About Padre Island

Physical Facts

• At 113 miles long, Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the United States
• The official national park-designated area is called Padre Island National Seashore and only covers 67 miles of the entire 113-mile island
• Landscape is classified as coastal barrier flatland; soil is classified as soft white sand

Wildlife

• 4 Turtle Species (all are either endangered or threatened): Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill, and Kemp’s Ridley
• 11 Endangered Species: Eastern Brown Pelican, Piping Plover, Black-capped Vireos, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, and Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Reddish Egret, White-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous hawk, White-faced Ibis
• Over 350 bird species inhabit Padre Island National Seashore throughout the year
• Several mammals inhabit Padre Island: coyotes, white-tail deer, Kangaroo rats, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, opossums, raccoons and black-tailed jackrabbit
• Designated as critical habitat for several species of threatened and endangered birds: Aplomado Falcon, American Swallow-tailed Kite, Woodstork, and Bald Eagle

History as a National Park

• Has been a federally-protected national park since September, 1962
• Oil & gas operations began in early 1950s, and as early as 1955, the Dept. of the Interior was pushing the federal acquisition to protect Padre Island.
• In 1958, public support for a national park was growing and Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough introduced legislation in the US Congress
• President Kennedy officially established Padre Island National Seashore in September, 1962
• Subterranean mineral rights were kept private as a compromise to oil and gas interests but government took control of all surface rights. This is the reason why today private companies can drill for oil and gas on public land.