Find a Refuge

The National Wildlife Refuge System is a unique system of lands dedicated to preserving a rich quality of life for Americans by protecting their wildlife heritage. In the Southwest, national wildlife refuges protect some of the most varied wildlife and spectacular landscapes found anywhere in the world. From subtropical shrub ecosystems to saguaro-studded deserts--all are filled with an unparalleled richness and abundance of life. Some of the wonders of southwestern refuges include the complex and beautiful Sonoran Desert in Arizona, Texas coastal marshes that host massive flocks of waterfowl every winter, strange creatures found only in the sinkholes of New Mexico, and Oklahoma caves that are home to endangered bats.

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Phantom Cat of the Chapparal: Endangered Ocelot

View this video filmed in and around your South Texas wildlife refuges!

Daughter of Dawn

Read about the first movie made with an all-Native American cast, filmed at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (requires flash).

Friends of Anahuac Refuge 2013

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge harbors a rich and diverse ecosystem along the Texas Gulf Coast near the Louisiana border. Watch this video created by the Friends of Anahuac NWR, a non-profit organization that supports the refuge.

The Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge have won Friends of 2012 this year!

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with
others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

All images Credit to and Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unless specified otherwise.