Isla de Ratones (Ponce, Puerto Rico)

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Ratones
Native name:
Isla de Ratones
Isla Ratones (vista desde el Hotel Ponce Holiday Inn), Ponce, PR (DSC05629).jpg
Isla Ratones, as seen from Barrio Canas, Ponce, PR
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Ratones
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Ratones
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Ratones
Geography
Location Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates 17°57′18″N66°40′53″W / 17.95500°N 66.68139°W / 17.95500; -66.68139 Coordinates: 17°57′18″N66°40′53″W / 17.95500°N 66.68139°W / 17.95500; -66.68139
Area0.03 km2 (0.012 sq mi)
Administration
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
Municipality Ponce
Barrio Playa
Demographics
Population0

Isla de Ratones (Spanish for mice island) is a small uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico, off the coast of Ponce. The island is part of barrio Canas in the municipality of Ponce. [1] [2] The island gained attention in 2010 when the Puerto Rican Bird Society made it a target for the eradication of the black rat. While named as one single island, it is actually composed of two islands separated by a few feet of shallow water during high tide, which become a single island at low tide.

Contents

Location

The island, sometimes erroneously considered a key (or cay), [3] is located 0.62 mi (1.0 km) south of the mainland Puerto Rican shore across from Punta Cucharas in barrio Canas. [4] [5] The island has an area of 6.94 cuerdas [6] (one cuerda equals 0.97 acres [7] ) It is located at latitude 17.95500° and longitude -66.68139°. [8] The short distance from the mainland shore makes Ratones a popular landing point for aquatic events such as kayaking. [9] Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Morrillito, Cardona, Isla del Frio, and Isla de Jueyes, Ratones is one of seven islands in the municipality of Ponce. [10] [11]

Geography and climate

The island is a small low island covered mostly by brushwood. [12] The climate is dry and the island supports dry forest. While named as one single island, it is actually composed of two islands separated by a few feet of shallow water during high tide, which become a single island at low time. [13] [14] At low tide the size of the island increases from 6.94 cuerdas [15] (one cuerda equals 0.97 acres [16] ) to 12.35 acres. [17] This low-tide size makes Isla de Ratones about 50% larger than the more prominent Cardona which, at 8.71 acres (3.52 ha), is home to the Cardona Island Light and is located 2.96 miles (4.77 kilometers) to the east. [18]

Origin of the name

The name Ratones, which translates into "mice", comes from the large number of rodents found in the island. In 2010, the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Bird Society) and the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club launched a campaign to eradicate the black rat from the Island. [19]

Nature reserve

Though not officially a nature reserve, the island is administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Puerto Rico–related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Serrallés Colón</span> Puerto Rican industrialist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caja de Muertos</span> Island on southern coast of Puerto Rico

Caja de Muertos is an uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico, in the municipality of Ponce. The island and its surrounding waters are protected by the Caja de Muertos Nature Reserve, because of its native turtle traffic and ecological value of its dry forests and reefs. Hikers and beachgoers are often seen in the island, which can be reached by ferry from the La Guancha Boardwalk sector of Ponce Playa. Together with Cardona, Ratones, Morrillito, Isla del Frio, Gatas, and Isla de Jueyes, Caja de Muertos is one of seven islands ascribed to the municipality of Ponce.

<i>Anolis cristatellus</i> Species of reptile

Anolis cristatellus is a small species of anole, belonging to the Dactyloidae family of reptiles, which is native to Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, with introduced populations in locations around the Caribbean. The males of A. cristatellus are easily recognizable by the fin running down the top of the tail, which is known as a "caudal crest". The females also have these crests, but these are smaller than those of the males. It is often quite common in many areas on Puerto Rico, where it can be seen during the day passing the time on the lower parts of tree trunks, or on fences and the walls of buildings in urban areas, sometimes venturing down onto the ground in order to lay eggs, have a snack, or do other cursorial activities. Like many anoles, this species displays the characteristic behaviour of doing push-ups as well as inflating a pizza-like flap of coloured skin on their throat, known as a dewlap, in order to show others how hip they are, and thus attract mates or intimidate rivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña</span> Music history museum in Ponce, Puerto Rico

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casa Serrallés</span> Historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morrillito</span> Uninhabited island of Puerto Rico

Morrillito is a small uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The island is protected by the Reserva Natural Caja de Muertos natural reserve because of its native turtle traffic. Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Ratones, Cardona, Isla del Frio, and Isla de Jueyes, Morrillito is one of seven islands ascribed to the municipality of Ponce.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatas (Ponce)</span> Small island of Ponce, Puerto Rico

Gatas or, more commonly, Isla de Gatas, is a small island in barrio Playa in the municipality of Ponce in southern Puerto Rico. A tied island since the 1950s connected to the Puerto Rico mainland via a tombolo, Isla de Gatas is home to Club Náutico de Ponce, a private sports complex. It is located south of La Guancha and the Port of Ponce. Together with Caja de Muertos, Morrillito, Ratones, Cardona, Isla del Frio, and Isla de Jueyes, Gatas is one of seven islands in the municipality of Ponce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isla Cardona</span> Uninhabited island of Ponce, Puerto Rico

Isla Cardona, also known as Sor Isolina Ferré Island, is a small, uninhabited island located 1.30 nautical miles south of the mainland Puerto Rican shore across from Barrio Playa, on the west side of the entrance to the harbor of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The small island is considered part of barrio Playa. It is home to the 1889 Cardona Island Light, which is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Morrillito, Ratones, Isla del Frio, and Isla de Jueyes, Cardona is one of seven islands ascribed to the municipality of Ponce. The island gained notoriety in 2010 when the Puerto Rican Bird Society made it a target for the eradication of the black rat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isla de Jueyes</span> Uninhabited islands of Puerto Rico

Isla de Jueyes are a group of three small uninhabited islands off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Morrillito, Ratones, Cardona, and Isla del Frío, Isla de Jueyes is one of seven islands ascribed to the municipality of Ponce. At an area of just 2.89 cuerdas, they are also the smallest of these seven islands. Like Isla del Frío, the islands are considered part of barrio Vayas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centro Español de Ponce</span> Historic structure located in Ponce, Puerto Rico

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruce a Nado Internacional</span> Yearly international swimming competition that takes place at Bahía de Ponce

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas</span> Nature reserve in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas is a nature reserve in Barrio Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico. It consists of both a land area component as well as an offshore marine area. The land component has an area of 698 cuerdas while the marine component has an expanse of 3,516 cuerdas, for a total area of 4,214 cuerdas. The Reserve consists of mangrove ecosystems, coastal sand dunes, a saline lagoon known as Laguna Las Salinas, open water, and a century-old local community. The lagoon occupies and area of 347,898 m2 Ecological protection is managed and enforced by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Eight activities are allowed at the Reserve: scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking, sun bathing, photography, bird watching and canoeing. Activities prohibited are: Camping, crabbing/trapping, horseback riding, water crafting, and hunting. Pets, ATVs, and fireplaces are also prohibited.

Flavius Dede was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1 January 1850 to 31 March 1850.

Manuel Cedeño de Poveda was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from January 1851 to 23 April 1851.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahía de Ponce</span> Bay in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Bahía de Ponce is a bay in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The Bay is home to the most important commercial harbor on the Puerto Rico south coast and the second largest in Puerto Rico. The Cardona Island Light is located on the Bay to mark the way into the Bay from the nearby Caja de Muertos Light.

References

  1. ↑ Municipios, Municipio Subdivisions, Subbarrios, and Places - Section 14. U. S. Census Bureau. Census 2000. "Puerto Rico 2000: Population and Housing Unit Counts." Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Puerto Rico 2000: Population and Housing Unit Counts. U.S. Census Bureau.Publication Number PHC-3-53. Published November 2003. Page F-17. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  3. ↑ El Boricua, Puerto Rican 101, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Panorama histórico forestal de Puerto Rico, Carlos Domínguez Cristóbal, p.393, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  5. ↑ West Indies Pilot, Volume 1, United States Hydrographic Office, p.599, Fourth Edition: 1922, retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. ↑ Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce. Second Edition. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 2002. Page 9. Printed by Impress Quality Printing, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
  7. ↑ UnitConversion.org, retrieved 29 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Isla de Ratones, Traveling Luck, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  9. ↑ Kayaking to Cayo Ratones in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Eduardohv, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  10. ↑ Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce, Second Edition, Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, 2002, p.9. Printed by Impress Quality Printing, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
  11. ↑ CityMelt, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  12. ↑ West Indies Pilot, Volume 1, United States Hydrographic Office, p.599, Fourth Edition: 1922, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  13. ↑ Hurricane Havens Handbook for the North Atlantic Ocean, United States Navy, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  14. ↑ Bookletchart: Bahia de Ponce and Approaches Archived 2011-04-28 at the Wayback Machine , U.S. Navy, Chart number 8, retrieved 30 April 2011.
  15. ↑ Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce, Second Edition, Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, 2002, p.9. Printed by Impress Quality Printing, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
  16. ↑ UnitConversion.org retrieved 29 April 2011.
  17. ↑ Restauran hábitat del lagartijo del seco Anolis cooki en la Isla de Cardona y Cayo Ratones, BirdLife International, 4 August 2010, retrieved 3 May 2011.
  18. ↑ Restauran hábitat del lagartijo del seco Anolis cooki en la Isla de Cardona y Cayo Ratones, BirdLife International, 4 August 2010, retrieved 3 May 2011.
  19. ↑ Restauran hábitat del lagartijo del seco Anolis cooki en la Isla de Cardona y Cayo Ratones, 4 August 2010, retrieved 26 April 2011.
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