As part of the Flags Across America initiative for America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is sharing stories from the places where our commemorative flags have traveled. From historic hatcheries to vibrant refuges, each stop celebrates conservation as an enduring American value. Join us as we highlight the lands, waters, and wildlife that connect our nation’s past, present, and future.
Perched on the northwestern tip of Guam, Guam National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the most ecologically rich landscapes in the western Pacific. Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Archipelago, lying roughly 3,800 miles west of Honolulu and 1,500 miles south of Tokyo.
While the refuge is composed of three units, only the Ritidian Unit is open to the public. The Ritidian Unit, which encompasses an area known to the native Chamorro (CHamoru) people as Puntan Litekyan, is located on the northern tip of Guam and encompasses approximately 1,217 acres, including 385 terrestrial acres and 832 acres of submerged areas offshore. Litekyan is one of the original villages of the first people that settled Guam nearly 4,000 years ago and is highly regarded as sacred land to the local community. It is one of a few places for visitors to see valuable cultural resources, such as pottery shards and latte stones, that connect people to CHamoru heritage, and it is one of the most accessible.
Guam National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1993 and designated as critical habitat in 2004 for three of the six native species that had been listed as endangered in 1984. These include the fanihi (Mariana fruit bat), sihek (Guam kingfisher), and åga (Mariana crow). Today, the refuge plays a crucial role in restoring native habitats, managing invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , and building partnerships that sustain both wildlife and community resilience.
“Ritidian is a special place for everyone on island and becomes a special place for those who visit,” remarked Sam Sosa, acting refuge manager, Guam National Wildlife Refuge. “People come to the refuge to relax by the beach or hike through our limestone forest. It's a place where everyone can learn about the past while watching hundreds of butterflies take off or a monitor lizard basking on a leaning coconut tree.”
Life within the refuge is extraordinarily diverse and relies upon the help of volunteers, students, and partners to address conservation efforts. Along the coastline, the Ritidian Unit is a vital nesting ground for the endangered green sea turtle, whose tracks carve patterns in the sand each nesting season. Each month, volunteers help keep these important nesting areas clean by participating in beach clean-ups.
Additionally, citizen scientists across the Marianas help document the locations and status of breadfruit, fig, and burny bean trees across the island, which are an important source of sustenance for Guam’s fruit bat populations through the refuge’s ongoing Foraging Fanihi project. This data helps researchers understand where to plant new trees to support recovery efforts and illustrates how restoring wildlife populations often begins with understanding the plants that sustain them.
And with strong partnerships in place, Kupu members, University of Guam students, and volunteers work side‑by‑side removing invasive vines, repairing storm‑damaged fences, planting seedlings, and rebuilding a self‑sustaining limestone forest. These efforts are essential steps toward bringing native forest birds back to Guam once invasive predators like the brown tree snake can be controlled.
As conservation challenges grow, so does the need for conservation participation. The Guam National Wildlife Refuge welcomes volunteers, students and partners to help protect this extraordinary place for future generations. Whether you join a vine‑pulling day, contribute to citizen‑science projects like Foraging Fanihi, or support local conservation organizations, your involvement makes a meaningful difference.
Next up, we follow the flags to Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which is a registered Natural Landmark, under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of 1935. Stay tuned for the next chapter on this historic tour!
