A federal judge has cleared the way for SpaceX to take over 715 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, land that shelters endangered ocelots, piping plovers and northern aplomado falcons. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the swap in June, trading protected refuge acreage for land SpaceX already owns near its Starbase rocket facility in Cameron County.

Construction could begin within days. Once this land leaves federal protection, there is no guarantee it stays wild. Environmental documents acknowledge it could instead be opened up to industrial, commercial or residential development.

This refuge already absorbs the fallout of SpaceX's rapid expansion. Rocket explosions during Starship testing have scattered debris, including chunks of concrete and metal, across six miles of refuge terrain. The Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, along with environmental justice groups, say the exchange also erases land with deep cultural, spiritual and historical meaning for South Texas communities, and that the review moved forward without real input from the people it affects most.

"These lands hold incredible spiritual, historical and conservation value for the people and wildlife of South Texas," said Laiken Jordahl of the Center for Biological Diversity, according to Border Report. "We won't stop fighting to keep this irreplaceable public wildlife refuge safe from SpaceX bulldozers."

The lawsuit challenging this exchange is still active, but the injunction that could have paused construction was denied. Public pressure matters more than ever right now, before bulldozers arrive.

Sign the petition to demand the Fish and Wildlife Service reverse this land exchange and keep the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge protected before it's gone for good.