Kisatchie National Forest
Vernon District
Vernon Parish, Louisiana

Cooter's Bog, just off Louisiana Highway 463 is classified as a Western Hillside Seepage Bog (pitcher plant bog) by the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP).  The hydrologic system within this ecosystem is important. These areas stay saturated year-round; their soils are typically sandy with a clay layer, and are more acidic than surrounding areas. Fire, a common occurence in these areas, serves to control woody speices.  Within these bogs, there are many wet-tolerant speices that are critical to this environment.  The species not hot-spotted in the image above, but that were also located in Cooter's Bog are: Drosera sp. (sundews), Rhexia sp. (meadow beauties), Rhynchospora latifolia (sandswamp whitetop, white-top sedge), sphagnum moss, club mosses, and Xyris sp. (yellow-eyed grasses).

Also indicated in the image are red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) sites. The boundaries to the RCW areas are marked with red paint and "RWC endangered species" signs.  The trees marked with white paint are possible nesting trees. The presence of RCW's usually dictates the management practices of the area.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has more information about the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) and the classification of Natural Communities of Louisiana.