Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge

Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge protects approximately 9,000 acres along the bayou in Louisiana, containing bottomland hardwood forests, cypress and tupelo swamps, and marshy waterways spread across seven separate management areas. The refuge can be accessed from different entry points near Franklin and Garden City.

The refuge was established in 2001 to protect habitats along a waterway that formed as an ancient channel of the Mississippi River system thousands of years ago. This bayou remains a defining feature of the landscape today.

The land holds deep meaning for the Chitimacha Tribe, whose people have lived here for generations and maintain strong ties to their ancestral home. The refuge today reflects their ongoing relationship with these waters and forests.

The refuge offers multiple areas for hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing accessible through entrance points near Franklin and Garden City. Check ahead about opening times and access rules, as conditions change with seasons and weather.

The refuge was created specifically to protect the Louisiana black bear, a distinct subspecies that depends on these bottomland hardwood forests for survival. This bear was once on the brink of extinction in the region.

Location: Louisiana

Inception: 2001

Website: https://fws.gov/refuge/bayou_teche

GPS coordinates: 29.73990,-91.47730

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:05