Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a wildlife conservation area along the coast of Texas (USA), west of the town of High Island, Texas
. It borders East Bay, part of the Galveston Bay
complex, behind Bolivar Peninsula at the Gulf of Mexico
.
Established in 1963, this wildlife refuge is located on the upper Texas Coast in Chambers County. The refuge protects approximately 34000 acres (137.6 km²) of coastal marsh
and prairies
. The refuge offers opportunities for fishing, waterfowl hunting, paddling, and wildlife viewing. A large network of volunteers contributes thousands of hours in support of the refuge.
In the winter, the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge hosts large concentrations of waterfowl
making it a popular site for public hunting.
Other signature species are American Alligator
, Bobcat
, Yellow Rail
, and Purple Gallinule
.
Birdwatchers find the refuge an excellent place to observe neotropical migrants in the spring and the fall. Other species sought by birdwatchers include American Bittern
, Seaside Sparrow
, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, and Black Rail
.
Volunteers have been working to compile a butterfly
list for the refuge. Over sixty species have been identified, including the extremely localized Bay Skipper (Euphyes
bayensis
).
Recent projects to enhance and restore the habitat at the refuge include control of invasive species
like Chinese Tallow, prairie restoration, creation of moist soil areas, and a colonial
waterbird rookery
.
Three other national wildlife refuges on the Texas coast - Brazoria
, San Bernard
and Big Boggy
- form a vital complex of coastal wetlands harboring more than 300 bird species.
Anahuac NWR is one of more than 540 refuges that comprise the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System
, a national network of lands and waters set aside for the benefit of wildlife. It has been designated as a site of international importance to shorebirds by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
(WHSRN). The refuge is designated as part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
, a network of trails and wildlife viewing sites established by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
.
High Island, Texas
High Island is an unincorporated area located in the Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place, Galveston County, Texas, United States. The community is located in the extreme eastern part of the county on Bolivar Peninsula, less than one mile from Chambers County and less than two miles from...
. It borders East Bay, part of the Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along the upper coast of Texas in the United States. It is connected to the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by sub-tropic marshes and prairies on the mainland. The water in the Bay is a complex mixture of sea water and fresh water which supports a wide...
complex, behind Bolivar Peninsula at the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
Established in 1963, this wildlife refuge is located on the upper Texas Coast in Chambers County. The refuge protects approximately 34000 acres (137.6 km²) of coastal marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
and prairies
Western Gulf coastal grasslands
The Western Gulf coastal grasslands are a subtropical grassland ecoregion of the southern United States and northeastern Mexico. It is known in Texas as "Coastal Prairie" and as the Tamaulipan pastizal in Mexico.-Setting:...
. The refuge offers opportunities for fishing, waterfowl hunting, paddling, and wildlife viewing. A large network of volunteers contributes thousands of hours in support of the refuge.
In the winter, the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge hosts large concentrations of waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
making it a popular site for public hunting.
Other signature species are American Alligator
American Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
, Bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, Yellow Rail
Yellow Rail
The Yellow Rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis, is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.Adults have brown upperparts streaked with black, a yellowish-brown breast, a light belly and barred flanks. The short thick dark bill turns yellow in males during the breeding season. The feathers on the back...
, and Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule is an alternative name for two species of birds in the rail family. It can refer to:* Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio of the Old World* American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica of the New World...
.
Birdwatchers find the refuge an excellent place to observe neotropical migrants in the spring and the fall. Other species sought by birdwatchers include American Bittern
American Bittern
The American Bittern is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. New evidence has led the American Ornithologists' Union to move the heron family into the order Pelecaniformes .-Description:...
, Seaside Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
The Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus, is a small American sparrow. The 11 Ammodramus species inhabit marshes and grasslands.Adults have brownish upperparts with grey on the crown and nape, and a grayish buff colored breast with dark streaks; they have a dark face with grey cheeks, a white...
, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, and Black Rail
Black Rail
The Black Rail is a mouse-sized member of the Rallidae family of birds. It is found in scattered parts of North America and the Pacific region of South America, usually in coastal salt marshes but also in some freshwater marshes. It is extinct or threatened in many locations due to habitat loss...
.
Volunteers have been working to compile a butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
list for the refuge. Over sixty species have been identified, including the extremely localized Bay Skipper (Euphyes
Euphyes
The Euphyes is genus of North American butterfly of the Hesperiidae family , subfamily Hesperiinae .-Species:Listed alphabetically within groups.* Group peneia:...
bayensis
Euphyes bayensis
The Bay Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in coastal Mississippi.The wingspan is 37-44 mm. Adults feed on flower nectar....
).
Recent projects to enhance and restore the habitat at the refuge include control of invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
like Chinese Tallow, prairie restoration, creation of moist soil areas, and a colonial
Bird colony
A bird colony is a large congregation of individuals of one or more species of bird that nest or roost in close proximity at a particular location. Many kinds of birds are known to congregate in groups of varying size; a congregation of nesting birds is called a breeding colony...
waterbird rookery
Rookery
A rookery is a colony of breeding animals, generally birds. A rook is a Northern European and Central Asian member of the crow family, which nest in prominent colonies at the tops of trees. The term is applied to the nesting place of birds, such as crows and rooks, the source of the term...
.
Three other national wildlife refuges on the Texas coast - Brazoria
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
The Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife conservation area along the coast of Texas , east of the towns of Angleton and Lake Jackson, Texas...
, San Bernard
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
The San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife conservation area along the coast of Texas , south of the towns of Sweeny and Brazoria, Texas. It encloses a bay behind a barrier island at the Gulf of Mexico...
and Big Boggy
Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge
The Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife conservation area along the coast of Texas in southeastern Matagorda County, south of the towns of Bay City and Wadsworth. It borders a bay behind a barrier island at the Gulf of Mexico. Established in 1983 and encompasses 5,000 acres of salt...
- form a vital complex of coastal wetlands harboring more than 300 bird species.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
, a national network of lands and waters set aside for the benefit of wildlife. It has been designated as a site of international importance to shorebirds by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network is a conservation strategy targeting shorebirds in the Americas launched in 1985. Its aim is to protect the nesting, breeding and staging habitats of migratory shorebirds...
(WHSRN). The refuge is designated as part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail is a state-designated system of trails, bird sanctuaries, and nature preserves along the entire length of the Texas Gulf Coast in the United States. As the state of Texas hosts more bird species than any other in the U.S. the trail system offers some of the...
, a network of trails and wildlife viewing sites established by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas...
.