Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1980 and encompasses 36,000 acres of the Pearl River Basin. Located northeast of Slidell, LA, this beautiful southern swampland is one of the most undisturbed in the country.

DIRECTIONS TO REFUGE:
Louisiana Side
To reach the southern tip of the refuge, take I-59 to Pearl River Turnaround Exit 11. Heading east from this exit takes you to a fishing area, turning west will take you toward the Holmes Bayou Trail. The Refuge can also be accessed from Locks 1, 2, & 3 by taking Highway 41 north of Slidell.

Mississippi Side
The reach the furthermost East side of the Refuge, take I-59 North to Picayune, MS. Take HWY 43 to Walkiah Bluff Water Park or to Dumas Wise Rd. to access the Refuge.

For contact information, see the About Us page of the Southeast Louisiana Refuges.

ENDANGERED & THREATENED SPECIES ON THE REFUGE: Bald eagle, ringed-sawback turtle, gopher tortoise, inflated heel-splitter mussel, Gulf sturgeon; the swallow-tailed kite is a species of special concern on Bogue Chitto NWR.

OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES: Deer, turkey, neo-tropical birds, rabbit, raccoon, a variety of snakes, mink, skunks, wading birds, waterfowl.

HABITAT DESCRIPTION: Bogue Chitto NWR is a bottomland hardwood forest consisting of a number of sloughs and bayous. The production of valuable wildlife foods is dependent on the varying degrees of inundation during the growing season. A variety of woody plant species occur in these periodically flooded areas, and all exhibit some degree of survival in soils which are inadequately drained and aerated. Commonly recognized habitats include the bald cypress and water tupelo communities associated with longer periods of flooding to the live oak and loblolly pine communities on the higher ground.

INTERESTING FACTS: Bogue Chitto is unique in that the Refuge boundary extends through two states, Mississippi and Louisiana. Bogue Chitto means "Large Stream" as described by the Choctaw Indians.

MANAGEMENT GOALS: Preservation and enhancement of habitat, endangered species management, environmental education, and compatible wildlife-oriented recreation

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC USE: Hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, hiking, camping, birding, photography and canoeing. The annual Youth Fishing Event will be held on June 7, 2008 at the Pearl River Turnaround, Exit 11 off I-59.  Registration for ages 4-12 is open until May 2, 2008. Contact (985) 882-2000 for more information.

HURRICANE DAMAGE: The facilities and trails at Bogue Chitto received moderate damage from Hurricane Katrina. This damage has been repaired. Many trees were blow down or damaged at Bogue Chitto so we will be planting more than 30,000 trees at Bogue Chitto in 2006 and 2007.