Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

In 2023, the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (FLANWR) participated in outreach and education, land conservation, and habitat restoration for ocelots. Outreach and EducationIn 2023, FLANWR hosted 306 events for approximately 7,464 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, Latino Conservation Week, the Summer Art Series, habitat tours along the Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive, Earth Day Trash Bash, National Public Lands Day Cleanup, Texas Master Naturalist Conference, the Rio Grande Birding Festival, Walk for the Wild, and the Christmas Bird Count.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 5, 2023, the 19th annual Ocelot Conservation Day was held at Gladys Porter Zoo. This event reached an estimated 3,000+ people. This event included booths from partnering organizations, ocelot themed activities, and presentations by ocelot biologists. Partners include the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, theSouth 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, ocelots at the Gladys Porter Zoo, and a book reading for kids about an ocelot at Laguna Atascosa NWR.In 2023, the annual Ocelot Run was also brought back. This run had not been in person since 2020. The event had approximately 900 runners. The route went through downtown Brownsville and ends at the Gladys Porter Zoo where the Ocelot Conservation Day activities were taking place.Wild Friends StorytimeIn 2022, FLANWR designed a new program for youth called the Wild Friends Storytime. This program featured a nature themed book about wildlife or animals found at Laguna Atascosa NWR followed by a craft and/or nature hike. Due to the success of this program, we continued it in 2023 and even expanded it to the Laguna Vista Public Library. We also received funding from the Lamda Eta for this program to have a book giveaway at each event so participants could have a copy of the book read at the event. Events were held monthly at the Visitor Center and the Laguna Vista Public Library.2.4Friends Science SeriesIn 2022, FLANWR also designed a new program for youth titled the Friends Science Series. This monthly program is designed to provide a more in-depth view of wildlife and habitats found at the Refuge through hands on activities, lessons, and guided interpretation. This program began in September 2022 and was held monthly from September-May. Due to the success of this program in 2022, we continued it in 2023. Events in 2023 included: Family Fish Camp, Bird 101, Pollinators, Scat, Tracks, Skins, and Skulls, Native Plants: Medicinal, Traditional, and Wildlife Uses, All About Ocelots, Nature Journaling, Creatures of the Night Campout, Pollinators, and Outdoor Skills.Bike the BahiaIn 2023, FLANWR hosted a monthly guided wildlife bike ride from January-April and September- December at the Bahia Grande Unit of the Refuge. This 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 TeamFLANWR has been hosting a monthly garden club to help 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. These events were hosted monthly from January-May and September-December.Latino Conservation WeekIn 2023, FLANWR celebrated Latino Conservation Week. During this week, community, non- profit, faith-based, and government organizations and agencies held events throughout the country. From hiking and camping to community roundtables and film screenings, these activities promoted conservation efforts in their community, and provided an opportunity for Latinos to show their support for permanently protecting our land, water, and air. In celebration of this week, Friends hosted a bilingual book reading, craft, and giveaway, as well as a Chalupa game night.Summer Art SeriesDuring the hot months of the summer (May-August), FLANWR hosted four art events at the Visitor Center. These included a living art class, Gyotaku fish printing, rock painting, and a movie showing Laguna Atascosa: A South Texas Treasure with special guest and documentary film maker Richard Moore. These events were designed to continue to engage the public, even when it was too hot to go outside. Visitors were able to learn about the Refuge and view birds from the window of one of the bird feeding stations.Habitat Tours on Steve Thompson Wildlife DriveIn 2023, FLANWR hosted four van rides on Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive. This drive, which is the most popular scenic route at the Refuge, has been closed since 2015 due to maintenance needs. This 14.2-mile route passes through Tamaulipan thornscrub, coastal prairie, and coastal wetland habitats, with views of the Laguna Madre Bay and South Padre Island. In an effort to show the public one of the best places on the Refuge, FLANWR has been hosting these van rides by renting a van and using the USFWS van.Earth Day Trash BashFLANWR, in partnership with the USFWS, hosted an Earth Day Trash Bash on April 22, 2023. Forty-five volunteers from Starbucks, the Marine Military Academy, and the public came out to help clean the Laguna Madre Bay shoreline along Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive.National Public Lands Day CleanupFLANWR, in partnership with the USFWS, assisted with National Public Lands Day Cleanup on September 9, 2023. Forty-five volunteers from UTRGV, South Texas College, San Benito ISD, and the public came out to help clean the inlet along Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive.Texas Master Naturalist ConferenceIn 2023, FLANWR participated in the Texas Master Naturalist Conference. FLANWR displayed an exhibitor table and Nature Store booth at the McAllen Convention Center on October 12th-14th. Additionally, FLANWR hosted a presentation session on Education and Outreach and provided a hands-on activity for the conference participants. In partnership with Cactus Creek Ranch, The South Texas Ecotourism Center, and The SPI Birding and Nature Center, FLANWR hosted two TMN Coastal Conservation Cooperative field trips that toured through Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive. There were 41 participants that attended the field trip, and over 300 individuals that visited the FLANWR exhibitor table at the McAllen Convention Center.Rio Grande Birding FestivalFLANWR participated as a vendor at the 30th Annual Rio Grande Birding Festival at the Harlingen Convention Center from November 8th-12th. 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. This event also included a FLANWR booth in the Childrens Nature Nook conference area directly partnering with Texas Children in Nature Network. FLANWR provided a free nature passport booklet to the children encouraging them to visit our wildlife rock painting hands-on activity, and to also stop by and visit our main stop-over station, the FLANWR main exhibitor booth. The FLANWR wildlife rock painting activity reached an estimated 300+ children.Walk for the WildFLANWR led the 2023 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