Protecting native wildlife and plant species are a top management priority. The refuge strives to restore and enhance habitat for the benefit of all native species, endangered or otherwise. To do this, efforts focus on managing exotic and invasive species that out-compete and displace native species.

Exotic or invasive plants grow quickly and will crowd out other plants. They often have limited nutritional value for wildlife and because they did not evolve here, have no natural predators and can be very damaging and hard to control. Refuge staff are actively engaged in trying to protect the bottomland hardwood landscape by removing exotic and invasive plants from refuge lands and waterways. To do this, staff and volunteers physically remove exotic and invasive plants when possible. This can be a time consuming and labor intensive process that is not always feasible. If not able to physically remove, the exotic and invasive plants are treated chemically with herbicide.

The main plants targeted for removal on land are Chinese tallow, Japanese mimosa, Chinaberry, trifoliate orange, and McCartney rose. The main plants targeted for removal in waterways are giant salvinia, water hyacinth, and alligator weed.