Photo Credit: Barred Owl in a Bald Cypress tree By Monica Boudreaux
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Welcome to Friends of Black Bayou Website
Friends of Black Bayou, Inc., known to many as FoBB, or Friends of Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, is an award-winning, non-profit community organization that supports the protection and enhancement of Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge located in Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. FoBB came into existence in August 1997 with a core group of dedicated supporters and volunteers who cared about the new Refuge and dreamed big. In a very short time, members saw dreams taking shape.
The century-old planter's home was renovated and is now the Visitors’ Center. FoBB sponsors an annual Fall Celebration with a Photo Contest, and free games and activities for kids, food, exhibitors, and lots of wildlife themed fun! The Conservation Learning Center opened in October 2005, provides spectacular live native wildlife exhibits and a well-equipped classroom. Educational opportunities are a top priority for FoBB. Curriculum materials were developed, and learning about wildlife became fun and convenient from
Art is a part of nature, too. Photographers and other artists are able to observe wildlife from the comfort of the photo blind, the wildlife pier, and the observation deck. Kids of all ages enjoy experiencing nature from trails that include a paved walkway or a raised boardwalk. And grownups appreciate the fact that the Refuge is free, educational, not far from Monroe, and best of all--fun! Throughout the year, events are scheduled at the Refuge, and the public is invited to visit any time the Refuge is open (from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset). Whether there is a special event or not, nature is always here. You can also call the Visitor Center at (318) 387-1114 or email [email protected] for more information about any program at the refuge. The volunteer answering the phone will be able to answer your questions, or can refer you to the person who can answer them.
Remember that feeding, harassing, removing, or otherwise interfering with alligators or other wildlife on the Refuge is against federal law!
Did you see someone feeding or harassing the alligators? Just snap a photo and text it with the details to our refuge officers at 318-355-6842 or 318-351-4965. You can also call the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries 24hr line at 1-800-442-2511 and give details. (Suggestion: add that hotline number to your phone contacts list now). Nobody wants their child, grandchild, or dog attacked by a wild animal because that wild animal associated PEOPLE with FOOD. Stop it, y'all! NewsArboretum Tour with Kelby Ouchley 7/17/2026
Through this account, embark with us on an arm-chair tour of Black Bayou's excellent arboretum with its creator, celebrated nature writer and Wildlife Protected Area Manager, Kelby Ouchley. Watch this space for volunteer opportunities to assist in its restoration and maintenance. Timberdoodle Talk and Woodcock Walk 2/3/2026
This coming Saturday, Feb. 7th, Louisiana Master Naturalist Suzanne Laird-Dartez will deliver a free illustrated talk at the Black Bayou Lake Conservation Learning Center and then lead a Woodcock Walk with her doughty bird-dog Quill! This event follows the public Louisiana Master Naturalist Northeast Q1 members' meeting that kicks off this lunch and learn event at 12 pm. Refuge Reopened 12/3/2025 We're very pleased to say that the Refuge is open again after the government shutdown. FoBB Photo Contest 2025 Announcement10/8/2025 Congratulations and thank you to all the great photographers who entered 220+ pictures in this year’s FoBB Photo Contest. Tony Tramontana won Charles Heck Memorial Grand Prize! "Nature Provides". First-place winning photos will be displayed in the Refuge Visitor Center as soon as possible, and all ribboned photos are displayed on the FoBB Photo Contest 2025 webpage in a slideshow pdf. Learn more ... Jim Kolinski Earns Prestigious Louisiana Wildlife Federation's Volunteer Conservationist of the Year Award! Jim Kolinski serves as curator and environmental educator at the Black Bayou Lake Conservation Education Center in Monroe, LA. His passion for, and devotion to, wildlife and nature education receives wide-spread, and well-deserved respect and recognition! Learn more ... 
Screenshot of observation statistics from inaturalist.org as of 8/7/26.
Citizen Science at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Smartphone Photography for iNaturalist | Webinar
Learn how to use your smartphone to record wildlife observations on iNaturalist. Skill with your phone camera will be helpful in the Annual Photo Contest and the Pollinator Bioblitz too! 
Click on the kayaker to watch the excellent Convention Visitors' Bureau video about Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge on YouTube™!
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Become a member! Join todayEvent Advertisements
Click the image to visit the Photo Contest page.
Join us in the CLC on Monday, August 17, at 6 PM for an unforgettable, free evening illustrated talk with Dr. Gary Stringer and the Ancient Megatoothed Sharks of Prehistoric Northeast Louisiana!
Please Join The 2026 Pollinator Bioblitz!
Volunteer with FoBB and contribute to citizen science on the Refuge! Click the image above to see the official event listing at https://www.fws.gov/event/pollinator-bioblitz-0
Help Clean Up Black Bayou Lake!
Click text to volunteer: Ouachita Parish Water Sweep 2026 - Ouachita Green. September 12th, 8:00 am - 11:00 am SAVE THE DATE! |
