Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Facts Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge was established on October 27, 2000 as the 526th refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located near the town of St. Francisville, Louisiana, which is 30 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 use 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 land that would become Cat Island NWR. The land was acquired by the Fish and Wildlife Service in stages. In 2003, the refuge size increased to its current size of 9,623 acres. The Congressionally- approved acquisition boundary is 36,500 acres.

Activities include; canoeing, fishing, hunting, photograph, birding and hiking. More information on hunting & fishing permits can be found on Cat Island NWR website at http://www.fws.gov/catisland/

The refuge or parts of, are closed periodically due to flooding by the Mississippi River. For information on Miss. River stages and the park's closure, visit their website at http://www.fws.gov/catisland/ or on this website by clicking here.

Directions to the Refuge:
Short Route (only accessible if the low water bridge is open): Take LA Hwy 10 ( Ferdinand St. ) through the historic district and head west toward the ferry landing. Turn right onto Tunica St./Mahoney Road and follow that over the low water bridge. (If bridge is out, then have to take route below). At fork, veer left onto Creek Road and follow the signs to the refuge from there.

Longer Route (must take this route if low water bridge is out): Go west on Highway 66 from Highway 61 (north of St. Francisville). After 1.5 miles, turn left on Solitude Rd. Go about 3.5 miles and then turn right at the refuge sign. Follow the signs to the refuge from there (about 1.5 miles).