Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge is located 60 mi (96.6 km) northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana
and encompasses 36000 acres (145.7 km²) of Pearl River Basin swamp
land.
signed Public Law 96-288 authorizing the 40000 acres (161.9 km²) Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington
and St. Tammany Parishes
, Louisiana, and Pearl River County, Mississippi
. 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 8400 acres (34 km²) of bottomland hardwoods in St. Tammany Parish. To date, some 36447 acres (147.5 km²) have been placed under refuge management. The refuge is still in an acquisition phase.
and Swainson's Warbler
s, Tyrant flycatcher
s, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
, and White-eyed Vireo
. In smaller numbers found on the refuge are migratory game birds such as American Woodcock
and Wild Turkey
, wading birds such as egret
s and heron
s, waterfowl such as Wood Duck
, and raptors
such as hawk
s and owl
s. Endangered and threatened species found on the refuge are Bald Eagle
, Ringed Map Turtle
, Gopher Tortoise
, Inflated heelsplitter, and Gulf sturgeon
. White-tail deer, squirrel
, turkey
and Wild Boar
hunting and fishing is offered to the public.
Bogue Chitto NWR is primarily composed of bottomland hardwood habitat interlaced by the Bogue Chitto and Pearl River Systems. Numerous slough
s, bayou
s and lakes are located on the refuge. Water levels fluctuate by several feet from their low point in the summer to winter/spring flood stage. Over 90% of the refuge can be flooded during seasonal high river periods. The mixed hardwood forest includes Water oak
, Overcup Oak, American Elm, Sweetgum, and Red Maple on higher elevations and Bald Cypress
, Water Tupelo
, and Black Tupelo
along the wettest areas. Mid-story in mixed hardwoods includes American Hophornbeam
, Southern Arrowwood
, Virginia Sweetspire
and reproduction of the overstory. Typical mid-story plants along the sloughs and bayous are Buttonbush
, Eastern Swampprivet
, and Water Elm
.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and encompasses 36000 acres (145.7 km²) of Pearl River Basin swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
land.
History
On June 30, 1980, President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
signed Public Law 96-288 authorizing the 40000 acres (161.9 km²) Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington
Washington Parish, Louisiana
Washington Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its parish seat is Franklinton. In 2000, its population was 43,926....
and St. Tammany Parishes
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish seat is Covington....
, Louisiana, and Pearl River County, Mississippi
Pearl River County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:*Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge *De Soto National Forest -Demographics:The census estimates of 2006 place the county population over 57,000 and place it among the 10 fastest growing counties in the U.S. As of the census of 2000, there were 48,621 people, 18,078...
. 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 8400 acres (34 km²) of bottomland hardwoods in St. Tammany Parish. To date, some 36447 acres (147.5 km²) have been placed under refuge management. The refuge is still in an acquisition phase.
Access
Access is primarily by boat on the refuge's Louisiana side and road access is available on the refuge's Mississippi side. In the summer of 2002, a new 0.75 mi (1.2 km) walking trail was unveiled on the Louisiana side of the Refuge that allows access into the interior of Bogue Chitto's habitat.Wildlife and Habitat
The refuge is home to hundreds of bird species. The most abundant species are the neotropical migrants, including the ProthonotaryProthonotary Warbler
The Prothonotary Warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. It is the only member of the genus Protonotaria....
and Swainson's Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Swainson's Warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii, is a small species of New World warbler. It is monotypic, the only member of the genus Limnothlypis.-Description:...
s, Tyrant flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
s, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, is a cuckoo. Common folk-names for this bird in the southern United States are Rain Crow and Storm Crow...
, and White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
The White-eyed Vireo, Vireo griseus, is a small songbird. It breeds in the southeastern USA from New Jersey west to northern Missouri and south to Texas and Florida, and also in eastern Mexico, northern Central America, Cuba and the Bahamas....
. In smaller numbers found on the refuge are migratory game birds such as American Woodcock
American Woodcock
The American Woodcock , sometimes colloquially referred to as the Timberdoodle, is a small chunky shorebird species found primarily in the eastern half of North America...
and Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
, wading birds such as egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s and heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s, waterfowl such as Wood Duck
Wood Duck
The Wood Duck or Carolina Duck is a species of duck found in North America. It is one of the most colourful of North American waterfowl.-Description:...
, and raptors
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
such as hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
s and owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
s. Endangered and threatened species found on the refuge are Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, Ringed Map Turtle
Ringed Map Turtle
The ringed map turtle or ringed sawback is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family. It is endemic to the Pearl River in the United States. It shares this range with the Pearl river map turtle.-Source:...
, Gopher Tortoise
Gopherus polyphemus
The gopher tortoise is a species of the Gopherus genus native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for 360 other animal species...
, Inflated heelsplitter, and Gulf sturgeon
Gulf sturgeon
The Gulf sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi is a subspecies of sturgeon that lives in the Gulf of Mexico and some rivers draining into it. The gulf sturgeon was first recognized as a separate subspecies in 1955. The nominate subspecies is the Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrinchus...
. White-tail deer, squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
, turkey
Turkey hunting
Turkey hunting is a sport involving the pursuit of the wild turkey. Long before the European settlers arrived in North America, the Native Americans took part in hunting wild turkeys.-History:...
and Wild Boar
Boar hunting
Boar hunting is generally the practice of hunting wild boars, but can also extend to feral pigs and peccaries. A full-sized boar is a large animal armed with sharp tusks which it uses to defend itself. Boar hunting has often been a test of bravery....
hunting and fishing is offered to the public.
Bogue Chitto NWR is primarily composed of bottomland hardwood habitat interlaced by the Bogue Chitto and Pearl River Systems. Numerous slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
s, bayou
Bayou
A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
s and lakes are located on the refuge. Water levels fluctuate by several feet from their low point in the summer to winter/spring flood stage. Over 90% of the refuge can be flooded during seasonal high river periods. The mixed hardwood forest includes Water oak
Water oak
Quercus nigra, the Water Oak, is an oak in the red oak group , native to the southeastern United States, from southern Delaware and south to the coastal areas of Maryland, Virginia, the piedmont of North Carolina, all of South Carolina, most of Georgia , all of Alabama, Mississippi, central...
, Overcup Oak, American Elm, Sweetgum, and Red Maple on higher elevations and Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Taxodium distichum is a species of conifer native to the southeastern United States.-Characteristics:...
, Water Tupelo
Water Tupelo
Nyssa aquatica, commonly called the water tupelo, cottongum, wild olive, large tupelo, sourgum, tupelo-gum, or water-gum, is a large, long-lived tree in the tupelo genus that grows in swamps and floodplains in the Southeastern United States.Nyssa aquatica trunks have a swollen base that tapers up...
, and Black Tupelo
Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as black tupelo, tupelo, or black gum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America from New England and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico.-Names:Nyssa sylvaticas genus name refers to a Greek water...
along the wettest areas. Mid-story in mixed hardwoods includes American Hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana
Ostrya virginiana , is a species of Ostrya native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Manitoba and eastern Wyoming, southeast to northern Florida and southwest to eastern Texas and northeastern Mexico...
, Southern Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum
Viburnum dentatum — southern arrowwood or arrowwood viburnum or roughish arrowwood — is a small shrub, native to the Eastern United States and Canada from Maine south to Northern Florida and Eastern Texas....
, Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
Itea virginica is a plant in the Iteaceae.-Description:I. virginica is a shrub with alternate, simple leaves, on arching stems. The flowers are white, borne in summer. It has deciduous to semievergreen shrub and grows from 3' to 6' tall. It is a multistemmed, suckering and colonizing plant...
and reproduction of the overstory. Typical mid-story plants along the sloughs and bayous are Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to eastern and southern North America. Common names include Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button-willow and Honey-bells....
, Eastern Swampprivet
Forestiera acuminata
Forestiera acuminata, commonly known as Eastern Swamp Privet, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is native to the southeastern and central United States, growing primarily in or near wetlands....
, and Water Elm
Planera aquatica
Planera aquatica, or Water Elm is single species in the southeastern U.S.A., a small deciduous tree 10-15 m tall, closely related to the Elms but with a softly, prickly nut 10-15 mm diameter, instead of a winged seed. It grows, as the name suggests, on wet sites. The leaves are 3-7 cm long, with a...
.