Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Nearest city	Houma, Louisiana
Area	4,416 acres (17.87 km2)
Established	1996
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. It is about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Houma, Louisiana. This refuge was created in 1996 to protect nature. It is one of eight refuges that make up the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, also known as SELA.

What is Mandalay Refuge?

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge covers about 4,619 acres (1,869 km2). It is made up of two main types of land:

• Freshwater marsh: This is a wetland area with grasses and other plants growing in shallow water.
• Cypress-tupelo swamp: This is a forest that grows in water, with cypress and tupelo trees.

Home for Wildlife

The refuge is a safe home, or habitat, for many animals. You can find:

• Waterfowl: These are birds like ducks and geese.
• Wading birds: These birds have long legs for walking in shallow water, like herons.
• Neotropical songbirds: These are small birds that travel long distances. They spend their summers in North America and their winters in warmer places like Central or South America.

How to Visit the Refuge

You can only reach Mandalay Refuge by boat. Walking around is very hard because the marsh ground is soft. The refuge is open to everyone from sunrise to sunset all year. However, some areas might be closed at certain times.

Fun Activities at Mandalay

You can enjoy many activities at the refuge:

• Wildlife observation: This means watching animals in their natural home.
• Boating: You can explore the refuge by boat.
• Fishing: You can fish in allowed areas.
• Hunting: Hunting is allowed in specific areas during certain times. There are also special rules and lottery systems for hunting.

Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges

The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges is a group that helps the SELA Refuges. They are a non-profit group, which means they don't make money for themselves. They work to support and speak up for the refuges.

How the Friends Group Helps

This group does many helpful things:

• They help with special events at the refuge each year.
• They get money, called grants, to help with refuge projects.
• They raise money for programs that teach people about nature.
• They help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This includes maintaining buildings and helping with programs.
• They organize volunteer days on weekends. Volunteers help keep the refuge nice.