Welder Wildlife Refuge

This 7,800-acre native wildlife refuge focuses mostly on research and educational priorities that are in the field of wildlife management and conservation.  The conservation education programs, targeting primarily school and university groups, emphasizes ecology and management of South Texas wildlife and their habitats. 

The diversity and abundance of wildlife and habitats on the Refuge provide an ideal outdoor classroom and laboratory.  A wide array of public tours, school and college programs, teacher in-service programs, conservation workshops, scientific education programs, symposium and field days led by professionally trained staff are offered throughout the year. 

Wildlife that is common and has been studied extensively at the Refuge include Rio Grande turkeys, black-bellied whistling ducks, white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits and javelina.