The Southern Regional Office (SRO), located in Ridgeland, MS was established in 1990 to protect and restore wetlands and other wildlife habitat in the southeastern United States. Today, the SRO carries out conservation programs in 15 southern states that include some of the most important wintering habitat on the continent. More than one million acres of waterfowl habitat has been conserved from Kansas south to Texas, east to Florida, and north to the Carolinas.
Two-thirds of North America's waterfowl spend the winter in DU's Southern Region. Ducks and geese depend on wintering habitat in southern latitudes to feed, rest, and build vital energy reserves. Many species form breeding pair-bonds before beginning their arduous journeys to northern breeding areas. Research has shown that the quality of habitat on the wintering grounds affects winter survival rates and the condition of birds returning north. Better wintering habitat may lead to a more productive nesting season and more ducks flying south again in the fall... (more)
Highest Priority Habitat Areas
Gulf Coastal Prairie | Mississippi Alluvial Valley
States Within the Southern Region
Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Georgia | Kansas
Kentucky | Louisiana | Mississippi | Missouri | North Carolina
Oklahoma | South Carolina | Tennessee | New Mexico | Texas
Director's Message
Curtis Hopkins
October 2008
September teal season is underway throughout the Southern Region, and some waterfowlers have already opened their 2008-09 season in Canada. The regular duck and goose season in Minnesota will be open in early October. Meanwhile, we look with high expectations toward November for opening day in the states further south. Let’s continue to remind the waterfowl hunting community (too many do not support DU) that the foresight of hunters in the early 1930’s is largely responsible for the sights and sounds of waterfowl we have today. We must be willing to take action today so that those who follow will enjoy first flights forever.
The recent hurricanes have impacted conservation in the south. So far this hurricane season, field offices in Charleston, SC, Lafayette, LA, and now Richmond, TX were temporarily closed. By far, Ike has caused the greatest disturbance to our conservation plans. As I write this (September 17), our Texas staff are making an aerial assessment of damage and developing plans as part of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department team.
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