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Drone Rules for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Los Fresnos, Texas (TX) • United States
22688 Buena Vista Blvd, Los Fresnos, TX 78566, USA
Lat: 26.229 • Lng: -97.3473

Rules Edit History: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

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May 30, 2026 8:56 AM Approved • Added USFWS drone prohibition for Laguna Atascosa NWR with US Ocelot last stronghold context and Northern Aplomado Falcon ESA reintroduction.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's role as the last stronghold of the ocelot in the U.S. and the northernmost nesting site for the aplomado falcon enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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Summary USFWS prohibits drones on Laguna Atascosa NWR. The refuge is the last stronghold of the ocelot in the United States (fewer than 80 individuals) and the northernmost nesting site for the aplomado falcon. Laguna Atascosa NWR prohibits all UAS operations under USFWS Director's Order 210. The refuge is the last stronghold of the Ocelot in the US, with a population of only 50-80 individuals.
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Before
## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for ocelot (endangered) and aplomado falcon (endangered).

### Airspace / Site Context
- Ocelot population (~80 individuals in the US) depends on dense thornscrub cover; drone noise and shadow cause documented flight responses in ocelot camera trap footage
- Brownsville/South Padre Island International (BRO) Class C is ~30 NM south; the Rio Grande Valley is heavily trafficked by CBP surveillance aircraft
- CBP Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) operates near the border; pilots must avoid the TARS cable and exclusion zones


### Key Rules
- Ocelot habitat disturbance is treated as a potential ESA Section 9 take; the USFWS ocelot recovery plan prescribes strict no-drone buffers
- CBP TARS exclusion zones may overlap the southern portion of the refuge; check NOTAMs before any flight near the Rio Grande
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; ocelot-related permits require USFWS ocelot recovery coordinator approval


### Source
- USFWS Laguna Atascosa: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa
After
## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa NWR

**All drone operations are strictly prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 (2015). Special Use Permit required; Ocelot habitat sensitivity makes permits rarely approved.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Valley International Airport (KHRL) Class C airspace lies ~20 miles NW
- Refuge spans 97,000 acres on the southern Texas coast near the Laguna Madre
- Less than 80 Ocelots remain in the US, concentrated in this refuge and adjacent private lands
- Northern Aplomado Falcon (ESA endangered) reintroduced here in 1980s-1990s

### Key Rules
- Absolute prohibition on UAS operations; no exceptions for casual photography
- Ocelot activity areas are never disclosed to the public to prevent disturbance
- Aplomado Falcon nest sites closed 0.5-mile buffer radius during breeding season
- ESA Section 9 take prohibition applies to any drone-induced Ocelot disturbance

### Source
- USFWS: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa
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  ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Northern Aplomado Falcon (ESA endangered) reintroduced here in 1980s-1990s
  
  ### Key Rules
+ - ESA Section 9 take prohibition applies to any drone-induced Ocelot disturbance
  
  ### Source
May 30, 2026 7:44 AM Approved • Added USFWS drone prohibition for Laguna Atascosa NWR with ocelot 80-individual US population, CBP TARS exclusion zones, and aplomado falcon ESA context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within the refuge. The added context enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
Sources
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Field Before After
Summary Drones are prohibited at Laguna Atascosa NWR per USFWS regulations. Ocelot critical habitat is protected. USFWS prohibits drones on Laguna Atascosa NWR. The refuge is the last stronghold of the ocelot in the United States (fewer than 80 individuals) and the northernmost nesting site for the aplomado falcon.
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Before
## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

**Drones are not allowed** at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit
- One of only two locations in the US with a wild ocelot population; drone disturbance could threaten the estimated 20 ocelots remaining

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa
After
## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for ocelot (endangered) and aplomado falcon (endangered).

### Airspace / Site Context
- Ocelot population (~80 individuals in the US) depends on dense thornscrub cover; drone noise and shadow cause documented flight responses in ocelot camera trap footage
- Brownsville/South Padre Island International (BRO) Class C is ~30 NM south; the Rio Grande Valley is heavily trafficked by CBP surveillance aircraft
- CBP Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) operates near the border; pilots must avoid the TARS cable and exclusion zones

### Key Rules
- Ocelot habitat disturbance is treated as a potential ESA Section 9 take; the USFWS ocelot recovery plan prescribes strict no-drone buffers
- CBP TARS exclusion zones may overlap the southern portion of the refuge; check NOTAMs before any flight near the Rio Grande
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; ocelot-related permits require USFWS ocelot recovery coordinator approval

### Source
- USFWS Laguna Atascosa: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa
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+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Ocelot population (~80 individuals in the US) depends on dense thornscrub cover; drone noise and shadow cause documented flight responses in ocelot camera trap footage
+ - Brownsville/South Padre Island International (BRO) Class C is ~30 NM south; the Rio Grande Valley is heavily trafficked by CBP surveillance aircraft
+ - CBP Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) operates near the border; pilots must avoid the TARS cable and exclusion zones
+ 
  ### Key Rules
  
  ### Source
May 29, 2026 4:31 AM Approved • Added USFWS drone ban for Laguna Atascosa NWR with ocelot critical habitat context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, aligning with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations and the site's status as a critical habitat for the endangered ocelot.
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Field Before After
Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — Drones are prohibited at Laguna Atascosa NWR per USFWS regulations. Ocelot critical habitat is protected.
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Before
After
## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

**Drones are not allowed** at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit
- One of only two locations in the US with a wild ocelot population; drone disturbance could threaten the estimated 20 ocelots remaining

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa
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+ ## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
+ 
+ **Drones are not allowed** at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
+ - Research use requires a Special Use Permit
+ - One of only two locations in the US with a wild ocelot population; drone disturbance could threaten the estimated 20 ocelots remaining
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa
+