Hi Everyone. Today's trip is to somewhere different than we usually
go. We are going to the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge
in Louisiana.
Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1984. Its 15,000
acres are part of the largest bottomland hardwood swamp in the
country. This beautiful swampland offers a multitude of recreational
options. Hunting, fishing, hiking and some of the best wildlife
viewing opportunities in the country exist in the Atchafalaya Basin.
The refuge is managed cooperatively with the Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries Sherburne Wildlife Management Area and the
Corps of Engineers Atchafalaya Spillway Water Diversion Project.
There are endangered and threatened species on the refuge, which include
the Louisiana black bear and American alligator. The American
alligator 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 was de-listed as a threatened
species in 2007. Other wildlife species found there are white-tailed
deer, eastern wild turkey, swallow-tailed kite, and neo-tropical
migratory birds.
It is located in America’s great river swamp deep in the heart of Cajun
country, and the southern end of the Lower Mississippi River Valley.
It’s the nations largest complex of forested wetlands of bottomland
hardwoods and swamps.
I hope you enjoy this trip to the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge in
southeastern Louisiana.
~Marsha~
LOUISIANA BLACK BEAR
AMERICAN ALLIGATOR
AMERICAN CROCODILE
BALD EAGLE
WHITE-TAILED DEER
EASTERN WILD TURKEY
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
GREAT EGRET
COOPERS HAWK
AMERICAN COOT
KILLDEER
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
MOURNING DOVE
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
DOWNY WOODPECKER
EASTERN PHOEBE
SPOONBILL
OSPREY
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
RAZOR-BACKED MUSK TURTLE
RACCOON
NUTRIA
GREEN TREE FROG
CAJUN SHORUS FROG
CRAWFISH MUD HOMES
VARIOUS SCENERY AND WILDLIFE
