Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Location in Texas
Location	Cameron / Willacy counties, Texas, United States
Nearest city	Harlingen, Texas
Area	65,096 acres (263.43 km2)
Established	29 March 1946
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 biggest protected area of natural land left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. This amazing refuge covers about 98,000 acres (which is about 396 square kilometers). It is mostly located in Cameron County, Texas, near the city of Harlingen, Texas. A very small part of it also reaches into Willacy County, Texas.

Amazing Animals of Laguna Atascosa

This refuge is a safe home for many different animals, especially some that are very rare. It helps protect them and their natural homes.

Falcons Flying High

One of the special birds here is the northern aplomado falcon. These falcons had almost disappeared from the Southwestern United States. In 1985, a group called The Peregrine Fund started bringing falcons that were raised by people back to the refuge. This process is called reintroduction. Today, there are 26 pairs of these beautiful falcons living and raising their families here.

Rare Wild Cats

Laguna Atascosa is also home to some very rare wild cats. These include the Texas ocelot and the Gulf Coast jaguarundi. These cats are considered endangered or threatened, which means their numbers are very low and they need special protection to survive. The refuge works hard to keep their habitat safe.

Helping Nature Grow

The refuge also has special programs to help nature. They work to bring back native plants and restore wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, like swamps or marshes. They are very important for many animals and plants.

Plants of the Refuge

The refuge is not just about animals; it also has many interesting plants. These plants provide food and shelter for the wildlife.

Spanish Dagger (Yucca treculeana) is a unique plant found at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.