Refuge Facts
- Established: 1909
- Acres: 1,510
- Location: the refuge office is located in Lower Camp, a short drive from Culebra airport.
- Administered under Caribbean Islands NWR office.
Natural History
- The refuge is comprised of lands on the main island of Culebra and 22 smaller islands scattered around the main island.
- The refuge contains diverse habitats including subtropical dry forest, mangroves, brush, and grasslands.
- The largest seabird nesting colony occurs at Peninsula Flamenco, where 60,000 sooty terns nest.
- Mount Resaca contains the largest remaining forest, an area of rock-strewn canyons and ravines forming a unique habitat known as the boulder forest.
- Leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles use refuge beaches for nesting.
Refuge Objectives
- To protect and manage significant seabird colonies and endangered marine turtles, as well as protect native tropical vegetative communities.
Management Tools
- Environmental education/ interpretation.
- Law Enforcement
- Wildlife surveys.
Public Use Opportunities
- Hiking, wildlife observation, and nature photography are available (boat access only) on Cayo Luis Peña and Isla Culebrita.
- All other refuge lands are closed to the public because of their sensitive nature or unexploded military ordnance.
- Water taxis in town offer transportation. There are no facilities present so please go prepared with adequate water and sunblock. The Culebrita lighthouse is closed to the public because of the dangerous condition of the building.
Mission:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are the only agency of the U.S. Government with that primary mission. The Service helps protect a healthy environment for people, fish and wildlife, and helps Americans conserve and enjoy the outdoors and our living treasures. The Service's major responsibilities are for migratory birds, endangered species, certain marine mammals, and freshwater and anadromous fish.
