Earlier this month, Rand McNally and USA TODAY announced the second annual search for the Best Small Towns in America. As part of that search, they are celebrating and publicizing local b... Click for more

Richard Meyers, Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge Manager, announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Inland Fisheries Section, Friends of the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Wetlands, and v... Click for more

Three refuges within the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Cameron Prairie, Sabine, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) will open for public sport fishing Thursday, March 15, 2012 through October 15, 2012.  Boat admittance into the refuges is permitted from one ... Click for more

A new phone number has been established for updates on public access to the Cameron Prairie Wildlife Refuge.  The number to call for opening/closure information is (855) 532-9955.  If you have any further questions, please... Click for more

According to Terry Delaine, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Manager, Northline recreation area at Sabine refuge, south of Hackberry, will be closed through May of this year. The closure is necessary to complete construction of a new concrete access bridge from Highway 27 into the recreation area.... Click for more

The boat bay at Grand Bayou allowing public access to the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge will be closed until further notice beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.  The closure is necessary to allow fresh water from recent rains to alleviate high salinities in the Cameron Creole Waters... Click for more

Cameron Prairie, Lacassine, and Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Offices as well as the Cameron Prairie NWR Visitor Center will be closed December 23-26 and December 30-January 2. The offices will re-open December 27 and January 3, respectively, at 7:30 am. All permitted outdoor activiti... Click for more

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex annual winter closure to fishing and boating begins at one hour after sunset on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Cameron Prairie’s Gibbstown Unit, Lacassine Pool and designated refuge waters, and Sabine’s interior marshes and water... Click for more

According to Cameron Prairie and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge Managers, Glenn Harris and Richard Meyers, respectively, bow hunting for each of these refuges opens Saturday, October 1, 2011, and will remain open through Friday, November 11, 2011.  Bow hunting will be in accordance with ... Click for more

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex initiated the 120 hour pre-storm phase of their Hurricane Action Plan, Thursday, September 1, 2011 in preparation for the forecasted tropical storm/hurricane within the Gulf of Mexico.  The Visitor Center located at Cameron Prairie Nat... Click for more

The Louisiana Teal season is scheduled for September 10- September 25, 2011.   Both Sabine and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges will be open to Teal hunting throughout the season on designated days. Only approved non-toxic shot may be used.

Sabine NWR is open for hunting Wedn... Click for more

According to Refuge Manager Glenn Harris, dove hunting will be open at
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge each day during the first split of
the state regulated dove hunting season (September 3-11, 2011).  Dove
hunting on the refuge will follow the Louisiana Depart... Click for more

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge Manager, Richard Meyers, announced today that rainfall throughout the past month has increased the water level in Lacassine Pool.  Due to the water level increase, both the Tidewater Road boat crossing and Tidewater Road east boat launch were re-opened this... Click for more

A large portion of Sabine National Wildlife Refuge will be closed for safety purposes during Feral Hog Management Operations which will be conducted all day Wednesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 18, 2011.  The refuge will be closed to the public, including all boat access, from Highway 2... Click for more

The 6,000 acre G-1 unit within Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) 16,000 acre impoundment known at the “Lacassine Pool” has been identified as a top priority to prescribe burn within the Southwest Louisiana NWR Complex (Complex) by the end of this year.  Fire management of... Click for more

Lightening has ignited five wildfires on Sabine and Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuges along the Gulf coast in southwest Louisiana since June 18, 2011. The initial wildfire, the Tourbe’ fire, ignited on June 18th on a natural ridge located in the north centr... Click for more

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge Manager, Richard Meyers, announced today that several water control structures with boat crossings within the Lacassine Pool will be closed due to low water conditions resulting from lack of rainfall. The Lacassine Pool which is a man-made impoundment is nearl... Click for more

GPS Ranger™ uses cutting edge technology to enhance visitors’ Creole Nature Trail All-American Road experience like never before!

LAKE CHARLES, La. (May 4, 2011) - The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, also known as Louisiana’s Outback, has now been brought to life ... Click for more

According to Terry Delaine, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Manager, intermittent closures of Hog Island Gully and West Cove Recreation areas will be necessary to complete repairs to the large water control structures along the east side of Highway 27.  Intermittent closures for several week... Click for more

The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, also known as Louisiana’s Outback, has now been brought to life with the GPS Ranger™ Handheld Video Solution and Smartphone application for visitors.

The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is a 180-mile driving tour through ... Click for more

"We still believe that there is the opportunity for Congress to avoid a government shutdown, but we are working to prepare for all possible scenarios," stated Don Voros Project Leader for National Wildlife Refuges in Southwest Louisiana.  "Our current guidance calls for all em... Click for more

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will be holding a public meeting on April 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm in the Contraband Room of the Lake Charles Civic Center.  This public meeting is being held to discuss the future of land based cast netting for shrimp on Sabine National Wildlife Refuge... Click for more

Three refuges within the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Cameron Prairie, Sabine, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) will open for public sport fishing Tuesday, March 15, 2011 through October 15, 2011.   Possession of all applicable fishing licenses is r... Click for more

Prescribed burning is a commonly used marsh habitat management tool used on federal, state, and private lands in southwest Louisiana.  The first quarter of this year it has been common place to see smoke columns throughout the marshlands of southwest Louisiana while traveling throughout the ... Click for more

A Research Symposium covering a diversity of topics about wetlands, National Wildlife Refuges, and the research and programs conducted on local refuges will be held Saturday, March 12, 2011 at McNeese State University, in the Gayle Hall Auditorium, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   This cooperati... Click for more

LA 384 at the Intracoastal Canal will be taken out of service on April 11, 2011, and will be out of service for approximately 8 weeks. The Grand Lake Pontoon Bridge will be going in for dry-docking as per US Coast Guard regulations.

Motorists are advised to take the Black Bayou Po... Click for more

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel are planning to conduct several
prescribed burns on Sabine National Wildlife Refuge during the month of
February.  According to Matt Johnson, Fire Management Officer for the
Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, bu... Click for more

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex) will begin accepting permit applications for Calendar year 20101annual fishing guide permits for the East Cove Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge beginning immediately.  This permit will give qualified fi... Click for more

According to Refuge Manager, Glenn Harris, snipe hunting will open on Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, January 24, 2011.  Hunting will be allowed through February 27, 2011.  Hunting will be permitted all days of the week from one half hour before sunrise to sunset.  Snipe ... Click for more

Lake Charles, LA., November 9, 2010- The National Hurricane Museum & Science Center (NHMSC) Board of Directors will be showcasing the design and site plans for its new attraction planned for the lakefront of downtown Lake Charles to the Lake Charles City Council, on Tuesday evening, November ... Click for more

November 8, 2010    

The public meeting to discuss the future of land based cast netting for shrimp at Sabine National Wildlife Refuge has been postponed from this month until April 2011.  Interest in this issue has died down dramatically since the initial tempora... Click for more

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge Association are coordinating a national effort to craft a renewed vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System.  Our collective charge to conserve the nature of America has never been more profound, and we are coming toget... Click for more

Hackberry, LA.    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officials closed Hog Island Gully Recreation Area on Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Friday, September 24, 2010, due to wanton waste of fish, human health and safety issues, highway safety issues, excessive litter, and illegal sales... Click for more

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division's Special Operations Unit in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) federally charged 17 individuals on May 6 for shrimp violations on the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Cameron Parish.Click for more

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex has five different Lottery Drawn Waterfowl Hunt opportunities on Cameron Prairie and Lacassine refuges. The application period for all lottery waterfowl hunts is September 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010. All applications will be mailed ... Click for more

Project Leader Donald Voros has announced the availability of the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Draft Feral Hog Management Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Compatibility Determination for public review and comment.  A copy of the documents can be obtained at the Southwest Louisiana Nati... Click for more

The Louisiana Teal season is scheduled for September 11- September 26, 2010.   Both Sabine and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges will be open to Teal hunting throughout the season on designated days. Only approved non-toxic shot may be used. 

Sabine NWR is open for huntin... Click for more

According to Refuge Manager Glenn Harris, dove hunting will be open at Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge each day during the first split of the state regulated dove hunting season (September 4-12, 2010).  Dove hunting on the refuge will follow the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and ... Click for more

Deepwater Horizon Incident
Joint Information Center

Phone: (713) 323-1670
(713) 323-1671

WASHINGTON -- In a few weeks, millions of waterfowl and other migratory birds will soon begin their fall migration to wintering and stopover habitat along the Gulf Coast. In anti... Click for more

Cameron Parish and the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road are not currently under threat of oil entering its waters. Attractions, recreation, fishing, crabbing, shelling and nature photography are still viable and thriving along the Creole Nature Trail. You can experience newly refurbished exh... Click for more

Project Leader Donald Voros has announced the availability of the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Plan and Environmental Assessment for public review and comment.  A copy of the document can be obtained at the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters Office, ... Click for more

See the video at http://www.bukisa.com/videos/260260_travel-the-creole-nature-trail-in-southwest-louisiana

Three refuges within the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Cameron Prairie, Sabine, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) will open for public sport fishing Monday, March 15, 2010 through October 15, 2010.   Possession of all applicable fishing licenses... Click for more

LAKE CHARLES, La.— When it comes to discussing wildlife regions in the area, the sentiment of residents in Southwest Louisiana is “if you leave it, they will come.”

Other than normal maintenance at the different state and national refuges, the land is basically un... Click for more

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Within the bountiful marshes and swamps of Southwest Louisiana resides a beast. Broad of face, with a flat, round snout, this predator feeds on fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, birds, mammals, and carrion—and has been known to occasionally attack huma... Click for more