Red Slough Wildlife Management Area

Red Slough Wildlife Management Area near Idabel protects wetlands, bottomland forest, marshes and open water in Oklahoma's far southeast corner. The habitat feels more like parts of Louisiana or east Texas than the stereotypical Oklahoma prairie, which makes the area one of the state's most surprising wildlife destinations. Bird diversity is exceptional. Herons, egrets, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and many migratory species use the wetlands, and the area is also known for reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife associated with warm, humid lowlands. Alligators occur in the broader region and are occasionally part of the area's wildlife experience. Red Slough is best suited to birders, photographers and visitors comfortable with a less developed outdoor setting. Heat, insects, mud and seasonal water conditions can be significant, so timing matters. The site pairs especially well with Little River National Wildlife Refuge and Broken Bow-area natural attractions, revealing just how ecologically different southeastern Oklahoma is from the rest of the state.