Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge

Infobox Protected area
name = Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge
iucn_category = IV

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caption = Map of the United States
base_width =
locator_x = 162
locator_y = 144
location = Cameron and Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
nearest_city = Lake Arthur, Louisiana
coords =
area = convert|35000|acre|km2
established = 1937
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
world_heritage_site =
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge is located in Cameron and Evangeline Parishes in southwestern Louisiana, was established in 1937 by Executive Order No. 7780 as "a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife." The refuge is nearly convert|35000|acre|km2 in size, including convert|653|acre|km2 leased from the Cameron Parish School Board.

Wildlife and habitat

The vegetation types occurring on the refuge are primarily water tolerant grasses, sedges, and shrubs. Vegetation in the undeveloped marshes is dominated by bulltongue and maidencane. The habitat is divided into convert|16500|acre|km2 of natural, freshwater marsh and open water, convert|16000|acre|km2 of managed, freshwater marsh (Lacassine Pool), convert|2200|acre|km2 of rice, wheat, soybean, and natural moist soil fields, convert|350|acre|km2 of flooded gum and cypress trees, and convert|350|acre|km2 of restored tallgrass prairie.

Most wildlife species found on the refuge are those indigenous to the marshes of coastal Louisiana. Nesting colonies of wading birds such as ibis, roseate spoonbills, and egrets, alligators, and furbearers such as mink, otter, and raccoon and nutria are found on the refuge. Threatened and endangered species that have used the refuge include bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and Louisiana black bear.

Several hundred thousand ducks and geese use the refuge as wintering habitat while wood ducks, fulvous and black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and mottled ducks nest on the refuge during the breeding season. The refuge offers fishing, hunting, boating, wildlife observation, and hiking.

Lacassine NWR, known for attracting thousands of pintails each winter (a peak of 300,000), has also seen the effects of the decreasing populations. The refuge hosted numbers well over 100,000 until the mid-1980s then saw the peaks reduced by half in the 1990s. Drought years in the mid 2000s caused a decline from 30,000 down to around 18,000. The birds are concentrated in the northwest and northeast sections of the Pool.

Management

Lacassine NWR is managed intensively for waterfowl and other Louisiana coastal wetland species. The refuge has a wetland management program in which water levels are manipulated for managing naturally occurring marsh and moist soil plants and a Copeland management program where crops are planted to provide food for wintering waterfowl that migrate down the Mississippi and Central Flyways.

Habitat is made more attractive to waterfowl and shorebirds by mechanical methods and flooding with costs reimbursed to the landowner or farmer. The refuge also has an active coastal prairie restoration program and a prescribed burning program. Native prairies and marshes are periodically burned on a 3-5 year rotational basis to invigorate native grasses and forbs and to set back cool season plant growth or to reduce the fuel load and organic accumulations in the marshes.

Lacassine has a Wilderness Management program to help in managing the convert|3445|acre|km2|sing=on wilderness area found on the refuge and an oil and gas program to help minimize disturbance from mineral owner's activities. An alligator trapping program is used to manage the refuge's American alligator population. The refuge also has an active volunteer/intern program.

Recreation

Hunting and fishing are two of the most popular refuge activities. Bird watching is also very popular, with a bird list available at the refuge or online. A nature drive, foot trails, and observation towers are available year-round. An active volunteer program provides additional opportunities and students are able to earn college credits through an internship at the refuge.

ee also

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References