9
Location: Anegada
Everyone was a little slow getting up at 6:30 this morning, but we had lots to do and a tight schedule, so I rallied everyone out of their beds. Eggs and blueberry muffins were enough to get everyone to shake off their sleepiness and prepare for a long today. First, we gathered all of the equipment we needed and piled into Smoke and Hot Pocket. After a short, bouncy ride in the cab, we arrived at the Anegada Rock Iguana Rehabilitation Center. We started by tending to the small endangered creatures that Kelly, the herpetologist, helps maintain. We started by cleaning the young iguanas’ food and water dishes, and then refilled them.
Additionally, we cut up some tree branches to help decorate the cages. After a quick snack break, we gathered our materials, got changed into our long pants, and drove to a new area. Here we learned about the endangered Anegada iguanas, and how to identify one of their nests. We split into groups and fanned out into the shrubbery. Since there are only about 300-400 of the iguanas still existing, I was very excited when my group got to see a wild iguana for a second before it vanished into the brush. The other groups weren’t so lucky, but one group successfully discovered ten new iguana nests. After our long morning, lunch at a local restaurant provided much-needed relief. We also were given a chance to rest for an hour after lunch on a beautiful beach. It was pretty relaxing until a local pet goat caused some trouble. The good memories continued to form when we found out that we had to clean the boat in its entirety. We returned to Catalinaville and began the massive wipe-down, but it only took about an hour with everyone lending a hand. Shortly afterward, Kelly came to our boat for dinner, which consisted of chicken Caesar salad and risotto. It was the perfect finish to a cool, cloudy day filled with interesting experiences.