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Nearby Parks: Russell Sage Foundation-Marsh Island State Wildlife Refuge
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| National Park Overview: |
 | Established in 1907, Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is also a testimony to the fast eroding shoreline of Louisiana. Its boundary was and still is rather loosely described as "... a small group of unsurveyed islets located in the Gulf of Mexico about three and one half miles south of Marsh Island, LA, and approximately at latitude 29 degrees 26 minutes north, longitude 91 degrees 51 minutes west from Greenwich..." The boundary of the refuge has been interpreted to be those areas in this vicinity that are above mean high tide.
For a number of years, there has been only one islet at this location. This islet is composed almost entirely of shell fragments. It is extremely dynamic and builds or recedes with passing storms. Vegetation is almost entirely lacking. Birds known to nest here include royal terns, sandwich terns, black skimmers, and laughing gulls. In addition, the islet is used at various times as a loafing area by white pelicans, brown pelicans, and various other species of terns and gulls. Recent hurricanes and storms have eroded the island to such an extent that no nesting has occurred since 1992. Public access to the refuge is restricted due to its remoteness. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
 | Be the 1st to Review Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| Fishing and Hunting: |
| As the refuge is located just south of the coastline, fishing is the only activity that can reliably occur on the refuge. Redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder and other species feed on the baitfish that take shelter in the shallow waters of the key. |
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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: |
 | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | Southeast Region | Refuges - The mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working with others, is to conserve, protect, and ... Delta National Wildlife Refuge Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge Tensas River National ... |  | Bird Checklists of the United States - ... LA Braton National Wildlife Refuge -- LA Delta National Wildlife Refuges -- LA Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge -- LA Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge -- Tallulah, LA Return to Bird ... |  | Bird Checklists of the United States - Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Bird Checklists of the United States Master Table of Contents United States and Canada U.S. Canada Great Plains States Colorado -- Iowa -- Kansas -- Minnesota ... |  | Where do you want to go birding in Lousiana today? - ... Refuge Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge Delta National Wildlife Refuge Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge .... ....The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana ... |  | American Bird Center - Louisiana bird watching places to stay bed and breakfasts Tours Eve - American Bird Center Louisiana everything about Birds bird Watching Bed Breakfasts accommodation ... LA 70458; Ph: 504-646-7555 Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge 1010 Gause Blvd. Slidell, LA ... |  | Defenders of Wildlife -- National Wildlife Refuge System Directory - Louisiana - ... National Wildlife Refuge 3000 Holly Beach Hwy. Hackberry, LA 70645 (318) 762-3816 Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge 1010 Gause Blvd., Bldg. 936 Slidell, LA 70458 (504) 646-7555 Tensas River ... |  | Supplement 1. Listing of Federal Sites in the MMA Inventory - ... Wildlife Refuge Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge Selawik National Wildlife Refuge Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge St ... |  | Nearctica - Conservation - U.S. Wildlife Refuges: Iowa - Minnesota - ... Management District Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Upper Ouachita National Wildlife ... |
| Directions: |
| Please call the Southeast Louisiana Refuge Complex for directions at 985-882-2000. |
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