FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

In 2024, the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (FLANWR) participated in outreach and education, land conservation, and habitat restoration. OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONIn 2023, FLANWR hosted 70 events for approximately 14,000 individuals. Programs and events in 2023 included: Ocelot Conservation Day, the Wild Friends Storytime, the Friends Science Series, Bike the Bahia, the Naturally Native Garden Team, Family Fish Camps, Photography Club, the Rio Grande Birding Festival, Walk for the Wild, the Christmas Bird Count. and participation at community events. Ocelot Conservation DayOcelot Conservation Day is an annual event held in March that is co-hosted by FLANWR and the USFWS that promotes ocelot conservation. This awareness-raising event highlights the ocelot, a small endangered wild cat native to South Texas. Activities included craft stations and information tables where guests may speak with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and other local partners to learn about ocelot biology, research, and conservation.On March 2, 2024, the 20th annual Ocelot Conservation Day was held at Gladys Porter Zoo. This event, coupled with the Ocelot Run the day before, reached an estimated 13,000 people. This event included booths from partnering organizations, ocelot themed activities, and presentations by ocelot biologists. Partners include the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, American Forests, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Cara Cara Trails, South Texas Astronomy Society, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, the South Texas Ecotourism Center, Defenders of Wildlife, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens Operation Game Thief Trailer, and the East Foundation. Activities included: pin the tail on the ocelot, ocelot bean bag toss, how far can an ocelot jump, an ocelot dress up station and selfie station, ocelot puzzles, ocelot masks, ocelot face painting, and ocelot button and magnet making. Presentations provided information about ocelots in Texas, ocelot monitoring at Laguna Atascosa NWR and south Texas, thornscrub restoration for ocelots, and ocelots at the Gladys Porter Zoo.Wild Friends StorytimeIn 2024, FLANWR continued the Wild Friends Storytime program. This program features a nature-themed book about wildlife or animals found at Laguna Atascosa NWR followed by a craft and/or nature hike. Events were held monthly at the Laguna Atascosa Visitor Center and the Laguna Vista Public Library. Through grant funding, we were also able to have a book giveaway at each event so participants could have a copy of the book read at the event. In 2024, we hosetd 17 events for 117 youth.Friends Science SeriesThe Friends Science Series is a science program for youth that allows them to view of wildlife and habitats found at the Refuge through hands on activities, lessons, and guided interpretation. In 2024, the Friends hosted five events for 66 youth.Guided Bike RidesIn 2024, FLANWR hosted 16 guided wildlife bike rides for 139 participants. Guided bike rides are performed at the Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive and the Bahia Grande Unit. The Bahia Grande Unit contains coastal prairie, thornscrub, rare lomas, and the Bahia Grande, one of the largest wetland restoration sites in the United States. This Unit is currently closed to the general public but is accessible by guided tours. This wildlife bike ride provides a great public service by allowing participants to access this Unit of the refuge.Naturally Native Garden TeamIn 2024, FLANWR continued the Naturally Native Garden Team with 6 events that included 8 core volunteers. This program is helping revitalize the pollinator garden in front of the Visitors Center at the Refuge. The purpose of these events is to teach people about native plants, encourage the use of native gardening in the home, and to have a pollinator demonstration garden in front of the Visitor Center.National Public Lands Day CleanupFLANWR, in partnership with the USFWS, assisted with National Public Lands Day Cleanup on September 28, 2024. At this event, the public came out to help clean the shoreline along Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive.Rio Grande Birding FestivalFLANWR participated as a vendor at the 31th Annual Rio Grande Birding Festival at the Harlingen Convention Center in November 2024. FLANWR was able to assist in making the Birders Bazaar Trade Show a success along with other local Nature Store site vendors, optics, artists, and tour companies from all over the world. This event reached an estimated 3,000+ people. Walk for the WildFLANWR led the 2024 Walk for the Wild and hosted a free walk to support Team Laguna Atascosa through a community walk or by joining FLANWR on the day of the event. Walk for the Wild was advertised by FLANWR as an opportunity to contribute to the success of the nations unparalleled network of public lands and waters the National Wildlife Refuge System. The funds that were raised from this event went to directly support wildlife conservation, nature trails, and environmental education in our community. The on-site walk was hosted in October 2024.Christmas Bird CountFLANWR led the 125th Audubon Christmas Bird Count for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in December 2024 from sunrise to sunset at LANWR. Bird and Nature WalksIn 2024, FLANWR hosted 13 birding and nature walks for 87 members of the public at the Laguna Atascosa. Participants learned about wildlife, habitats, and even history on these tours. Family Fish Camp ProgramIn 2024, Friends hosted 1 Family Fish Camp events for 38 people. During the Family Fish Camp program, participants learn about fishing through six hands-on stations, then fish at the Bahia Grande. The Bahia Grande is one of the largest wetland restoration projects in the United States.LAND CONSERVATIONIn 2024, FLANWR continued their land conservation efforts by applying for funding for wetland restoration at the newly acquired 234-acre parcel acquired in 2023 and through continuing to research lands within the Bahia Grande Coastal Corridor for acquisition.HABITAT RESTORATIONIn 2024, the Friends assisted the Laguna Atascosa with prairie habitat restoration through the purchase of supplies for the treatment of invasive brush. This resulted in 35 acres of coastal prairie restoration. These treatments are part of a larger, multi-year effort to restore the coastal prairie ecosystem of the Dulaney tract of the Refuge and has involved financial and labor contributions from various partners. In addition to assisting the US Fish and Wildlife Service with coastal prairie habitat restoration, the Friends took over maintenance of the wildlife guzzlers at Laguna Atascosa. These guzzlers, which capture rainwater at strategic locations throughout the refuge, provide an important source of freshwater for numerous species on the refuge and are especially important during times of drought.