Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge

Not to be confused with Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)

Location	Virgin Islands, USA
Nearest city	Charlotte Amalie, VI
Area	45 acres (0.18 km²)
Established	1969
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge is located about 2 miles (4 km) south of the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands of the United States. There are actually two "Buck Islands." The National Wildlife Refuge occupies the one near St. Thomas. The one just north of St. Croix is the centerpiece of Buck Island Reef National Monument. Adjacent to the refuge is Capella Island, about half the size of Buck, owned by the territorial government.

The refuge is characterized by a thorn scrub habitat with rocky coastline surrounded by spectactular reefs. A lighthouse (still maintained by the United States Coast Guard) stands over 45 acres (180,000 m²) of cactus and grassland. The island was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to "its value for migratory birds." The U.S. Navy transferred some lands in 1969 and the remainder was received from the Coast Guard in 1981. The surrounding waters contain reefs and a shipwreck that attract large numbers of snorkelers, divers, and boaters.

Buck Island NWR is administered as part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife complex.

External links

Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge homepage

Territory of United States Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie (capital)

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Protected Areas of the United States Virgin Islands

National Parks:	Virgin Islands National Park

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National Monuments:	Buck Island Reef National Monument • Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument

National Wildlife Refuges:	Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge • Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge • Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge

Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge

See also

External links