Caribbean wildlife
 We nicknamed this gull "Shadow"
 because he followed us all over
 the Caribbean. You can see Mary
 Point behind him. This is Maho
 Bay / Francis Bay where our story
 begins.
When the sugar industry left St. John, the donkeys reverted to the wild.  They still wander St. John's trails
The Mongoose was brought to the Caribbean to kill the rats, But, while the Mongoose slept at nght, the rats were busy eating sugar cane.  In the daytime, while the rats rested in their holes, the Mongoose performed their comic act in garbage cans.
Because of the Mongoose, your hiking will be snake-free.
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In addition to its excitement and adventure,
"Caribbean Capers"
(ISBN 0964340720)
Contains many references to the animals, birds, and history of the Caribbean
  Petrographs like these are found all
  over the Caribbean.  On St John they
  can be seen on the Reef Bay Trail.
  That hike is worth you time!  We didn't
  include them in our adventure, perhaps
  next time!
 
  The Iguana is a familiar friend. If you
   wander near the mangroves, you may be
   startled to find him hanging from a tree
   above you.  They are not dangerous but
  should not be handled. 
NPS - St John Bordeaux Mountain is the tallest mountain on St. John. We enjoy climbing from Leinster Bay over to Coral Bay. On the way, we usually stop to look at the ruins. From Leinster bay they are almost invisible; but, hidden in the brush half way up the hill, there's a small ruin with a large oven. The oven forms a perfect arch and, with a little sure-footed maneuvering, you can get great pictures with the bay framed in ancient stone.
Further up the Johnny Horn Trail, a narrow cleared path veers to the left. This small trail leads to the old mansion described in "Caribbean Capers." There are several theories about this ruin. Some say it was the home of the owner of Annaberg across the bay. Others think that it was sort of a reformatory for boys. (Although it appears to be too small for the latter use.) It could also have been a small fort. 
There are many trails on St John. The US Park Service maintains most of them. A map and description can be obtained from their site: http://www.nps.gov/viis/VIIS/index.html
The Frigate
With a windspan of up to 12',
the "pirate bird" of the Caribbean
soars on the rising wind,
stealing food from other birds.
We almost named our book, "The Frigate" because it deals with modern piracy (of dinghies and submarines)
  Hundreds of plantation ruins dot
  St John.  Recent satellite pictures
  have revealed more of the ruins and
  old Danish roads hidden in the brush.
  These findings present great
  opportunities  for exploration.
  This ruin lies just off the path at
  the end of Leinster Bay and are
  part of the story in "Caribbean Capers."

  The waters of St. John teem with wildlife.
  A pair of fins and a dive mask will take you
  into an underwater realm of wonder and
  beauty.  Even a novice snorkler can visit
  this turtle and his friends in the shallows
  of Maho or Francis Bay.