Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge is about water - and lots of it. This important refuge on both the Central and Mississippi Flyway attracts hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl to its natural freshwater marshes and to its extensive impoundment of open water at Lacassine Pool. Green-winged teals, northern pintails, mallards and other ducks begin descending on the refuge in September. Many remain through the winter.
All seasons can be interesting at Lacassine. In the fall, shorebirds foage in the refuge's rice fields and crawfish ponds. And during breeding season, egrets, herons, anhingas and cormorants form rookeries in the cypress trees lining Mud Lake.
In total, Lacassine provides habitat for 228 species of birds. Mammals include white-tailed deer, mink, otter, swamp rabbit, fox squirrel, coyote and raccoon, as well as the much more rarely seen Louisiana black bear.
Cars are permitted on four miles of refuge roads, and hiking is allowed on another thirty miles of service roads and levees. Lacassine Pool has a public boat-launching site open between March 15 and October 15.
Other permitted activities include berry picking, deer and waterfowl hunting, recreational fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, gar and bowfin and wildlife observation at Lacassine Pool and Unit B.
WHERE TO STAY
A River's Edge Bed and Breakfast Located by a winding bayou, this Lake Charles bed and breakfast offers guests a choice between two rooms or a poolside cabana house.
La Quinta Inn and Suites Wireless internet and pet-friendly with pet deposit. Located in Sulpher, Louisiana.
DIRECTIONS TO REFUGE: Eleven miles southwest of Lake Arthur, Louisiana at the end of Highway 3056.
OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS:
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Located 25 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Cameron Prairie has reopened after suffering extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Bird List and Map of Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges
USGS Bird List for Lacassine NWR.
All seasons can be interesting at Lacassine. In the fall, shorebirds foage in the refuge's rice fields and crawfish ponds. And during breeding season, egrets, herons, anhingas and cormorants form rookeries in the cypress trees lining Mud Lake.
In total, Lacassine provides habitat for 228 species of birds. Mammals include white-tailed deer, mink, otter, swamp rabbit, fox squirrel, coyote and raccoon, as well as the much more rarely seen Louisiana black bear.
Cars are permitted on four miles of refuge roads, and hiking is allowed on another thirty miles of service roads and levees. Lacassine Pool has a public boat-launching site open between March 15 and October 15.
Other permitted activities include berry picking, deer and waterfowl hunting, recreational fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, gar and bowfin and wildlife observation at Lacassine Pool and Unit B.
WHERE TO STAY
A River's Edge Bed and Breakfast Located by a winding bayou, this Lake Charles bed and breakfast offers guests a choice between two rooms or a poolside cabana house.
La Quinta Inn and Suites Wireless internet and pet-friendly with pet deposit. Located in Sulpher, Louisiana.
DIRECTIONS TO REFUGE: Eleven miles southwest of Lake Arthur, Louisiana at the end of Highway 3056.
OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS:
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Located 25 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Cameron Prairie has reopened after suffering extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Bird List and Map of Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges
USGS Bird List for Lacassine NWR.
