APPLE OF THEIR EYE Limpkins Have Come To Louisiana Seeking Their Favorite Food - Summer 2021 - Louisiana Conservationist
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Summer 2021
APPLE OF
THEIR EYE
Limpkins Have Come To
Louisiana Seeking Their
Favorite Food
LETTER FROM
Summer 2021 | Volume 72 | No. 2
THE SECRETARY
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
John Bel Edwards, Governor
Jack Montoucet, Secretary Dear Reader,
Robert Shadoin, Deputy Secretary
Bryan McClinton, Undersecretary If you’re from Louisiana, you know how much the brown pelican means to us and
Randy Myers, Assistant Secretary what it symbolizes. It’s one of the iconic species in our state that delineates us
Patrick Banks, Assistant Secretary from other places.
Chad Hebert, Colonel-Enforcement
LOUISIANA WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION Perhaps that’s why the account of a pelican that made its way home from Georgia
Jerri G. Smitko, Chairman back to the Bayou State was so compelling for Louisianans and others around the
William J. “Joe” McPherson, Vice Chairman country. It certainly had the elements necessary for a feel-good story.
Andrew Blanchard
Dusty J. Guidry This brown pelican was covered in oil during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in
William D. “Bill” Hogan 2010, rescued and cleaned then flown to and released in Brunswick, Georgia, on
Alfred R. “Al” Sunseri the Atlantic Coast, a distance of about 700 miles. It was spotted in March 2021
Harlie E. “Gene” Reynolds on a rock jetty on Queen Bess Island in Barataria Bay by Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologist Casey Wright.
THE CONSERVATIONIST STAFF
Ed Pratt, Press Secretary, Publisher The pelican was tagged “Red 33Z” when captured on June 14, 2010, at the Em-
Rene LeBreton, Public Information Director pire Jetties in Barataria Bay in the wake of the giant oil spill. It was taken to a triage
Robert “Trey” Iles, Managing Editor facility and then to a rehabilitation facility in Louisiana. After that, it was taken via
Adam Einck, Contributing Editor plane to a U.S. Coast Guard station in Georgia and released on July 1, 2010.
Becky Chapman, Creative Director, Graphic Designer Now it’s back home where, as we all know, the food is so much better.
Joel Courtney, Photographer, Multimedia
Sherry Morton, Contributing Writer But this story is also another example of the great work we do here at LDWF, past,
Gabe Giffin, Photographer present and future.
Copyright 2021 by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisher-
ies. This publication is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, It brings to mind all the hard work done by our team during and after the cata-
photographs or other materials. strophic oil spill, from rescuing oiled wildlife, to monitoring fish and wildlife habi-
Louisiana Conservationist is published quarterly by the Louisiana De-
tat affected by the spill and to aiding in the recovery.
partment of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge,
LA 70808, 225-765-2800. Wright spotting and photographing the pelican speaks to the lengths we go to
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Louisiana Conservationist, gather data on wildlife and fish. We have so many tagging programs both on
P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898. land and in the water that guide our decision making, helps us better understand
Regulations of the U.S. Department of Interior strictly prohibit unlaw-
these species and their movements and how best to protect habitat.
ful discrimination in the departmental federally assisted programs on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person We’re proud of that work and we’re hoping for many more pelican homecomings
who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any pro-
gram, activity or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance for future generations.
should write to: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Depart-
ment of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
This public document was published at a total cost of $ 2,777.48. 4,000
copies of this public document were published in the first printing at Sincerely,
a cost of $ 2,777.48. This document was published by OTS-Production
Support Services, 627 North 4th St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 for the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to provide information
on opportunities in Louisiana. This material was printed in accordance
with the standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant
to R.S. 43:31. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance
with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. Jack Montoucet, LDWF Secretary
CONTENTS
Louisiana Conservationist
Summer 2021
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov
2
Welcome Neighbors
Limpkins Have Come To Louisiana To
Get Their Fill Of Apple Snails
Trey Iles
4
The Right Rx
Prescribed Burning On Sandy Hollow
WMA Allows For Optimum Habitat
Trey Iles
6
A Site To See
The World Wide Web Of Wildlife & Fisheries
Katie Chapiesky
10
Waterbody & Wildlife
Management Area Spotlight
Spring Bayou & Joyce WMA
12
Stock Answer
LDWF Aims To Bring Back Bundick Lake Fish
Populations Following Hurricane Laura
Sean Kinney & Jonathan Winslow
14
The Ice Men Cometh
Enforcement Agents Use Expertise To Transport
Essential Workers During February Ice Storm
Adam Einck
16
Stewardship Lesson
LDWF’s Native Fish In The Classroom Program Gives
Step-by-Step Instruction On Fishery Hatching
Christopher Conner
19
Stamp Of Approval
John Butler Has All 39 Louisiana Duck
Stamp Contest Winners
Ed Pratt
20
Times Gone By
Getting The Blues
Judy Hughes Marte
21
Then & Now
Lafayette Family Keeps Tradition Alive Of Fishing
Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge On Opening Day
Trey Iles
COVER PHOTO by Timothy Comeaux
Please visit wlf.la.gov/gof
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 1
WELCOME NEIGHBORS
Hungry For Invasive Apple Snails, difficult to eradicate. Apple snails can easily overpopulate ar-
eas by out-competing native species and destroying aquatic
Limpkins Have Come To Louisiana vegetation.
To Get Their Fill “It really looks like limpkins are getting a foothold here,”
said Robert Dobbs, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
A
story by TREY ILES, LDWF Public Information Fisheries’ non-game ornithologist. “Seemingly, as soon as
they showed up, they started breeding. We’re only talking
about a few pairs that we know of at this point, but that’s
remarkable for a bird that was first discovered in the state
A visitor from Florida that has taken up residence in only four years ago.”
south Louisiana could be good news in Louisiana’s fight And while only a handful of pairs have been confirmed so
against the invasive apple snail. Several pairs of limpkins (Ar- far, there are likely more, possibly many more, Dobbs said. He
amus guarauna), a wading bird found primarily in Florida’s believes that a wandering limpkin or two happened upon ideal,
freshwater marshes, are now known to be breeding in Terre- food-rich habitat in Louisiana, and they are staying here be-
bonne Parish and the number of limpkin sightings continues cause of the abundance of the apple snail, their favorite food.
to increase across many southeastern parishes. Limpkins, once almost hunted to the brink of extinc-
The upside is that limpkins have a ravenous appetite for tion in the early 20th century, resemble a crane or, perhaps,
apple snails, an invasive species that has exploded in abun- a long-legged rail. They are found primarily in the American
dance in south Louisiana waterways and marshes, and are tropics and in Florida in the United States.
2 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021
“Most likely, you might confuse them with an immature Dobbs said the limpkin isn’t a solution for the apple snail
white ibis, or a glossy or white-faced ibis,” Dobbs said. “Im- problem, as there are probably too few breeding pairs at
mature white ibises have a lot of dark on them and glossy and present to really impact the apple snail on a landscape scale.
white-faced ibis are all-dark, long-legged birds with decurved “At this point, there aren’t enough limpkins to make
bills. Limpkins have more white speckling in their dark plum- much of an impact on the apple snail population,” Dobbs
age, and their bills are not as curved as ibises, but they’re said. “But if this trend continues and limpkins really do be-
superficially similar to ibises in general.” come established, it’s possible that they could provide some
Limpkins are known for their loud wails that can be heard level of bio control.”
at night or dawn. Their long, slightly curved bills are perfectly Dobbs said that similar scenarios have occurred else-
suited for extracting apple snails from their shells. Dobbs said where, in which apple snails show up and become estab-
they pose no downside for Louisiana’s other wading birds. lished, followed by limpkins about 10 years later. It happened
They may eat fresh water clams and bivalves but they primar- in western Mexico some time back. After apple snails were
ily feast on the dreaded apple snails. spotted there, the limpkins came in 10 years later. Apple
“They wander around naturally,” Dobbs said. “They’ve snails first appeared in Louisiana in the middle 2000s. Now,
wandered up the east coast in the past and around the about 10 years later, the limpkin has followed.
southeast. Typically, when they show up out-of-range, they “We believe the pairs here now showed up from Florida
eat clams and other mollusks for a while, and then they leave. and have not left,” Dobbs said. “There is no evidence that
They generally don’t persist in those odd places well outside they’re migrating back and forth. They came and stayed.”
of their core range. It’s possible we had some birds wandering There is also another apple snail specialist, the snail kite,
around and they happened upon the Terrebonne-Lafourche which is native to Florida. It also showed up in Mexico some-
area, which is full of apple snails. So why leave? There’s a ton time after the limpkins. Although none have been spotted in
of food. The habitat is good. Presumably the climate is okay. Louisiana as of yet, it is something to keep an eye out for.
They’ve persisted thus far, and they’ve been nesting for three
years now.”
The first recorded observance of limpkins in Louisiana
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
was in 2017 in Lafourche Parish. Then in the spring of 2018, a For more information about the limpkin,
pair nested successfully near Houma. Other pairs were noted contact Robert Dobbs at rdobbs@wlf.la.gov.
in 2019 at Bayou Black in western Terrebonne Parish and in Visit ldwf.canto.com/v/limpkins for an
2020 near Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, also in Terre- interview with Dobbs.
bonne Parish.
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 3
THE RIGHT Rx
Prescribed Burning At Sandy Hollow WMA
Allows LDWF To Manage For Optimum Habitat
story by TREY ILES, LDWF Public Information
S Smoke billowing from a forested area could certainly be
cause for concern in some instances. It signals a fire and the
average person probably thinks that is a bad thing but that’s
not necessarily so.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries uses
prescribed burns on many of its properties in order to en-
hance the health and quality of wildlife habitats.
That was the case in February when LDWF staff did a
and species rely on that. It’s rather unique and you don’t see
much anymore with modern logging practices and conver-
sion to the loblolly pine stands that we have now. It takes
longer to grow, but produces a stronger wood. An additional
benefit is that the tree structure allows it to take wind better,
making it more hurricane resistant. It’s also going to be very
insect and disease resistant. There are a lot of perks to the
longleaf pine compared to a loblolly stand.”
prescribed burn on a 22-acre tract at Sandy Hollow Wildlife Longleaf pine forests are fire dependent systems, and if
Management Area (WMA) in Tangipahoa Parish. The WMA is left unchecked, can eventually develop into a mixed pine-hard-
managed as an upland longleaf forest, with a special empha- wood forest. Fire is a process that sets back forest succession
sis on bobwhite quail, a bird that forages and nests primarily to promote a more diverse herbaceous ground cover. It does
on the ground. so by impeding the growth of invading hardwood trees that
By using prescribed burns among the longleaf pine are not adapted to fire and encouraging growth and develop-
stands in the WMA, LDWF is able to promote the growth ment of the woody and herbaceous vegetation that are fire-
of desired herbaceous and grassy cover, providing food and adapted, such as pines, grasses and many native wildflowers.
shelter for the quail as well as controlling the less desirable Prescribed burning is one of the best tools for improv-
woody shrubs and hardwood trees that can quickly dominate ing wildlife habitat conditions for many species in grasslands
these forested areas. and longleaf pine-dominated forests. Shrubs and herbaceous
“I know growing up I used to think fire was bad for the plants experience a flush of new growth following a fire. This
forest,” said LDWF biologist manager Jillian Day, who over- new growth is more nutritious and palatable to grazing and
sees Sandy Hollow WMA. “Now, as a professional, I’ve be- browsing wildlife than the rough vegetation that occurred be-
come more knowledgeable about how fire can be beneficial. fore the burn. This also allows land managers to keep areas in
For us, fire is one of the best and most cost efficient tools we early successional habitat, which is beneficial for most wild-
have when it comes to habitat management. From my per- life, especially the bobwhite quail.
spective, controlled fire is a good thing.” Many of the beneficial insects consumed by birds are
The longleaf pine grown at Sandy Hollow WMA is a sturdy more abundant following a fire. Properly applied fire pro-
tree with many benefits. At one time, it was prolific through- motes flowers, seeds and fruit production, increasing avail-
out the southeast region of the United States but modern able food resources for wildlife.
logging practices took away many of the longleaf pine stands. “Sandy Hollow is rather unique in this region,” Day said.
“The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most diverse “We manage specifically for bobwhite quail. Prescribed fire
ecosystems that you can have,” Day said. “A lot of animals in that ecosystem is going to promote the habitat that this
4 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021
species requires. Sandy Hollow WMA was acquired by the trol burn. Our goal for most of our burn units is to do a slow
LDWF to serve as a focal area for quail management, so habi- backing fire. For that, you want to get ahead of the wind and
tat management that we do on this WMA is going to benefit let that fire back slowly through the unit against the wind.
that species. But it also benefits other species like the gopher “We accomplish better habitat management on Sandy Hol-
tortoise, which is currently listed as a threatened species by low when it comes to controlling those woody species. Those
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” species are not as well evolved to endure fire. That slow backing
There is more that goes into a prescribed burn than just burn is typically going to give us a better desired outcome.”
showing up one day and lighting a fire. LDWF personnel con- So when is the best time of the year to conduct these
ducting prescribed burns have extensive certification and burns? LDWF typically employs two prescribed burn manage-
years of experience. Each burn must be planned out in ad- ment strategies. One is during the dormant season, or in win-
vance and all conditions must be ideal for it to take place. ter, and another in the growing season.
“The winds play a major factor in whether a fire will move “Each one of those can produce different types of habitat
across the landscape in the prescribed manner and is extreme- outcomes long term,” Day said. “It really depends on what
ly important for smoke management,” Day said. “With as that particular unit needs. So we try to assess each unit annu-
many roads and surrounding infrastructure around the WMA, ally when we draft our prescribed burn plan. Whatever that
we have to be conscious of where the smoke goes, so smoke unit needs is what we prescribe whether it be a dormant sea-
management is a big part of prescribed burning. We don’t son or growing season.”
want to put smoke on schools, people’s houses or on people Day said it’s important for our management strategy to
with sensitive health issues. We are very cautious about burn make sure each unit undergoes a prescribed burn at least ev-
days and which way the wind is carrying the smoke. ery three years.
“Ensuring that the wind is going to allow a burn to occur “If a unit is left out one year I would say within the next
in the right direction as far as properties next to the WMA are two years to three years that unit would be burned,” Day said.
concerned is an important factor. We don’t want to have the “Sometimes our units get burned annually or every other
fire jump (a road or fire line) so the proper wind direction needs year. It depends on the habitat needs.”
to be selected and included in the burn plan for each unit.”
The prescribed burns at Sandy Hollow are generally
small. The units are usually 75 acres or smaller. The smaller
units, along with the typical strategy employed, allows the
burn to work slowly. That helps in getting rid of unwanted ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
hardwoods and other undesirable plants. For more information on Sandy Hollow WMA,
“The name ‘prescribed burn’ actually lends itself to what go to www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/sandy-hollow
we’re trying to accomplish,” Day said. “It’s not an out-of-con-
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 5
A SITE TO SEE
The World Wide Web of Wildlife
and Fisheries
story by KATIE CHAPIESKY, LDWF Public Information
6 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021
L
Find quick links to buy
a license, renew a boat
registration, or pay a fine at
Lately, you might have noticed things look a little differ-
the top of the home page.
ent on LDWF’s website. And hopefully it’s been a little easier
for you to find your way around. Back in 2020, we launched
an updated and upgraded website at www.wlf.la.gov after a
year or so of reaching out to our users, responding to feed-
Links to our most popular pages back, and reorganizing and redesigning our site.
(a quick reference to our seasons The goal of our new site is to engage all outdoor enthu-
and regulations, a field guide of
siasts in Louisiana - from hunters, fishermen, and boaters to
Louisiana species, and a guide to
the public areas we manage) are
wildlife watchers, birders, and hikers. As an agency, we’re typ-
featured front and center on our ically known for selling hunting and fishing licenses and set-
home page. ting and enforcing regulations. But, there’s so much more to
what we do than meets the eye - from improving the habitat
and chance of survival for a rare woodpecker that calls Louisi-
ana home to managing and restoring hundreds of thousands
of acres of land and waterways to ensure Louisiana remains
Rotating banners on the home page a paradise for all. Through our new site, we sought to better
change weekly, highlighting info you highlight all of the critical work we do to take care of Louisi-
need to know like season openings, ana’s fish and wildlife and their habitats and provide the pub-
office and area closures, application lic with opportunities to use and enjoy these resources.
deadlines, important meetings, and
While our mission as an agency is complex, we knew our
new programs.
website needed to be as simple to navigate as possible. We
streamlined the look of the site and, to put it simply, made
it prettier (especially if you like green and orange). We also
structured it to be friendlier to use on your smartphone or
tablet. Our most popular pages - a quick reference of our Sea-
sons and Regulations, a Species Field Guide profiling Louisiana
Our conservation menu features the plants and animals, and a guide to the Wildlife Management
incredibly important work we do to Areas, Refuges, and Conservation Areas we manage - are now
protect the places and species that front and center on our home page. Links to a couple of the
make Louisiana so special.
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 7
top tasks our users are looking to do - buy a license, some of the science that goes behind keeping our wild-
renew a boat registration, or pay a fine - are at the top life and fish populations healthy.
of the page. Take some time to peruse our menu featuring our
Rotating banners on the home page change conservation programs and learn about how we’re pro-
weekly, highlighting info our users need to know like tecting the places and species that make Louisiana so
season openings, office and area closures, application special, including that cool woodpecker we mentioned
deadlines, important meetings, and new programs. before. Check out our menu of outdoor education and
There’s an sign-up for agency email and text alerts that events, from fishing at your local park and volunteer-
you can tailor to the news you want to receive. Links ing with us to women’s fishing and outdoor workshops,
to a few of the services we provide, from technical as- teacher resources, and school archery programs. In case
sistance with managing your land to connecting you you ever need it, the law enforcement menu provides
with a licensed professional for help with nuisance or quick access to contacting your local agents and report-
injured wildlife, are also right at your fingertips. Find ing violations, boat thefts and crashes, and littering.
top news, an interactive map with info on where to Our website is still growing and improving - for ex-
fish, hunt, hike, and boat, as well as a calendar of ample, we’re adding new species to our Species Field
events as you scroll down the home page. Last but not Guide every month, constantly updating the site as new
least, check out our photo and video galleries and - a information comes available, and adapting our layout
top request from our users - the Research and Publica- and navigation as we hear back from our users. Please
tions archive which houses all of our research, reports, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you find yourself
policy documents, and educational publications. having to hunt or fish around for something on the site
Dropdown menus across the top of every page - that helps us help you and other people who are likely
allow for easy navigation of all of the information on in the same boat. Let us know if there’s anything you’d
our site, which is organized by user interests rather like more information on, especially our lesser known,
than a technical list of agency programs. With a couple but no less important, programs. We’re outdoor enthu-
clicks of your mouse, you can find everything you need siasts, too - we take great pride in our work at LDWF
to know about getting your licenses and permits and and are excited to tell you about it and get you outside
going hunting, fishing, and boating in Louisiana. Dig a to (safely and legally) experience all that Louisiana has
little deeper on the hunting and fishing menus to see to offer.
8 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021Our menu of outdoor education and
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
events features everything from fishing
at your local park and volunteering For additional information or to provide
with us to women’s fishing and outdoor feedback about the website, please contact
workshops, teacher resources, and Rene LeBreton at rlebreton@wlf.la.gov or
school archery programs.
504-286-8745
Sign up for agency email and text alerts, get
more information on services we provide such
as technical assistance with managing your land
and help with nuisance or injured wildlife, and
archives of our favorite photos, video features,
and all of our publications.
Find top news, an
interactive map with
info on where to fish,
hunt, hike, and boat,
as well as a calendar
of events as you scroll
down the home page.
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 9SPOTL
JOYCE WMA
SPRING BAYOU
SPRING BAYOU
SIZE: 2,718 acres
MAXIMUM DEPTH: 6 feet
PUBLIC PIERS AVAILABLE: 3
FUN In 1955, a small 100 foot concrete dam/ PUBLIC ACCESS BOAT LAUNCHES AVAILABLE: 4
spillway was constructed on Little River NUMBER OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS: 0
by the Department of Public Works. This
FACT dam/spillway stabilized water levels and
curtailed annual backwater flooding.
COMMON FISHING SPECIES: Largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie,
bluegill, red ear sunfish, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Spring Bayou is a complex of backwater
lakes and tributaries, composed mainly of flooded timber which consists of
bald cypress, black willow, swamp privet, buttonbush and water elm. Spring
Bayou is located within Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area just east of
Marksville, La. in Avoyelles Parish. Spring Bayou is part of the Red River basin
and the water shed for this system covers approximately 30,000 acres with a
11:1 watershed ratio. With high success rates, Spring Bayou is very popular to
anglers targeting largemouth bass, bream and crappie. Spring Bayou complex
SCUBA DIVING FISHING
is very unique and
BOATING
provides opportunities
PHOTOGRAPHY BOAT LAUNCHES
for all outdoor
BIRDING
user groups.
ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE:
SCUBA DIVING FISHING
SCUBA DIVING BOATING
FISHING PHOTOGRAPHY
BOATING BOAT LAUNCHES
PHOTOGRAPHY BIRDING
BOAT LAUNCHES BIRDING
SCUBA DIVING FISHING BOATING
HIKING SCUBA DIVING
HUNTING
PHOTOGRAPHY FISHING
BOAT LAUNCHES
WATER SKIING BOATING
SCUBABIRDING
DIVING
SWIMMING PHOTOGRAPHY
FISHING
CAMPING BOATING
BOAT
PIER LAUNCHES
FISHING BIRDING
PHOTOGRAPHY BOAT LAUN
10 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021 SCUBA DIVING
HIKING FISHING
HUNTING BOATING
BIRDING PHOTOGRAPHY BOAT LAUNCHES
CAMPING BIRDING
SCUBA DIVING FISHING BOATING PHOTOGRAPHY BOAT HIKING
LAUNCHES WATER SKIING
HUNTING SWIMMING
WATER SKIING SWIMMING CAMPING
PIER FISHING PIER FISHIN
HIKING HUNTING GOLFING
WATER SKIING COMMERICAL
HIKINGFISHING
SWIMMING CABIN RENTALS
HUNTING
CAMPING WATER BIKING
PIERHIKING
SKIING
FISHING HORSEBACK RIDING WATER
HUNTING
SWIMMING CAMPING
SKIING SWIMMING
PIER FISHING CAMPIIGHT
WATERBODY & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
JOYCE
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
ACREAGE: 39,190
LOCATION: Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes. Joyce WMA
is located 5 miles south of Hammond. Access to the interior of
the property is limited. There are numerous waterways within
the area providing boating access to the public, which include
the Tickfaw River, Tangipahoa River and Bedico Creek. There is
Check Out the Swamp Walk! a public boat launch on North Pass at U.S. Hwy 51 and on the
Tickfaw River at LA Hwy 22. Other access points include Lee’s
Landing and Traino Landing, south of LA Hwy 22.
LDWF constructed an elevated Swamp Walk
OWNER: LDWF and Tangipahoa Parish School Board
boardwalk in 1990 to provide WMA visitors with
an opportunity to view the swamp interior and DESCRIPTION: Joyce WMA is a wetland within the
Pontchartrain Basin. It mainly consists of cypress-tupelo
observe the associated wildlife and vegetation. swamp. A large portion of the area is a dense shrub marsh
community with red maple, wax myrtle, red bay and immature
cypress-tupelo.
POPULAR GAME SPECIES: Popular game species on Joyce
WMA include white-tailed deer, waterfowl, rabbit and squirrel.
There is a youth deer season. Common freshwater fish
available on Joyce WMA include largemouth bass, sunfish, and
catfish. Frogging is also available.
HOW TO ENJOY: Popular for birding, Joyce WMA is a site
along the American Wetlands Birding Trail. Bald eagles and
osprey nest in and around the WMA. Numerous other species
of birds, including neotropical migrants, use this coastal forest
during fall and spring migrations.
SCUBA DIVING FISHING BOATING PHOTOGRAPHY BOAT LAUNCHES BIRDING
ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE:
SCUBA DIVING FISHING BOATING PHOTOGRAPHY
SCUBA DIVING FISHING
HIKING BOATING
HUNTING
SCUBA DIVING PHOTOGRAPHY
WATER SKIING
FISHING
SCUBA DIVING BOAT LAUNCHES
BOATING
SWIMMING
FISHING BIRDING
CAMPING
PHOTOGRAPHY
BOATING PHOTOGRAPHY
BOAT
PIER LAUNCHES
FISHING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SPRING BAYOU
BOATING PHOTOGRAPHY BOAT LAUNCHES BIRDING
For more information FISHING
SCUBA DIVING
contact: HIKING HUNTING WATER SKIING SWIMMING
LDWF 200 Dulles Dr. Lafayette, La. 70506 HIKING HUNTING WATER SKIING
HIKING HIKING
SWIMMING
HUNTING HUNTING
CAMPING
WATER SKIING WATER
PIER SKIING
FISHING SWIMMING
CAMPING
SWIMMING
337-735-8699
www.wlf.la.gov/resources/category/freshwater-inland-fish/inland-
waterbody-management-plans
JOYCE WMA
HIKING HUNTING WATER SKIING SWIMMING CAMPING PIER FISHING GOLFING
For more information contact: 985-543-4777
www.wlf.la.gov/page/joyce GOLFING COMMERICAL FISHING CABIN RENTALS BIKING
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 11Tim Guillory from Booker
STOCK
Fowler Fish Hatchery stocks
Bundick Lake with assorted
fish at Hopewell boat ramp.
ANSWER
LDWF Inland Fisheries Aims To
Bring Back Bundick Lake Fish
Populations Following Hurricane-
Related Mortality Event
story by SEAN KINNEY, Inland Fisheries District 5 Biologist Manager
T
KRISTIE BUTLER, Inland Fisheries Hatchery Biologist Manager
The 2020 hurricanes killed people, demolished homes While fish kills can be caused by many different things,
and businesses, downed many trees and caused multiple fish the Bundick kill was a direct result of the winds from hurri-
kills through the state. Thankfully, Louisiana’s freshwater fish- canes Laura and Delta, and the high volume of debris blown
eries are incredibly resilient and have the potential to natu- into the lake. The large amounts of decomposing debris in
rally repopulate on their own, given time to do so. However, the water lowered oxygen concentrations at a time of the
in some extreme cases, when a significant number of fish in year when the water already had a decreased capacity for
a waterbody are killed, stocking can help to “jump-start” the holding oxygen due to high water temperatures. As oxygen
recovery process. concentrations decreased, the fish became stressed and
After the 2020 storms, LDWF Inland Fisheries staff re- eventually died from suffocation.
ported significant fish losses at Bundick Lake, in the south- In March 2021, biologists returned to Bundick Lake to
west region of the state. The entire region was consumed collect electrofishing (see sidebar) observations for bass and
with the devastation from hurricanes Laura and Delta and crappie species. Biologists completed four samples that re-
this particular lake took a direct hit from Hurricane Laura. sulted in the collection of seven largemouth bass and 14 white
As soon as possible, agency staff began fisheries sampling to crappie. This is an 83% decrease in bass numbers compared to
determine the extent and severity of fish kills caused by the the average of electrofishing data collected from 2015-2017.
storms. The first sampling at Bundick Lake occurred in Janu- District biologists immediately contacted LDWF’s Inland
ary 2021, when biologists took four gill net samples equaling Hatchery System and began to develop a plan to restock the
1,600 yards of netting. The results were dismal - netting only fishery for the public. As luck would have it, the call couldn’t
a single largemouth bass in a lake known for big crappie, flat- have come at a better time. Inland Hatchery biologists had
head catfish, and everything in between. several ponds to harvest from the 2020 crop and anticipated
LEFT: Nearly 1-year-old Florida largemouth bass being stocked at Bundick Lake. RIGHT: Approximately 1,200 Florida largemouth bass,
like the one pictured here, have been stocked into Bundick Lake.
12 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021some surplus fish. Since the coordination began in fall 2020,
the Inland Hatchery staff form Monroe and Forest Hill have
been able to stock approximately 1,200 pure-strain Florida
largemouth bass; 22,000 bluegill; 8,000 redear; 10,500 white
crappie, and 50 pounds of threadfin shad into Bundick Lake.
“It was a great time for us to get these high quality
fish into the lake because some of the species would begin
spawning soon,” said Sean Kinney, Inland Fisheries District 5
Biologist Manager.
“The Florida largemouth bass that went into Bundick
were nearly a year old, so many of them were big enough to
spawn in the spring,” said Kristi Butler, Inland Fisheries Hatch-
ery Biologist Manager.
Since predator density and competition for food in a
waterbody affects the outcome of Florida largemouth bass The Bundick kill was
stockings, Butler said she is very interested to see results in a direct result of the
winds from Hurricane
Bundick Lake, in particular. Laura and Delta and
“Based on the preliminary sampling results in Bundick, it the high volume
appears that predator densities and competition for food are of debris that was
at a rare, all-time low in the lake,” Butler said. “I am hoping blown into the lake.
that these factors, combined with the size, quality and genet- This particular lake
ics of the bass that we stocked will result in a very high success took a direct hit from
rate on getting the Florida gene to integrate into the system.” Hurricane Laura’s eye.
Kinney has requested more largemouth bass, redear and
bluegill sunfish, and channel catfish from the Inland Hatchery
for 2021. Inland Fisheries biologists will continue to sample
in the spring and fall of 2021 to monitor bass, crappie, and
forage populations in the lake and to assess the health of the
fishery. This additional sampling will inform the need to re-
quest additional fish and will give insight into the success of
the 2021 spring spawn.
LDWF Technician Tracy Andries samples bluegill
Fish being harvested at Monroe Fish Hatchery for Bundick fingerlings harvested for Bundick Lake at Monroe Fish
Lake. Left to right, Biologist Talon Jeppson, Biologist Ed Hatchery. Samples of fish harvested are temporarily
Sylvester, Wildlife and Fisheries Technician Scott Delaney. sedated to inspect health, measure lengths, and to
estimate numbers harvested and stocked.
ABOUT ELECTROFISHING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Electrofishing is a method of fish collection commonly used by For more information, please contact Sean
fisheries biologists to sample fish populations in freshwater. Kinney (Inland Fisheries: District 5 Biologist
It involves the use of pulsed electricity to stun fish, thereby Manager) at skinney@wlf.la.gov
making them easily scooped up in a net and placed into a or Kristi Butler (Inland Fisheries: Hatchery
temporary holding tank where they can be held for data
Biologist Manager) at kbutler@wlf.la.gov
collection such as length and weight measurements.
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 13COOL L Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Enforcement Division Agents have responded to just about
every man made and Mother Nature event under the sun.
These events have included multiple hurricane search
and rescue responses, Gulf of Mexico oil spill closure zone
RUNNINGS
enforcement, search and rescue for the 2016 floods,
Morganza Spillway levee patrols, Super Bowl security on
the Mississippi River near the Superdome and various other
events that needed LDWF agents and their equipment.
Now you can add transporting essential workers to and
from work during a major ice storm to the list.
In the middle of February, a cold front moved into
Louisiana with precipitation causing an ice storm across most
of the state with the hardest hit areas being in the northern
LDWF Enforcement Agents Use parishes. This ice storm shut down a large portion of the state
and roads for up to a week.
Expertise To Transport Essential Between Feb. 16-22, LDWF agents successfully completed
approximately 455 scheduled transports of essential workers.
Workers To And From Work During “Anytime we can provide a public service in a time of
need like we were facing then we try our best to do so,” said
February Ice Storm Col. Chad Hebert, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division.
“Our agents are equipped with four-wheel drive trucks and
have experience in almost any type of bad driving condition
imaginable for Louisiana.”
story by ADAM EINCK, LDWF agents transported essential workers to the
LDWF Public Information Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier Parish, the
Northeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Ouachita Parish and
the Louisiana Veterans Home in East Feliciana Parish. Agents
also provided transportation for workers at Bienville Parish
medical facilities, St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe,
Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, the
14 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021LSU Oschner Medical in Shreveport and West Carroll Parish A typical day during the freeze for Meserole would be
nursing homes. transporting about 12 to 15 workers to their jobs and 12 to 15
“The help our state’s Wildlife and Fisheries agents workers to their homes starting around 5 a.m. He would then
provided (during) that week to ensure that our staff arrived help Louisiana State Police wherever he could. Then around 7
safely at work was a mission critical to our serving the more p.m. he would be back at the Veteran’s Home to take people
than 300 veterans who live in the Bossier, Monroe and Jackson home.
homes,” Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Meserole also said that he spent a lot of time in a vehicle
Joey Strickland said. “These medical professionals who work with a complete stranger, but found it to be an enjoyable
in our homes are caring for our nation’s heroes - our veterans experience.
- and the agents’ efforts have ensured their ability to continue “Transporting the caregivers was a great experience,”
to do so despite the severe weather conditions.” Meserole said. “I got to talk to a lot of people that I would
One of the agents involved in transporting essential never meet in normal life, and I got to explain what Wildlife
workers back and forth from their home and job was Corporal Agents are and what we do every day. The people that we
Michael Meserole, who primarily patrols in northwest transported were amazing and very appreciative of the fact
Louisiana. He said the road conditions were the most that we were taking a big risk for not themselves but for the
dangerous part of transporting workers. vets and patients at the home that needed help.”
“The road conditions were very dangerous, ice During the week that agents travelled on icy roads and
everywhere,” Meserole said. “I had to leave my truck in four harsh winter conditions, they only had one vehicle accident
wheel drive the entire time. In most places I could only travel without any injuries when a truck slid into a downed tree on
15-20 mph. Every day I traveled about 200 miles while taking the road.
people to and from work in Shreveport. It took double the Meserole said his experience as an agent and equipment
time it would normally take to travel anywhere. One worker helped prepare him for driving on the icy roads and in snow.
lived about 20 miles from me and it took an hour to drive to “All the different terrain and weather conditions that
her house.” we face daily helped me learn how to adapt to icy road
Meserole said he was primarily used to transport workers conditions,” said Meserole. “Ours truck were the biggest part
from their homes to the Veteran’s Home in Bossier Parish but of our success. Having the four-wheel drive and bigger mud
that he also was tasked with performing other jobs during the tires helped get traction in areas that other vehicles could
freezing temperatures. not, which allowed us to help people in need that the city
“In between runs I would help State Police with various cops or parish deputies couldn’t get to.”
things,” Meserole said. “I helped pull cars and 18 wheelers
out of the way in order to get the East bound lane of I-20
reopened from Bossier City East.”
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 15Photo courtesy of USFWS
STEWARDSHIP LESSON
LDWF’s Native Fish In The Classroom most impactful difference we can make in the minds of the
public, especially for the younger generations. For the Louisi-
Program Gives Step-by-Step ana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), we do our
Instruction On Fishery Hatching part to develop this sense of stewardship with our successful
Native Fish in the Classroom (NFC) program.
story by CHRISTOPHER CONNER, LDWF Native Fish in the Classroom is predominantly a stew-
ardship project, in which teachers and students raise native
Fisheries Extension/Outreach & Education
W
paddlefish from eggs to fingerlings in their classrooms and
Biologist then accompany an LDWF biologist to release the fish into
a public stream. At the start of the program, teachers and
students attend a spawn day event held at the Booker Fowler
“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a Fish Hatchery. At the event, they watch LDWF staff spawn
people ever received, and each one must do his part if we adult paddlefish and learn more about the species and gen-
wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” eral aquatic natural resource management in the state.
This quote was given by Teddy Roosevelt during his July 4, The NFC program was created in 2002 by LDWF’s Ange-
1886, speech in Dickinson, North Dakota - known as the la Capello in partnership with Louisiana Sea Grant and the
Dakota Territory at the time. In this speech, Roosevelt laid LSU Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering.
out many of the ethical and moral beliefs that would later Ten years before the program’s creation, paddlefish popula-
inspire his political ambitions and ideals, primarily the idea of tions in Louisiana were decimated by damage caused to the
stewardship – which is the core value being presented in the Atchafalaya Basin by Hurricane Andrew. Federal disaster re-
quote above. Stewardship is defined as supervising or tak- lief funds received after the storm were used to help build
ing care of something. For Roosevelt that something was the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery, the largest fish hatchery in the
American landscape, and the organisms that called it home, state. Once construction was complete in 1997, the hatchery
that he held so dear. It was his belief that all citizens have a began producing paddlefish, along with many other species
duty to protect public lands, fish, and wildlife and to help en- impacted by Hurricane Andrew. Wanting to create a program
sure their long-term sustainable use. For environmental edu- for students to learn about fisheries and aquatic resource
cators, instilling this sense of stewardship in those we teach management, Capello chose paddlefish as the focus of her
is a fundamental principle of what we do. It is arguably the project and thus the NFC program was born.
16 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021Recently hatched paddlefish
You might be wondering why paddlefish were chosen for fry, 1-2 weeks old.
the program. Firstly, they were one of the fish the hatchery was
already producing. Another major factor in selecting the paddle-
fish is that the paddlefish was, and still is, a threatened and vul-
nerable species throughout most of its natural range. Over the
past century, paddlefish populations in the United States have
dramatically declined as overharvesting and dam construction
has decimated populations throughout the country. The fish is
currently officially extirpated (naturally occurring populations
no longer exist) in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Michigan,
North Carolina, and the Great Lakes, with populations reduced in
large part to the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and tributaries.
In Louisiana, however, paddlefish are an amazing success story.
Since beginning paddlefish production in 1997, Booker Fowler
Fish Hatchery has produced millions of paddlefish fry and finger-
lings that have been used to effectively restore Louisiana’s pad-
dlefish populations. The species is now considered stable enough
to allow recreational anglers to take up to two paddlefish per day
with a maximum lower jaw-fork length of 30 inches.
The paddlefish is also an ideal species to use for studying Photo courtesy of USFWS
fish growth and development in the classroom because its life
cycle parallels the academic year. Paddlefish fry can grow about 1 WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING
inch per week in ideal environmental conditions, and often reach ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
about 4 inches in less than two months. This rapid growth allows
students to observe three distinct life stages of the paddlefish, as “Native Fish in the Classroom is the most
the fish hatch from eggs and grow from fry to fingerlings in the important activity/program I have been involved
classroom tanks. with during my 19 years as a teacher. Had it
Another reason paddlefish are used for the program, is not been for Angela, I am not sure if I would be
because paddlefish are simply one of the most fascinating fish teaching Environmental Science today.”
- John Dupuis, St. Thomas More Catholic High
School
“It was another great paddlefish spawn. This is
a life-changing event for the students. Thanks to
everyone for this once-in-lifetime project.”
- Donald Kent, LMS Environmental Science
Academy Director
“Thank you so much to all involved - it was a
fabulous day!! Two of my students were about
ready to ask for a job application to work at the
fish hatchery! Y’all are changing lives, opening
mindsets, and inspiring our kiddos!”
- Valerie Nehrbass-Vidrine, NFC Teacher
“It was a fantastic day my students really
enjoyed seeing everything. I have already had
other science teachers bring their students in
to see the eggs and learn about what we did
yesterday. They will be coming in today and
Photo by Angela Capello tomorrow then again next week to see the fries
after they hatch.”
Full setup of 48 gallon tank, recirculation system and bio-
- Mary Johnson, S.J. Welsh Middle School
filtration system used to raise paddlefish in the classroom
laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 17species on the planet. They’re one of the largest and
oldest species of freshwater fish in the world, dating
back at least 65-75 million years. They look the part of
an ancient fish, with their long, exotic looking rostrum IN MEMORY
extending up to one-third of the fish’s total body length OF ANGELA
- which can be over 5 feet. This rostrum is covered in CAPELLO
tiny pores called electroreceptors that assist in finding
food, mainly zooplankton - tiny organisms floating in The Native Fish in the
the water column that the fish filter out to eat. Raising Classroom Program is one
such an uncommon and interesting species in their of several aquatic education
programs developed by
classrooms provides students with an experience that
former LDWF Biologist
is likely to stay with them long after their schooling is Angela Capello. Over her
finished. 23-year career with LDWF,
In its first year, the NFC program had four pilot Angela played a significant role in creating or contributing to
teachers and a few hundred students participating. As the following programs: WETshop (Wetland Education Teacher
of 2021, the program has expanded to include over Workshop), Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program, Cenla
20 teachers across 10 parishes, with 2,000-3,000 stu- National Hunting and Fishing Day, Becoming an Outdoors
dents participating in the program each year. Many of Woman, Archery in Louisiana Schools, Families Understanding
these students have gone on to pursue degrees and Nature (FUN) Camp, Upland Wetlands Workshop, Hands-On
careers in the biological sciences, citing the Native Outdoor Training (HOOT) Camp and LA Black Bear Workshop. She
Fish in the Classroom program as their main inspira- coordinated the Sabine Parish Fishing Clinic and the Grant Parish
tion. This program makes substantial, lasting impacts Fishing Clinic, in addition to holding numerous fishing clinics and
on how students think about Louisiana’s natural re- camps throughout the state each year for other schools and
sources, as evidenced by the teacher testimonials. In organizations. Angela operated the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery
addition, it has successfully accomplished something Visitors Center for many years and conducted hundreds of tours
of the fish hatchery. She developed education materials and
championed by conservation pioneers like Teddy Roo-
manuals, including the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery “Finnie the
sevelt and sought-after by environmental educators Fingerling” Coloring Book and the Native Fish In the Classroom
like myself - developing an attitude of stewardship in Teacher Manual.
the public.
Angela taught children in aquatic and hunter education, but she
Photo courtesy of Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery also “taught the teachers,” training many educators, parents, and
volunteers in aquatic and hunter education. She worked closely
with these people to ensure they understood the material and
could present it to students in a knowledgeable and professional
manner. She provided teachers with materials and resources to
help them educate children. She ensured that participants left the
programs armed with both the skills needed to safely enjoy the
state’s resources, and the knowledge to become good stewards
of the environment. She developed career-long relationships
with people who helped her accomplish these goals.
Angela received several awards throughout her career, including
LDWF Employee Recognition Awards in 2003 and 2006, the
Louisiana Science Teachers (LSTA) Distinguished Informal Science
Educator Award in 2003, the Outstanding Educator Award from
the Southern Association of Marine Educators in 2004, and the
30 day old paddlefish fingerlings (variation in growth
rate is common). Coastal Stewardship Award from the Coalition to Restore Coastal
Louisiana in 2009. She served on the Louisiana Environmental
Education Commission and was the President of the Louisiana
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Environmental Education Association (LEEA). Her co-workers
praise her passion and commitment to her love of fisheries
For more information on the Native Fish biology and mentoring/educating Louisianans’ across the state.
in the Classroom program, please visit
www.wlf.la.gov/page/for-teachers Angela recently succumbed to glioblastoma, an aggressive form
of brain cancer. Angela’s work will live on through all of the people
she has touched through environmental education programs. In
fact, several former Native Fish in the Classroom students were
so inspired by that particular program, that they have gone on to
18 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021 earn degrees and begin careers in natural resources.STAMP
OF APPROVAL
John Butler Has All Louisiana Duck Stamp
Contest Winners; 39 Years’ Worth
story by ED PRATT, LDWF Public Information
T
John Butler showing off his 1989 Louisiana Duck Stamp print, his first stamp, along with some of the rest of his collection.
To let John Butler tell it, his fancy duck stamp art collection In addition, revenues have supported wetland develop-
wasn’t supposed to be as big as it is. But, it is, and the evidence ment projects on wildlife management areas and the Loui-
is spread across the walls throughout his house in Central, a siana Waterfowl Project, a cooperative endeavor between
small town in the eastern stretches of East Baton Rouge Parish. LDWF, Ducks Unlimited, the Natural Resources Conservation
What Butler has accumulated makes folks with the Loui- Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide habitat
siana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries smile. The curi- for waterfowl and other wetland birds on private lands.
ous, well, they just want to know, why? A panel of judges, experienced in waterfowl biology and/
You see, Butler has collected every winning duck stamp or artistic method, selects the winning design.
and print since LDWF started the competition way back in Butler, once an avid hunter, has hunted deer, squirrel, rab-
1989. Again, that’s a print of every winning painting. He is bits from Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. He raised his family
one of a few who have accomplished that feat. in Baker and operated John Butler CPA there for decades. He
“There are a number of collectors who have prints of ev- audited the books of the city of Baker for 50 years. His daugh-
ery winning Louisiana State Duck stamp, but it’s certainly not ter Jennifer Cucullu has since taken over the business.
common,” said Larry Reynolds, LDWF’s Waterfowl Program It was Cucullu who alerted LDWF about her dad’s
Manager, and supervisor of the stamp competition. collection.
The collection started when Butler, now 86, saw a news- On one occasion Butler said he had a difficult time finding
paper article about the winning duck stamp - a blue-winged one winning duck stamp. The artist had died and getting infor-
teal in 1989 - and he had to have it. “I liked it and I ordered it,” mation was tough. Undaunted, Butler said, “I went through a
Butler said, looking back. And, then he couldn’t stop. lot of hoops to find his family so I could get that one.”
“I used to hunt ducks a long time ago. Maybe that had Butler estimates that he has spent over $9,000 for the
something to do with it,” he reasoned. artwork and the frames in the 31 years of collecting.
The duck stamp artwork is generated through the Louisi- He laughs about the long span of stamp and print buy-
ana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp program, created in 1988 ing. “No, I never thought I’d get so many. Then again, I hadn’t
to build funding for conservation and enhancement of water- envisioned living this long.”
fowl populations and wetland habitats in Louisiana. The 2021 stamp, featuring a swimming mottled duck,
Since the first contest in 1989, more than $15 million has went on sale June 1. It’s a good bet that the man in Central
been generated for wetland conservation with approximately and a few others will be ordering it up.
$6 million spent on land acquisition.
Entries for the 2022 contest will be accepted from Oct. 18-26, 2021. The 2022 contest is restricted to designs
with fulvous whistling duck(s) as the focal species with the requirement for associated habitat. The contest
will be held in the Joe Herring-Louisiana Room at LDWF HQ in Baton Rouge starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27,
2021. The public is invited to attend. laconservationist.wlf.la.gov 19times gone by...
July-Aug
1983
A look back at the Conservationist’s past with an eye on the present
Vol. 35 JULY-AUG 1983 No. 4
GETTING THE BLUES
By Judy Hughes Marte
…Blue crabs, that is…those cantankerous crustaceans that are a favorite spot, you’ll pull up the blues two-by-two and in a morning’s time a family can fill a
eating delicacy among Louisianians. The tender white meat of the blue crab is a hamper and look forward to the evening meal.
culinary delight that’s hard to resist. But catching these critters is easy, and it’s a fun Blue crabs are migrants. They stay in shallow waters in the warm months and
activity for folks of all ages. move to deeper waters of the gulf in the winter. For this reason, crabbing is primar-
While an average of some 13 million pounds of blue crabs are harvested com- ily a summer activity. There’s no season on the taking of crabs but they are easier to
mercially each year in Louisiana, a few million more pounds are undoubtedly taken catch from June to September.
yearly by recreational crabbers. There’s no limit to the number of crabs a person can It is when the crabs move into warm inland waters in spring that mating be-
take for home consumption, but it only takes a few dozen to create a family feast. tween male and female crabs takes place. The male crab finds a female crab that is
There are many kinds of crabs in Louisiana’s coastal waters, but most are small and just about to undergo her final molt. He carries the female underneath him, holding
eaten only by non-human creatures. Of the three crab species eaten by man, only her securely with his six walking legs. When the female is ready to cast off her shell,
the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is abundant and readily available to the general the male finds a secluded spot and releases the female but remains standing guard
public. It is the only commercially important crab in Louisiana. over her. The actual mating between the two crabs occurs while the female is in the
Here in Louisiana blue crabs are found from the nearly fresh waters of the soft shell stage.
lower Atchafalaya basin to the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. They thrive As crabs are caught and placed in a hamper, they should be kept in the shade
in lakes, bays, tidal bayous and are especially numerous in the many salt flats and and covered with wet Spanish moss or a wet burlap sack to keep them alive until cook-
shallow estuarine areas along the coast. In any of their haunts, blue crabs are fair ing time. Or the crabs can be placed on ice in an ice chest for even better preservation.
game for the Louisiana sportsman.
Crabs can be caught in a number of ways. Trotlines and drop nets are two
traditional methods. Most commercial crabbers as well as many sport crabbers use
the crab pot today. The crab pot is a box made of chicken wire with an inner com-
partment to hold bait and a set of funnels to lure crabs in but make it difficult for
them to find their way out.
For family crabbing, drop nets are probably the favorite choice. Wire-rimmed
round nets are inexpensive and readily available at most sporting goods stores and
hardware stores throughout south Louisiana. A couple dozen of these nets, some
twine, and some bait are all that is needed for crabbing… with the addition of an
ice chest or hamper to store the catch. Bait can be almost any kind of meat, such as
chicken or chicken parts, whole fish or fish heads.
Drop nets have two wire circles attached to the loose netting. The bait is tied
with twine to the center of the bottom of the net, formed by the smaller of the two
circles. When set in the water, the net lies flat so that crabs can crawl easily to the
bait. When pulled from the waters, though, draw strings attached to the larger top
wire circle cause the net to form a basket, entrapping the crabs.
Crab nets can be set in a lake or bay by boat, with floats attached to the nets
to mark their locations. But a boat is not a necessity for successful crabbing. All you
have to do is drop baited nets off of a dock, pier, bridge or bayou bank, relax (or
fish) for 30 minutes or so, then pull up the nets and check your catch. In a good
20 Louisiana Conservationist | Summer 2021You can also read
