About Us
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1992, is located in Concordia Parish in east central Louisiana. The 14,668 acre refuge is composed of some of the last remaining, least disturbed bottomland hardwoods in the Mississippi River Delta. Because of its large contiguous stand of bottomland hardwood forest, the refuge was designated as critical habitat and serves as a corridor for the Louisiana black bear between Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge and the state of Louisiana’s Red River Wildlife Management Area.
Our Mission
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge strives to protect some of the last remaining, least disturbed and largest stands of bottomland hardwoods in the Lower Mississippi Valley, providing critical habitat for threatened and declining species. Current refuge management strategies aim to restore major portions of the refuge with several hardwood species, including oaks and bald cypress, that grew before human intervention.
Our History
In 1988, The Nature Conservancy purchased 11,230 acres from the Fisher Lumber Company, a subsidiary of General Motors, for resale to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The potential wildlife habitat values of old growth bottomland hardwoods and adjacent forests provided the impetus to purchase the property from its original owners. After acquisition from The Nature Conservancy, Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990 for the conservation and enhancement of wetlands; general wildlife management as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, including management of migratory birds; and fish and wildlife-oriented recreational activities.
Today, Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 14,600 acres in east central Louisiana, nestled between Ferriday and Monterey. Named after the bayou meandering through it, the refuge consists of critical habitats within the Lower Mississippi River Valley. It is part of a network of over 550 refuges throughout the country managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for wildlife and people to enjoy.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge is one of nine refuges that make up the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Each refuge in the complex plays vital role to conserving our nation's resources. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more Refuges, wildlife management areas or other Refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a Project Leader oversees the general management of all Refuges within the complex and Refuge Managers are responsible for operations at specific Refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, Refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all Refuges within the complex.
Checkout the list below of the other Refuges within the Complex, and visit each one for new and different experiences!
