Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) consists of over 360 acres of subtropical dry vegetation, including the largest salt pond in the Virgin Islands, and a continuous stretch of 3.2 kilometers of sandy beach. Sandy Point beach is unique in that it has deep near shore water and lacks a fringing coral reef. These ideal conditions provide easy accessibility to the beach by nesting endangered leatherback sea turtles. In fact, Sandy Point hosts the largest population of nesting leatherbacks in the United States and its territories. In addition to leatherbacks, hawksbill, and green sea turtles also nest on the Sandy Point beach.
Law enforcement is an essential aspect of managing the natural resources at Sandy Point. The law enforcement staff faces challenging issues including drug smuggling, illegal aliens, dumping of trash, and poaching of sea turtles and their eggs. The refuge is patrolled by law enforcement officers on a regular basis to protect wildlife and ensure safety to visitors.
Exotic species pose a threat to wildlife on the refuge. Introduced mongoose and dogs destroy turtle nests and dogs have attacked nesting female turtles. These pests also disturb and destroy seabird and shorebird nests. Dog traps are routinely set on the refuge and many feral dogs have already been removed from the area. Mongoose traps are set along nesting beaches to prevent harm to turtles and nesting birds. Mongoose eradication in the future will benefit many species of birds and reptiles on the refuge.
Opportunities at Sandy Point NWR exist that allow the public to enjoy hiking, wildlife observation, and nature photography. The refuge is only open to the public from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays and is closed at all other times. Major portions of the refuge beach are popular recreation sites for visitors but are closed seasonally in order to protect turtle nests and hatchlings. This management decision is based on scientific data collected by the Leatherback Conservation Project. Group field trips can be scheduled through the USFWS office during the week. Beach clean-ups, nature walks, salt pond studies, and bird watching are all available.
