Situated on the border between the United States and Mexico, the refuge is host or home to an incredible diversity of migrating birds that funnel through the tip of Texas in an effort to avoid flying too far east, over the Gulf Coast, or too far west, over the desert. In addition, many southern species of wildlife reach their northernmost range along the Rio Grande. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge encompasses more than 97, 000 acres, a portion of which are open to the public for wildlife related activities like wildlife watching, hunting, fishing, photography and environmental education.