Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cameron Parish, Louisiana |
| Nearest city | Lake Charles, Louisiana |
| Area | 9,621 acres (3,893 ha) |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge |
The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Louisiana. It is located about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. This refuge is in north central Cameron Parish.
It covers a huge area of 9,621 acres (3,893 ha). This land includes different types of natural areas. You can find fresh marsh, coastal prairie, and even old rice fields here. It is a home for many kinds of plants and animals.
Discovering Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1986. Its main goal is to protect wildlife and their homes. It is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This group helps keep the refuge safe and healthy.
The refuge is a great spot for nature lovers. Many different birds and other animals live here. It is an important place for them to find food and raise their young.
Visiting the Refuge Center
The visitor center at Cameron Prairie opened in 1994. It is a great place to start your visit. You can find it south of Lake Charles on Louisiana Highway 27. It is about 11 miles south of Holmwood, Louisiana.
The center has many interesting exhibits. These exhibits teach you about the birds and other wildlife in the refuge. You can also learn about the plants and different types of ecosystems. An ecosystem is a community of living things and their environment.
One fun exhibit features an animated Cajun resident. She is named Tante Marie. She sits in a traditional pirogue, which is a small boat. Tante Marie tells stories about what life is like in the refuge. The visitor center was damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005. It reopened with brand new exhibits in the fall of 2009.
Part of a Larger Refuge System
In 2004, the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex was created. This complex brought several refuges together. It helps manage them more easily.
The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is part of this complex. Other refuges in the group include Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge. The main office for this complex is located at Cameron Prairie.
