Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

 

With apples, bananas, a bag of leftover breakfast biscuits, and a couple drinks we headed out late morning for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  Aransas NWR is located near Austwell, Texas, on Blackjack Penninsula.  It was established in 1937 to protect migratory birds and the vanishing native wildlife of coastal Texas.  The diverse habitat attracts over 400 species of birds with this being the winter home for the largest wild flock of endangered whooping cranes in the US.  Upon arrival we stopped by the Visitor's Center where we picked up some literature, looked over their exhibits, and chatted with the nice hosts.  Then we took off on this cold, cloudy, damp,  misty day to see what we could see.

Here is a Northern Pintail duck along the waters edge. 

No Whooping Cranes found today.

The vegetation has many benefits to the wildlife found here.  Shrubs offer critical shelter to many species.  birds and small animals eat plant berries, scattering them back to the earth in their droppings.  The root systems of the grasses anchor the Refuge's topsoil, holding it in place and preventing erosion.



Then there are the wild/feral hogs and Javelina tearing up the grasses and soil...wreaking havoc on the land and feeding grounds for others.  Their rooting looks like someone has turned over the soil with a shovel.  The Javelina (collared Peccary) has a white stripe around its neck as seen below.

 

We observed this wild pig stand its ground with a small deer.  Below you can see how close the animals were to each other.  But, the gap became even closer.  Hog is in back right of picture.

The deer trying to be territorial boofed at the wild pig.  The pig ran down the hill out of sight...turned around...ran back up the hill charging and boofing at the deer.  The deer scattered with the Javelina trotting off wiggling its behind as if to say, "I showed you whose boss".  Here is another view of the same Javelina.  This boar looks mean!                                                           

The host at the Visitor's Center said hogs are becoming a real problem for Texas.  The sows have up to 16 piglets two to three times a year.  Here at the NWR, they allow hunting at certain times of the year trying to get them under control.  Whoever brings in the most tails gets a $50 reward.

Today was definitely hog day for us.  Around another bend in the road at Hog Pond we found the other type of wild hog...the feral Razorback or "Russian Boar". This is a domestic hog gone wild and can be black, brown, white, or spotted in color.  They cause billions of dollars in property damage every year in the US, both in wild lands and in agricultural ones. Because a swine's natural instinct is to root for tubers and seeds under the ground with its snout and tusks, a sounder of razorbacks can reduce acres of land to an upside down mess in just a few nights.



Easily spooked one of the two hogs decided to make a run for it with its tail stretched straight out behind.



Overcast skies today along with skiddish animals, I had to use a full zoom causing some distortion....but, that is fine with us.  We captured the moment.



 

 

 

Then the GRAND PIG FINALLE....................

 

Here comes the piglets.  A whole litter...not one; but, two separate litters crossed the road ahead of us a few yards apart.  Appears they had been to the wallar...a muddy ditch across the highway.  Startled and excited, I was able to capture one good picture of the piglets scurrying across the highway.  One adult hog in the lead and one adult hog bringing up the rear with both keeping a watchful eye on those little pigs.  These were black as soot.  We have seen a few others on another ride that were light brown and spotted.

Did you know?



Our 16 mile Auto Tour Loop took us from coastal waters with salty flats, to freshwater ponds fed by rains to grasslands rising above the marshes.  There were several walking trails, an alligator viewing area, birding trails, a bay overlook, an observation tower to watch the cranes, and Big Tree Trail to encounter some of the refuge's largest live oak trees.

Here is the live oak canopy with sitting bench underneath.  The path leads to the waters edge.

This buck was peeking from behind the tall pairie grasses.  A nice rack.  4-6 pointer.




As we were winding down our day, the deer were grazing near the fishing pier.

Below the Turkey Vultures were going to roost in the live oak trees at the picnic motte. 

Back at our abode it was time for a hot bowl of homemade noodle soup, half a cup of leftover hot coffee to warm the bones, a slice of homemade zucchini nut bread, a nice hot shower, and the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

The five Olympic rings represent the five continents where the athletes traveled from to take part in the sporting competitions of these Olympic events. The interlocking rings on the Olympic flag is symbolic in showing that the Olympic Games are intended for all nations to be able to come and compete against one another in unity.  The five colors of the Olympic rings are navy, black, yellow, green, and red.  Every nation's flag has one of these colors.

Take care...be safe...enjoy the games...see you by the campfire.