Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Map showing the location of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Map of Texas

Location Cameron / Willacy counties, Texas, United States
Nearest city Harlingen, Texas
Coordinates 26°17′01″N 97°23′06″W / 26.28361°N 97.38500°W / 26.28361; -97.38500Coordinates: 26°17′01″N 97°23′06″W / 26.28361°N 97.38500°W / 26.28361; -97.38500
Area 65,096 acres (263.43 km2)[1]
Established 29 March 1946[1]
Visitors +200,000 (in 2003)
Governing body United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Website Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The 98,000-acre (400 km2) refuge is located almost entirely in Cameron County, Texas (near Harlingen), although a very small part of its northernmost point extends into southern Willacy County.[2] 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; today, it is home to 40 pairs. Nine other endangered or threatened species inhabit the refuge, such as the Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) and Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli), rare wild cats.[3] Programs at the refuge include vegetation and wetland restoration.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Texas GEMS - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LANWR)". Texas Gulf Ecological Management Sites. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2003-05-07. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  2. Map of Laguna Atascosa NWR Maptech
  3. "Endangered Species". Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  4. "Management". Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
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