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Nearby Parks:
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Horn Island National Wildlife Refuge (historical)
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| National Park Overview: |
 | Breton National Wildlife Refuge is the second oldest refuge in the country and will be 100 years old on October 4th, 2004. President Theodore Roosevelt heard about the destruction of birds and their eggs on Chandeleur and Breton Islands in 1904 and soon afterward created Breton NWR. He visited the Island in June of 1915, this is the only refuge Roosevelt ever visited. The island has been the site of a Lighthouse Station (still in existance) a quarantine station, a small fishing village and even an oil production facility. Ultimatly all these man-made structures are destroyed by nature and only the birds remain. Fisherman, birdwatchers and even artists such as Walter Inglis Anderson visit the island to enjoy its bounties. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| ENDANGERED & THREATENED SPECIES ON THE REFUGE: Brown Pelican, Least Tern, and Piping Plover
OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES: Breton NWR provides habitat for colonies of nesting wading birds and seabirds, as well as wintering shorebirds and waterfowl. Twenty-three species of seabirds and shorebirds frequently use the refuge, and 13 species nest on the various islands. The most abundant nesters are brown pelicans, laughing gulls, and royal, Caspian, and sandwich terns. Waterfowl winter near the refuge islands and use the adjacent shallows, marshes, and sounds for feeding and for protection during inclement weather. Redheads and lesser scaup account for the majority of waterfowl use. Other wildlife species found on the refuge include nutria, rabbits, raccoons, and loggerhead sea turtles.
HABITAT DESCRIPTION: The dominant vegetation on Breton NWR are black mangrove, groundsel bush, and wax myrtle. Shallow bay waters around the islands support beds of manatee grass, shoal grass, turtle grass, and widgeon grass. |
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| History of the Area: |
| Established in 1904, Breton NWR is the second oldest refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The objectives of the refuge are to (1) provide sanctuary for nesting and wintering seabirds, (2) protect and preserve the wilderness character of the islands, and (3) provide sandy beach habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Breton NWR includes Breton Island and all of Chandeleur Islands in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. The barrier islands that make up Breton NWR are remnants of the Mississippi River's former St. Bernard Delta, which was active about 2,000 years ago. These barrier islands are dynamic--their sizes and shapes constantly are altered by tropical storms, wind, and tidal action. The area above mean high tide is approximately 6,923 acres. Elevations on Breton NWR range from sea level to 19 feet above mean sea level. Early literature on Breton and the Chandeleur Islands mentions trees and a generally higher elevation than exists today. In 1915, several families and a school were located on Breton Island. Prior to the hurricane of that year, the island was evacuated. The hurricane destroyed the settlement, and it was never rebuilt. All of the Federally-owned lands, except for North Breton Island, in Breton NWR became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System on January 3, 1975 (Public Law 93-632). North Breton was excluded because an oil facility, owned by Kerr-McGee, Inc., was located on that island. The Breton Wilderness, according to the Clean Air Act, is listed as a Class I Prevention of Significant Deterioration Area. The only visible improvement within the wilderness is the Chandeleur lighthouse on the north end of the islands; the lighthouse was constructed before the turn of the century. While still maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, the lighthouse is considered to be an historic structure, and as such, is compatible with the wilderness designation. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Air Quality Impact Assessment: The Breton National Wilderness Area - ... The Breton National Wilderness Area, part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, is classified as a Class I area under EPA ... information about Breton National Wildlife Refuge, visit their web ... | | Notices to Lessees and Operators (Chronological Order) - ... and As-Built Pipeline Location Data NTL 98-08 August 10, 1998 Meteorological Data Collection (Breton National Wildlife Refuge/Wilderness Area) NTL 98-13N July 1, 1998 Use of New or Alternative ... | | Castaway Fishing Lodge - Pintail Hunt & Fish Club Chandeleur Islands LA - In the Chandeleur Islands in Breton National Wildlife Refuge. The Castaway Fishing Lodge offers Sportsmen excellent ... in the middle of Breton National Wildlife Refuge. The waters around ... | | LA DNR GEMS - ... ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT SITE CHANDELEUR ISLANDS (BRETON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE) Please provide additional information you ... Chandeleur Islands (Breton National Wildlife Refuge) County: St ... | | National Register of Historical Places - LOUISIANA (LA), St. Bernard County - National Register of Historical Places, Historical Properties, Historic Districts, Lodging, Shopping ... added 1986 - Structure - #86001404) Breton National Wildlife Refuge, New Orleans Historic ... | | Sanctuary: U.S. Wildlife Refuges @ nationalgeographic.com - ... Refuges 1010 Gause Boulevard, Building 936, Slidell, LA 70458 r4rw_la.sel@mail.fws.gov Breton National Wildlife Refuge +1 504 646 7555 c/o Southeast Louisiana Refuges 1010 Gause Boulevard ... | | Louisiana - ... Area, Indian Bayou, and Sherburne Wildlife Management Area ? view bird guide Breton National Wildlife Refuge , including the Chandeleur Islands (Southeast Louisiana Refuges) ? view bird guide ... | | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - ... the Americas. Breton Island is part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge System, the second oldest refuge in the nation and ... impact the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, portions of which are ... | | Where do you want to go birding in Lousiana today? - ... Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Breton National Wildlife Refuge Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge Delta National Wildlife Refuge Shell Keys ... | | Defenders of Wildlife -- National Wildlife Refuge System Directory - Louisiana - ... National Wildlife Refuge 1010 Gause Blvd., Bldg. 936 Slidell, LA 70458 (504) 646-7555 Breton National Wildlife Refuge 1010 Gause Blvd., Bldg. 936 Slidell, LA 70458 (504) 646-7555 Cameron Prairie ... | | USGS National Wetlands Research Center: Press Release 00-120 - ... work in restoring Breton Island, part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of southeastern Louisiana. Other ... in 1904, the Breton National Wildlife Refuge is the second oldest ... | | Breton National Wildlife Refuge Information - ... Disclaimer Credits Southeast Region Home Page Related Links Download the Fact Sheet Breton National Wildlife Refuge DIRECTIONS TO REFUGE : Refuge is located in the Gulf of Mexico--boat access only ... | | Refuge Boundary for Breton National Wildlife Refuge - Refuge Boundary for Breton National Wildlife Refuge Metadata also available as Metadata: Identification_Information Data ... Refuge Boundary for Breton National Wildlife Refuge Geospatial_Data ... | | Theodore Roosevelt: His Life and Times on Film: Subjects: 1 - ... Oyster Bay. Boston (Mass.) Brandenburger Tor (Berlin, Germany). Brazil--Description and travel. Breton National Wildlife Refuge (La.) Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)--Parks--Prospect Park. Brown pelican ... | | Early Motion Pictures, 1897-1920: Subjects: 3 - ... States--Drama. Brandenburger Tor (Berlin, Germany). Brazil--Description and travel. Breton National Wildlife Refuge (La.) Bricklayers--New York (State)--New York. Bricks--Drama. Bridges--France ... |
| Directions: |
| Refuge is located in the Gulf of Mexico--boat access only. |
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