Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Infobox Protected area
name = Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
iucn_category = IV


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location =
nearest_city = St. Francisville, Louisiana
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area = 9,623 acres
established = 2000
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governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge was established on October 27, 2000 as the 526th refuge in the United States National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located near the town of St. Francisville, Louisiana, which is 30 miles north of Baton Rouge. The refuge was established to conserve, restore, and manage native forested wetland habitats for migratory birds, aquatic resources, and endangered and threatened plants and animals. Additionally, it was created to encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local communities, and conservation organizations to promote public awareness of resources of the refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Establishment

In 2000, The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana purchased the land that would become Cat Island NWR. The land was acquired by the Fish and Wildlife Service in stages. In 2003, the refuge size increased to its current size of 9,623 acres. The Congressionally- approved acquisition boundary is 36,500 acres. 

Natural History

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is along the southern-most unleveed portion of the lower Mississippi River and floods in most years. The refuge is home to many fish, wildlife and plant resources. The forested wetlands of the refuge are home to the Federally listed Louisiana black bear. The Mississippi River is a major bird migration corridor and the refuge is located within an area of high importance for neotropical migratory birds, including the swallow-tailed kite, which is a species of special concern. Other wildlife found in the area include white-tailed deer, bobcat, mink, river otter, wild turkey, black-crowned night-heron, wood duck, blue-winged teal, woodcock, solitary sandpiper, greater yellowlegs, prothonotary warbler, northern parula, pileated woodpecker, green treefrog, and red-eared slider.

Several habitat types including overcup oak-bitter pecan, hackberry-elm-ash, nuttall oak-ash- sweetgum, and shrub-scrub swamp occur on the refuge. The most unique type, however, is old growth baldcypress-tupelo. Many of the baldcypress trees are estimated to be 500 to 1,000 years old. In fact, the National Champion baldcypress, which is also the largest tree of any species east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is found in the refuge. The National Champion baldcypress tree is located 4.8 miles from the entrance gate of the refuge. 

Access

The refuge is inundated by the river to varying degrees, generally between January and June. The refuge is accessible by vehicle when the Mississippi River gauge reading in Baton Rouge is less than about 26'. A series of gates have been installed along the road, which allow access as the Mississippi River rises and falls. No access to the National Champion baldcypress tree is available once the Mississippi River gauge in Baton Rouge reaches 26'. All vehicular access to the refuge ends at 31'.

References