Franklin in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Bayou Teche
Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex
Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, March 16, 2018
1. Bayou Teche Marker
Bayou Teche is the only National Wildlife Refuge established with the specific mission of protecting and managing a population of bears. Its 9,028 acres preserve habitat for the Louisiana black bear, a federally threatened subspecies of the American black bear.Other refuge objectives are to provide habitat for other fish and wildlife species, environmental education, and opportunities for public recreation. Established in 2001, the refuge is located near the town of Franklin in St. Mary Parish.
The Louisiana black bear currently occupies much of the refuge, which serves as critical denning and foraging habitat for these bears and their offspring. An important part of the refuge's bear management program involves educating local residents about how co-exist with the bears in and around their historical habitat.
Bayou Teche offers hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, boating, hiking, and more. Portions of the refuge are open to hunting white-tail deer, squirrel, rabbit, and waterfowl each fall. Nearby public boat launches allow convenient access to the refuge.
Canoeing opportunities abound on waterways and canals that provide an opportunity to view a wide array of both upland and wetland wildlife. Visitors may see individual
this page online
The refuge includes freshwater marsh, cypress/tupelo swamp, open water, canals, bayous ans parcels of bottomland hardwood forest habitat.
The refuge provides excellent habitat for wading birds, neotropical songbirds, waterfowl, bald eagles, fish species, reptiles, and amphibians.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Resources.
Location. 29° 44.414′ N, 91° 27.186′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Louisiana, in St. Mary Parish. It is at the intersection of Levee Road and Alice C Road, on the right when traveling west on Levee Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Franklin LA 70538, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s River Parishes, in Acadiana Cajun Country, and specifically in Bayou Country. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, on the Gulf Coast, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, Acadia, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Bayou Teche (here, next to this marker); Swamps on the Cusp of Change (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cypress Trees (about 700 feet away); Welcome to Centerville (approx. 2.6 miles away); Murphy James Foster (approx. 3.2 miles away); Franklin's Historic Lampposts (approx. 4.1 miles
Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, March 16, 2018
2. Bayou Teche Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 386 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 17, 2018.
