West Mouse facts for kids
West Mouse (in Welsh, Maen y Bugail) is a small island, also called an islet. It is located about 1.1 kilometers (0.7 miles) off the northwest coast of Anglesey, Wales. This tiny island measures about 92 by 82 meters (302 by 269 feet) and covers an area of 1.2 acres.
West Mouse is known for its very strong ocean tides. Because of these powerful currents, at least three shipwrecks have happened near the island. This makes the area a popular spot for scuba diving. To help ships navigate safely, there is now a white beacon (a type of light or signal) on West Mouse. This beacon works with two other beacons, one on the Anglesey mainland and another on Coal Rock, a small island about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) north. When these three beacons line up, they guide ships away from danger.
The waters around West Mouse are home to various sea creatures and plants. You can find interesting species like hornwrack (a type of moss-like animal), sea squirts (which look like small sacs), and conger eels (large, snake-like fish). West Mouse is one of three small islands found along the north coast of Anglesey. The other two are Ynys Amlwch and Ynys Badrig.
The Story Behind the Name
The Welsh name for West Mouse is Maen y Bugail, which means The Shepherd's Stone in English. This name comes from an old folklore tale. The story says that a shepherd was looking for his sheep one day. He became annoyed by a stone that was bothering him in his shoe. The shepherd took the stone out and threw it into the sea. The legend says that the island of West Mouse appeared exactly where the stone landed.
