About Us
Established in 1983, Culebra National Wildlife Refuge prioritizes breeding grounds for native birds and the conservation, management, and restoration of other wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats.
Our Mission
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge was established under Executive Order 1042 on February 27, 1909, with the primary goal of designating the area as “a refuge and breeding ground for native birds.” Various researchers have highlighted the critical importance of Culebra NWR for seabird populations, emphasizing the need to protect its nesting colonies, which are noted for being one of the most significant concentrations of birds in the West Indies (Kepler and Kepler, 1978).
According to Schaffner (1994), Culebra NWR hosts the only remaining seabird nesting population of substantial size that is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Caribbean. However, both seabirds and the dry forest habitat within the refuge have been adversely affected by invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species .
Luis Peña Cay, a small cay covering approximately 342 acres, is home to a significant colony of White-tailed Tropicbirds, with around 16 to 20 nests reported each year. Additionally, Red-billed Tropicbirds and a few nests of Audubon’s Shearwater have also been observed on this cay. Culebrita Island, located northeast of the main island of Culebra, is another vital area, spanning 266 acres.
Our History
On June 26, 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt reserved all public lands on the island of Culebra and its adjacent keys for naval purposes. Later, on February 27, 1909, a significant portion of the Culebra Archipelago was designated as a wildlife reserve through an Executive Order signed by the President. Initially, the U.S. Navy was responsible for managing the lands of Culebra, with the wildlife reserve designation contingent upon naval and lighthouse activities.
For many years, several of the smaller islands in the archipelago, along with the Flamenco Peninsula, served as sites for gunnery and bombing practice conducted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. This military use continued until their departure in 1976.
In 1977, key portions of the lands previously administered by the Navy were transferred to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, while other areas were handed over to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The local management of the refuge began in 1983.
Today, approximately one-quarter of the total landmass of the Culebra Archipelago is designated as part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, covering around 1,510 acres. This refuge plays a vital role in preserving the unique wildlife and natural beauty of the region.
History of Culebra
Original Inhabitants
The history of Culebra dates back to pre-Columbian times and is based on artifacts that indicate the presence of indigenous populations, particularly the Taínos and Arawaks. The original inhabitants of the 10-acre area where you are now standing migrated from the Orinoco River in South America to Trinidad-Guyana and the Lesser Antilles, arriving in Puerto Rico around 250 BC. Carbon dating studies conducted in 1992 reveal evidence of human activity at this site dating as far back as 642 AD.
Modern Day Settlements and Origins of the Name "Culebra"
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, pirates sought refuge on the Island of Culebra. At that time, the island was identified on British nautical charts as "Isla Passaje" or Passage Island. Later in the 19th century, Culebra, still unnamed, came under the jurisdiction of Vieques. The Spanish Government initially proposed the name "San Ildefonso de la Culebra," after a patron saint, but ultimately decided to simply name the island "de la Culebra" and the newly established town "San Ildefonso." In 1880, Don Cayetano Escudero, a Spanish naval veteran who had served in the Philippine Islands and North Africa, was appointed as a "special delegate" and vice-mayor of Culebra, marking the beginning of the island's colonization under his leadership.
Spaniards
Upon their arrival, the Spaniards encountered not spear-wielding Indigenous people but swarms of mosquitoes, spiny agave, and the cactus known as tuna. They were offered land to cultivate and occupy in exchange for land titles. However, due to the scarcity of water and resources, growing food proved to be extremely challenging. As a result, fishing became their primary means of survival, with the waters around Culebra teeming with a variety of marine life. Despite being governed indirectly through Vieques—a significant hardship—the island's stunning beaches and abundant fishing waters lured many settlers to remain.
Agriculture and Early Trade
An American Geographical Society publication from 1903 states that "up to 1880, the island was visited only by small craft transporting individuals engaged in fishing, charcoal-burning, and wood chopping. The finest timber, such as Guayacán (Guaiacum officinale), was harvested and taken to St. Thomas, St. Croix, or other islands without permission. It is reasonable to assume that this prompted the Government of Spain to consider the colonization of the island a necessity."
Despite water limitations, residents managed to establish an agricultural base. At the time of the 1903 publication, the island's most important products included cattle, sweet potatoes, plantains, chewing tobacco, pumpkins, beans, domestic fowl, tortoise shell, charcoal, Indian corn, and mangrove bark. Sugar cane and cotton were also cultivated, with cotton still visible growing alongside rural roads.
To quote the article: "The commerce of the island is in the hands of five merchants who operate on a small scale, importing goods from San Juan, Fajardo, and Vieques. There are no industries, and the island's exports consist primarily of minor produce shipped to Vieques, Fajardo, and even San Juan. Cattle are also shipped to Vieques, Fajardo, and San Juan, and in some years, to St. Thomas; tortoise shells, which abound on the island, are sent to the same markets as the cattle.".
Entry of the United States Government and U.S. Military
After the Spanish-American War ended, the agreement between the United States and Spain (Treaty of Paris 1898) was that the land agreements that had been promised by the Spanish Government would be honored, and any titled land would not be confiscated by the U.S. Government. However, in 1899 Proclamation #1 of the United States reserved certain areas of Culebra for naval purposes and in 1901 the military established control of the island. They took over the town of San Ildefonso and renamed it "Camp Roosevelt", establishing their military headquarters in the building which now houses the Culebra Conservation and Development Authority. This is most likely the origin of the current popular name "Lower Camp". The government re-located the residents to other areas of the Island, mainly in land near the current ferry dock.
World War II
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Culebra Archipelago became the primary gunnery and bombing practice site for the U.S. Navy. In 1941, through an Executive Order, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established Culebra as a naval defensive sea area for national defense purposes ("Culebra Island Naval Defensive Sea Area"), which remained in use until 1975. That year, following a lengthy grassroots campaign by the Culebra community, the military announced it would cease operations on the island, returning its beautiful beaches and coastlines to the local population.
U.S. government lands were subsequently transferred to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (specifically, the PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). These USFWS lands now comprise the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which has operated under Culebra-based administration since the early 1980s.
Our Habitats
Puerto Rico's geologic history helps explain its diverse vegetation. Located at the eastern end of a vast oceanic volcanic mountain range, the island has undergone significant climate changes over time. During past glacial periods, the climate was cooler and drier, with sea levels dropping as much as 100 meters. Up until about 11,000 years ago, Culebra, Vieques, and the Virgin Islands (excluding St. Croix) were all connected to Puerto Rico, forming a landmass known as the Puerto Rican Bank, which was twice the size of the island today. As sea levels rose, these islands became separate but still shared many plant and animal species.
In the last 200 years, Culebra has changed dramatically due to human activities such as agriculture, military training, housing development, and tourism. Most areas of the island have been altered, except for small, hard-to-reach sections like the boulder forest at Mount Resaca. Former agricultural lands and military ranges typically revert to dense thorn thickets and secondary growth forests, which are common in the subtropical dry forest life zone.
There are six distinct habitat communities on Culebra Island and its surrounding cays, each contributing to the island's rich biodiversity. Below, you'll find descriptions of these unique habitats.
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Beaches
The beautiful crystalline waters of the beach are not just for the enjoyment of the community and visitors but also serve as habitat for many animal and plant species. Beach community vegetation occupies the upper open sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, and adjacent sea salt spray zones encompassing the island. This vegetation extends into some low-lying areas above the beach and is under the influence of saltwater, salt spray, and sea winds. Most of the species in this zone are pan-tropical and indigenous or secondarily distributed, such as bayhops and coconut Palm. As you explore, you'll notice the resilient grasses and vines that blanket the upper beach, creating beautiful, dense mats of greenery. You will also find unique wildflowers like coastal searocket and enjoy the vibrant blooms of seagrape as they adorn the landscape. Venturing into the rocky shores, the surf brings life to colorful algae and hardy plants, making every visit a chance to connect with nature. The stunning contrast of animal life and vegetation will inspire you to appreciate this unique habitat not just as a great place to have fun but also for the beautiful, dynamic, and indispensable ecosystem it is.
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Mangrove Forests
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Coastal Strand Forests
This unique type forest can only be found in the narrow coastal areas behind the beaches and mangrove forests. In the protected spots behind sand dunes, a richer and taller scrub grows, known as Beard's (1944) “littoral woodland.” This snakebark (coffee colubrina) shrubland alliance is diverse with many species of lianas, the shrubs blacktorch, baycedar, and prickly bush and occasionally dense stands of pinguin. The vegetation diversity of coastal strand forest is high and is composed of other characteristic species such as: tietongue, seagrape, Elaeodendron xylocarpum, key byrsonima, West Indian birch, white cedar, and several types of Eugenia species. The unique vegetation diversity and positioning of this type of forest makes it a habitat that contributes significantly to environmental health and community resilience!
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Lagoons
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Dry Forests and Shrub
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Other Facilities in this Complex
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge is one of the nine refuges that comprise the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Each refuge in this complex plays a vital role in conserving endemic, native, migratory, and resident species, along with their habitats and the invaluable natural resources of the Caribbean.
