Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana |
| Nearest city | Marksville, Louisiana |
| Area | 17,500 acres (71 km2) |
| Established | 1988 |
| Visitors | 25,000 (in 2004) |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge |
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is a special natural area in central Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. It was created in 1988 to protect the important floodplain ecosystem of the Mississippi and Red River. The refuge gets its name from Lake Ophelia, a 350-acre (1.4 km2) lake. This lake was once a channel of the nearby Red River.
Contents
What is the Habitat Like at Lake Ophelia?
The land around Lake Ophelia used to be a huge "bottomland hardwood forest." This type of forest grows in low, wet areas near rivers. Much of this forest, including parts of what is now the refuge, was cleared for farming in the 1970s.
Today, the refuge has many different types of habitats. These include bottomland hardwood forests, farm fields, and wet areas called "moist soil units." There are also "cypress-tupelo brakes," which are swamps with cypress and tupelo trees. These areas are mixed with winding bayous, clear lakes, ponds, and sloughs (slow-moving channels). The Red River also flows nearby.
This mix of habitats helps many different kinds of wildlife. The refuge is located in a key spot in Louisiana. This means it is used by birds traveling along the Mississippi Flyway and Central Flyway. These are like "highways in the sky" for migrating birds.
What Animals Live at Lake Ophelia?
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is home to many different animals. While it was mainly set up to protect waterfowl (ducks and geese), it also supports mammals, songbirds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Mammals and Other Land Animals
Some animals are hard to spot because they hide well. These include bobcats, alligators, red and gray foxes, and wild turkeys. You might also find river otters, beavers, raccoons, mink, and nutria.
Animals you might see more often include white-tailed deer, squirrels, little blue herons, night herons, and barred owls.
Birds and Waterfowl
Many songbirds and wading birds arrive in the spring. The refuge is a very important stop for millions of ducks and geese. They use the Mississippi and Central Flyways during their spring and fall migrations.
Common ducks you might see are mallards, gadwall, and green-winged teal. Other plentiful ducks include wood ducks, blue-winged teal, northern shovelers, northern pintails, and widgeon. Diving ducks like scaup and ring-necked ducks use the deeper waters. Sometimes, you can see Canada geese, snow geese, and white-fronted geese feeding in the farm fields.
Fish and Water Creatures
The waters of the refuge are full of fish. You can find game fish like channel catfish, largemouth bass, and crappie (also called white perch). Other fish include gar, bowfin, bream species, buffalo, and carp.
Endangered and Threatened Species
The refuge is also important for protecting rare animals. The arctic peregrine falcon sometimes visits. Thanks to a project to bring them back, bald eagle sightings are now common.
The Louisiana black bear is a threatened species. It is rarely seen here, but experts hope it will return. The refuge can help connect bear populations from other areas. This will provide new homes and a safe path for young bears looking for new territory.
Sadly, some animals that once lived here are now gone forever. These include the Florida panther, red wolf, ivory-billed woodpecker, and Bachman's warbler. This shows how important it is to protect the remaining habitats.
How is Lake Ophelia Managed?
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is actively managed to help its many animal species. It is part of the Central Louisiana Refuges Complex. This complex also includes Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge and Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge uses different methods to create good habitats:
- Farming for Wildlife: Some farm fields are managed on a "share basis." This means part of the crops are left in the fields for the wildlife to eat.
- Water Management: "Moist soil areas" are managed by changing water levels. This helps grow natural plants that ducks and geese love. In fall and winter, these areas are flooded to create feeding grounds for wintering waterfowl. In late summer, wetland pools are dried out to create mudflats for migrating shorebirds.
- Forest Restoration: Many old farm fields on the refuge are being replanted with native trees. These include oaks, cypress, ash, gum, and pecan trees. This helps bring back the bottomland hardwood and swamp forests that once covered the area. Restoring these forests is important for supporting a wide variety of wildlife.
