Breeds of Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
A federal refuge in south-west Oklahoma that has kept a herd of Texas Longhorns since 1927, when the breed was nearly lost.
Breeds of this place
Best time: April to June and September to November.
The Wichita Mountains rise from the prairie in south-west Oklahoma, old granite hills covered with grass and oak. The refuge here was set aside in the early twentieth century to protect wildlife. In 1927 the United States government brought a small herd of Texas Longhorns to the refuge, gathered from ranches in Texas, to save the breed, which had almost vanished as ranchers turned to British beef breeds.
Saving the Longhorn
By the 1920s, purebred Texas Longhorns were hard to find. Forest Service officers searched south Texas and the border country for cattle with the old type, and brought about thirty animals to the Wichita Mountains. The herd grew, and surplus animals sold from the refuge helped to found herds across the country. The breed's revival owes much to this herd and to a few private ranchers.
The refuge today
Longhorns graze the refuge's mixed grass prairie freely, alongside elk, deer and other wildlife. They are managed as part of the prairie landscape, and surplus animals are still sold at auction. Visitors see them along the roads and walking trails.
A trail idea for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
- Refuge visitor centre Displays on the prairie and the Longhorn herd.
- Mount Scott A road to the summit with views over the refuge.
- Prairie roads Longhorns graze close to the roads and pull-offs.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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