ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AUSTWELL, TEXAS Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is on a broad peninsula between San Antonio Bay and St. Charles Bay, overlooking Matagorda Island and the Gulf of Mex­ ico. Refuge headquarters is southeast of Austwell, and within easy driving distance of Corpus Christi, Port Lavaca, Rockport, and Refugio. Established in 1937, this refuge is administered by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 47,261-acre refuge consists of bays, tidal flats, marshes, and sandy higher ground broken by long, WHITE-TAILED DEER. narrow ponds. Most of the soil is deep sand covered by running live oak and redbay brush. Numerous small groves of stunted live oak and blackjack oaks on the low ridges lean permanently away from the Gulf winds. Interior ponds and lakes vary from 1 to 385 acres in size, and are fed by runoff and wells. Tidal flats, 2 miles wide, extend about 10 miles along the lower east boundary. Aransas Refuge is the principal wintering ground for the rare whooping cranes. Only 44 birds remained in the wild in the spring of 1966. Family groups estab­ lish territories soon after reaching the refuge. They begin to arrive in mid-October, after a 2,500-mile flight from the northern nesting grounds near Great Slave Lake in Canada. They usually start north in early April. Large numbers of waterfowl winter on the tidal flats, open parks, and fresh-water impoundments. Can­ ARMADILLO ada geese, which sometimes number 20,000 in late fall, leave for the north in February and March. Ducks occur in numbers up to 60,000, with pintails and American widgeon predominating. Many other species of ducks use the refuge during the winter, as do ibises, egrets, herons, and sandhill cranes. Nesting pairs of the color­ ful roseate spoonbill and mottled duck, together with many species of shorebirds, frequent the refuge in spring and summer. Over 300 different species of birds have been recorded here. An observation tower overlooks the Mustang Lake area, where a family of whooping cranes can usually be observed during the winter months. Another tower, near the Patrol Station, overlooks a waterfowl feeding area. Telescopes are provided at the observation towers for the use of visitors. ROSEATE SPOONBILL In addition to the observation points at Mustang Lake and Patrol Station, waterfowl can usually be observed at Burgentine Lake. Deer, turkey, and javelina are more apt to be seen around the Loop Road Drive. Alligators are sometimes seen in fresh-water ponds and sloughs. WHOOPING CRANE White-tailed deer have flourished, and thousands have been live-trapped for stocking in Texas and other southern states. Javelina, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, armadillo, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, and an occasional coyote or bobcat, constitute the larger upland species. REFUGE TOUR: Self-guided tours are facilitated by direction signs placed at appropriate locations along the public roads. Tourists should travel on shell-surfaced roads only. All roads closed to public travel are so marked. There are 24 miles of shell-surfaced roads open for public use. CANADA GOOSE Grazing of cattle under permit is allowed on the refuge as a tool of wildlife management. Grazing encourages the growth of both annual and perennial forbs and weeds which provide food for turkey, quail, and deer. Grazing also keeps down rank vegetative growth, making the area more desirable for grazing by geese. ALLIGATOR Visitors are urged to bring their cameras. Excellent opportunities exist to photograph deer, turkeys, and other interesting wildlife. Although picnicking is allowed on the ref­ uge, facilities are limited at present. Visitors are urged to be careful with litter and to help keep Aransas National Wildlife Refuge as beau­ tiful as possible. JAVELINA The refuge is farming two 100-acre plots to raise food for the wintering whooping cranes. A wide variety of crops is raised in order to determine food preferences. About 600 acres of winter wheat, grain sorghum, and improved pastures are cultivated to provide food for waterfowl. Refuge Leaflet 25-R-2 June 1966 AVOCET SPECIAL REGULATIONS REGISTRATION is required before touring the refuge and also on each occasion of entry. One member of the party may register for the entire group. An ENTRY FEE is charged at this refuge. The fee schedule is posted at the refuge entrance. Occupants of vehicles displaying a Land and Water Conservation Fund permit are admitted without additional charge. Entry is permitted daily from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Those visitors who regis­ ter before 5:00 p.m. may remain on the refuge until sunset. It is necessary that all visitors be off the refuge by sunset, as the entrance gate is locked each even­ ing at dusk. Overnight camping privileges are granted ONLY to organized youth groups that have obtained a special permit in advance. PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USES SIGHTSEEING, NATURE OBSERVATION, HIKING, AND PHOTOGRAPHY are permitted from and along the designated public use roads, trails, observation towers, and picnic areas. TOURING the refuge by vehicle is permitted on designated roadways. PICNICKING is permitted in designated areas. FIRES may be built in picnic area fireplaces and at such times and in such manner that fires will not escape. Dead and down timber may be used. ALL PUBLIC ACCESS, USE, OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY NOT OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PERMITTED ABOVE IS PROHIBITED. GENERAL: There are no facilities on the refuge to provide gas, food, cold drinks, etc. Wildlife is more apt to be seen during the early morning and late afternoons. Cool and overcast days are best for wildlife observations. The most rewarding time to visit the area is during November, December, January, February, and March. For additional information, write to the Refuge Manager, Aransas National Wild­ life Refuge, P. O. Box 68, Austwell, Texas 77950. Telephone: Austwell 2651 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE GPO 858-613 .