Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to protect the vanishing wildlife of coastal Texas. It is an ever-changing land and is still being shaped by the waters and storms of the Gulf of Mexico.

This 54,829 acre refuge occupies the Blackjack Peninsula, named for its scattered blackjack oaks. Grasslands, live oaks and red bay thickets cover deep, sandy soils. Ringed by tidal marches and broken by long, narrow ponds, Aransas is home for cranes, alligators, deer and many other species of wildlife.

Why Are The Birds Here?Strong winds push the bay waters over low-lying shores, forming tidal marshes among the short, salt-tolerant vegetation. It is this habitat that attracts thousands of migratory birds. On their journey between North and Central America, warblers concentrate on the refuge from mid April to early May. Mild winters, by waters and abundant food supplies attract over 389 bird species to Aransas, including pelicans, egrets, spoonbills, ducks and geese.

The winter home of the endangered whooping crane is in these same saltwater marches.

The number of cranes has increased tenfold from a low of 15 birds in 1941. Productive tidal flats provide clams and crabs for the whoopers to eat.

However, this habitat is not visible from refuge roads. For a closer look, commercially operated boat tours depart from Rockport.

Moving inland, the water changes from salty flats to freshwater ponds. These ponds teem with life. Created by rain and ranging in size from puddles to lakes, these areas are a haven for alligators, turtles, frogs, snakes and birds.

Meadows and MottesSlight changes in elevation help determine what plant communities exist. Rising above the marches, grasslands are dominated by bluestem and other prairie grasses.

Today, through controlled burning, these areas are preserved and protected from invading scrub species.

Mottes of live oak and red bay growing in old sand dunes are stunted and shaped by prevailing Gulf winds.

These thickets form dense cover, providing shelter for deer, javelina, and feral hogs. Predators stalking the mottes are coyote, bobcat, and raccoon.

The pirate, Jean Lafitte, is reputed to have disbanded his crew here and buried "enough treasure in those woods to ransom a nation."

The Refuge Is For People TooYou will find the refuge to be an excellent place for looking at wildlife and plants. The following facilities are available for visitors:

A paved tour road.
A wildlife interpretive center museum.
An observation tower.
Several miles of walking trails.
A picnic area.

During your visit, we ask that you observe the following:

Daily registration is required of all visitors.
Wildlife Interpretive Center is open daily 8:30AM-4:30PM.
There is no public camping on the refuge.
Mosquito repellant is recommended.
Pets must be leashed.
Poisonous snakes are present, watch your step.
For more information on environmental education, wildlife or other
activities, write the refuge manager.
Please observe speed limits and watch for wildlife crossing roadways.

There are no facilities on the refuge to provide food or gas. Gas is available in Austwell or Tivoli (14 miles). Food, motels and campgrounds can be found 35 miles away in Rockport and Port Lavaca.

Please note: The refuge opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.

WHOOPING CRANESOne of the rarest creatures in North America, the whooping crane is currently making a comeback in numbers. Here's how you can view them:

When: whoopers are present at Aransas from late October until mid April. The rest of the year they are in Canada.

Where & How: at the refuge, they can be seen from the Observation Tower, but not on all visits. Inquire about commercial boats from Rockport.

Whooping cranes can sometimes be seen from the fishing pier at Goose Island State Park.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is under management by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information, including checklists of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, call or write:

Refuge Manager
Aransas, N.W.R.
P.O. Box 100
Austwell, TX 77950
361-286-3559

IMPORTANT:FEEDING WILDLIFE IS PROHIBITED!

By feeding the wildlife you are creating unhealthy and unsafe conditions for both you and the animals.

Visit the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's page about the Aransas Wildlife Refuge