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More flocks of geese are arriving daily at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge as the big fall migration is underway. Hagerman NWR is in the Central Flyway of North America, and birds like the Canada, Ross, and Snow Geese have been traveling the same route for thousands of years. BUT ...and this is a big but! - opportunities for food, shelter and protection are increasingly limited due to development. So, refuges like Hagerman play an important part in maintaining natural sreas for both local and migratory wildlife. By December, Hagerman should be hosting up to 10,000 geese for the winter!
As more geese arrive, human visitors are drawn to the Refuge to enjoy viewing them. The best way to see the geese is to drive along Wildlife Drive, s-l-o-w-l-y (the speed limit is 20 mph) and watch them from your vehicle. If you get out of the car, the birds may startle and fly off. Look south, and see them browsing on green sprouts of wheat and other plants ...look north and watch them go for a dip in the waters of Lake Texoma.
During office hours, be sure and stop by the Visitor Center to sign the guest register and pick up one of the new, free wildlife guides "Winter Birds at Hagerman NWR".
The Refuge is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, 75092. If directions are needed, call the office 903 786 2826. Office hours are 7:30 - 4 Monday through Friday (closed for Veterans Day) and 9 - 3 Saturdays, 1 - 4 Sundays. The Refuge is open to the public at no charge from dawn to dusk every day of the year.
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