Chris Petersen, a natural resource specialist with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, fits a GPS harness equipped on an anesthetized hutia, colloquially known as a banana rat, at the Guantanamo Bay Veterinary Treatment Facility, April 13. The purpose of the GPS unit is to track the migration patterns of the local hutia population. The hutia, nicknamed 'Thor' during the procedure, will be tracked for the next three to four months before being recaptured to gather the information stored in the harness. The veterinary clinic serves primarily to treat the pets of service members and Department of Defense employees assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo and the naval station. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Nistas

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is the oldest overseas U.S. Naval base, the only base located in a country with which the U.S. does not maintain diplomatic relations, and is home to the Joint Task Force Guantanamo detention facility. All this information is easily found on the Internet, but there is another side to GTMO that is not as easily found by typing “Guantanamo Bay” into a search engine: The base is also a wildlife refuge, providing protection for a variety of fluffy and scaly creatures that do not have the chance to flourish on the rest of the island.

For the past 10 years, Dr. Peter Tolson, director of conservation and research at the Toledo Zoo, has been visiting Guantanamo Bay to conduct research on some of the reptile species that call the base home. His most recent trip focused on the Cuban Boa snake.

“We go out and catch wild Cuban Boas,” Tolson said. “We surgically insert a radio transmitter into their body cavity using the [Naval Station Guantanamo Bay] veterinary staff. We then follow those snakes as they roam throughout the habitat on the base.”

And roam they do. According to Tolson, the average range of an adult snake is approximately two square miles.

“The babies have about half an acre,” Tolson said. “As they grow they expand their range as they become sexually mature and start looking for mates.”

The radio transmitter inserted into the snakes includes a GPS unit and provides Tolson with information on where they go and how long they stay in one place. He uses this information to determine how the snakes interact with the humans who share the base with them. Tolson said one of his missions is to lessen the conflicts between the military and the wildlife here.

Another researcher working on helping humans and wildlife co-exist in Guantanamo is Chris Peterson, a natural resource specialist with Naval Facilities Atlantic. His research is similar to Tolson’s: he’s tracking one of GTMO’s more popular creatures, but he’s focusing on a more furry variety, the hutia. Hutia are large rodents that inhabit many Caribbean islands. The species found in GTMO is known locally as the banana rat, so named because their feces look like small bananas.

“There is an effort to control the hutia population when the numbers get too high,” Peterson said. “We’re trying, through the information provided with our study, to apply a little science to the control of the population here in Guantanamo Bay.”

Peterson said the process of controlling the population is not cut-and-dried. “For example, if we find that the activity range of a hutia is only a few square acres, maybe there’s not a need to control the population in areas that are greater than four acres outside the housing areas,” Peterson said. “The way we’re doing that is through a technique called radio telemetry.”

The process is similar to the work Tolson has done with the boas, only instead of inserting a transmitter into the body of the hutia it is placed around the hutia’s neck on a collar. Peterson said the transmitter emits a signal which he can pick up using a hand held radio receiver.

“It’s much like a radio station,” Peterson said. “Each transmitter has its own unique frequency.”

In addition to the radio telemetry technology, Peterson is using a mini GPS, which he said is instrumental in the field of wildlife study. It’s strapped to the back of a hutia and can be programmed to turn on at various intervals. The ones used in GTMO are programmed to provide a longitude and latitude reading every five hours for 60 days, which, according to Peterson, is how long it takes for the battery to die.

When the GPS unit is collected, it is connected to a computer and the information downloaded. Peterson uses the data to calculate an activity range.

“We’re getting a tremendous amount of data with little effort,” Peterson said. “If we didn’t have this GPS collar we’d have to send a biologist out daily.”

Peterson said that not only does the GPS collar mean less footwork, it also allows the tracking of the hutia during the night, which is when they are most active.

Research and conservation efforts effecting base wildlife are not confined to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. According to Tolson there are many programs on U.S. military bases throughout the world. He also pointed out that in many cases it is the very presence of the base that allows certain species to thrive.

The Cuban Boa and hutia research and tracking programs are ongoing projects made possible by a partnership between the U.S. Navy and the Toledo Zoo.

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Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane Arrington

A sea turtle is seen during a dive off Windmill Beach by service members of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. There are several species of sea turtles that can be found in the waters surrounding U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. They include the leatherback, loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles.

Whether it is on land, in the air or in the surrounding waters, all creatures big and small share the living space with service members and residents of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay – this is also true of sea turtles.

There are several species of sea turtles that can be found in the waters surrounding the naval station. They include the leatherback, loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles.

“Because of the unique position the base is in, we can see these turtles spawn year round,” said Mike McCord, U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay environmental director.

Service members and residents who take advantage of snorkeling or diving can see sea turtles on a regular basis. Some may even happen upon a nest of eggs or newly-hatched turtles while on the beach.

On Dec. 12, 2009, Jean Anderson, purchasing manager for Joint Task Force Guantanamo, walked up on some newly-hatched turtles before starting a night dive at Windmill Beach.

“It was so exciting and we were surprised at first,” Anderson said. “We saw them heading to the basketball court and helped them back to the water using a flashlight.”

Hatchlings find their way to the ocean by crawling toward the brightest horizon.

“They were thrown off course because the basketball court lights were on,” Anderson said. “When my dive partners and I started shining the flashlight toward the water, they turned and started to follow it in. It was really awesome to see.”

Service members and residents may not realize that all species of sea turtles are endangered and protected creatures.

“Around the world, fish and wildlife conservation commissions have regulations in place to protect sea turtles from catching them and harvesting their eggs,” McCord said.

Some of the biggest threats to the sea turtle population here in Guantanamo Bay, according to McCord, are traffic and light pollution on the beaches.

“People go to the beach to dive or to hang out. When they do, they tend to track through the nesting areas which destroys eggs,” McCord said. “People also leave the lights on in the cabanas at the beach when they leave.”

Another problem affecting the turtle population is harvesting of the eggs in the nests.

“During the 90s, when we had a large population of migrants here, our turtle population was affected because the migrants would go to the beaches and get the eggs and eat them,” McCord said.

Service members and residents may not realize they can help in the conservation of the sea turtle population here.

“The best way people can help is to keep a look out for turtle tracks on the beach and be aware of where they are traveling on the beach and to turn off all lights at the cabanas after using them,” McCord said. “We need to remember that most of us are visitors here and we want to protect the wildlife so others who come can enjoy it as well.”

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Story by Spc. April de Armas

Called the “Pearl of the Antilles,” Guantanamo Bay’s wonders are little-known to the rest of the world. Once a frequent port of call in Spanish colonial days, this community on the southeast corner of communist Cuba is now a closed port where only a few experience the beauty it has to offer.

One of the hidden beauties of Guantanamo Bay is Glass Beach. Nestled between Ferry Landing and Girl Scout Beach, this small stretch of sand and rock is cloaked in local legend. From pirate ships to long-dead Sailors, the stories abound to explain the namesake of this particular beach. Famous for the sea glass that washes up on the shore, Glass Beach is a favorite spot for anyone who appreciates these gems and who wants to get away from the inherent stressors of life on this particular island.

Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Johnston, director of public works for U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, is familiar with the stories about Glass Beach.

“Like so many things at Guantanamo, the lines between story and truth are somewhat hazy,” Johnston said. “Everyone wants to believe something exotic about the glass that washes up here. There isn’t a house in Guantanamo that doesn’t have a jar of sea glass from here on their windowsill.”

Johnston said one of the main stories involves the Enlisted Men’s Club that used to be located overlooking the beach. Known as the “White Hat Club,” because of the headgear worn by enlisted men in the early part of the 20th century, the recreational facility was a place for enlisted men to let off steam after a long day of work.

“It has been said that Sailors would chuck their empty bottles into the bay and this is what washes up on the beach now,” said Johnston. “Some bottles probably did end up in the drink, but not nearly enough to explain the volume of glass that washes up here.”

The true origin of the glass that gives the beach its name is something much less pleasant to the sensibilities of today.

“Prior to any sort of environmental awareness, the naval station used to dump trash directly into the bay,” Johnston said. “That, and the landfill just down from the beach. The waves from the bay and inclement weather loosen the old trash and wash it out into the bay with the rest. Eventually, it washes back up on the shore.”

The reason Glass Beach has the most glass on its shore lies in the way the land is shaped. The beach is set back a little from the rest of the shoreline and is protected from the rough waters.

“There is really no other place for glass to wash up,” said Johnston. “This beach is the only real place that sediment is able to remain on. This is due to a large storm drain that empties at this beach. The storm drain washes the sandy soil onto the shoreline here, creating the sandy beach and mixing with the sediments from the bay.”

While the sea glass that glistens in the sand of Glass Beach may not have the most romantic origins, it is unique in its sheer volume. Also known as “mermaid’s tears” or “lucky tears,” sea glass is rare in most places around the world. But, in Guantanamo Bay anyone can visit Glass Beach and take home a handful.

In his book, “Pure Sea Glass,” Richard LaMotte describes these semi-natural gems as “castaway glass” that has been naturally tumbled by sand and sea before washing ashore.

“Each piece is unique with its own story behind it, and can date from ancient times to the present,” LaMotte writes. “One can only imagine where the glass originated and how long it has been bobbing in the sea.”

Rebecca Bayless has spent much time combing the beaches for sea glass and fashioning it into wearable art.

“I never saw sea glass until I came here a few years ago,” Bayless said. “I was amazed at how pretty it was and began to learn about the different kinds of glass.”

Bayless said she has found even the rarest colors of sea glass on Glass Beach.

“Black is the most rare color world-wide,” Bayless said. “It dates from the mid to late 1800s, before the naval station. It is really green or purple glass that has darkened to almost black over time. The most likely origin of the black glass is probably rum bottles from the pirate ships that were known to be in this area.”

Here in Guantanamo Bay there are other colors of sea glass that are even less common, said Bayless.

“Here, I would say orange, yellow and red are the hardest to find. And then, of course, there is the coveted cobalt blue that you have to really look for,” Bayless said.

Bayless said she has seen an increased interest in sea glass from the time she first arrived on the island to the present.

“There used to be more,” Bayless said. “Since that time more people have become aware of the special nature of sea glass.”

Whether from pirate revels, tipsy Sailors, or the less-romantic trash dump into the bay, Glass Beach undoubtedly holds a beauty unique to Guantanamo Bay. It is a place alive with legend, that glitters when the sun hits it just right. Enjoyed by everyone on the island, the beach is part of what makes Guantanamo Bay the “Pearl of the Antilles.”

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Photo and story by Sgt. Emily Greene

From the wildlife around U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to some 350 pets on the base, and everything in between – they all see the Soldiers working at the Guantanamo Bay Veterinary Treatment Facility.

Treating all of these animals keeps the six personnel working in the facility busy, especially since they are also responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of all the food coming onto the island.

Combining veterinary services and food safety might not be a connection that is made easily, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture employs veterinarians to inspect food and plants and ensure food safety. The Army is also the only branch of the military to have veterinarians through the Army Veterinary Command which is a part of the Army Medical Command.

Another part of the facility’s responsibility is extended to military working dogs here. Their care and conditioning is a task that the veterinarian here on base, Army Capt. Stephanie Hall, takes seriously.

“Keeping the dogs in good condition is important,” said Hall, who is also the officer in-charge of the Veterinary Treatment Facility. “I work with their handlers to make sure their conditioning program is adequate and so they can identify conditions that relate to their [dogs’] health.”

Hall has specific days a week that are dedicated to handlers and the working dogs, but she also has regular hours to see the base’s privately owned animals, or pets.

Just like vet clinics at home, the Soldiers here make sure pets are up-to-date on all of their shots and see a trend on some things local pets are being treated for.

“Animals I see day-to-day have allergies from the environment down here that they didn’t have wherever they came from,” said Hall.

Along with the normal pets, the Soldiers here also treat the local wildlife such as iguanas when they need assistance.

When looking at the facility from the outside, it may look unassuming, but for the Soldiers working inside, it is a busy, multipurpose facility that treats animals for everything from routine check-ups to emergency situations.

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Story by Sgt. Gretel Sharpee

“It’s God’s work,” he said. “They may not realize it, but it is God’s work. God gave us the gift of freedom, and they are defending that gift.”

During the course of his career, Lt. Cmdr. Daniel McKay, a Navy chaplain, has seen three perspectives of the United States’ role in the Middle East and the war on terror.

From 1999 to 2000, while aboard the U.S.S. Lake Erie in the Persian Gulf, he saw the sanctions perspective against Iraq. From 2005 to 2006, while deployed with the 2nd Marines in ar Ramadi, Iraq, McKay saw the mission side in action.

And since July of 2007, he has seen the detainee operations aspect as the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion chaplain, and also the command chaplain for the Joint Task Force.

“It’s definitely a larger perspective on what we’re doing and how we’re doing it,” he acknowledged. “It’s a mission that has to be done, unfortunately.”

McKay is uniquely suited to serve as a chaplain in the JTF. He began his military career in the Air Force and, after entering the ministry, became an Army chaplain. He later switched to the Navy, with whom he has served two tours, as well as two with the Marines, and will head to Washington, D.C. to begin his second tour with the Coast Guard following the end of this deployment.

His responsibilities here are to provide oversight of all religious programs and ministries for JTF, while his religious program specialist, or RP, is solely responsible for filling religious item requests from detainees.

McKay leads Sunday Protestant services at Troopers Chapel. Troopers Chapel also offers a weekly Spanish Protestant service, two Catholic Mass celebrations, a Chapel Next service on Wednesday night, and until recently offered a Thursday night praise service. But making chapel schedules work for Troopers has been frustrating, he admitted. Declining attendance due to unyielding work schedules for JTF Troopers resulted in cancelling the Thursday service.

“The vast majority that work long hours, they just want to eat, go home and get some sleep,” McKay said. “You don’t go for numbers – you provide the best for those who show up.

“This is really what we call ‘deck-plate’ ministry,” he continued. “Get out and walk among those on the job during work hours.”

McKay emphasized that one of the most important services he offers to Troopers is complete confidentiality.

“What they say stays between us and God’s ears,” he said. “That’s our bread and butter – they can share what’s on their heart and mind.”

He observed that Troopers face similar stressors deployed here as well as in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“It’s hard to be forward deployed when you have issues at home,” he said, noting that he has personally found deployment to Guantanamo Bay more difficult than Iraq.

“Instead of being half a world away, I’m in the same time zone,” he explained.

McKay said that he is immensely proud of the overwhelming professionalism shown by Troopers on a daily basis.

“It’s God’s work,” he said. “They may not realize it, but it is God’s work. God gave us the gift of freedom, and they are defending that gift. They provide safe and humane care.

“(The Apostle) Paul tells about feeding your enemy, clothing your enemy,” McKay continued. “That’s what we do every day here. Those words have a deeper meaning to me now than if I had not seen what they do.”

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Story by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn Larson