The trumpeting of an endangered whooping crane echoes across the far reaches of the marsh. Only at Aransas NWR does the only natural flock of North America's tallest bird find an enduring winter stronghold on a single refuge.

Here, too, pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills and waterfowl dine in brackish waters and salt marshes teeming with fishes, blue crabs and clams.

On shore, javelinas, bobcats and white-tailed deer wander oak woodlands. Alligators peer from still waters of ponds and sloughs.

Aransas is home to a multitude of wildlife. Each list represented above includes the most common to the most rare species found on the Refuge. Let us know if you see one of our more rare species.