Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge

This is the Bayou TecheNational Wildlife Refuge home page. It is accessible from all the pages in the Southeast Louisiana (SELA) Refuges Complex web site in the menu on the left.

Photo of an egret in a cypress tree along one of the canals at Bayou Teche NWR

There are eight National Wildlife Refuges in the SELA Refuges Complex. The mission of these refuges and the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Each of the programs in the SELA Refuges Complex also has a page. Each of the programs is accessible from all the pages in the SELA Refuges Complex web site in a menu on the left side or near the bottom of the page.

Contact information for all the refuges can be found on the Contact Us page.

Directions to the Refuge: The refuge is located at the south edge of Franklin, LA. Franklin is approximately 55 miles from Lafayette, LA and 108 miles from New Orleans, LA. The refuge is accessible by vehicle, boat, and on foot. The refuge headquarters is located on the southwestern outskirts of Franklin, Louisiana at 1725 Willow Street. If traveling from New Orleans on Hwy 90 (Future I-49) exit at the North Franklin Exit (Northwest Blvd.), turn right (northeast), at a 4-way stop take a right (south) onto Chatsworth Road, travel 0.35 miles, at the stop sign continue straight for approximately 1 mile, after crossing a metal swing bridge, turn east (left) onto Willow Street toward Franklin. The Headquarters office trailer will be located on the right, approximately 1 block down. Bayou Teche NWR is managed cooperatively by staff shared with Mandalay NWR in Houma, LA. See the maps an aerial photos below for more information on the location of the refuge.

Endangered and Threatened Species on the Refuge: The American alligator and the Louisiana black bear. The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) is relatively abundant throughout the refuge. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) was de-listed as an endangered species in 1987 but remains listed as threatened due to similarity in appearance to the endangered American crocodile. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was de-listed as a threatened species in 2007.

Other Wildlife Species: Other wildlife species of interest include wading birds, ducks and bald eagles.

Habitat Description: The 9,028 acre refuge is forested with bottomland hardwoods and cypress-gum forests. The refuge was established in St. Mary Parish in 2001. The surrounding area includes oil and gas wells and canals.

Credit USFWS/Steven Reagan

Management Goals: The management goals of the refuge are to:

Provide habitat and refuge for the threatened Louisiana black bear. To learn more about the Louisiana black bear, see the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species profile page and the Black Bear Conservation Committee web site.
Provide the highest quality migratory bird habitat possible. For more information see the Fish and Wildlife Sercvice Louisiana Waterfowl Issues web page.
Allow compatible public use such as nature trails, recreational boating, fishing, hunting, wildlife observation and photography.
Promote research and restoration of the Louisiana black bear. We work with other government agencies and the Black Bear Conservation Committee to achieve this goal.
Provide opportunity for environmental education and interpretation.

We accomplish our goals through habitat management, management of black bears, law enforcement and environmental education.

Opportunities for Public Use: The opportunities for public use include bird watching, wildlife observation, boating, photography, fishing and hunting, during designated seasons in accordance with applicable regulations. Please see the applicable hunting, fishing and public use brochures and maps available below.

Events: We support the Bayou Teche Bear Festival each year in April. The Black Bear Conservation Committee and many other sponsors also help make this an enjoyable and educational event every year. Check back here and on the SELA Refuge Event Calendar for more information.

Questions and Answers:

Where is the Bayou Teche NWR?

Bayou Teche NWR is located approximately two miles south of Franklin, Louisiana and adjacent to Highway 90 (Future Interstate 49). Access is by vehicle, boat and on foot.

Can I hunt on Bayou Teche NWR?

© Tom Carlisle

Yes, hunting is allowed on the refuge. This 538th National Wildlife Refuge will offer archer deer, gun deer, gun deer for youth only, small game and waterfowl hunting. All hunters must read, sign and have in their possesion a Refuge Hunt Permit as found on the front of the Hunting and Fishing Brochure. All deer hunters must also apply for and obtain lottery permits to be issued by a random computer drawing each year. Refer to both of the refuge Hunting and Fishing Brochures below for details. No unauthorized nightime use by hunters is allowed on the refuge. See the hunting hours in the brochures. Also see the applicable "News Release" links below for more details.

Is fishing allowed on Bayou Teche NWR?

Yes, recreational fishing is allowed on the refuge during daylight hours. Fishing lines must be attended at all times. Commercial fishing is not allowed. Fishing is allowed from shore and from a boat in open waterways. Fisherman must also follow all State of Louisiana regulations. There is a new boat launch and pier (2007) at the Centerville Unit.

Where can I see a Louisiana black bear?

Bayou Teche NWR is the only National Wildlife Refuge with the specific mission of managing bears. This uniquely adapted, endangered subspecies of the American black bear currently occupies much of the refuge. Although shy and most active near dusk and dawn, visitors may see individual bears at any time during their visit to the refuge.

Documents, maps, aerial photos and brochures related to the refuge can be found here.

The JPG image files will open in a new browser window. When it opens, you can click on the image to view it full size.

Document Name	Description	Size
Refuge Map	Map of the Refuge	277k
Refuge Fact Sheet	Additional information about the refuge	102k
2008-2009 Refuge Hunting and Fishing Brochure, Part 1	Hunting and fishing regulations, refuge hunting permit.	61k
2008-2009 Refuge Hunting Brochure, Part 2	Hunting regulations, deer hunt lottery permit application and refuge map	165k
2008-2009 Hunting News Release	Information on regulations for hunters	31k
Bayou Teche NWR Aerial Photo	Aerial photo of refuge with approximate refuge boundaries	359k
Centerville Unit Aerial Photo	Aerial photo of unit with approximate unit boundaries	287k
Franklin Unit Aerial Photo	Aerial photo of unit with approximate unit boundaries	675k
Garden City and Bayou Sale Units Aerial Photo	Aerial photo of unit with approximate unit boundaries	557k
North Bend East & West Units Aerial Photo	Aerial photo of unit with approximate unit boundaries	560k

Last Updated on August 25, 2008