U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo National Wildlife Refuge System Logo Celebrating a Century of Conservation
Banner graphic displaying the Fish & Wildlife Service logo, the National Wildlife Refuge System logo and the Celebrating a Century of Conservation tagline
Shell Keys
National Wildlife Refuge
(mailing address)
61389 Hwy. 434
Lacombe, LA   70445
E-mail: SoutheastLouisiana@fws.gov
Phone Number: 985-882-2000
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://www.fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex/		 This small group of islands or "keys" is often overwashed & sometimes disappears, a testimony to Louisiana's dissapearing coastline.
Blue horizontal line
  Overview
Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1907, Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is also a testimony to the fast eroding shoreline of Louisiana. Its boundary was and still is rather loosely described as "... a small group of unsurveyed islets located in the Gulf of Mexico about three and one half miles south of Marsh Island, LA, and approximately at latitude 29 degrees 26 minutes north, longitude 91 degrees 51 minutes west from Greenwich..." The boundary of the refuge has been interpreted to be those areas in this vicinity that are above mean high tide.

For a number of years, there has been only one islet at this location. This islet is composed almost entirely of shell fragments. It is extremely dynamic and builds or recedes with passing storms. Vegetation is almost entirely lacking. Birds known to nest here include royal terns, sandwich terns, black skimmers, and laughing gulls. In addition, the islet is used at various times as a loafing area by white pelicans, brown pelicans, and various other species of terns and gulls. Recent hurricanes and storms have eroded the island to such an extent that no nesting has occurred since 1992. Public access to the refuge is restricted due to its remoteness.


Getting There . . .
Please call the Southeast Louisiana Refuge Complex for directions at 985-882-2000.

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address:

Your full starting address AND town and state OR zip code


Google Maps opens in a new window

NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service domain. We do not control the content or policies of the site you are about to visit. You should always check site policies before providing personal information or reusing content.

These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

horizontal line


     Recreation and Education Opportunities
Fishing
Photography
Wildlife Observation
 Learn More >>

Dark blue horizontal line

Managment Activities

Resource values are maintained by natural processes. The refuge is monitored to ensure that these values have not been compromised.