Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge

On June 30, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 96-288 authorizing the 40,000-acre Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes, LA, and Pearl River County, MS. Since that time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been acquiring bottomland hardwood habitat in the Pearl River Basin. On December 13, 1989, Congress authorized a boundary expansion for Bogue Chitto NWR that included an additional 8,400 acres of bottomland hardwoods in St. Tammany Parish. To date, some 36,447 acres have been placed under refuge management. The refuge is still in an acquisition phase. White-tail deer, squirrel, turkey and hog hunting and fishing is offered to the public. The endangered and threatended species found on the refuge are bald eagle, ringed-sawback turtle, gopher tortoise, inflated heelsplitter mussel, and gulf sturgeon. Access is primarily by boat on the refuge's Louisiana side and road access is available on the refuge's Mississippi side. In Summer 2002, a new walking trail was unveiled on the Louisiana side of the Refuge. This 3/4 of a mile walking trail offers a unique journey into the interior of Bogue Chitto's majestic habitat.

Bogue Chitto NWR is located about 45 miles north of New Orleans, LA. To reach the southern tip of the refuge, take I-59 N to Pearl River Turnaround exit or take Highway 41 north of Slidell and access the refuge at Locks 1, 2, & 3. To access the Mississippi side of the refuge take I-59 N to the Picayune, MS exit. For further directions, please call Southeast Louisiana Refuges at 985-882-2000.