Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

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Austwell, TX
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

For the official source of information go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/
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08/29/2026

Ready to jump into real conservation work? Join us at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge this fall as an Invasive Species Support Member and help protect one of Texas' most iconic wild landscapes! Get hands-on field experience, make a visible impact, and kick-start your conservation career. Adventure, learning, and meaningful service all in one—apply now and be part of something wild! https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1312992

📸: Current Invasive Species Interns Lilly and Lizette doing various conservation work at the refuge by Lizette Canales.

08/21/2026

About 150-230M birds are predicted to migrate across the U.S. each night this weekend!

Lights at night can be very disorienting to birds during their long fall migration. To help prevent deadly bird collisions, turn off or dim unnecessary lights!

Graphic: CornellLab, BirdCast

08/19/2026

Wildlife doesn’t pose for the camera—yet somehow it delivers the perfect portrait: cranes chasing dawn, bucks testing strength, wildflowers painting the prairie, and curious young gators learning the ropes. Celebrate World Photo Day with us by sharing your favorite photos taken at the refuge in the comments below!

📸: Sandhill cranes on a morning flight by Bob Tenbusch. White‑tailed deer bucks locking antlers by Mike Croyle. Yellow wildflowers in bloom & 2 juvenile alligators in the marsh by Sue Croyle.

08/08/2026

🐾 Happy International Cat Day from Our Wild Neighbors! 🐾

Not all cats curl up on the couch — some roam the oak mottes and marsh edges with tufted ears, spotted coats, and a whole lot of attitude. The bobcat is one of the most secretive residents of our refuge, a stealthy predator who thrives by staying just out of sight.

Despite their shy nature, bobcats leave plenty of clues: perfectly placed paw prints along sandy trails, quiet rustles in the tall grass, and the occasional glimpse of a short tail disappearing into the brush. They play an important ecological role too, helping maintain balance by managing populations of small mammals and birds.

So today, as people celebrate feline companions around the world, we’re giving a nod to the wild cats who keep our ecosystem healthy — and who remind us that the refuge is full of stories unfolding just beyond what we can see.

📸: Bobcat at water by Norman Welsh.

07/29/2026

Visitor Center Update! 📢

Starting August 1, our Visitor Center will be closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays. We'll continue to welcome visitors Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM.

The refuge itself remains open daily from sunrise to sunset, so you can still enjoy the trails, wildlife viewing, and the beauty of the coast any day of the week.

Thank you for your understanding — we look forward to seeing you during open hours!

📸: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor Center by Viv Atkinson/USFWS.

07/26/2026

Today is the last day of , and we wanted to take a moment to highlight a few of the incredible moths that call our refuge home. Each one brings its own charm, quirks, and surprising talents — here are three of our favorites:

👑 Imperial Moth
With golden‑and‑violet wings, this moth looks like it showed up wearing formal attire… even though it spends most of its day camouflaging perfectly into leaf litter. Regal and relatable.

💗 Pink‑Spotted Hawkmoth
This speedy pollinator comes with built‑in flair: when startled, it flashes bright pink stripes like it’s throwing emergency confetti. A very dramatic way of saying “please back up.”

😲 Polyphemus Moth
The fluffy drama icon of the refuge. Its giant eyespots make it look constantly shocked — as if you just walked into its dressing room unannounced. Tough act, marshmallow heart.

Just a few of the characters fluttering around after dark—proof that the refuge has a pretty entertaining night shift!

📸: Various moths spotted on the refuge by Viv Atkinson/USFWS.

07/22/2026

UPDATE: Our front desk's phone line is now fully operational. For any questions regarding the refuge, please contact us at 361‑349‑1181.

07/18/2026

Friendly reminder: Please take it slow while driving through the refuge! We’re seeing lots of baby wildlife and water in areas that haven’t been wet in a long time, which means more animals near the roads. Thanks for helping keep them safe!

📸: Baby alligator on land by USFWS.

Address

1 Wildlife Circle
Austwell, TX
77950

Telephone

+13613491181

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/

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