The Short Tale of the St. Croix Ground Lizard

St. Croix Times Staff

St. Croix - We’ve all seen them. Speedy little buggers. Cute. But you wouldn’t want one crawling around in your bed with you. Not the cuddle up type of pet. Even though they don’t bite. 

The St. Croix Ground Lizard is a small, fast-moving reptile that used to live all over the island of St. Croix. But way back when, in the 1880’s, the Small Indian Mongoose was brought on the island to control rats and they ended up not only attacking the rats but also attacking the lizards. Because of that, the lizard disappeared from the Big Island and was only found on a few small nearby cays like Green Cay and Protestant Cay. The mongoose, on the other hand did help to control the rats, but they also created new problems by preying on other native species and becoming an invasive species themselves.

In 1977, the St. Croix Ground Lizard was listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

People who care about wildlife didn’t give up on the St. Croix Ground Lizard. Over the years, scientists and local groups worked together to protect it. 

Here’s what they did:

In 1990, a small group of lizards were moved to Ruth Island, an artificial island off the southern coast, which has no mongoose. Then in 2008, more of the St. Croix Ground Lizards were moved to Buck Island to help build another safe population.

After a few years, the lizards were doing well. They were making babies, spreading out, and eating local bugs, just like they used to.

In 2022, for the first time in over 50 years, the lizards were brought back to the Big Island. Some were placed at the University of the Virgin Islands and others at Sandy Point, in protected spaces where researchers could monitor them.

This kind of work takes teamwork. Groups like the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the University of the Virgin Islands, and local environmental groups all joined forces. They shared information, created safe spaces, and helped spread the word about why this lizard matters.

The St. Croix Ground Lizard eats insects and helps the land stay healthy. Their story also shows how people in the Virgin Islands can come together to protect what is ours, from the tiniest lizard to the largest sea turtle.