Dog Island

Dog Island lies about thirteen kilometres northwest of Anguilla, uninhabited and low, and it carries one of the largest seabird colonies in the Caribbean: sooty terns in very large numbers, along with brown noddies, boobies and tropicbirds. Rats were eradicated from the island in the 2010s and the colonies have grown since. Landing is restricted to protect the nesting and most visits stay offshore. The island covers around two hundred hectares and has never been permanently settled.

What you'll find

• The sooty tern colony - one of the largest concentrations in the Caribbean.
• The other seabirds - noddies, boobies and tropicbirds nesting alongside.
• The rat eradication - the programme that let the colonies recover.
• The uninhabited island - low ground with nothing built on it.

When to go

December to April is the dry season; the tern colony peaks around May to July. Boats are cancelled in swell. Hurricane season runs June to November.

What to expect

Landing is restricted during nesting and permission is needed. Access is by chartered boat with no scheduled service. There are no facilities and no shade on the island.

Nearby

Prickly Pear is east, and Anguilla is southeast.