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The Refuge HQ and Visitor Center are closed due to the federal government shutdown. All scheduled events are postponed until the government re-opens. Refuge roads, trails, outdoor restrooms and lands remain open to the public at this time.

Come to the Refuge Butterfly Garden this Saturday 9-11am for a butterfly walk! The garden is beautiful and open sunrise to sunset daily.

Thank you for making our auction a grand success! Items won in the auction may be picked up Saturday, 10/25 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM



Thank you for making our auction a grand success! Items won in the auction may be picked up Saturday, 10/25 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM


The Refuge HQ and Visitor Center are closed due to the federal government shutdown.

All scheduled events are cancelled or postponned until the government re-opens. Refuge roads, trails, and lands remain open to the public at this time, subject to change.

The Refuge Roundup Festival is Cancelled.

Upcoming Activities

(If the government re-opens)



Calendar of  Events 

Plant of the Month

Ruellia: A Plant of Many Virtues

By Marnie Barnes Sadri

Imagine a garden blessed with dazzling purple, trumpet-shaped blooms that return anew each morning for nearly five months of the year. Picture a plant that not only survives but thrives in Texas heat and humidity, and even tolerates drought with ease. Envision a garden companion that settles in gently—never crowding its neighbors, even after many years. Now, add the delight of knowing this same plant provides food for butterflies such as the Common Buckeye and the Wood Nymph, while also serving as a nectar source for pollinators and the occasional hummingbird. Best of all, it flourishes in sun, shade, or anything in between, returning faithfully each spring like an old friend.

Meet my favorite: Ruellia drummondiana.

Several Ruellia species are native to Texas and do well in DFW gardens, including Ruellia nudiflora (Common Wild Petunia), Ruellia occidentalis (Western Wild Petunia), Ruellia humilis (Prairie Petunia), and Ruellia caroliniensis (Carolina Petunia). But only one species is endemic to Texas—occurring nowhere else in the world: Ruellia drummondiana, or Common Wild Petunia. It was named for Scottish naturalist Thomas Drummond, who collected and cataloged plants across Texas in the early 1800s, particularly around the Edwards Plateau and Brazos River region.

Though it is concentrated in the Edwards Plateau, Drummond’s Ruellia can also be found in the Cross Timbers, Blackland Prairie, and even parts of the DFW area. I first discovered it nearly 20 years ago on the edge of my Denton garden, then a heavily wooded, undeveloped lot. At first I mistook the ovate-leaved newcomer for a weed and pulled it up—only to have it reappear. A year or two later, when the plant revealed its striking blooms, I began to understand its charm.

Unlike R. nudiflora, whose flowers cluster at the tops of its stems, Drummond’s flowers bloom gracefully along the main stem where the leaves meet, creating a lovely layered effect. Around the same time, I noticed Buckeye butterflies lingering near it—only later learning that Ruellia drummondiana is in fact the larval host for the species.

Through the seasons, I observed how adaptable it was: thriving equally well in full sun alongside prickly pear, or in the deep shade beneath redbuds and post oaks. Unlike its more aggressive cousins, it produces only a few seeds per pod, preventing it from spreading invasively. This makes it a gentle, well-mannered addition to a native garden.

That restraint is worth noting, because not all Ruellias are so considerate. Take Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex), for instance. With its tall, dark foliage and equally beautiful blooms, it may tempt gardeners—until it reveals its invasive nature, spreading aggressively by underground roots and explosive seeds, often overwhelming everything in its path.

By contrast, Texas’s own Ruellia drummondiana is a true garden treasure: hardy, graceful, pollinator-friendly, and uniquely ours. For Texans—native or transplanted—it’s a plant well worth welcoming into the garden.

Birding with Jack: The Weekly Bird Census


Wayne Meyer, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles, and Mike Petrick

Each Tuesday a team of experienced birders, including Master Naturalist Jack Chiles, traverse 35 miles of refuge roads and hiking trails, documenting every bird they encounter. This Bird Census is reported to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology for use in research, and each week we will bring you a link to their actual bird count, and a summary of their adventures.

American White Pelicans and Eastern Bluebird

It was a nice calm early fall day for our census. Things picked up some from a very low count last week. We found 9 species of shorebirds today including, Long-billed Dowitchers, Wilson's Snipes, Spotted Sandpipers, American Avocets, Least Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer and a Solitary Sandpiper. At the end of the pad where Lucy used to sit a lot we found a large number of Cave Swallows. They tend to come thru later than the bulk of the other swallow species. We saw a Pied-billed Grebe off the end of F pad. There were seven species of ducks, including Wood Ducks, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teals and an American Wigeon. Northern Flickers have arrived with a count of 8 for the day. We had a high count of 18 Eastern Phoebes. There was still a Tricolored Heron present and a couple of Green Herons as well as a good number of Snowy and Great Egrets. We saw 42 Eastern Bluebirds. We finished the day with 68 species.

See the rest of Jack's notes and the latest Bird Census Results       

Photo Club Meeting: 

Night Photography With Russel Graves

Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 1:00 in the Visitor Center


Russell has been called a rural renaissance man, recognized among the top photographers in Texas, and praised by editors, art directors, and audiences alike for his gift of connecting people with places.

All are welcome, membership and/or registration are not necessary.

Photo Contest Results will be announced at the November Second Saturday, on November 8, 2025 beginning at 10:00 AM



Puddles' Craft Corner

By Cindy Steele, Master Naturalist

We’re Going Batty!

Welcome back to Puddles’ Craft Corner. Are you afraid of bats? Well, did you know that bats are afraid of you? These amazing mammals have long been misunderstood! In fact, bats actually help the environment and people by eating tons of flying insects that destroy crops and spread diseases. Bats also pollinate night flowers, such as cactus, and help spread seeds to create new fruit trees. They’re mysterious, nocturnal hunters who have captured our imaginations for centuries. Imagine you're outside when it's getting dark, and a shadowy creature flies past you. At first, you might think it's a bird, but then you realize it's actually a bat! You don't have to be afraid, though. That bat is likely trying to find insects to eat. It doesn't want to hurt you. In this lesson we'll uncover interesting facts and features about these unique animals.

What is a Bat?

Did you know that a bat is a mammal? A mammal is a type of animal that has fur or hair on its body and feeds its babies milk when born. Bats are special because they are the only mammals that can truly fly. A bat's body is covered head to toe in fur. Many bats look like mice with wings! Bats are able to fly because their front limbs are actually webbed. The webbing is a layer of skin that creates a wing that is very thin but strong. No other mammals have this unusual feature.

Bats have sharp teeth, but hardly ever use them for biting people or attacking animals. Out of over a thousand different species of bats, only three types are truly vampire bats. For the rest, teeth are mainly used for the same thing we use our teeth for: eating.

Like cats, bats clean themselves. Far from being dirty, bats spend a lot of time grooming themselves. Some, like the colonial bat, even groom each other. Besides having sleek fur...

Junior Ranger Program: Advanced and Intermediate

Complete a scavenger hunt, a leaf rubbing and identify a few common birds to become a Junior Ranger.  At the end of the journey report back to the Visitor Center where you will be guided through the Junior Ranger Pledge and receive a merit of completion. 

Print a Hagerman-specific Junior Ranger Packet or Advanced Jr. Ranger Packet or pick one up in the Visitor Center.


The Junior Ranger Pledge

As a Junior Ranger at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge,

I pledge to protect outdoor creatures small, big and huge.

To keep the water, air and land clean.

To make enjoying nature a routine.

I will share my new skills with family and friends.

When people and nature work together, everybody wins!

Sponsor the Friends of Hagerman NWR with a Membership

The Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to instill reverence, respect, and conservation of our wild creatures and habitats through supporting environmental education, recreational activities, and programs of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sponsors Enable the Friends to…

  • Provide at least 12 free, family friendly, nature-oriented activities every month
  • Provide the refuge with volunteers to plant wheat for the geese, mow the trails, pick up trash, paint and perform other chores assigned by refuge staff
  • Develop Second Saturday programs to educate the general public about wildlife conservation
  • Sponsor “The Refuge Rocks!” nature programs for children

  • Maintain the beautiful butterfly garden—a Monarch Waystation that has attracted species new to Grayson County

  • Facilitate Eastern Bluebird populations by maintaining and monitoring 45 nestboxes throughout the refuge

  • Provide interesting educational tram tours of the refuge via the “Wildlife Explorer”

  • Produce “The Featherless Flyer” newsletter and other publications to promote conservation

  • Maintain the friendsofhagerman.com  website 

Join Today!   Memberships available for $20

Come, Take a Tour on the Wildlife Explorer!

Come join us for a ride on the Wildlife Explorer! Our new and beautiful tram is available for ninety-minute tours of Hagerman every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM, weather permitting. Our tours are as varied as our drivers. Each tram driver has her/his approach to the tour: you may learn about wildlife, birds, habitat, refuge history, photography, you name it! To paraphrase, “a Wildlife Explorer tour at Hagerman is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” But you know it’s going to be good! Come see us! Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography.

Revisit this page when the government re-opens to make tram reservations!

  • Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography.   
  • Guided tours are weather permitting and seating is limited. 
  • Standbys are accepted if space permits. 
  • Recommended for age 6 - adult. 
  • Bring your binoculars or borrow ours.
  • Meet at the visitor center 15 minutes before departure. 
  • School, church, families or other groups of 6 to 8 people may request a special group tram tour on days other than regularly scheduled tram tour days 


Thank You

To Our Contributors:

Jack Chiles, Marnie Barnes Sadri, Donnie Simmons, Cindy Steele


Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley

Acting Deputy Refuge Manager: Mary Maddux

Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard 

Editors: Patricia Crain,  Laurie Sheppard


Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation

6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092

Phone: 903-786-2826

Contact Us  

Join us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/FOHNWR

www.facebook.com/groups/HagermanPhotoClub

Search for any word--do not use quotes for phrases

Events and activities hosted by the Friends of Hagerman are funded by donations and powered solely by volunteers.  There are no fees for admission to the refuge or parking. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year and you may drive on any road unless gated.

6465 Refuge Road

Sherman, TX 75092

             

Kroger: Stop by the customer service desk at Kroger and link your Kroger Card to the Friends of Hagerman: the Friends will get rewards for every dollar you spend, at no cost to you.

Please add info@friendsofhagerman.org to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer

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See you at the refuge! 

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