Link to the Official Refuge Website - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
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 97,007 acre Refuge is home to more documented species of birds than any other National Wildlife Refuge in the United States.
Recent News
2013 Kemp's Ridley Nesting Season - As of 7/5/2013, 37 nests have been found on South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beaches.
Sea Turtles South Padre Island is one of the only nesting beaches in the world for the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Sea Turtle, Inc. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partner in the conservation efforts for the Kemp's ridley on the South Padre Island & Boca Chica beachs annually. The nesting season typically begins in early April and continues into August. We offer public releases of hatchlings mostly in the months of June, July & August. To find out when there is a scheduled publichatchling release, please call the Hatchling Hotline at(956) 433-5735. If a sea turtle or tracks are seen on the beach please contact Sea Turtle Inc (956)761-4511, or Laguna Atascosa (956) 748-3607 or (956) 784-7520 at once.
Ocelots From November 18, 2009 to February 15, 2010 biologists used paired camera traps to photograph ocelots in Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding area. The following are the results Abstract.
15 Year Plan 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.
Youth Conservation Corps Information YCC Brochure YCC Application
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