Wildlife Trail

Wildlife Trail. . Native Americans camped near the headwaters of the San Antonio River for thousands of years before Spaniards established a permanent settlement here. The area's abundant water sustained a rich array of vegetation and wildlife and provided a cool retreat. Doves, mockingbirds, deer, raccoons and other animals all found shelter among the Oaks and Cedar Elms. Travelers, as well as seed-carrying birds, introduced new plants to the San Antonio River Valley including the Anaqua tree (also called the sandpaper tree for its rough leaf). The Anaqua's edible berries were used to dry meat, and its trunk provided wood for fence posts and wagons. Today, the Anaqua tree is found as far north as San Marcos., Captions , Lower Left: Camp of the Lipans, painting courtesy of Witte Museum, San Antonio , Upper Right: Mission San Jose, Image courtesy of Amos Carter Museum, Fort Worth