Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE BENTSENTHANK YOU FOR VISITING! WELCOME TO BENTSENRIO GRANDE VALLEY S T A T E Bentsen is a haven for wildlife and plants so take only memories and photographs. It is prohibited to collect plants, animals, and artifacts or to play bird calls within the park. Irresponsible behavior can have a negative impact. Make sure you leave what you find so the next visitor gets to experience the park in its full beauty. If you want to learn how to transform your backyard into a haven for wildlife, ask a park ranger for pointers! PARK! ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES YOU CAN IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE WILD FOREST OF THE RIVER DELTA ON A WALK, CYCLE, OR SHUTTLE RIDE. DON’T MISS OUT ON DISCOVERING WHAT’S NEW AND CHECK-IN Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062) Mission, TX 78572 (956) 584-9156 www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/bentsen-rio-grande-valley Other parks in the area: Estero Llano Grande State Park – Mercedes, TX Resaca de la Palma State Park – Brownsville, TX Falcon State Park – Falcon Heights, TX AT THE HEADQUARTERS WITH THE RANGERS THAT CALL THIS PLACE HOME. © 2022 TPWD. PWD BR P4502-0058S (7/22) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/park-pubs RIO GRANDE VALLEY STATE PARK B E N T S E N - R I O G R A N D E V A L L E Y S T A T E P A R K THE LOCALS Ebony Grove SHAPED BY THE RIVER Life in the delta was shaped over thousands of years by the Rio Grande as it weaved in and out of the land creating dense forests of ash, elm, and ebony. These same forests inspired the Bentsen family to preserve the rich wildlife diversity that would become the legacy of the park. Ebony Grove is a living testament to that decision and offers a beautiful escape through picnics, camping, and wildlife viewing. Only tiny bits of habitat like this area remain since the introduction of agriculture and the taming of the river, making this a true wildlife haven. A FUNNEL FOR MIGRATION Hundreds of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and other wildlife species are seen here annually. “Valley specialties” like the Altamira Oriole, Gray Hawk, and Mexican Bluewing butterfly attract people from across the United States and even across the globe. This delta provides not only for local wildlife, but also occasional rare species from Mexico, and even new species that have yet to be studied. Wildlife observation is for everyone at Bentsen. There are wheelchair accessible shuttles, bathrooms, and photo blinds. Don’t forget to bring cameras and binoculars! You never know what’s just around the bend. Chachalaca Gray Hawk Yellow Warbler T his area is a funnel for migrating birds with the Gulf of Mexico to the east and mountains to the west. The Bentsen hawk tower is a great place to see raptors like Broad-winged Hawks and Turkey Vultures soaring overhead. Smaller songbirds such as Scarlet Tanagers, Painted Buntings and Yellow Warblers are just a few of the dozens of species moving through the area every spring and fall along two major bird migration paths. Scarlet Tanager