luckily, Green Cay island didn't have mongooses, so the lizards could survive there.
In 2008, a special project moved 57 of these lizards from Green Cay to Buck Island. This helped create a new safe home for them and increased their chances of survival.
A Haven for Birds
Green Cay is also a fantastic spot for birds! Along with the nearby Southgate Coastal Reserve, it's recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. This means it's a vital place for many bird species.
Some of the amazing birds you might find here include:
- Green-throated caribs (a type of hummingbird)
- Antillean crested hummingbirds
- American coots
- Brown pelicans
- Laughing gulls
- Least terns
- Royal terns
- Caribbean elaenias
- Pearly-eyed thrashers
These birds rely on Green Cay for food, nesting, and a safe place to live. Protecting this island helps these beautiful creatures thrive.
See also
In Spanish: Cayo Green (Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos) para niños
