Oklahoma WRP Project Offers Slew of Sights

One of the prettiest Oklahoma sunrises I have ever seen was near Red Slough in McCurtain County, in southeastern Oklahoma.

Fittingly, the sun was a huge red plate in the sky, and it hit the marshy land with a palette of light that turned a routine morning into something special.

Not long afterward, still somewhat stunned by the sun's greeting, I watched flocks of large American white pelicans cruise the water's surface to land among feeding geese and ducks. Graceful, long-legged shorebirds stalked the shallows, and the cries of many species blended in a wilderness melody the start of another perfect day at Red Slough.

When you tell people about Red Slough, you often get blank stares. And when you tell people it is one of the few places in Oklahoma where you can see alligators, those blank stares often turn to suspicious looks. When you ask people where Red Slough is, most can't tell you. It may be one of the most important yet least appreciated wildlife management areas in Oklahoma.

South of Idabel and just a stone's throw from Texas, Red Slough Wildlife Management Area is a 5,800-acre maze of reservoirs, moist soil management units (think swampy) and forest. Red Slough is cooperatively managed by the Ouachita National Forest, state Wildlife Conservation Department, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. It is one of the largest wetland projects of its kind.

Robert Bastarache, district wildlife biologist for the Ouachita National Forest, admits that it is a bit unusual to think about wetlands being a part of the National Forest Service. He says it adds a "unique component" to his job.

Bastarache and personnel from the other agencies involved at Red Slough have rescued an Oklahoma treasure that was almost lost.

In the late 1960s, the Red Slough area was converted from a forested wetland, with open expanses of water and hardwood forests, to rice fields. In the 1990s, landowner Phillip Hogan enrolled it in the Wetlands Reserve Program through the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Twenty-five miles of levees and other water control structures were built, and Red Slough slowly returned closer to its natural state. Bastarache estimates it is about 80 percent of the way back.

The final major phase of the revival is restoration of the hardwood element. Areas are being replanted, and the real picture may become complete in 20 years when those trees mature.

The resurrection of Red Slough led to the return of abundant wildlife to the region.

During annual migrations, it is a stopover for hundreds of species of birds, many of them rare. If you know how to identify a king rail, a purple gallinule, a dunlin or a Wilson's phalarope, you probably know about Red Slough. Tropical species such as the roseate spoonbill have been seen here, and tundra swans, visitors from the northern climes, have frequented the area.

About 271 bird species have been documented here, astounding for such a small area. It is popular with bird watchers from at least four states. Some birders add four or five species to their lists on just one visit.

Because it is a wildlife management area, it is also open to legal hunting during season. Waterfowl hunters from across the United States have come to what is considered one of the finest duck and goose hunting areas in this part of the country. Ducks Unlimited, a group dedicated to preserving waterfowl habitat, is a consulting partner in the project.

"We have people from as far as Minnesota and South Carolina who come here specifically to hunt Red Slough," Bastarache says. "It's exciting to know that it is a destination and they are not just passing through to go somewhere else."

Red Slough has also become a haven for other wildlife. Species such as white-tailed deer, beaver, mink and nutria are common. Black bears and river otters are also known to be in the area.

The star resident of Red Slough, though, may be the American alligator. Common in neighboring Louisiana, it occurs rarely in Oklahoma. Ten to 15 are known to inhabit Red Slough. It is not difficult to see alligators here, but you must be here at the right time.

"The best chance is around the middle of summer until the middle of fall, say June through September or October," Bastarache says "When the weather warms up, they really like to bask out on the back banks of these reservoirs or out on a log or a sandbar. That's when you are more likely to find one."

When you visit, you should bring binoculars and wear comfortable shoes, for much of Red Slough is composed of walk-in areas. Insect repellent and sunscreen are recommended.

You will be rewarded with spectacular sights, serenaded by more songbirds than you knew existed, and you may get to see one of Oklahoma's rarest creatures. Ron Stahl is marketing director for Oklahoma State Parks, Resorts and Golf.

Story by Ron Stahl, The Oklahoman.  Image: Brood of black-bellied whistling ducks in Red Slough. Image by Berlin Heck.