Wildlife of the Month: The Mongoose

The mongoose isn’t native to the Virgin Islands, but because of the lack of predators, they have a thriving population. Ever since these little guys were brought here, they have become a nuisance to many people and indigenous species. Even though they have made a bad name for themselves over the years, they have become apart of the Virgin Island’s habitat. While you are visiting, you may see one or more of these mammals scurrying around trash looking for food, or hiding in small places. 

Mongooses can grow to be 1 to 3.5 feet long (including their tail), and have a ferret/weasel-like look to them. Their diet consists of a wide verity of insects, crabs, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs and rodents. They are responsible for eliminating 7 different types of species over the years, just in the Caribbean alone. They also are a big fan of eating out of the trash, so they spend most of their time near dumpsters. If you make a trip down to Magen’s Bay, there will be a good chance you’ll spot a few of them wondering around the parking lot!

The lifespans of a mongoose is roughly 4 years and they spend most of their time hiding. They breed 2-3 times a year and have an average of 3 babies. They can start mating at only 10 months and over their lifetime can have up to 36 babies!

The mongoose was brought to the islands way back in the 1800s. It was believed, at the time, if they were introduced to the habitat, they would get rid of the tree rats. Funny thing though, mongooses don’t climb trees, nor are they nocturnal, like the tree rats. Therefore the mongoose had no interest in hunting them down, and both the tree rats and the mongoose increased in number. 

After many years of dealing with the mongoose, we know there is no stopping them. All we can do is keep a close eye on them. Hopefully one day, we can all live in peace!

What Type of Tourist are You?

Everybody is unique in their own way, but when we are on vacation, there tends to be some common ground. No matter what kind of tourist you are, there is something for you in the Virgin Islands. After a few minutes of deliberation, I created three categories to define what kind of tourist you are. 

The Sight-Seer

The Adventurer

The Relaxer

The Sight-Seer
Your main reason to take a vacation is to sightsee!

If you are a sight-seer, you want to see everything that the island is known for. Another name for the sight-seer might be called the typical tourist. You’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to miss a second of your vacation and plan it to the T! That may include lists, pre-made reservations, and matching family T-shirts. You also aren’t afraid to sport a hawaiian T, and a camera at all times; you never want to miss out on a picture perfect moment! Even though you may get stressed at times if every things don’t go as planned, it was totally worth the headache and you can’t wait to start planning your next vacation! 

The Adventurer

Your main reason to go on vacation is to explore!

The name says it all, you live for adventure! Your ideal vacation would include getting dirty and discovering new things. You want to do more than just see, you want to experience everything the island has to offer. Even though you want to do everything and more, you don’t always have a plan written out. You rather just see where the wind takes you and sometimes it can blow you into a direction far beyond what you could have imagined. You may also like to capture the beauty of nature, and Instagram it when you get home. No shame in that! 

The Relaxer 
Your main reason to go on vacation is to relax!

Whether you work at a stressful job back home, or you just aren’t the outdoorsy type, you took a vacation for one reason… to unwind. When you planned your vacation, you didn’t need to draw up any plans because you already knew what you were going to do; bottomless mimosas on the beach, naps in a hammock and zero distractions from the outside world. You may get out and about for a small portion of your trip, but the highlight would be tranquility on the beach. 

No matter what kind of tourist you are, you are sure to enjoy St. Thomas or any one of the United States Virgin Islands. We have tons of sights to see, places to explore and beaches to relax at! Don’t forget to check out Tree Limin’ Extreme also! It has a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy. 

Romance in Ziplining

Honeymoons vary from couple to couple, but we've been noticing a new trend catching on lately...
ziplining. Who said that ziplining couldn't be romantic?! Just imagine, you're on top of a mountain, taking in the fantastic views as far as the eye can see, and you're sharing an experience of a lifetime with the love of your life. Isn't that what love is all about? Every day, we send up happy couples to endure ziplining for the first time together!

The only thing that could be considered more romantic than a honeymoon, is a proposal! On a few occasions, we've had the pleasure to assist with proposals up on the course. It's a wonderful place to make a life changing decision! And not to mention, the engagement pictures always turn out wonderfully. 

I mean... just check out this view!

So, if you're planning a honeymoon, or trying to plot the perfect engagement, keep Tree Limin' Extreme in mind! You'll be glad you did! Visit our website today to schedule your next adventure.

www.ziplinestthomas.com