Creole Nature Trail
Laccassine National Wildlife Refuge, LA

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to preserve a portion of the vast marshlands of Louisiana and to provide habitat for wintering and migrating waterfowl. The refuge located in Cameron Parish in southwest Louisiana, supports one of the largest concentrations of wintering waterfowl of any refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Most of the 35,000-acre refuge is freshwater marsh, characterized by dense emergent growths of maidencane and bull tongue with only a few natural ridges, spoil banks and levees. The dominant feature of the refuge is Lacassine Pool, created by enclosing a 16,000-acre marsh with a low levee. Large waterfowl concentrations of up to 800,000 ducks and geese have been observed in Lacassine Pool in the past. The Pool serves as a daytime sanctuary for waterfowl, with large concentrations flying out to feed at sunset and returning by dawn.

A 3,345-acre wilderness area has been designated in the refuge. This area is relatively unimpacted by man's activities. Most of the marshes outside of this area have been influenced to some extent by petroleum exploration activities.