Wild Things - The Coconut Chronicles: Two Guys, One Caribbean Dream House - page 202

Goat-kids out for a walk
One of Vieques' most enchanting auditory experiences is brought to you courtesy of
the island's teeming frog population, most notably coquis , which are the national symbol
of Puerto Rico. These tiny frogs enliven the night with their double-note chirp that sounds,
perhaps not coincidentally, like “ko-kee.”
Visitors become so enthralled with the call of the coqui that they sometimes buy small
devices at the San Juan airport reproducing the coqui sound on an endless loop. I've never
bought one, though it might be just the thing to warm up a snowy night in D.C.
Some local creatures aren't quite so endearing. Standing on our balcony at night we can
see (and occasionally hear) bats hurtling from tree to tree. For such a small place, the island
is home to lots of different kinds of bats, including highly-specialized types such as “single
leaf” and “brown flower” varieties.
Surprisingly, bats are the only terrestrial mammals native to Puerto Rico (all other spe-
cies were introduced by humans, including cats, goats, sheep and mongooses). Some bats
eat fruit. A few eat fish—yes, fish. Nearly all of them eat insects, which prevents the is-
land's human inhabitants from being carried away bodily by mosquitoes. Oh, and the bats
also pollinate flowers. They're hard-working little buggers.
Speaking of insects, the island has zillions of different kinds, some of them fairly intim-
idating. We saw a big, hairy tarantula strolling his way across our driveway one day with a
slightly self-conscious air.