Baygall Bog
Credit: WildTech
Big Thicket National Preserve
Member Since: 09/24/2001
Contact: Mary Kay Manning
6102 FM 420
Kountze, TX 77625
409-951-6700
9 Land Units + 6 Water Units = 105,000 acres
Educational Partners: Big Thicket Association, Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, Kountze, Texas, Economical Development Corporation, Rice University-Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, , National Parks and Conservation Association, , Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, , USGS Biological Resources Division, , USGS Water Resources Division, , The Nature Conservancy of Texas, , Lamar University- Geology, , Lamar University-Biology, , Golden Triangle Audubon, , Local School Districts, , Texas Education Agency, Regional Service Centers, , Boy Scouts, , Girl Scouts,, Campfire, , Sierra Club, , Hardin County Beautiful Clean, , Southeast Texas Art Council, , Jefferson County Historical Society, , Tyler County Historical Society, , Rio Bravo Oil Company, , Stephen F. Austin Univ., Entergy, , TU Electric,, SE Texas Tourism and EE Assn., , Native Plant Society, , U. S. Forest Service, , Texas Forest Service, , Texas Education Agency, , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, , Resource Conservation Districts, , Army Corps of Engineers, , Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, , Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee,, National Resource Conservation Service, , National Park Foundation, , Chevron, , Temple Inland, , Environmental Protection Agency, , County Extension Services, , Prude Ranch EE,, EXXON,, Partnership for Educational Technology,, G.L.O.B.E. ,
- Big Picture
October 11, 1974, Big Thicket became the first Preserve in the National Park System; established to protect the area's rich biological diversity.
December 15, 1981, the Preserve was designated an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program.
July 26, 2001, the American Bird Conservancy recognized the Preserve as a Globally Important Bird Area joining thousands of others around the world.
When you visit the Big Thicket, there will be no grand vistas or majestic mountain ranges to tantalize your eyes. However, you will see, when you choose to look closely around you, a unique assembly of species- Climate
Rain, heat, and humidity are part of the Big Thicket experience. It usually rains every month of the year, with 55 inches the yearly average.
During summer (June through September) caution is advised. The combination of high temperatures and humidity can lead to heat stress or heat stroke. For example, an air temperature of 95° F and a relative humidity of 65% equates to a heat index of 114° F.
The winter temperatures average in the mid-50's, rarely below freezing.- Geography
The Big Thicket represents some of the richest diversity in North America. Major glacial events and the rise and fall of sea levels "pushed" or encouraged species to move from separate ecological systems into
this common "neighborhood".- Ecosystem
Species from the Gulf Coastal Plains, Eastern Forests, and Central Plains share space with species indicative of swamps and bayous. Baldcypress swamps are a short distance from upland pine savannahs and sandhills. Roadrunners watch eastern bluebirds fly to and from their nests in nearby trees.
- Plants
Texas Trailing Phlox, Long Leaf Pine
- Animals
Red Cocaded Woodpecker, Feral hogs, Southern Black Bear
- Facilities
Visitor Center, Exhibits, Film, Trails
* Tags are significant words connected with this site's program and linkable with other HOL sites.