Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Parks Directory of the United States / National Wildlife RefugesAddress:401 Island Rd
Marksville, LA 71351

Phone:318-253-4238
Fax:318-253-7139
Web: www.fws.gov/catisland
Established: 2000.
Location:Near the town of Saint Francisville, about 25 miles north of Baton Rouge.
Facilities:Trails (4 miles).
Activities:Hunting, boating, fishing, hiking.
Special Features:Refuge lands contain old-growth bald cypress trees estimated to be 500 to 1,000 years old, including the National Champion bald cypress. Bald cypress is the largest tree species east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Habitats: 9,623 acres of forested wetlands in the Mississippi floodplain. The federally approved acquisition boundary encompasses 36,500 acres; additional acreage will be added as funding becomes available.
Access: Open year round during daylight hours. However, the refuge is completely inundated by the Mississippi River annually (generally between January and June) and is inaccessible by vehicle once floodwaters cross the road.
Wild life: Louisiana black bear (endangered) and neotropical migratory birds. Other wildlife found in the area are white-tailed deer, bobcat, mink, river otter, wild turkey, and several species of amphibians.

See other parks in Louisiana.