Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge

Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge in the United States Virgin Islands protects Buck Island, about 2 miles south of St. Thomas, along with surrounding marine habitat known for thorn scrub, rocky shores, coral reefs, and an artificial reef created by a shipwreck. A lighthouse stands on roughly 45 acres of cactus and grassland and is still maintained by the United States Coast Guard. The island was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for its importance to migratory birds, with land coming from the U.S. Navy in 1969 and the Coast Guard in 1981. Its waters support diverse sea life, including endangered sea turtles, especially at Turtle Cove.