TEXAS BORDER WALL
This portfolio illustrates the effects of the border wall on wildlife and the environment in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Land was purchased by the National Wildlife Refuge system over 70+ years to restore a wildlife corridor where 95% of native habitat is gone. Many of the wall sections were constructed on these government purchased parcels and in March 2018, Congress funded another 35 miles of wall to be built on additional corridor land. Over 500 species of birds, endangered ocelots and numerous other species risk further habitat loss in the already dwindling areas that historically supported these populations.
Aerial of Border Wall severing the wildlife corridor in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Much of the land used for the wall in this part of Texas was acquired years ago by the Interior Department to re-establish a wildlife corridor in the LRGV. The purpose was to increase native habitat since less than 5% remains. The wall reverses that progress. (090127-5464)
Border wall section along Mexico-Texas border near farmland and Rio Grande at sunset. (090203-2491)
Rabbit near Texas border wall. (190713-8938)
Flock of red-winged blackbirds. (090202-2364)
Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge in path of border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley. This is an example of the 5% of native habitat remaining along the Rio Grande. (090205-5990)
Ocelot released with radio collar north of border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090128-1447)
Handprints on Texas border wall. (190712-8766)
Building the border wall. (090130-1838)
Protest sign on US property that would be separated by border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090128-5478)
Altamira oriole building pendulum nest near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (Birds115)
Notice of wildlife travel corridor sign, habitat conservation area next to border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090129-1549)
Aerial of Texas border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090127-1252)
Wendy Shattil at Texas border wall in Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090129-1733)
Spiny softshell turtle in water near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (Texas053)
Rare snail kite landing on stump near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (Raptor003)
Border wall and wetland. (090129-1651)
Great egret near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. 090203-2463)
Handprints on Texas border wall. (190712-8766)
Border wall construction between Texas and Mexico. (090204-5883)
Estero Llano Grande State Park, World Birding Center, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090203-5758)
Blackbird taking flight from Texas border wall. (190713-8956)
Border wall construction. (090207-6045)
Great blue heron near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090203-2441)
Housing development where habitat used to be for endangered ocelots. (090126-5263)
The Nature Conservancy's Southmost Preserve before border wall cut it off from the rest of United States, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090127-1398)
No man's land side of the border wall in the Lower Rio Grande valley of Texas. (090129=1494)
Aerial of border wall, Hidalgo County, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090127-1274)
Double-crested cormorants in dawn fog, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090203-5797)
Ringed kingfisher landing on perch near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (Birds053)
Border wall construction and workers. (090130-5534)
A border wall appears on the horizon. It is a disconcerting sight that has altered the American landscape. Lower Rio Grande Valley wildlife corridor. (090203-2426)
Looking across the Rio Grande from The Nature Conservancy's Southmost Preserve, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090124-5127)
Massive flock of red-winged blackbirds in winter. (090202-5729)
Rare sabal palm grove on "no man's land" below border wall, Southmost Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090126-1042)
Peccary (Javelina) foraging. (090201-2154)
Wendy Shattil photographing at the border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090129-1740)
Raccoon tracks along a length of the border wall. (090204-5893)
Aplomado falcon perched on yucca, not far from border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (Raptor001)
Aerial of Texas-Mexico border crossing at Hidalgo/Reynosa and the Rio Grande river. Hidalgo County, Lower RIo Grande Valley. (090127-1225)
The Nature Conservancy's Southmost Preserve before border wall cut it off from the rest of United States, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090127-1401)
Green Heron perched on branch above wetland pond near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (Texas041)
A border wall appears on the horizon; a disconcerting sight that has altered the american landscape. (090203-2424)
National Wildlife Refuge sign and property on "no man's land" side of the border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090129-1724)
Wildlife corridor severed by border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090129-1551)
Green jay perched on post. (090201-2101)
Aerial of the mouth of the Rio Grande flowing into the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Cameron County. Aerial support provided by LightHawk. (190718-0841)
Wetland wildlife corridor. The Nature Conservancy's Southmost Preserve before border wall cut it off from the rest of United State, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090126-5346)
Border wall, severing wildlife corridor, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090127-5466)
Pedestrian bridge overlooking border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090203-5829)
Black-bellied whistling ducks in "no man's land" below border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090126-5302)
Border wall under construction at Texas border near Hidalgo border crossing. (090130-5578)
Black-bellied whistling ducks, Estero Llano Grande, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090204-2531)
Aerial of Bensen Rio Grande State Park, Mission, Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley. (190718-0263)
A single sabal palm remains among acres of bulldozed land making way for the border wall. (090207-6055)
View through border wall from "no man's land side", Lower Rio Grande Valley. (090129-1591)
Border wall construction between Texas and Mexico. (090129-1542)
National Wildlife Refuge property on "no man's land" side of the Border Wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090129-1615)
Border wall fence along Mexico and Texas border near Rio Grande. (090129-5488)
Building the border wall between Texas and Mexico. (090130-5535)
Camouflaged pauraque near border wall, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090202-2407)
Border fence from Texas side. (090129-1531)
Flock of red-winged blackbirds migrating south for the winter. (090202-2234)
Aerial of Texas border wall far away from river, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. (090127-5424)
Aerial of the mouth of the Rio Grande flowing into the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Cameron County. Aerial support provided by LightHawk. (190718-0850)
Aerial of Texas-Mexico border crossing at Hidalgo/Reynosa and the Rio Grande river. Hidalgo County, Lower RIo Grande Valley. (090127-1228)
Looking north at a bend in the Rio Grande above El Horcon, Mexico into Texas. An example of one of the complications in building a border wall along the Rio Grande. Aerial support provided by LightHawk. (190718-0124)
