Sabine National Wildlife Refuge


Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States located in Cameron Parish in southwestern Louisiana. It is on Louisiana Highway 27, south of Hackberry and north of Holly Beach. The western boundary of the Sabine Refuge is Sabine Lake, the inlet for Port Arthur, Texas, while the tip of the eastern end reaches Calcasieu Lake.
WWW fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex...

Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex was formed by administratively combining of the East Cove National Wildlife Refuge, Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge, and Sabine in 2004.

Wildlife and habitat

Sabine is a sanctuary, the largest coastal marsh refuge on the Gulf Coast of the United States. It is home to more than 200 species of birds, including ducks, great egrets, geese, Neotropic cormorants, raptors, snowy egrets, wading birds, and shorebirds. There is also a very large contingent of American alligators, as well as blue crabs, American mink, muskrats, coypu, North American river otters, rabbits, shrimp, and turtles.
Other "Featured Species" ): Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Oppositeleaf Spotflower, Oppositeleaf Spotflower, Beach False Foxglove, Red-winged Blackbird, Gulf Fritillary, Agrostis hyemalis, Wood Duck, Skipjack Herring, Alydus pilosulus, Cuman Ragweed, LeConte's sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian teal, Cinnamon teal, Blue-winged teal, Mottled duck, Gadwall, Striped anchovy, Bay anchovy, Anhinga, Green Anole, Greater white-fronted goose, Buff-bellied pipit, chuck-will's-widow, Ruby-throated hummingbird, Sheepshead, Great egret, Great blue heron, Ruddy turnstone, Hardhead catfish, Great southern white, Green antelopehorn, Short-eared owl, Burrowing owl, Alligator gar, Lesser scaup, Redhead, Ring-necked duck, Canvasback, Gafftopsail catfish, Silver perch, Upland sandpiper, Sturdy bulrush, Mallard, Roseate Spoonbill, Red Drum, Cedar waxwing, American bittern, Canada Goose, Western pygmy blue, Finescale Menhaden or small-scaled menhaden, Gulf menhaden or large scale menhaden, Great horned owl, Cattle egret, Bufflehead, Common goldeneye, Red-tailed hawk, Red-shouldered hawk, Broad-winged hawk, Swainson's hawk, Green heron, Sanderling, Dunlin, Red Knot, White-rumped sandpiper, Stilt sandpiper, Western sandpiper, Pectoral sandpiper, Least sandpiper, Semipalmated sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Coyote, Gray wolf, Upland sandpiper, Sturdy bulrush, and American bittern.
The Wetland Walkway, a nature trail made from concrete, a portion of which is a wooden boardwalk, located south of the refuge headquarters. It includes an observation tower and fifteen knowledge stations about Gulf Coast marshland. A second natural trail, the Blue Goose Trail is a round trip trail with a scenic overlook.
Petroleum exploration is allowed on the refuge. There was an oil spill at one of the well sites in Sabine during the winter of 2002–2003. Most of the spill was cleaned up by burning the oil.

Hurricane damage

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge was in the direct path of Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. All of the office buildings, visitor center, and maintenance shops were damaged beyond repair and have been removed. There are three remaining structures at the refuge headquarters area that were repaired. Recreational areas along Highway 27 received varying amounts of damage to bridges, piers, observation towers, boardwalks, restroom facilities, fences, and parking lots. Some of these facilities still require repairs and refuge staff are working with state and local partners, contractors, and other federal agencies to complete the work.
West of Highway 27, Sabine refuge canals and marshes were severely affected by storm wind and water. Approximately of refuge marshes, levees, and canals were damaged. Canals and marshes are clogged with seven million cubic meters of debris from offshore rigs and coastal communities. There are both physical and chemical hazards present throughout the refuge, many of which have settled below the marsh and water surfaces. Tanks and barrels containing hazardous liquids and gases have the potential to explode or break down and release toxins into the environment. Over 1,400 hazardous material containers have been identified and are estimated to contain between 115,000 and 350,000 gallons of hazardous liquids and gases.
The refuge opened for the 2020-2021 season for limited activities including fishing and hunting.
The entire complex that includes Cameron Prairie, Sabine, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges are scheduled to be open March 15, through Oct. 15, 2024.

Stats

  • Location:
  • Elevation: 10 feet
  • Area:
  • * Water: 39,844 acres
  • * Grassland/herbaceous/marsh: 84,667 acres
  • Annual visitors: 300,000