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Texas
60

State of Texas Parks

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USA Parks
Texas
Gulf Coast Region
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
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Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Aligator © Pat Butaud
Odd colored aligator. January 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Lizard © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Bull Frog © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Marsh © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Marsh © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant/Marsh © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Plant © Tom R. Chambers
Taken at the Anahuac National Refuge Headquarters March, 2016.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Curious Cow © Pat Butaud
This cow ...just kept staring. January 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Aligator sunning © Pat Butaud
I was walking by and saw this gator. So I decided to take a picture about the same time that he saw me and lifted his head. This bad boy eyed me like I was lunch
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Alligator showing his Teeth © Pat Butaud
May 8, 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Fat Boy © Pat Butaud
Alligator May 8, 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Flying in Formation © Pat Butaud
Flying in formation and a whole lot of honking going on too January 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge East Unit Turtle © Pat Butaud
May 8, 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Waiting for Dinner © Pat Butaud
A Gator, patiently waiting for dinner to walk by...
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Riding down the road. © Pat Butaud
The sky was beautiful and it is peaceful on the reserve. January 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Sunset © Pat Butaud
Looking out over the bay at sunset. January 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge No one at the helm © Pat Butaud
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Juvenile White Ibis © Robbie Morehead
This Juvenile White Ibis is wading in a canal on Frozen Pt Road, still mostly brown but will be white by the Spring. 11/28/10
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Great Blue Heron © Robbie Morehead
Great Blue Heron taking a break at Frozen Point-11/24/10
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Snowy Egret © Robbie Morehead
Snowy Egret taking a high vantage point on the canal bank beside Frozen Point Road-11/28/10
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Red Tailed Hawk © Robbie Morehead
I caught this large Red Tailed Hawk at Dusk in the Salt Cedars-11/28/10
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Black Bellied Whistling Ducks © Dennis Eccleston
Why do the ducks cross the road Because they were too lazy to fly
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge White Tailed Kite © Robbie Morehead
At first I thought this was an Owl but a closer look reveals this is a White Tailed Kite stalking prey at dusk-11/28/10
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Snow Goose © Robbie Morehead
A large flock of geese came in right on top of me while I was taking pictures from Frozen Pt Road, heres a Snow Goose inbound for the Deep Marsh to roost-11/24/10
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Stretching his wings © Pat Butaud
This bird was busy stretching and cleaning his wings. January 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Wading Bird © Pat Butaud
May 8, 2010
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Butterfly 2 © Pat Butaud
May 8, 2010
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ANAHUAC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
ANAHUAC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
509 Washington Street
Anahuac, Texas   77514
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.
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.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Huntingyes
 Hiking Trailyes


Location
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge is located near Houston, Humble and League City


Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
October 17 Lots of laughs and learning by Treon Rogers
park review stars; one to five We learned so much about bird species and just awe inspiring experiences walking the Willow Trail on elevated platform and Shoveler Pond. Didnt expect the alligators we saw but that was added bonus. East Unit was closed and so was visitor center due to Covid. It was sad but allowed us to spend so much more time on the other two places. Its a place everyone should make time for. Mosquito repellent and water a must.
October 21
park review stars; one to five The main road leading to the Willows area and Shoveler Pond was under construction and not usable. The Skillern Tract area was okay, lots of Black-bellied whistling-ducks, Fulvous Whistling-ducks and a small flock of Greater White-fronted geese. Will try the park on another day when the road construction is done.
October 3 A birding paradise..
park review stars; one to five A great place to see migratory birds, usually during fall. If you go in the summer, you will be sure to see some gators. Great place to go to relax for hectic Houston
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Area Campgrounds
Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Crystal Beach
796 Texas 87
Bolivar Peninsula, TX
409-515-1970
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

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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Texas
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State of Texas Parks

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