Features
Finding Refuge...
In a region of Texas some call the last great habitat, thorn forest intermingles with wetlands, coastal prairies, mudflats & beaches.
Wildlife & Habitat
Wild Adventures
Enjoy many fun adventures, including nature hikes, kayaking, hunting, fishing and much more!
Fun things to do
Watch the BirdCam
Live stream the backyard bird cam and watch the feeding station at the visitor center.
Wildlife
Self Portraits
Trip cameras set up a various locations within the refuge help biologists learn more about the needs of wildlife, including ocelots.
Photogenic wild cats!
Birds, Birds, Birds!
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge has more documented species of birds than any other national wildlife refuge in the United States.
This initiative grants every 4th grader in the country and their family free access to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge -- and other federal lands! Learn more about how to get this important pass at the link below.
Detailed Information Here
We need your help! If you see an ocelot, please be sure to immediately report it. Information gathered on these wild cats is extremely important and helps biologists learn more about where they live, the habitat they are using, their genetic makeup and much more. All of this information is used to make sure ocelots will always be part of the American landscape. If you see an ocelot, dead or alive, please report it.
What To DoAbout the NWRS
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Learn more about the NWRS
Bayside Drive is currently closed to private vehicles. It is open for walking, biking and guided tours. Construction has been delayed indefinitely. Please contact the Visitor Center for more information.
Contact UsAfter discovering a female ocelot kitten in March (2014), refuge biologists discovered another new young ocelot a few months later -- a male. He was trapped on the refuge and his coat pattern did not match that of any previously known ocelots from the refuge’s collection of trip camera photos. He is estimated to be 12-14 months old and appears healthy. The current number of known ocelots on the refuge is 12, including 5 females and 7 males. The current estimated number of ocelots in Texas remains less than 50.
Watch the videoLaguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is a designated Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site, along with Rancho Rincón de Anacahuitas in Mexico. The two sites make up the first bi-national sites within the WHSRN that, together, host at least 100,000 shorebirds annually. WHSRN’s mission is to conserve shorebirds and their habitats through a network of key sites across the Americas. Protecting birds as they migrate across international borders is a conservation priority that requires coordinated efforts among countries.
Wildlife and Habitat
Butterflies Abound
The refuge’s location and habitat make it a haven for butterflies and moths -- and those who enjoy seeing them! October and November offer the best times to enjoy the refuge’s butterflies, a documented 130 species.
Page Photo Credits — All photos courtesy of USFWS unless otherwise noted.
Last Updated: Jun 02, 2016