 Photo Courtesy Dennis Eccleston
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Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes |
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| National Park Contact Information: |
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Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
509 Washington Street
Anahuac, Texas 77514
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Area Accommodations
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Photography: add your photos
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| National Park Overview: |
| The chorus of thousands of waterfowl, the splash of an alligator going for a swim, the rustle of wind moving through coastal prairie, the high-pitched call of a fulvous whistling duck are just some of the sound you may hear when visiting Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. This 34,000-acre haven for wildlife is located on the upper Texas gulf coast.
The meandering bayous of Anahuac NWR cut through ancient floodplains creating expanses of coastal marsh and prairie bordering Galveston Bay. Prevailing breezes bring in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in high humidity and an average annual rainfall of over 51 inches. Coastal marshes act as a huge sponge, holding and siphoning water from tropical storm tides and upstream flooding. These marshes, combined with the coastal prairie, provide a home for an abundance of wildlife, from migratory birds to alligators. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Anahuac NWR is an important link in the chain of national wildlife refuges extending along the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana. The goal of refuge management is to provide habitat for native fish and wildlife. Roseate spoonbill, great egrets, snowy egrets, white-faced ibis, and white ibis are just some of the long-legged waterbirds that can be seen on ponds, rice fields, and moist soil units throughout the refuge. Listen and look closely on Yellow Rail Prairie for the secretive yellow rails that winter in the salty prairies.
During spring and fall migrations, warblers, and other songbirds can be seen or heard on walks in small wooded areas throughout Anahuac NWR. The willows near Shoveler Pond, the salt cedar hedgerow north of Teal Slough, and the narrow hackberry woodland along East Bay Bayou offer some of the best birding opportunities in the area. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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(name not given)
5-Jun-2008
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Best Gator View from your Car in Texas.
This park, along with Brazos Bend, is one of the best parks to view Aligators and, unlike Brazos, you can see them from your car. Also seen are bitterns, herons (including both yellow and black night crowned), eagrets, ibis, wood stork visitors and purple ganinoules as well as many species of duck and a few roseate spoonbills. The lake largely dried up over the last few years around the board walk but recent storms have helped.
Written by Dennis Eccleston
23-Jan-2009
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Gators Galore
I like the aligators!
Written by Pat
19-Jan-2010
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| Fishing and Hunting: |
| FISHING : Some of the best wade fishing (for speckled trout, redfish and southern flounder) in Texas can be found on the refuge shorelines along East Galveston Bay. Fishing is allowed in East Galveston Bay, bayous, and other locations designated by refuge signs.
HUNTING : Waterfowl hunting is permitted in designated areas on the refuge, including the Pace Tract and parts of the East Unit and Middleton Tract. Hunters must contact refuge headquarters in the fall before waterfowl hunting season to obtain current hunting regulations and permits. Possession of firearms on the refuge is unlawful except in designated areas during hunting season. |
| History of the Area: |
| Anahuac NWR shores its name with the town of Anahuac. The name is an Aztec wor (watery plain) but the area had no connection with te Aztecs, or any other distant peoples. Anahuac was part of the territory of the Atakapa and Akokisa Indians, a small and scattered population of nomadic people who resided here for century, and fished, hunted, and gathered every available plant and animal resource that hte region could offer. Their middens of discarded shell fish and their campsites dot the landscap4e, but ther were no permanent settlements here. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| B&Bs / Inns | | Coppersmith Inn Bed & Breakfast - An 1887 Victorian, antiques, private baths, country breakfast, Honeymoon and Anniversary packages, copper roses, colorful gift certificates, carriage rides, movies, hot tub, tin tub, Jacuzzi for two.
| | Coastal Dreams B&B - Beautiful 1887 home in Galveston, Texas offering three guest rooms, all with private baths. Full breakfast served, swimming pool and hot tub on sight |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| The Friends of Anahuac Refuge - ... is to support, preserve, promote, and enhance Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and its use for recreational, educational ... promote, and enhance Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and its use ... | | The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas - A Seasonal Checklist of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas February 13, 1996 This document is derived from the checklist for the refuge published by the USFWS. Questions or comments to ... | | Birds of the Upper Texas Coast - ... Outdoor Nature Club Ornithology Group Outdoor Nature Club Friends of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Galveston Bay Foundation Katy Prairie Conservancy Texas Gulf Coast Environmental Alert The ... | | Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Birding Events - Pictures of Texas include outdoor, nature, Texas gulf coast and Texas birds. ... during a calm winter morning at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. TEXAS Birding Events 2003 NEW Birding Schedule For ... | | YCC Program a Success on Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge - YCC Program a Success on Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge ANAHUAC, August 14, 2003 - A lot of heat, mosquitos, hard work and ... work for the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. "We put these kids ... |
| Directions: |
| Refuge headquarters are located in the town of Anahuac, Texas, on the corner of Trinity Street and Washington Avenue near the County Courthouse. |
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