Most research on the refuge is conducted by professors and their students from nearby University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Current and recent research includes nest success and recruitment of alligator snapping turtles, sampling of benthic macroinvertebrates, and surveys of invertebrate prey for game fish. Data collected by staff include breeding bird, waterfowl, and alligator surveys. The refuge conducts an on-going Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) station where birds are captured, banded, aged and assessed for reproductive and body condition. Recaptures of banded birds are used to determine survival rates, longevity, site fidelity, and productivity for priority species at a regional scale.