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Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The 120,000 acres (49,000 ha) refuge is located almost entirely in Cameron County, Texas, 25 mi (40 km) east of Harlingen,[2] although a very small part of its northernmost point extends into southern Willacy County.[3]

History

The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was created following World War II in 1946 to protect habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl, specifically redhead ducks (Aythya americana). [1][2]

By 2010, it had grown to encompass a total of 65,096 acres (26,343 ha) in a landscape of "an interspersed pattern of meandering resacas (oxbow lakes), lomas (brush-covered sand/clay dunes), coastal prairies, and wetlands."[2]

Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) with tracking caller, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

In January 2024, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced a proposal to add 477 acres (1.93 km2) to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge via a swap of land currently owned by SpaceX, in order to allow SpaceX to become the owner of 43 acres (17 ha) of Boca Chica State Park land to expand their existing rocket launch facility at SpaceX Starbase.[4][5]

Fauna

The Peregrine Fund began reintroducing captive-bred northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) to the refuge in 1985, which had been nearly extirpated from the Southwestern United States; by 2009, it was home to 26 pair.[original research?]

Nine other endangered or threatened species inhabit the refuge, such as the Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) and (formerly) the Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), rare wild cats.[6]

Spanish Dagger (Yucca treculeana) at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron County, Texas, USA (12 April 2016)

Botany and ecology

Programs at the refuge include vegetation and wetland restoration.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, About Us. US Fish and Wildlife Service (accessed 20 January 2024)
  2. ^ a b c d "Texas GEMS - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LANWR)". Texas Gulf Ecological Management Sites. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2003-05-07. Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  3. ^ "Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge | Map". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  4. ^ TPWD to consider land swap with SpaceX at Boca Chica, 17 Jan 2024, myRGV.com news site.
  5. ^ "SpaceX requests 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park from Texas". 17 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Endangered Species". Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  7. ^ "Management". Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-12-29.

External links

Media related to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge at Wikimedia Commons


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Atascosa_National_Wildlife_Refuge