Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

The Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge is a special place for nature. It is located about 60 miles (97 km) northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. This refuge covers a huge area of about 36,000 acres (14,569 ha) of Pearl River Basin swampland. A swamp is a type of wetland where trees and other plants grow in water.

History of the Refuge

How Bogue Chitto Started

On June 30, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed a law to create the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. This law allowed the refuge to cover up to 40,000 acres (16,187 ha). The refuge is located in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes in Louisiana, and Pearl River County, Mississippi.

Growing the Refuge Area

Since 1980, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been buying more land for the refuge. This land is mostly "bottomland hardwood habitat," which means forests that grow in low, wet areas. On December 13, 1989, Congress allowed the refuge to expand even more. An extra 8,400 acres (3,400 ha) in St. Tammany Parish were added to the plan. Today, about 36,447 acres (14,750 ha) are managed as part of the refuge. They are still working to buy more land to protect this important area.

Visiting the Refuge

How to Get Around

Most of the Louisiana side of the refuge can only be reached by boat. This helps keep the wild areas undisturbed. However, you can drive to the Mississippi side of the refuge.

Walking Trails

In the summer of 2002, a new walking trail was opened on the Louisiana side. This trail is about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long. It lets visitors walk into the heart of the Bogue Chitto's natural habitat. It's a great way to explore the refuge on foot.

Wildlife and Nature

Animals of the Refuge

The Bogue Chitto refuge is home to many different kinds of animals. It is especially important for hundreds of bird species.

• Migratory Birds: Many birds that travel long distances, called migrants, live here. These include the prothonotary warbler, Swainson's warbler, tyrant flycatchers, yellow-billed cuckoo, and white-eyed vireo.
• Other Birds: You can also find American woodcock and wild turkey. Wading birds like egrets and herons are common. Waterfowl such as wood ducks and raptors like hawks and owls also live here.
• Endangered Species: Some animals on the refuge are rare or protected. These include the bald eagle, ringed map turtle, gopher tortoise, inflated heelsplitter, and Gulf sturgeon.
• Other Wildlife: You might also see white-tail deer, squirrels, and wild boar. People can hunt deer, squirrel, turkey, and wild boar here at certain times, and fishing is also allowed.

Habitats and Plants

The Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge is mostly made up of bottomland hardwood forests. These forests are crisscrossed by the Bogue Chitto and Pearl river systems. Many sloughs (slow-moving water channels), bayous (slow-moving streams), and lakes are also found within the refuge.

Water Levels

The water levels in the refuge change a lot. They can rise and fall by several feet. Water levels are usually lowest in the summer. They are highest during the winter and spring when the rivers flood. More than 90% of the refuge can be underwater during these high-water periods.

Trees and Plants

The mixed hardwood forest has many types of trees.

• Higher Ground Trees: On higher areas, you'll find trees like Water oak, Overcup Oak, American Elm, Sweetgum, and Red Maple.
• Wet Area Trees: In the wettest parts, you'll see Bald Cypress, Water Tupelo, and Black Tupelo.
• Understory Plants: Smaller plants and young trees grow under the main forest canopy. These include American Hophornbeam, Southern Arrowwood, and Virginia Sweetspire. Along the sloughs and bayous, you might find Buttonbush, Eastern Swampprivet, and Water Elm.