Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

What is today known as Aransas National Wildlife Refuge first emerged 120,000 years ago during the Pleistocene era when a barrier island was born. The Pleistocene era passed into geological history; behind it was left the land and a few mementos of that era, including fossilized teeth and alligators. Today, this landscape is best known for its prominent place in the American wildlife conservation movement. In 1941, when only 15 whooping cranes survived in the wild, the iconic bird became an emblem of alarm and concern for all endangered and threatened species. Aransas became a focal point of the national and worldwide effort to rescue the species from extinction. Thankfully, due to the foresight of others, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to serve as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife and as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds. The Matagorda Island Unit of the refuge is a 56,683-acre natural area that was established to support the national migratory bird management program and to conserve endangered species. The island has no public means of access. Its isolation provides an unparalleled opportunity for protection of its bountiful natural resources.