Animals in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Nevis and Saint Kitts are two small islands east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. They are part of the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles. The islands are generally mountainous with a tropical climate. Average year round temperatures are about 75 degrees (24 degrees Celsius) and a steady, cool breeze most of the year keeps humidity low.

With 126 native bird species, Nevis and Saint Kitts are both featured on international bird lists as premier birding spots. Species range from the small bananaquits that frequent breakfast tables in search of sugar, to eight species of majestic hawks that can be sighted from higher terrain. There are also four species of white birds in the egret and heron families.

Bats are the only mammals native to Nevis and Saint Kitts. There are five species with a sixth, the Caribbean fishing bat, recently discovered. They mostly eat fruit, nuts, and insects and play an important part in the islands ecosystem.

Nevis and Saint Kitts are two of the only islands in the Caribbean with a large population of monkeys living in the wild. They were brought to the islands as pets in the 17th and 18th centuries and either by escaping or being set free, have managed to thrive. Although the monkeys usually try to avoid people, they can be glimpsed almost anywhere on the islands as they search for food.

Off shore, Nevis and Saint Kitts have pristine waters and coral reefs that visitors love to explore. Either from the water or certain vantage points on land, humpback, pilot, sperm and minke whales, spinner dolphins, and four species of sea turtles (Green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead) can be spotted. Tours can be arranged in season to carefully view newly hatched sea turtles making their way back to the sea from their nests on the land.

With such a wide variety of animal life, Nevis and Saint Kitts will certainly provide many enjoyable and rewarding experiences for the nature lover.