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The Culebra National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 400 wildlife refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the United States, Puerto Rico
and U.S. Territories. These refuges, managed principally for migratory birds and other unique wildlife conditions, are part
of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Department of the Interior. The Culebra
Refuge, which comprises about 1,480 acres, includes 23 islands and rocks in addition to the four tracts on the main island
of Culebra. The refuge is well known as a nesting site for a variety of seabirds and preserves important habitat for endangered
sea turtles.
The mean temperature for Culebra is about 80°F
(27°C). A relatively dry period occurs from January to March/April. The heaviest
rains generally are recorded from August to November. The average annual rainfall is approximately 25–30 inches.
The Culebra National Wildlife Refuge was established on February 27, 1909 by Theodore
Roosevelt, making it one of the oldest refuges in the system. Early ornithologists described the birds in and around the Culebra
Archipelago, but it wasn't until 1971 that new surveys revealed the wide variety of nesting seabirds and their numbers.
The offshore islands, with the exception of Cayo Norte, totaling 702 acres, came under
the administration of the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1975 when the Navy left
Culebra. In 1982 an additional 776 acres of unique wildlife habitat were transferred from the Navy into the Culebra National
Wildlife Refuge.
FLAMENCO PENINSULA
Flamenco Peninsula is an important site for sooty terns. The
population had once been estimated at as many as 160,000 birds, although this population declined significantly during the
late 1970's. Some causes for this decline are brush encroachment on the preferred
breeding area of dense guinea grass, over-grazing, and predation by rats and feral cats introduced into the area.
MOUNT RESACA
The Mount Resaca Unit
of the refuge insures preservation of one of the few remaining large blocks of dry subtropical forest on Culebra. Large boulder-covered
areas produce the park-like forest of Cupey and Jaguey
with their impressive stilt roots. The boulders support beautiful orchids,
bromeliads and the endemic peperomia.
It is believed that the endangered Culebra giant anole lizard—
not sighted for many decades— still survives in these
forests. Other vegetative zones, including the thick natural thorn thickets, palm forest types and cactus scrub clusters,
support diverse numbers of bird and reptile species.
THE CAYS
The cays surrounding Culebra
support impressive numbers of breeding seabirds. From May to September nesting colonies of laughing
gulls, bridled terns, sooty terns,
brown noddys and roseate terns can
be found. Several cays also support royal and sandwich
tern colonies which have been reported to be on the decline in the Caribbean in recent years. Small colonies of white-tailed tropic birds, red-billed tropic birds,
masked boobys, and red-footed
boobys are found here, as well as a thriving brown booby colony. Seabird
breeding activity can be found going on throughout the year.
Culebrita and Cayo Luis Peña are the larger
and more diverse islands. This diversity includes beach areas, extensive forests, lagoons and rocky precipices. As a result,
a wider range of wildlife is present, including many passerine bird species, waterfowl
and reptiles. The beaches of Culebrita are included as critical habitat for the endangered hawksbill turtle, as are most beaches of the northern shore of Culebra. Three
other endangered turtles species—
the Atlantic green, the leatherback
(shown here, digging her nest), and the Atlantic loggerhead— may also be observed
there. Extensive reef systems and grass flats in Culebra's waters are critical as development and foraging habitat for
these turtles.
Coral reefs of the area are some of the most
spectacular of the entire Caribbean region. These thriving reefs represent some of the best living healthy reef ecosystems
of Puerto Rico due to the relative lack of development of the islands. The life cycles of many fish, amphibians, crustaceans
and a wealth of other marine organisms are directly tied to the coral reef ecosystems.
THE MANGROVES
The mangrove units of the refuge
form a unique habitat which is vital for coastal wildlife. Here the protein-rich waters provide ample food sources for crustaceans
and small fish, and, in turn, these food sources attract larger predatory fish as the food chain continues. These mangroves
form bountiful nurseries for marine life. Multitudes of fish and crustaceans arrive after spawning to mature in these protected
waters. Bird life also abounds as the large fisheries attract numerous marine feeders.
The mangroves surrounding Puerto del Manglar are a favorite roosting site for the endangered brown pelican. These mangroves
also protect this bay's phosphorescent qualities by serving as a filter and buffer from sediments carried by runoff from
the surrounding sloping terrain.
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Active wildlife management efforts on the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge
concentrate on maintaining and re-creating the wide range of nesting habitats needed for colonial seabirds. Unique wildlife
habitats such as the Mt. Resaca Unit and the mangrove areas will be maintained in their natural conditions. Human entry into
the nesting colonies will be restricted in order to prevent disturbance to sensitive species who cannot tolerate human intrusion.
Development of the existing Mt. Resaca trail, and trails on Cayo Luis Peña and Isla Culebrita may be planned for the
refuge in the future.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Mt. Resaca trail, Cayo Luis Peña and lsla Culebrita are all open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Special Use Permits, signed by the refuge manager, are required for entry to other units of the Culebra Refuge. These permits
and other information are available from the Refuge Manager at Lower Camp, Culebra.
• Flamenco Peninsula and several of the cays and reefs were sites of intensive bombardment by the military.
Many unexploded bombs are present throughout these areas and could explode at any time. Do not touch, approach or disturb
any ordnance seen. Visitors must stay on existing roads and trails.
•
Visitors entering the water from the refuge beaches do so at their own risk. There are many rocks, coral reefs and marine
organisms which could cause injuries and visitors need to be careful in the water. Public-use regulations apply to the lands
administered by Culebra National Wildlife Refuge in order to insure protection of the rich and diverse resources.
• All plant material, both living and dead, is protected.
For information
on the Refuge: call 787.742.0115 or write to
Refuge Manager, General Delivery — Lower Camp, Culebra, PR 00645
Source: Publications
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Culebra National
Wildlife Refuge, RF-41522-1- May 1988, Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge, August 1997
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