Close Encounters with the Critters of Barbados

Animal life on the small scale

“Do you want to see something?” a masculine voice called out.

If I had been in a big city, my first thought would have been that someone was attempting to scam me. Instead, I was on the island of Barbados, on the grounds of a beach-side hotel. The friendly voice belonged to the security guard stationed at the gate. Curious, I went over to meet him and discovered he had three baby turtles in his possession. They were chillin’ in a blue plastic bucket. The guard let me hold one, and instantly I became like a kid in a candy store — full of joy and wonder and pure excitement.

Much to the delight of tourists, the turtles nest and hatch along Barbados’ beaches. At the time of my August encounter with these cuties in the bucket, much of the hatching had already happened, though peak season lasts from mid-May to late October. By this late in the summer, the baby turtles that were found roaming the hotel property were few. These tiny and endangered stragglers were rescued by the hotel staff during the day, and released into the Caribbean Sea in the early evening, when they are at less risk of being snatched away by predators. I even had the privilege of watching two other baby turtles race from the shore into the sea at sunset. A group of us hotel guests stayed until we saw the little ones overcome the struggle of travelling on the sand and enter into the teal waters, where suddenly their natural swimming skills kicked in. They sped away, hopefully towards a happy life.

There are a number of other creatures that were readily found underfoot on the island. On my route to breakfast, I would leave my room to discover tiny crabs walking down the steps. The larger ones, I heard, are capable of snatching up baby turtles and carrying them away for their own meals.

What’s an island experience without a rooster ready to crow at dawn? Unfortunately, no early morning “cock-a-doodle-doo” was heard near the hotel where I resided, but I did discover a rooster and hen in Speightstown during an island tour.

The last critter I have photo evidence of encountering was likely the ominously named Black Witch Moth, also known as Ascalapha odorata. The nocturnal creature would relax in my hotel bathroom during the day and fly around at night — until I evicted it with the help of a hand towel.

Appearing bat-like, the wings of the female moth can span up to 24 cm and the male wings can reach to 12 cm in length — if Wikipedia is to be believed. In addition to the Caribbean, this black and brown moth can be found from the southern United States and Central America to parts of South America.

And now that this winged creature has sufficiently spooked me, let me share a bit more joy. See below for another baby turtle video.

Often, when travelling, it is the larger creatures that easily catch our attention. Yet, there remains so much life on the smaller scale.

For more critters in the wild, you can read about red crabs on Christmas Island, written by Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages, and check out Adrienne Beaumont’s encounters with turtles on Pescador Island:

Wishing you safe travels, folks!