Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge

Most of the refuge is marine habitat, including extensive coral reefs and other inshore tropical ocean habitats. Uninhabited, it is low, flat, sandy, and vegetated only by grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs due to the scant rainfall and intense sun.

The refuge provides nesting and roosting habitat for about 20 species of seabirds and shorebirds. Threatened green sea turtles, and endangered hawksbill turtles forage in the shallow waters of the reef with hundreds of species of fish, corals, and other invertebrates. Baker was exploited for commercial guano harvesting during the 19th century.

"Guano" is bird droppings, which is used as fertilizer. Its guano deposits are now exhausted. Feral cats were at one time found on Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, where they preyed heavily on nesting seabirds. Cats were successfully eradicated from Baker in 1984.

Directions:

Pacific Islands,

Website:
Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge

Organization:
FWS - Fish and Wildlife Service