Washington, DC – The National Park Service has expanded opportunities for qualified volunteers and permitted participants to help manage invasive and overabundant species at two southeastern national parks, aiming to protect vital wetlands, native wildlife, cultural resources, and sensitive habitats.
The initiative targets species such as nutria and feral hogs, which pose significant threats to park ecosystems. These invasives degrade habitats, accelerate erosion, outcompete native species, and diminish biodiversity. At Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana and Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, the programs support science-based wildlife management through tools like controlled hunting, trapping, and targeted removal.
Secretary’s Order 3447 underpins these efforts, reflecting commitments to responsible stewardship on public lands. The National Park Service employs trained volunteers, contractors, and permitted individuals under strict safety protocols and park oversight to mitigate these impacts.
In the Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, participants can assist in reducing populations of nutria and feral hogs. Nutria, large South American rodents introduced for fur, burrow into wetland banks, causing erosion and destabilization. They devour vegetation down to the roots, converting grassy marshes into barren mudflats, altering plant communities, and displacing native animals like beavers, muskrats, and minks. Feral hogs, escaped livestock, uproot native plants, disturb soil, compete for food, prey on small animals, and spread diseases.
Hunting and trapping occur by permit only during the season from October through April, extended for the 2025-2026 year. Free permits require a valid Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hunting or trapping license. Hunters must use shotguns only, wear hunter orange, report all harvests by 7 p.m. daily, and adhere to check-in procedures via QR code, email, or phone. The state offers a bounty on nutria, incentivizing control efforts. Prohibitions include rifles, dogs (except for waterfowl), baiting, and motorized boats in marshes to protect the environment.
At Cumberland Island National Seashore, management focuses on feral hogs damaging sea turtle nesting beaches and cultural sites through rooting and soil disturbance. The park conducts managed hunts in designated areas and uses traps for population control. Participants must meet licensing requirements, such as Georgia Big Game Licenses for residents, and follow park-specific rules outlined in the Superintendent’s Compendium.
“Our parks benefit greatly when skilled volunteers step forward,” said Acting Southeast Regional Director Darrell Echols. “Through these programs, the public can actively help protect native species, wetlands and cultural resources while learning about responsible conservation.”
Participation involves registration, background checks, safety training, and compliance with ethical standards. Seasonal programs and organized events provide hands-on roles in safeguarding these unique ecosystems. By involving the public, the National Park Service enhances its capacity to restore balance, ensuring habitats remain resilient for future generations.
These expansions align with broader federal goals for effective land management, emphasizing volunteer contributions to combat invasive threats. Detailed impacts highlight nutria’s role in wetland destruction and feral hogs’ disruption of native flora and fauna, underscoring the urgency of proactive measures.
For more information, visit National Park Service.