McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge supplies important feeding and resting habitat for migrating and wintering populations of waterfowl, as well as other wildlife. From October to March, thousands of geese feeding and resting in the marsh can be heard, if not actually seen. Ducks on the refuge can number up to one hundred thousand, with more than two dozen species. This includes the mottled duck, a year-round resident and recognized as an important indicator species to coastal marsh health and function. During the spring, large concentrations of migrating songbirds fly through the upper Texas coast, with peak migration occurring in April. In addition to all of the amazing birds, McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest concentration of American alligators in the State of Texas.  

Established in 1980, the refuge was purchased under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Open to the public, visitors can enjoy wildlife watching, hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, and special wildlife-related events. It is one of the more than 550 refuges that comprise the National Wildlife Refuge System, a national network of lands and waters set aside for the benefit of wildlife and you!  

For hundreds of years, many of these sights and sounds within this dynamic eco-system have gone untouched. Under the protective umbrella of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the hope and expectation is that they will continue for hundreds more.