About Us

Our Mission

Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge was established with the purpose of conserving, maintaining, and managing the wildlife, resources, and habitat within the refuge, as well as protection of endangered or threatened species. Felsenthal NWR is operated under the following management objectives:

• Provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds;
• Provide habitat and protection for endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, the threatened American alligator, and the protected bald eagle;
• Provide recreation and environmental education for the public; and
• Protect cultural resources

Our History

Felsenthal NWR was established in 1975 as mitigation for the creation of the U.S. Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Ouachita and Black Rivers Navigation Project and Felsenthal Lock and Dam.

Management and Conservation

Refuges use a variety of science-based management tools to address biological challenges. These tools range from active water management to prescribed fire, all aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach to benefit both wildlife and people. 

Refuge staff carefully consider many management techniques and employ them in varying degrees according to the situation. Management actions create, restore, and maintain diverse habitats to encourage use by many wildlife species. Some habitat management activities at Felsenthal NWR include monitoring red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) survival, prescribed burning, thinning and regeneration of forest stands, biological control of invasive plants, and migratory waterfowl monitoring.