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  • Saturday, March 08, 2025 12:02 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Dear Friends, Supporters and Stakeholders of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge:

    You are probably aware of the cost-cutting measures that the administration is making to different branches of the Federal government. We would like to share what we know about the current situation at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

    The staff of Aransas NWR are dedicated members of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) who are passionate about caring for this Refuge. What you may not know is that the Refuge staffing is already at a bare-bones level, such that they are barely able to manage and maintain the 116,000 acres of the Refuge. Two critical staff members have retired and there is a hiring freeze that will prevent the replacement of these positions. The loss of more staff members, in addition to possible budget cuts, would be severely detrimental to the Refuge. Plus, the staff members’ ability to make purchases to cover the basic operations and maintenance needs of the Refuge has been severely curtailed. No business can successfully achieve their mission under these severe restrictions.

    The services that the Refuge provides can be grouped into five broad categories:

    • 1)     Maintenance and conservation of environmental resources, services, and ecological processes.
    • 2)     Protection of natural resources such as fish, wildlife, and plants, including the critically endangered Whooping Crane.
    • 3)     Protection of cultural and historical sites and objects.
    • 4)     Educational and research opportunities.
    • 5)     Outdoor and wildlife-related recreation.

    The Refuge collaborates with different partner organizations for some of these activities, for example the Texas Youth Hunt Program, Serve Outdoors for veterans’ hunts, and The Nature Conservancy and local fire departments for prescribed burns. Outreach events also include partnerships, such as with the International Crane Foundation and the UT Marine Science Institute. More partners and volunteers will be needed going forward to maintain the services provided by the Refuge.

    In addition to the environmental benefits of the Refuge, consider the economic impact for the local community and region. A study published in 2019 (based on data from 2017) determined that annual local economic contributions linked to visitors coming to the Refuge totaled $3 million, a figure that has likely increased substantially in the last eight years. 

    For now, we cannot predict what the impact of any further reduction of Refuge staff and budget might have on activities enjoyed by the community, such as bird and wildlife viewing and photography, guided Refuge Tours, fishing, youth hunts, public hunts, outreach events, Refuge Day activities, or on visitor center hours.

    How can you help?

    • Contact your congressional representatives and tell them how important the Refuge is to you and ask them to take action to prevent further damage to the Refuge System.
    • Support the Refuge and tell your friends and family members what a beautiful place it is to visit.
    • When you visit, tell the staff and volunteers how much you appreciate their work.
    • Share your experience of the Refuge on social media.
    • Become an active volunteer; help by working at the registration desk in the Visitor Center, in the Nature Store, or in the Pollinator Garden. Contact info@friendsofaransas.org to find out more about volunteering at the Refuge.
    • Join or renew your membership in Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge; consider becoming a life member (you won’t get those annoying renewal reminder messages again!) 

    Our Nation prides itself on our system of National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, National Forests and other protected Federal Lands. Many other nations have copied us. Do not let our National Treasures be destroyed due to insufficient staffing and budgeting to adequately operate and maintain them.

    From the Board of Directors of Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.


  • Tuesday, May 07, 2024 10:27 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    A press release from the US Fish and Wildlife Service on April 16, 2024, announced the release of two land protection plans that will allow for the conservation of up to 150,000 acres of coastal habitat in Texas. The plans outline new limited acquisition boundaries for the Aransas NWR and Big Boggy NWR (Matagorda County) and focus on conserving essential habitat for endangered species (whooping crane, black rail, Attwater’s prairie chicken) as well as mottled ducks and other various wintering waterfowl.

    "The approval of these plans is a significant step forward in conserving habitat for the benefit of wildlife and people on the Texas Gulf Coast," said Amy Lueders, the Service's Southwest Regional Director. "These plans prioritize areas that are important for the recovery of endangered whooping cranes and other imperiled wildlife species, with the added benefit of safeguarding natural spaces that benefit communities by providing protection from floods and storms as well as opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and ecotourism."

    Read the full press release here.


  • Friday, November 10, 2023 10:56 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Friends of Aransas NWR recently paid for the repair and installation of these new banners on the billboards alongside Highway 35. Admire the designs created by Laura Bonneau, Visitor Services Manager at the refuge - but please drive safely!



  • Tuesday, March 09, 2021 9:47 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Look through the gallery of photos showing the building of the new Visitor Center Our New Building

  • Sunday, August 30, 2020 2:59 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The exciting news of the summer of 2020 is that groundwork has started for the new Visitor Center, to replace the old building that sustained hurricane damage in August 2017. The road to the old parking area has been blocked off, with a temporary road made to the restrooms across from the Visitor Contact Station (which remains closed due to COVID-19).  At the last FAMI Board meeting (via Zoom) Refuge Manager Joe Saenz and Visitor Services Manager Laura Bonneau shared some information on the plans for the new Visitor Center. The building will be home for the administrative offices, and the public area will include a check-in and information desk, an exhibit and interpretive area, a meeting room and the FAMI Nature Store and office.

    The road to the parking area will continue behind the new building and rejoin the main refuge road a short distance beyond the Alligator Viewing Area. There are plans for more trails around the new center, including a path from the building down to the existing platform for viewing alligators in Tomas Slough.

    Expect to see some changes when you next visit the Refuge!


  • Sunday, April 26, 2020 10:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    During the current public health emergency, whenever possible, outdoor recreation sites at national wildlife refuges will remain open to the public.

    The Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt has directed national wildlife refuges to temporarily suspend the collection of entrance fees until further notice.

    Read the news release here

    At the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge the Visitor Contact Station is closed, as is the FAMI Nature Store, part of the effort to promote social isolation and prevent spread of the virus. Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and keep a safe distance between yourself and others.

  • Monday, March 16, 2020 10:59 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Read an account from Wade Harrell, U.S. Whooping Crane Recovery Coordinator, of the annual crane abundance survey done this year.

    Read update here

  • Sunday, June 09, 2019 3:02 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Demolition of the Visitor Center is underway at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Claude F. Lard Visitor Center, built in 1980, took on extensive damage from Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. So farewell to an old friend, while looking forward to the replacement building.


  • Thursday, February 07, 2019 10:37 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Weather permitting, survey flights were started in the first week of February to get an overall estimate of the wintering whooping crane population.

    Follow this link for the latest update from Dr Wade Harrell, US Whooping Crane Recovery Coordinator (link to FWS website).

  • Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:48 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    With the end to the government shutdown, the Aransas NWR has resumed full operations as of Monday, January 28, 2019.

    Thank you for your continuing support. (And let's hope the government stays open...)

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