The 10 acres (4.0 ha) island consists primarily of deciduous forest with virtually no shrubs or herbaceous growth under the canopy.

[1] In the 19th century local tradition held that the island was the location of the buried treasure of Captain William Kidd, one of the best known pirates in history.

[2] Huckleberry Island provides an undisturbed upland environment for wildlife that is rare in coastal portions of the New York City metropolitan area.

The primary significance of the island is its use for nesting by large numbers of colonial waterbirds such as egrets and night herons.

This island is listed in the National Audubon Society 2002 Open Space Conservation Plan as a priority site under the project name Westchester Marine Corridor.