Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area) | |
  |
|
| Location: | Virgin Islands, USA |
| Nearest city: | Christiansted, VI |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 14 acres (0.06 km²) |
| Established: | 1977 |
| Total Visitation: | 0 (in 2006) |
| Governing body: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge, just north of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, preserves habitat for the largest remaining population of endangered St. Croix Ground Lizard (Ameiva polops). Much smaller populations of ground lizard live on nearby Protestant Cay () and on Ruth Island. Its extirpation from the mainland of St. Croix is generally attributed to the introduction of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus). There are plans to reintroduce the lizard to Buck Island Reef National Monument.[1]
The 14-acre (0.06 km²) Green Cay is midway between the town of Christiansted and Buck Island Reef National Monument (which provides law enforcement under an interagency agreement).
Green Cay NWR is administered as part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife complex.
There is a smaller "Green Cay" off the coast of St. Thomas ().
[edit] References
- ^ Zandy Hillis-Starr. National Park Service begins management of non-native invasive plants on Buck Island Reef National Monument. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.
