Cat Island

National Wildlife

Refuge

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
USFWS

The mission of the

U.S. Fish and

Wildlife

Service

is

working

with

others to

conserve,

protect

and

enhance

fish, wildlife,

plants and their

habitat for the

continuing benefit

of the American

people.
Introduction

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

was established in October 2000 as

the 526th refuge in the National

Wildlife Refuge System. It is located

near the town of St. Francisville,

Louisiana, which is 25 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

participation 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.

In 2000, The Nature Conservancy of

Louisiana purchased the 9,500 acres

that eventually was acquired by the

Fish and Wildlife Service. The

Congressionally-approved acquisition

boundary is 36,500 acres.

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

is along the southern-most unleveed

portion of the lower Mississippi River

and completely floods in most years.

The river may rise several times

during the year beginning in late

December through June. Some areas

of the refuge receive more than 15

feet of water. As the river rises, the

refuge becomes closed to all vehicular

access. River levels can be checked at

“www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc” or by

checking Baton Rouge’s newspaper,

“The Advocate.”

Above: great

egret; left:

Champion

baldcypress tree

Mike Boylan

This blue goose,

designed by J.N.

Ding Darling,

has become the

symbol of the

National Wildlife

Refuge System.
Hard

Ditc

Mississippi

River

Cat

Island

Road

Cat

Island

Road

Mississippi

River

N

0 Miles 1

0 Kilo 1

LEGEND

Refuge land

Refuge entrance & kiosk

Locked gate

Water

Paved road

Gravel road

Unimproved road

(restricted by flooding/rain)

ATV Trail 

(open September - February)
Bayou Sara

Bayou Sara

Blackfork

Bayou

Blackfork

Trail

Big Cypress

Trail

To Highway 66

Blackfork

Lake

Main

Canal

Cobb

Lake

Lake

Platte

dwick's

ch

Jacko Road

Creek

Road

Solitude

Road

Tunica

Street/

Mahoney

Road

St.

Francisville

Cat Island

National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife

The refuge is home to many fish,

wildlife and plant resources. As

Mississippi River floodwaters recede

from the refuge in the spring, water

and fish remain in oxbow lakes and

depressed areas in the swamp.

Fish species known to occur include

largemouth bass, bream, catfish,

crappie, buffalo, and alligator gar.

The Mississippi River is a major

bird migration corridor and the

refuge is located within an area of

high importance for neotropical

migratory birds. Other wildlife found

in the area include white-tailed deer,

bobcat, river otter, black-crowned

night-heron, wood duck, woodcock,

solitary sandpiper, and prothonotary

warbler.

Habitat

Common trees on the refuge include

water tupelo, baldcypress, overcup

and Nuttall oak, bitter pecan,

sugarberry, and sweetgum. Many of

the baldcypress trees are estimated

to be 500 to 1,000 years old.

Public Use

Public use opportunities such as

wildlife observation, photography,

environmental education, hunting, and

fishing are available on the refuge.

Big Cypress Trail

The National Champion baldcypress

tree is located along this 1/2-milelong trail. The trailhead is located

about five miles from the refuge

entrance. The champion tree is the

largest tree of any species in the

United States east of the Sierra

Nevada Mountains.

Blackfork Trail

This 2 1/2 mile-long trail follows along

scenic Blackfork Bayou. Several large

baldcypress trees are located along

the trail. The trailhead is about 1 3/4

miles from the refuge entrance.

USFWS USFWS

Top: spider;

middle: yellowcrowned nightheron; bottom:

red-shouldered

hawk

Bob Loudon
The refuge headquarters office is

located at 5720 Commerce Street in

St. Francisville Inn and is open on

weekdays.

Refuge Regulations

Daylight use only.

Unleashed pets are not permitted on

the refuge.

Littering on the refuge is prohibited.

Firearms are prohibited, except

during refuge hunts.

All vehicles are restricted to public

roads and designated parking areas.

No parking is allowed on refuge

roads.

Camping and open fires are

prohibited on the refuge.

No overnight parking.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) use is

permitted on designated trails only.

Top: white-tailed

deer; middle:

swamp milkweed;

bottom: wood

ducks

James C. Leupold USFWS Dane Menhe
Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

PO Box 1936

St. Francisville, LA 70775

Phone: 225/635 4753

Fax: 225/635 3596

E-mail: catisland@fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

September 2003

Photo: Walter Clifton