Lacassine Wilderness

On the southern end of the Mississippi and Central Flyways, Lacassine Wilderness is primarily a freshwater marsh. Lacassine Refuge marshes provide feeding and resting habitat for more than 300,000 ducks and 80,000 geese, and the refuge also provides habitat for many shorebirds, wading birds, marsh birds, various mammals, and alligators. The first nesting colony of cattle egrets outside Florida was discovered here, and nesting rookeries of roseate spoonbills and other wading birds can be found in the Lacassine Pool. Watch for armadillos, swamp rabbits, minks, otters, nutrias and American alligators. The southern portion of the refuge, south of the pipeline canal and west of Bayou Misere, has been designated Wilderness. Unlike the rest of the refuge, this area has seen relatively little impact from human activity. There are no established trails, and no camping is allowed. The Wilderness area can be accessed by non-motorized vessel or chest waders. The name Lacassine comes from the local Native American word "loc o'shin", which means "at the prairies edge".