North America Wetlands Study Finds Hidden Wildlife in USVI Mangroves, Warns of Climate Threat

A continent-spanning study that included Magens Bay on St. Thomas found that coastal wetlands support a much broader range of wildlife than many people realize, while also warning that rising seas and more frequent flooding could reduce the value of those habitats over time. The research, led by the National Estuarine Research Reserve System in collaboration with University of the Virgin Islands researchers Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes and Allie Durdall, used motion-activated cameras across sites from Alaska to Hawaiʻi, Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to document how mammals, birds, and reptiles use wetlands, often in ways rarely seen by people. The study was funded by the NERRS Science Collaborative, which supports community-driven science aimed at protecting communities, ecosystems, and economies along the nation’s coasts. Magens Bay was one of three island locations represented in the project, which included 32 sites in total. Using 109 motion-activated cameras, researchers rec...