Known as the last great habitat in south Texas, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) supports a diversity of wildlife unlike anywhere else in the United States.
A dense entanglement of thorns, home to the endangered ocelot, eases its way into an open prairie landscape where white-tailed deer can be found browsing. A look above often produces a silhouette of an aplomado falcon on the hunt. In the fall, a million redhead ducks can be seen replenishing themselves on the fresh waters of the Laguna Atascosa, for which the Refuge was named. Across the mainland, over the Laguna Madre and onto South Padre Island, the Laguna Atascosa NWR provides important habitat for nesting sea turtles, clapper rails, blue crab, and many other species.
Established in 1946, the 88,000 acre Refuge is home to more documented species of birds than any other National Wildlife Refuge in the United States.
The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge released its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA). The CCP/EA directs refuge management for the next 15 years. It determines the long-term guidance for management decisions and sets forth goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes. It helps establish the Service's best estimate of future needs for the refuge. Public meetings were held in Harlingen, Port Isabel, Raymondville and Brownsville. The public was able to provide comments regarding the management of the refuge at these meetings. For more information regarding the CCP or to obtain a copy, please contact the reufgeat (956)748-3607.
Santa Ana NWR Laguna Atascosa NWR Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR
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