Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (right center), west of High Island, along the coast of southeast Texas.

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 a bay 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 convert|34000|acre|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 and 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.

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.cite web
title=BigBoggy Refuge | author=FWS | publisher=FWS.gov
date=September 2008 | accessdate=2008-09-20
url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/anahuac/index.html]

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.cite web
title=San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
author=FWS | publisher=FWS.gov
date=September 2008 | accessdate=2008-09-20
url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/sanbern/index.html]

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.

Notes

References

* cite web
title=Anahuac Refuge | author=FWS | publisher=FWS.gov
date=September 2008 | accessdate=2008-09-20
url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/anahuac/index.html

External links

* [http://friendsofanahuacnwr.org/ Friends of Anahuac Refuge] .
* [http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/anahuac/index.html USFWS Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge] .