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The St. Croix ground lizard is native to the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was extirpated from the main island of St. Croix by invasive mongooses in 1969 and is currently only found on four small offshore cays. It has been Federally listed as endangered since 1977 and is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
One of the recovery actions for the lizard is to reintroduce and establish new populations on the main island of St. Croix and a species recovery team identified preferred reintroduction sites across the island. One of the highest ranked sites is located on 4 acres of government owned land adjacent to Altona Lagoon. Altona Lagoon is a large coastal wetland located on the north shore of St. Croix near the historic town of Christiansted.
The lagoon consists of a network of mangroves, salt ponds, and tidal flats that play an important role in the island’s natural ecosystem. The lagoon provides important nursery habitat for marine fishes and crabs as well as roosting and nesting habitat for birds, including herons, egrets, pelicans, and shorebirds. Adjacent to Altona Lagoon and the project area is a public park managed by the local Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, a popular public beach and a nearby boat ramp popular with local fishers and recreational boaters.
In 2025 Coastal Program completed a project where we partnered with the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to conduct a habitat restoration project for the benefit of the endangered St. Croix Ground Lizard. The Division of Fish and Wildlife also collaborated with a local non-profit, the Virgin Islands Trail Alliance, to control invasive grasses and create walking trails, repair a road, and develop and install educational signage to increase public engagement and access to outdoor recreational areas.
The DFW is continuing to manage the area and trail network through the cooperation of non-profits and volunteers. Planning for future reintroductions to establish new populations of St. Croix Ground Lizard on the main island of St. Croix is underway bringing the species another step towards recovery.
