What better way to spend a Saturday at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge than rooting around in the leaf litter of sea grape trees for a two-inch-short gecko?

That was the idea driving some 16 dedicated wildlife lovers hunting the elusive St. Croix dwarf gecko in the Reptile Ramble sponsored by the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA). The ramble, part of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s “Do One Thing for Wildlife” initiative, was led by wildlife biologist Jennifer Valiulis.

Before the ramble got under way, she also talked about characteristics and features of the leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles. One participant mentioned seeing more iguanas over the years on the island. Valiulis said they aren’t native but they may have come from South America.

There weren’t a lot of reptiles spotted since it was gray and cloudy, not the perfect weather for viewing ectothermic reptiles that love sunbathing. Valiulis said not to worry — plenty of lizards can be found in residents’ own back yards.

Valiulis told the group about the St. Croix anole, found only on St. Croix, distinguishable by the yellow dewlap under its chin that it fans out for mating. “If a female St. Croix anole sees a red dewlap, she says forget it – I’m not interested,” said Valiulis with a chuckle. Only a yellow dewlap will do.

The endangered St. Croix ground lizard was last seen on the island of St. Croix proper in the 1960s, though it is still living on Protestant Cay in Christiansted Harbor. The lizard is protected from predators on the cay, and Hotel on the Cay employees are keeping an eye on the lizard. Valiulis said the lizard also has been introduced on Buck Island and Green Cay.

One youngster, Emerson Zumwalt, did spot a tiny lizard under leaves but Valiulis wasn’t able to identify it because it took off in a big hurry.

Valiulis passed around a specimen in a jar of the only native snake the tiny St. Croix snake that looks like an earthworm with scales.

“I think these programs are just wonderful,” snowbird Linda Finch said. “We meet the nicest people on the hikes too.”