![]() There the eggs are cared for until they hatch. Our project consists of finding as many sea turtle nests as we can and taking the eggs to an incubation facility at the ranger station. Although we have an ongoing project to restore the sea turtle populations in the Gulf of Mexico, we do not keep any on display at the Park. They have several on display, which have permanent injuries and would not survive in the wild. The best place to go is the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. Transporting any other lawfully taken wildlife through the park is prohibited. No hunting is permitted except for the taking of waterfowl by boat only in the Laguna Madre. All other collecting is strictly prohibited.įishing is permitted everywhere in the park except at Malaquite Beach directly in front of the visitor center. Items such as unoccupied seashells, sea beans, and driftwood, washed in by the tide, may be collected as long as the items are not used for commercial purposes. To preserve and protect cultural and natural resources, possession or use of metal detectors is prohibited in the park. To a large degree we rely on public participation in placing wastes in the proper containers and in periodic beach clean-ups. Trying to keep more than 63 miles of beach clean is a monumental task and we do the best with the resources available. Most of these objects will, of course, be those that fall in closest to our shore and these tend to be objects from the fishing/shrimping industries and offshore natural gas platforms. As a result, anything that falls or is tossed into the Gulf eventually ends up here. The predominant southeast wind drives the currents in the Gulf of Mexico to our location in the Northwest corner. Why is there so much trash on the beach, and is anyone doing anything about it? However, be aware that after the five-mile marker a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed because of the frequent pockets of deep, soft sand. Other than that, it would be best to go to an isolated area down island where few people venture, and thus there are fewer shell collectors to pick them up before you. Large storm surges push large amounts of debris and shells far up onto the beach. Shelling is best after a storm has passed through. Shelling is less a matter of "where" than a matter of "when". Powerful cold fronts can produce winds that may reach 50 to 65 miles per hour! During winter, the wind shifts direction more frequently with strong north winds blowing as cold fronts push south from the plains. Prevailing winds blow from the southeast in spring, summer and fall. The average wind is approximately eleven miles per hour. For more information on birds and birding go to the Nature and Science section of the park's main website. Bird Island Basin is an excellent spot for watching marsh and shorebirds as well as raptors. Driving the park road will often enable one to see raptors and birds often associated with grasslands. Anywhere along the seashore is excellent for spotting a large variety of shorebirds including the endangered Snowy Plover and Piping Plover. There are three main areas for good birding: the shore, the park road, and Bird Island Basin. For more information on pets in the park, click here. Do not leave pets unattended in vehicles. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under your control at all times. Please be courteous to other visitors and clean up after your pet. Pets are not allowed on the visitor center deck or the beach directly in front of the visitor center. Pets on a leash are allowed everywhere in the park except for the Malaquite Visitor Center area. Mansfield Channel forms the southern boundary of the park at the 60 mile marker and there is no bridge or ferry over it to get to South Padre Island. Even with a four-wheel drive vehicle, you cannot reach South Padre Island from here. After that, four-wheel drive is necessary as there are frequent pockets of soft sand. How far can I drive down island? Can I get to South Padre from here?ĭepending on current beach conditions, two-wheel drive vehicles may safely drive down on the first five miles of South Beach. To learn more about camping in the park, please click here. Campers may also pay their camping fees at the kiosks.There are no electric, water, or sewer hook-ups in the park. ![]() Campers, including beach campers, must have a camping permit, which is available from the kiosks at the entrances of each campground. No reservations are accepted, as camping is first-come, first-served. How can I reserve a campsite? Do you have electric hookups?
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