Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

{{Short description|Wildlife refuge}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

| iucn_category = IV

| map = USA

| relief = 1

| map_caption = Map of the United States

| map_width =

| location = Cameron Parish, Louisiana

| nearest_city = Lake Charles, Louisiana

| coordinates = {{coord|29|51|00|N|93|13|00|W|region:US|display=inline, title}}

| area = {{convert|9621|acre|ha|0}}

| established = 1986

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

| website = [https://www.fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex/cameronprairie/ Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge]

}}

{{maplink|from=Cameron Prairie NWR.map |type=line |frame=yes |plain=no |text=Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge |frame-align=right |frame-width=270 |frame-height=200}}

Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately {{convert|25|mi|km}} southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, in north central Cameron Parish. It contains {{convert|9621|acre|ha|0}} that include fresh marsh, coastal prairie, and old rice fields.

The visitor center opened in 1994{{cite web |url=http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2454/places/12664/ |title=Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, LA |publisher=America's Byways |access-date=2009-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704033052/http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2454/places/12664/ |archive-date=2010-07-04 |url-status=dead }} and is located south of Lake Charles on Louisiana Highway 27, 11 miles south of Holmwood, Louisiana. The center's exhibits focus on the birds and other wildlife found in the refuge, and the plant and animal life and different types of ecosystems. An animated exhibit features a Cajun resident named Tante Marie, who sits in a pirogue and talks about life in the refuge. The visitor center suffered damage from Hurricane Rita, and reopened with new exhibits in the fall of 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.creolenaturetrail.org/planning_your_adventure/Refuges_Sanctuaries/Cameron_Prairie_NWR/ |title=Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge |publisher=Creole Nature Ttrail}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/30409|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624233042/http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/30409|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-24|title=L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT DIVISION RECEIVES AWARD FROM U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE {{!}} Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries|date=2011-06-24|access-date=2020-04-05}}