Red River National Wildlife Refuge

02/15/2026

Red River National Wildlife Refuge’s visitor center, boat ramp, parking areas, and walking trails will be closed Monday morning, February 16, 2026, from 6am-1:30 pm for a scheduled wildlife management task at the headquarters unit.

Areas closed will be gated or clearly marked with trail closure signage. 

10/01/2025

Due to the federal government shutdown, this account is not being actively updated. For more information, please visit: www.doi.gov/shutdown

During this time, the visitor center, education center, nature store, and all other Red River NWR buildings will be closed.

I encourage you to read U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contingency Plan under this tab. One snip worth noting is ;
"Where public access to refuge lands does not require the presence of a Federal employee or contractor, activities on refuge lands will be allowed to continue on the same terms as before the appropriations lapse, including any activities conducted under a previously issued permit that does not require NWRS staff monitoring."

Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

06/07/2025

05/10/2025

Snakes live at Red River National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is their home. The rough green snake, ribbon snake, speckled kingsnake and venomous cottonmouth snakes all can be found at the refuge.

🌞🐍 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 🐍🌞
With spring in full swing and temperatures rising, snake sightings are becoming more common across Louisiana. Don’t be alarmed—most of the 47 native snake species in our state are nonvenomous and play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy by controlling rodent, insect, and even fish populations.

🐍 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟳 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮'𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀.
👀 Snakes are more active April–July, especially during cooler parts of the day in summer.
🚫 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘀—they’d rather avoid us!

🛑 If you see a snake:
▪ 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲—it will likely move on.
▪ 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁—removing snakes may increase rodent problems.
▪ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱—many harmless snakes mimic venomous ones to defend themselves.

✅ 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀
▪ Keep your yard free of debris, overgrown vegetation, and rodent attractants
▪ Seal up holes around your home’s foundation
▪ Trim tree branches near your roof
▪ Keep grass short and maintain clear borders around your home

💡 Want help identifying snakes?
📘 Download LDWF’s Snakes of Louisiana poster: https://buff.ly/5TxgFWA

05/10/2025

Raina with her 50 hour volunteer pin! Teen refuge volunteer Raina helped with Animals in Winter, Story Trail, picking up litter and greeting guests at the welcome desk inside the visitor center at Red River National Wildlife Refuge.
Friends secretary and refuge volunteer Bonnie has been mentoring Raina on Saturday mornings.

04/14/2025

The spice bush swallowtail is common at the refuge (pics 2nd row from top)
Click to read a very good review of Louisiana butterflies!
https://www.lsu.edu/botanic-gardens/research/CommonButterfliesFoundinthePollinatorGarden.pdf

04/08/2025

Sunset at Red River National Wildlife Refuge.

Photos by Jacobson taken from the levee looking west.

03/24/2025

On Sunday morning, a road runner was seen by Jean Trahan and Rosemary Seidler at yates tract of Bayou Pierre refuge unit in the wooded area across from pool 7 B.
Read about road runners here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Roadrunner/overview

Photo taken by Rosemary Seidler

03/20/2025

03/16/2025

Having fun with antlers inside the visitor center at Red River National Wildlife Refuge.

03/11/2025

Now that it is warming up outside. Be alert for venomous cottonmouth snakes on the trails. Learn to recognize this dark, chunky snake. When it is young, cottonmouths are more brown than black. If you see the snake open its white mouth, that is a warming that you are too close. Always leave snakes alone as they are protected on the wildlife refuge.

Photos by Tina Brazzeal (2), John Mallard and Matt Niemiller

03/08/2025

Ranger Terri finishes 35 years of working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her career started with ecological services working on projects involving migratory birds and endangered species. Her last position was in visitor services at Red River National Wildlife Refuge where she planned special events, led educational programs and coordinated volunteers/partners and was the liaison to the Friends of Red River Refuge.