P.O. Box 100
Austwell TX 77950
(512) 286 3559

Directions: From Rockport, take Highway 35 N approximately 20 miles. Turn right on FM 774, go approximately 9 miles to FM 2040. Turn right and follow FM 2040 for about 7 miles to refuge entrance.

Primary Wildlife: More than 389 species of birds. Whooping cranes, waterfowl, waterbirds, shorebirds, neotropical migrants, deer, and javelina.

Habitat: 113,000 acres consisting of low lying coastal land and barrier island, covered with grasslands, woodlands, tidal marshes, and blackish ponds.

Recreation and Education: Wildlife observation and photography, auto tour route, observation tower, hiking, hunting, and seasonal fishing access (regulated by refuge). Wildlife interpretation, environmental education, and research.

Special Note: This refuge and the immediate surrounding area serves as the wintering grounds for the whooping crane. Excellent bird watching opportunities in fall, winter, and spring. Matagorda Island is jointly managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is accessible only by boat. For passenger ferry information, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (512) 983-22I 5.