About Us

Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 to provide valuable waterfowl habitat in the Mississippi/Red River floodplain as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Due to its location in east-central Louisiana, the refuge is influenced by both the Mississippi and Central Flyways and the large expanses of shallow wetlands draw a diversity of waterfowl species. 

Although Northern pintails, mallards, wood ducks, and green-winged teal are the dominant species, blue-winged teal, northern shovelers, gadwall and American wigeon are also common during the fall and winter months. Large numbers of snow and white-fronted geese winter on the refuge. During the spring and summer months, a variety of migratory songbirds utilize the bayous, scattered forested tracts, and shallow marsh habitat. Numerous native species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and insects are common residents of the refuge.

Other Facilities in this Complex

Grand Cote  NWR is managed as part of the Central Louisiana Refuges Complex.

White-tailed deer during sunrise in the fog at a distance
Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge
Catahoula NWR was established in 1958 as a wintering area for migratory waterfowl. Most of the Refuge's approximately 25,000 acres are lowland hardwood forests subject to backwater flooding from the Ouachita, Black, and Red Rivers.
National Wildlife Refuge
Jonesville,LA
White-tailed deer during sunrise in the fog at a distance
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Ophelia NWR was once part of a large contiguous Mississippi River bottomland hardwood forest. The Refuge was established in 2000 with the purpose of conserving and restoring habitat for migratory birds, aquatic resources, and endangered plants and animals.
National Wildlife Refuge
Marksville,LA