Critters

[birdiedeb]

I usually go to St. Croxi, but am considering St. John this year. What kind of critters inhabit St. Johns? I am critterphobic. St. Croix has no snakes so I want to ask about St. Johns.

[Pia]

No snakes here

There is a very rare one that is endangered so chances of seeing one - very, very slim.

Normal "critters" (using that term very loosly) - mongoose, donkeys, birds, goats, pigs, chickens, deer, sheep, brush cats, scorpions (only ever seen 2) tarantulas (again only seen 2 and both were dead)

All of these are found on STX as well - even the last two but you very rarely see them.

Hope this helps

Pia

[birdiedeb]

Thanks so much. We have all of those plus here in Texas. We use to go to Mexico a lot and snakes got into the pool with me a couple of times along with some really ugly big purple crabs.

[TropicAtHeart]

I believe the reason there are mongoose on the island is because they were brought there on ships (they kill snakes). I saw a mongoose near Honeymoon beach once. Cute little furry thing that ran across the trail.

The one bad donkey that used to pester people at Caneel isn't around anymore. It used to sit on people when they wouldn't feed it. It was dangerous, but no more.

[Nancy_B]

I have seen many iquanas also - they like to hang by pools at some of the villas but they are afraid of us and run away when we come near.

[GaryLC]

Yes, the critters aren't bad on STJ. I love the little geckos that run around on the decks, they're very cute! Mongoose are neat animals, they love dry cat food. We've stayed at Sea Spirit a couple times, and they used to have two resident outside cats, and we'd leave food out on the deck for them. We'd get two to six mongoose sneaking up on the deck and eating the food, while we were sitting there! We have some great pictures somewhere.

[Dave-a-roni]

GaryLC,
Mongoose pics? Can you share those on the forum, that would be great to see. We were looking forward to seeing them but we never did. Hopefully next visit!

[GaryLC]

Is there a way to upload photos directly to the forum, without using something like Photobucket? I'm using my work computer (don't have one at home), and we're blocked from using Photobucket and other "shared" sites like that. I have some great Mongoose pics I'd love to share!

[JT]

Well, there are also pirates,,sea squirles, two legged reptiles,the common hairy chested nutscratcher,skeeters,noseeums and the rare double breasted,tufted redhead.
By the way, I believe mongoose were introduced in the sugar cane days to kill rats. The plan back fired as the mongoose dem sleep at night, the rats were more nocturnal. The mongoose themselves became a problem and at one time there was a bounty paid for them.

[Pia]

I wish the bounty was still paid - my "girls" manage at least one per week (if you know what I mean) - I'd be in a Peter Bay villa for sure

Pia