Culebra NWR | Southeast Region


Teresa Tallevast Refuge Manager P.O. Box 190 Culebra, PR 00622 (787) 742-0115 FAX: (787) 742-0115 E-mail: caribbeanisland@fws.gov Directions to Refuge Fact Sheet		Refuge Facts Established: 1909. Acres: 1,568. Location: the refuge office is located in Lower Camp, a short drive from Culebra airport. Administered under Caribbean Island NWRs office. Natural History The refuge is comprised of lands on the main island of Culebra and 22 smaller islands in the same vicinity. 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. Financial Impact of Refuge Two-person staff. 6,000 visitors annually. 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 Pena and Isla Culebrita. All other refuge lands are closed to the public because of their sensitive nature or unexploded military ordnance. Calendar of Events October: National Wildlife Refuge Week. Questions and Answers Does the refuge have an office for visitors? An office is located in Lower Camp, a short drive from Culebra airport. Are sea turtles found in the vicinity of the refuge? Yes, leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles nest on Culebra beaches, and the adjacent seagrass beds provide shelter and food for green sea turtles. Is it true that seabirds nest on the refuge in large numbers? A nesting colony of approximately 60,000 sooty terns is located at the Peninsula Flamenco unit; however, it is closed to the public due to its sensitive nature.

Return to: Caribbean Islands , U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Offices

Discover American's Best Kept Secret National Wildlife Refuge banner