Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to one of the largest protected habitats in the Rio Grande Valley, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge located on the Texas Gulf Coast not far from the Mexican border. Refuge History: One of the first known white men to visit the land that is now Laguna Atascoca National Wildlife Refuge was the Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda who arrived in the Rio Grande Valley in 1519. When he came, the landscape was very different from what it is today and consisted of over 3 million acres of coastal praries and brushlands abundant with wildlife. In the 19th and 20th centuries agricultural brought many dramatic changes to the landscape. Over 95% of the original vegetation has disappeared. Wildlife: This unique landscape is a blend of desert, coastal, temperate, and subtropical habitats and helps protect the home of many wild animalsvand is world famous for it’s birds. Some of the animals who call this place home include Texas tortoises, ocelots, white alligators, ducks, roadrunners, cactus wrens, egrets, spoonbills, and many others. Please treat their home with respect. For the lover of the outdoors this refuge boasts spectacular bird-watching opportunities and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!