What is today known as the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge first emerged 120,000 years ago during the Pleistocene era when a barrier island was born. Great continental glaciers retreated and their melted ice filled the sea. A rising sea piled up ridge after ridge of sand along today's Texas Gulf Coast, creating a vast island of which Aransas is a remnant. Time brought many changes to the land. River sediments filled barrier lagoons, joining the island to the mainland. Grasses and trees invaded sandy ridges creating a home for Ice Age mammals such as lion, camel, bison, bear, mammoth and mastodon. The Pleistocene era was lost to 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 had been established in 1937 to serve as "a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife..." and "...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds..." The wildlife conservation mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ensures the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge will continue to conserve, protect and enhance these lands for the benefit of wildlife and the American people. Other native species you can see on the Refuge include the American alligator, javelina, roseate spoonbill, white-tailed deer, armadillo and spectacular wildflowers. Matagorda Island is a barrier island situated along the coastal bend of Texas in Calhoun County and part of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Island is a significant natural area. It is 56,683 acres in size and stretches 38 miles long, varying from .75 to 4.5 miles in width. Approximately 30,000 of those acres are uplands and the remaining 26,000 acres are salt marsh, tidal flats, and Gulf beaches. Matagorda's orientation is northeast-southwest with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Espiritu Santo Bay on the other. There is no public means of accessing the Island and it is this isolation that provides an unparalleled opportunity for protection of its bountiful natural resources. The remoteness is also what makes Matagorda Island attractive as it offers a unique opportunity to experience the amazing coastal barrier island ecosystem. VISIT ARANSAS The refuge is open seven days a week from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. The best time of year to see the whooping cranes is from mid-October through mid-March where they may be seen feeding in the refuge's marsh during daylight hours. Visitors can also enjoy seeing the birds from boat tours offered by private operators. Hopper's Landing is the closet place to camp and it is three miles north of the refuge's main gate. It has cabins, RV sites and tent camping. Call 361-286-3331 for more information. Other nearby camping options include Gator's RV Park & Cabins (Austwell) and the City of Austwell Park, which accommodates RV sites. Goose Island State Park is about 30 minutes from the refuge and offers RV sites and tent camping. Directions: From the South: Follow Hwy. 35N to the FM 774 exit. Turn right on FM 774 and go approx. 6 miles, winding through the farm fields. Turn right again on FM 2040. Go another 6 miles to the Refuge gate. Go to the Visitor Center to register. From the North: Travel south on Hwy. 35 to Tivoli. Continue past Tivoli for approx. 1 mile to the FM 239 exit (on your left). Follow FM 239 to Austwell. Upon entering Austwell, FM 239 turns into FM 774 at the curve. Continue on FM 774. Follow 774 & take a right at the stop sign. Go down the end of the street. Take a right again. As you exit Austwell, drive ½ mile to the FM 2040 intersection. Go left on FM 2040 for about 6 miles to the Refuge gate. Go to the Visitor Center to register. The lat/long for the refuge's main entrance is 28.313449,-96.804022 Yaroooh! for Kids | News - Magazine

• published: 02 Dec 2013
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