Welcome to the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex
© Tom Carlisle
There are eight National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeast Louisiana (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. These refuges are representative of the rich and varied habitat and wildlife resources of the coastal region of the state. They are part of a network of over 540 refuges throughout the country that are administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS).
This is the SELA Refuges Complex web site. You are invited to take a virtual tour of these refuges by viewing the pages within this web site. Hopefully the tour will entice you to visit the refuges in the near future.
© Tom Carlisle
This page is the SELA Refuges Complex Home Page. It is accessible from all the pages in the SELA Refuges Complex web site in the menu on the left or near the bottom of the page.
Each of the eight refuges in the complex has a home page. Each refuge home page is accessible from all the pages in the SELA Refuges Complex web site in the menu on the left.
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 or at the bottom of the page.
The "finder" menu to the upper left on each page provides links to web sites that have more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Southeast Region. The links can be used to find specific offices, programs and contacts in the FWS.
At the very bottom of each page are links to other federal government web sites.
SELA Refuges Complex Headquarters Location - The Southeast Louisiana Refuges' headquarters is located on a beautiful property in Lacombe, LA on Hwy 434 two miles south of I-12 (Exit 74). Watch for the Big Branch Marsh Refuge sign. Office Hours are 7 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday. Our phone number is (985) 882-2000. The headquarters property is known as "Bayou Lacombe Centre."
Refuge Visitor Center - The refuge complex has opened its visitor center located at the complex headquarters address above. The center displays exhibits about all eight refuges managed by the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex. Staffed by volunteers, the visitor center is open Thursdays-Saturdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Volunteers are needed to help run the visitor center. Please contact the volunteer coordinator at 985-882-2024.
Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges - The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges is a non-profit, membership organization that supports and advocates for the SELA Refuges. They sponsor several of the refuge annual events, obtain grants to support refuge projects, conduct fund-raising activities to support environmental education programs and help us operate and maintain the refuge facilities and programs by conducting weekend "work-play" days. We appreciate their support and encourage others to become members of the "Friends" organization.
Announcements
Kids having fun at Wild Things 2010
Wild Things will be held October 13, 2012!
This annual family event is hosted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. An action-packed day will be held at the 110-acre Bayou Lacombe Centre in Lacombe, LA from 10am to 5pm. There will be over 40 guest exhibitors. If you would like ot be an exhibitor, please fill out the this form.
Kids line up to build birdhouses, learn how to canoe, spin-cast for prizes at the casting pond, learn to shoot a bow and arrow, and take part in dozens of hands-on learning experiences at the many booths and displays throughout the grounds. There are also live snakes, alligators, lizards, hawks, owls and other critters to see and touch. They can learn about wildland fires and shoot the fire hose, or take part in the kid’s birding activity to learn keys to identify birds. There are Pontoon boat tours on the bayou, van tours to more remote refuge spots, and the “hayride shuttle” that links everything together and adds adventure to the day.
For adults, Youth Wildlife Art viewing of over 300 pieces of art from throughout the region and relaxing and enjoying live music will be some of your favorites. Every year, over 4,000 guests join us to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week at Wild Things. It’s all here every year, and it’s all free! Local food will be available for purchase to benefit the Friends of Louisiana Refuges.
Wild Things Youth Art Contest -
Young Artists Wanted!
The Wild Things Youth Art Contest and Exhibition is held every year in conjunction with Wild Things. The contest is open to youth from ages 5 to 18 in the mediums of drawing and painting. Prizes and ribbons are awarded to first, second, and third place winners and honorable mention winners receive ribbons. The art is on exhibit throughout the festival event and winners are recognized at an informal awards ceremony. For more information on the contest click here. For an entry form click here.
Public Canoe Tours on Big Branch Marsh Refuge
Stop by our updated Calendar of Events page to learn more about public canoe trips. The link is at the top of this page, to the left.
Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition Winners in Louisiana
Alexandra Sauer, 2011 Louisiana Junior Duck Stamp Best of Show
On March 28, 2011 five judges selected winners from the 228 Louisiana entries in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp art competition. Judging took place at the headquarters for the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex where the top 36 entries were on display until late October. The 2012 Junior Duck Stamp competition will be held by Tensas National Wildlife Refuge.
The 2011 Louisiana Best of Show is a painting of a Green-winged teal floating in the water by Alexandra Sauer of Benton, Louisiana. Alex’s artwork has been sent to the Federal Duck Stamp Office for the national competition which will be judged on April 15. The national winning picture will be made into the Federal Junior Duck Stamp which sells for $5.00 and promotes wetland conservation.
The federal Junior Duck Stamp Program encourages “conservation through the arts.” Entries must depict a species of North American waterfowl in its natural habitat. Winners are selected on the accuracy of anatomy, color and habitat as well as picture composition.
Each Junior Duck Stamp participant is also encouraged to write a conservation statement. One winner in each age group is selected in the conservation statement contest. This years Junior Duck Stamp contest will be managed out of Tensas River NWR.
© Tom Carlisle
Last Updated on
April 6, 2012