MER ROUGE, La. (AP) - North Louisiana Wildlife Refuge Complex officials want to purchase about 30 acres adjacent to Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge near Mer Rouge that was once leased to the them by International Paper.
Recently the lease expired and the area once accessible by the public for wildlife observation has been closed.
The property was purchased after the lease expired, but refuge officials want to purchase it or work with the landowner to allow the public to access the observation platform for wildlife observation.
North Louisiana Wildlife Refuge Complex project leader Joe Saenz tells The News-Star (https://tnsne.ws/1ebpVg5) people have called him upset about being locked out of an area they’ve enjoyed for years.
Handy Brake NWR is a waterfowl sanctuary, and for more than three decades northeastern Louisiana nature enthusiasts have accessed the observation platform at the former IP property for wildlife photography and educational opportunities for youth.
“My understanding is we have a willing seller, and it’s just going through the process. Our hope is it does happen soon,” Saenz said.
Saenz said it’s not immediately known when an agreement might be reached nor how much the land would cost.
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Information from: The News-Star, https://www.thenewsstar.com
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