Mammal researcher Dr. Craig Hood of Loyola University photographed three bobcats in the Barataria Preserve. Click on the Investigators in Action link to learn more.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Animals living in south Louisiana are as distinctive as the habitat they live in. The Barataria Preserve is a great place to spot all kinds of Louisiana critters. Remember that where you are and the time of day is key to what birds and animals you will probably see.
During the day, nine-banded armadillos and eastern grey squirrels can be seen foraging next to the trails. In the marsh, swamp rabbits, minks, and the introduced nutria munch away. While many large mammals are secretive and nocturnal, you may be able to catch a glimpse of a coyote or a white-tailed deer. There are several species of bats known to inhabit the park and feed on its abundant insects.
The Barataria Preserve is literally crawling with reptiles and amphibians. Tree frogs, green anoles, and water snakes are often seen. The species that attracts the most attention is the American alligator. Thirty years of protection and management have allowed alligator populations to thrive and they can often be seen sunning themselves along waterway banks or partially submerged in the water.
Located squarely along the Mississippi Flyway, this is a birder's paradise. Over 200 species of birds use the preserve's waterways and vegetation for foraging, nesting, and resting. Look for many different species of heron, egret, and ibis wading along canal banks or slowly eating their way through the swamps. Songbirds are easily heard and less often seen in the forests, including colorful examples such as the prothonotary warbler and the painted bunting. Look below for the preserve bird checklist. Have an adventure on a Louisiana birding trail. For the latest in bird news for the New Orleans area, check out University of New Orleans ornithologist Dr. Peter Yauckey's Birding Made Easy New Orleans blog. Check out sightings at the Barataria Preserve and Chalmette Battlefield at the eBird link below and add your own observations.
Fish, crabs, and other aquatic organisms are plentiful but can be more difficult to see---try looking straight down into the water from a bridge or deck! The Barataria Preserve lies in the ecologically significant Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary, fertile waters where rivers and bayous meet the sea. These waters provide important nursery grounds for shell and fin fish including blue crabs, shrimp, speckled trout, and gar fish.
Check out the Investigators in Action page to find out what researchers are doing in the park. For more on the animals that inhabit the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve area, follow the links to the right.
Don't Forget About the Atchafalaya!
The Atchafalaya Basin is another great place to catch a glimpse of south Louisiana animals. And it's right next door to our Acadian Cultural Centers in Thibadoux and Lafayette.
Join us for an Atchafalaya Adventure, all from the comfort of your couch!
Take a moment to escape and explore a magical place. Be astonished at the beauty that is south Louisiana. Learn a little about our neighbors. Join Ranger Allyn and Volunteer Rose on a cruise through the amazing waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin and discover some incredible stories that await you!
Ranger Allyn and Volunteer Rose take you down a winding river path and meet with amazing animals in the Atchafalaya Basin of South Louisiana.
Alligators at the Barataria Preserve
Alligators are visitors from another time, out of place in our modern, urban lives. Yet they exist. Observing an alligator seems like watching a statue. They lay still for hours moving only to breath and blink, and then when spotting prey, suddenly lunge forward at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour. Not at all normal behavior, unless you are North America’s largest reptile, Alligator mississippiensis.
Of all the animals that can be seen throughout the Barataria Preserve, the species that attracts the most attention is the American alligator. That is hardly surprising, since the alligator sits at the top of the wetland food chain here in the Southeastern United States. In the past, alligators were hunted to the brink of extinction, thirty years of protection and management have allowed the species' numbers to rebound. Nowadays, the alligator is once again common, and you can see them sunning along the bank, or submerged, with only their eyes and nostrils above the water.
Alligators are found all over peninsular Florida and northeastward through the Okefenokee Swamp and up the south Atlantic coast to North Carolina. Westward their range stretches from Florida along the Gulf coast to Louisiana, then expands inland up the Mississippi Valley into Arkansas and into all of the lowlands of eastern Texas.
Alligators can live in lots of different habitats, but they prefer freshwater swamps, marshes and rivers. They are indiscriminate feeders and will eat any animal it can catch from a deer or hog to a beetle, depending on the size of the alligator, the season, and locality.
The American alligator and the American crocodile look very similar. But there are several ways to distinguish the two. Alligators are covered with hard scales, reinforced by little plates of bone. The shape of the snout of the alligator is also broader and more round at the tip.
The teeth are another way to tell the difference. A crocodile's mouth and lower jaws are in line with each other. When a crocodile's mouth is closed, you can see both the upper and lower teeth. Not so of the alligator whose top jaw closes in front of the lower jaw. You cannot see it's bottom teeth when its mouth is closed because of this “overbite.” Unlike other reptiles, their teeth are embedded in sockets.
Alligators spend most of their time in the water. They can spend hours just floating in the water. They can swim at the surface or below. The alligator can sink to the bottom and stay down for a long time, depending on the weather. The eyes, ears, and nose are located on the top of the alligator's head. When it floats or swims at the surface, they are above the water and the alligator can see, hear, and smell. The alligator's sight and hearing are good.
Alligator's feet are partially webbed so they serve as paddles when swimming slowly. To swim fast the alligator uses its long and powerful tail. The alligator tucks its leg against its body and sweeps its tail back and forth. They can swim faster than a person can paddle a canoe and on land, they can move quickly for short distances.
Mating takes place in the spring. The male has a deep booming roar that can be heard as far away as a mile. The female answers with a bellow. Both sexes also have two pairs of scent glands that secrete during mating season. This is how they find each other. The female and male alligator race around in circles above the water. Mating takes place in the water for one or two days, then the male leaves in search of another mate. The female alligator begins building her nest about a month after she has mated. She chooses a dry spot on land, usually under a tree, to build the nest. The tree keeps the nest from direct sun, because the eggs cannot survive hot sun very long. The alligator carries plants in her mouth, and scrapes dirt and leaves with her body and tail. She packs the material down by walking back and forth over it. A finished nest is almost three feet high.
After the nest mound is built, the female scoops out a hole in the middle of the mound
where she lays 29-68 eggs. It takes from late May throughout the month of June to lay that many eggs. After the eggs have been laid, the female covers the eggs with more leaves and plants. As the plant mixture decays, it produces heat in the nest and in this way the eggs are kept warm day and night. The female alligator will guard her nest by sitting next to it. Raccoons, opossums, and wild pigs are fond of alligator eggs. If an animal tries to break into the nest, the alligator will scare off the intruder by opening her mouth and hissing loudly.
The sex is determined by the temperature of the eggs. Above 90 degrees the sex will be
male, below 86 degrees the sex will be female. In between these, the sex is determined by how close they are to either temperature. The natural birth ratio is five females to one male. When the eggs are ready to hatch, about two months later, the baby alligator breaks open the egg with a sharp pick on the end of the nose called an "egg tooth" which falls off shortly after it hatches. As They are hatching, the babies begin to grunt. When the grunts are heard by the mother, she removes the material covering the nest so the babies can get out. She then carries a few at a time in her mouth to the water. Alligators stay with their mother for up to two years.
Alligators measure about 9 inches at birth and they grow 12 inches a year in their first five or six years. They grow very slowly after that. It is unusual to find an alligator more than 12 feet in the wild today. After their first two years then the alligator will live a solitary life, except during mating season.
Alligators often allow you to view them at close range, however, you must respect their power and size. Please do not feed the alligators. Besides being extremely unhealthy for their diet, continued feeding will cause them to associate food with people, removing their natural tendency to avoid humans.
Table 1. Current inventory of amphibians at the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Data collected from 2001 to 2002 are compared to prior inventories by Smalley (1982), Rossman and Demastes (1989), and observations by National Park Service (NPS) employees and Muth (1991). Except as noted, all scientific and common names follows NPSpecies (version 2.0).
Presence is noted by a “+”
An “*” means this is the first record for this species from the Barataria Preserve.
Habitat associations of amphibians at the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Presence is noted by a “+” and restricted distribution by a “*.”
Habitat associations of reptiles at the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Presence is noted by a “+” and restricted distribution by a “*.”
Irruptive migrant (migrates when conditions force birds to migrate, like in a harsh winter); common in some years
RL
Species on Review List of the Louisiana Ornithological Society
Seasons
Symbol
Description
Sp
March - May
Su
June - July
F
August - November
W
December - February
Abundance
Symbol
Description
A
Abundant in appropriate habitat
C
Common; usually seen
F
Fairly common; expected
U
Uncommon; infrequently observed
R
Rare; not seen every year
E
Erratic; numbers fluctuate
Occassional
Observed infrequently
Very rare
Very few documented observations
Expected
Not reported yet
Species
Habitat
Sp
Su
F
W
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Marsh
C
C
C
C
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Marsh
Expected
Snow Goose
Fly-over
U
U
Wood Duck
Swamp *
F
F
F
F
Gadwall
Marsh
U
U
U
American Wigeon
Marsh
U
U
U
Mallard
Marsh
U
U
U
Mottled Duck
Marsh
R
R
R
R
Blue-winged Teal
Marsh
U
U
U
Northern Shoveler
Marsh
U
U
U
Northern Pintail
Marsh
Expected
Green-winged Teal
Marsh
U
U
U
Canvasback
Lake
Expected
Greater Scaup
Lake
Occasional; winter
Lesser Scaup
Lake
C
C
C/A
White-winged Scoter (RL)
Lake
Very rare; winter
Bufflehead
Lake
U
U
U
Common Goldeneye
Lake
U
U
U
Hooded Merganser
Lake
Expected
Red-breasted Merganser
Lake
U
U
U
Ruddy Duck
Lake
U
U
U
Pied-billed Grebe
Lake, Marsh
U
U
U
Horned Grebe
Lake
U
U
U
Rock Pigeon (I)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (I)
Scrub
U
U
U
U
Inca Dove
R
R
White-winged Dove
Scrub
Expected
Mourning Dove
Scrub
F
F
F
F
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Forest *
C
C
C
Black-billed Cuckoo
Groove-billed Ani
Occasional
Common Nighthawk
Overhead
U
U
Chuck-will's-widow
Forest
R
U
R
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney swift
Swamp*
C
C
C
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Forest *
C
C
C
Rufous Hummingbird
Forest
Occasional; fall
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Very rare; fall
King Rail
Marsh *
C
C
C
C
Virginia Rail
Marsh
U
U
U
Sora
Marsh
C
C
C
Purple Gallinule
Marsh *
F
F
Common Gallinule
Marsh *
C
C
C
C
American Coot
Marsh
U
U
U/C
Black-necked Stilt
Marsh *
U
U
U
R
Black-bellied Plover
Marsh
Expected
Semipalmated Plover
Marsh
U
Killdeer
Marsh *
C
C
C
C
Stilt Sandpiper
Marsh
Expected
Dunlin
Marsh
U
C
Least Sandpiper
Marsh
C
U
U
White-rumped Sandpiper
Marsh
U
Pectoral Sandpiper
Marsh
Expected
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Marsh
C
U
Western Sandpiper
Marsh
C
U
U
Short-billed Dowitcher
Marsh
Expected
Long-billed Dowitcher
Marsh
Expected
Wilson’s Snipe
Marsh
C
C
C
American Woodcock
Forest
U
U
U
Spotted Sandpiper
Marsh
C
C
Solitary Sandpiper
Marsh
C
U
Greater Yellowlegs
Marsh
U
U
U
Lesser Yellowlegs
Marsh
C
C
U
Pomarine Jaeger
Lake
Very rare
Bonaparte's Gull
Lake
C
Laughing Gull
Lake
C
C
C
C
Ring-billed Gull
Lake
C
C
C
Herring Gull
Lake
U
U
C
Bridled Tern
Lake
Very rare
Least Tern
Lake
F
Gull-billed Tern
Lake
Occasional
Caspian Tern
Lake
U
U
Black Tern
Lake
U
U
Common Tern
Lake
Occasional
Forster's Tern
Lake
C
C
C
C
Royal Tern
Lake
U
U
U
U
Sandwich Tern
Lake
U
U
U
Black Skimmer
Lake
Occasional
Common Loon
Lake
U
U
U
Magnificent Frigatebird
Lake
Occasional
Double-crested Cormorant
Lake
C
C
C
Anhinga
Wetlands
F
F
F
F
American White Pelican
Lake, Marsh
U
U
U
Brown Pelican
Lake
F
F
F
American Bittern
Marsh
U
U
U
Least Bittern
Marsh *
F
F
Great Blue Heron
Wetlands *
C
C
C
C
Great Egret
Wetlands *
C
C
C
C
Snowy Egret
Wetlands *
C
C
C
C
Little Blue Heron
Wetlands *
C
C
C
C
Tricolored Heron
Wetlands
F
F
F
F
Reddish Egret
Wetlands
Occasional
Cattle Egret
Wetlands
C
C
C
Green Heron
Wetlands *
C
C
C
R
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Marsh *
U
U
U
U
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Swamp *
C
C
C
R
White Ibis
Wetlands *
C
C
C
C
Glossy Ibis
Marsh
F
F
F
F
White-faced Ibis
Marsh
F
F
F
F
Roseate Spoonbill
Marsh
Black Vulture
Fly-over
C
C
C
C
Turkey Vulture
Fly-over
C
C
C
C
Osprey
Lake, Marsh
U
U
U
Swallow-tailed Kite
Forest
U
Mississippi Kite
Forest *
F
F
Bald Eagle
Fly-over
F
F
F
Northern Harrier
Marsh
C
C
C
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Forest *
U
U
U
Cooper's Hawk
Forest *
U
R
U
U
Red-shouldered Hawk
Forest *
C
C
C
C
Broad-winged Hawk
Forest *
U
R
U
Red-tailed Hawk
Marsh
C
C
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Marsh
C
C
C
C
Great Horned Owl
Swamp *
C
C
C
C
Barred Owl
Forest *
A
A
A
A
Belted Kingfisher
Marsh
C
C
C
Red-headed Woodpecker
Forest
Occasional
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Forest *
C
C
C
C
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Forest *
C
C
C
Downy Woodpecker
Forest *
C
C
C
C
Hairy Woodpecker
Forest *
F
F
F
F
Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker
Forest
F
F
F
Pileated Woodpecker
Forest *
F
F
F
F
American Kestrel
Marsh
C
C
C
Merlin
Marsh
R
R
R
Peregrine Falcon
Marsh
R
R
R
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Forest
C
C
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Forest
U
Acadian Flycatcher
Forest *
F
F
C
Alder Flycatcher
Scrub
U
Least Flycatcher
Scrub
U
Eastern Phoebe
Forest
C
C
C
Great Crested Flycatcher
Forest *
F
F
F
Western Kingbird
Marsh *
Very rare
Eastern Kingbird
Forest *
C
U
C
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Very rare
Loggerhead Shrike
Forest *
U
U
U
U
White-eyed Vireo
Forest *
C
C
C
U
Yellow-throated Vireo
Forest *
F
R
F
Blue-headed Vireo
Forest
F
F
F
Philadelphia Vireo
Forest
U
F
Warbling Vireo
Forest
R
U
Red-eyed Vireo
Forest *
C
C
C
Blue Jay
Forest *
C
C
C
C
American Crow
Forest *
C
C
C
C
Fish Crow
Forest
F
F
F
F
Purple Martin
Marsh *
C
C
Tree Swallow
Marsh
C/A
C/A
C/A
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Marsh
U
U
R
Bank Swallow
Marsh
U
U
Cliff Swallow
Marsh
U
U
Barn Swallow
Marsh
C
C
Carolina Chickadee
Forest *
A
A
A
A
Tufted Titmouse
Forest *
C
C
C
C
Red-breasted Nuthatch (IR)
Forest
Occasional; winter
Brown Creeper
Forest
E/R
E/R
House Wren
Scrub
U
U
U
Winter Wren
Swamp
U
U
U
Sedge Wren
Marsh
F
F
F
Marsh Wren
Marsh
C
C
C
Carolina Wren
Forest *
C
C
C
C
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Forest *
C
C
C
U
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Forest
E/C
E/C
E/C
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Forest
C
C
C
Eastern Bluebird
Swamp
U
U
U
U
Veery
Forest
U
U
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Forest
U
U
Swainson's Thrush
Forest
C
C
Hermit Thrush
Forest
F
F
F
Wood Thrush
Forest
F
F
American Robin
Forest
C
C
C/A
Gray Catbird
Forest
C
C
U
Brown Thrasher
Forest *
U
R
F
U
Northern Mockingbird
Scrub
C
C
C
C
European Starling (I)
Forest *
U
U
U
C
Cedar Waxwing
Forest
E/C
E/C
E/C
House Sparrow (I)
Scrub
U
U
American Pipit
Marsh
U
U
F/C
House Finch (I)
Expected
Purple Finch
Forest
E/U
E/U
Pine Siskin (IR
Forest
Occasional; winter
American Goldfinch
Forest
C
C
C
Ovenbird
Forest
C
C
R
Worm-eating Warbler
Forest
U
C
Louisiana Waterthrush
Forest
U
U
Northern Waterthrush
Forest
C
C
R
Golden-winged Warbler
Forest
U
U
Blue-winged Warbler
Forest
F
C
Black-and-white Warbler
Forest
C
C
R
Prothonotary Warbler
Swamp *
C
C
C
Swainson's Warbler
Forest *
R
R
Tennessee Warbler
Forest
C
C
Orange-crowned Warbler
Forest
F
F
C
Nashville Warbler
Forest
Very rare; migration
Mourning Warbler
Forest
Very rare; migration
Kentucky Warbler
Forest
F
F
Common Yellowthroat
Marsh *
A
C
A
C
Hooded Warbler
Forest *
C
C
C
American Redstart
Forest
C
C
R
Cape May Warbler
Forest
Very rare; migration
Cerulean Warbler
Forest
U
U
Northern Parula
Forest *
A
A
A
R
Magnolia Warbler
Forest
F
C
Bay-breasted Warbler
Forest
U
U
Blackburnian Warbler
Forest
U
U
Yellow Warbler
Scrub
U
A
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Forest
U
C
Blackpoll Warbler
Forest
Expected
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Forest
Very rare; migration
Palm Warbler
Scrub
U
U
F
Pine Warbler
Forest
U
U
U
Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler
Forest
C
C
A
Yellow-throated Warbler
Swamp *
C
C
F
R
Prairie Warbler
R
R
Black-throated Green Warbler
Forest
C
C
R
Canada Warbler
Forest
U
F
Wilson's Warbler
Scrub
U
U
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scrub *
U
R
U
Eastern Towhee
Scrub
Very rare; migration
Chipping Sparrow
Scrub
U
U
Clay-colored Sparrow
Occasional
Field Sparrow
Occasional
Vesper Sparrow
Occasional
Lark Sparrow
Occasional
Savannah Sparrow
Marsh
U
U
Le Conte's Sparrow
Marsh
U
U
Song Sparrow
Scrub
U
U
Lincoln's Sparrow
Occasional
Swamp Sparrow
Scrub
C
C
A
White-throated Sparrow
Scrub
U
U
C
White-crowned Sparrow
Occasional
Dark-eyed "Slate-colored" Junco
Forest
U
U
Summer Tanager
Forest *
C
R
C
Scarlet Tanager
Forest
F
F
Western Tanager
Forest
Very rare
Northern Cardinal
Forest *
A
A
A
A
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Forest
C
C
R
Blue Grosbeak
Scrub
F
F
Indigo Bunting
Scrub *
A
R
A
Painted Bunting
Wetlands *
F
F
F
R
Dickcissel
Expected
Red-winged Blackbird
Marsh *
A
A
A
A
Eastern Meadowlark
Occasional
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Wetlands
Very rare
Rusty Blackbird
Swamp
R
Brewer's Blackbird
Occasional
Common Grackle
Forest *
C
C
C
A
Boat-tailed Grackle
Marsh *
A
A
A
A
Bronzed Cowbird
Occasional
Brown-headed Cowbird
Forest *
C
C
U
U
Orchard Oriole
Forest *
U
U
U
Baltimore Oriole
Forest
U
U
Names and sequence of species follow the 56th American Ornithological Union Supplement (2016).a
The following species have only occasionally been recorded in the preserve. They are common, or at least regular, at some season elsewhere in southeast Louisiana, but their occurrence in the preserve is limited by a lack of appropriate habitat, or by the infrequent and irruptive nature of their migrations (IR):
(I): established introduced population.
(RL): species on Review List of the Louisiana Bird Records Committee.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Reddish Egret
Greater Scaup
Redhead
Gull-billed Tern
Common Tern
Groove-billed Ani
Rufous Hummingbird
Red- headed Woodpecker
Fish Crow, Red-breasted Nuthatch (IR)
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Pine Siskin (IR)
The following species are considered very rare in the Barataria Preserve:
(I): established introduced population.
(RL): species on Review List of the Louisiana Bird Records Committee.
White-winged Scoter (RL)
Pomarine Jaeger
Bridled Tern
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Western Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Nashville Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Western Tanager (RL)
Yellow-headed Blackbird
The following is a partial list of species not yet recorded in the preserve, but which should be expected based upon patterns of occurrence elsewhere in southeast Louisiana:
(I): established introduced population.
(RL): species on Review List of the Louisiana Bird Records Committee.
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Black-bellied Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Whip-poor-will
Blackpoll Warbler
Dickcissel
Bobolink
House Finch (I)
Fish at the Barataria Preserve
This species list was generated from data collected through NPS observations and a 2003-2005 fish inventory conducted by Dr. David Schultz, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Note: Extirpation (also known as 'local extinction') describes the situation in which a species or population no longer exists within a certain geographical location.
Mammals of Barataria
Virginia Opossum
Common in all wooded areas.
Southeastern Myotis Bat
Preserve is within range.
Eastern Pipistrelle Bat
Preserve is within range.
Red Bat
Preserve is within range.
Seminole Bat
Confirmed in Preserve.
Northern Yellow Bat
Preserve is within range.
Evening Bat
Preserve is within range.
Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat
Preserve is within range.
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
Preserve is within range.
Nine-banded Armadillo
Abundant on higher ground. Often abroad
during daylight, especially in cold weather.
Swamp Rabbit
Very common except in densest forest.
Gray Squirrel
Most commonly encountered mammal in the Preserve.
Southern Flying Squirrel
Probably common, but completely nocturnal.
Marsh Rice Rat
Common in marsh and swamp.
Fulvous Harvest Mouse
Preserve is within range.
White-footed Mouse
Common in wooded areas.
Cotton Mouse
Preserve is within range.
Hispid Cotton Rat
Preserve is within range.
Eastern Wood Rat (Pack Rat)
Uncommon in hardwoods.
Common Muskrat
Uncommon to occasionally common in marsh where three-square sedge grows.
House Mouse
Introduced. Common on higher ground,
especially around buildings.
Nutria
Introduced. Common in swamp, abundant in
marsh areas.
American Beaver
Extirpated from the delta, but not making a
comeback in the Preserve.
Atlantic Bottle-nosed Dolphin
A rare visitor to Lake Salvador & Bayou
Barataria after storms.
Red Wolf
Extirpated
Coyote
Coyote-like wild canids recently invaded the
Preserve. It is probable that these are actually
Coyote/Red wolf hybrids.
Gray Fox
A few recent unconfirmed sightings.
American Black Bear
Extirpated.
Northern Raccoon
Abundant, utilizing all habitats
North American Mink
Common in wetland areas.
Nearctic River Otter
Fairly common in wetland areas, around
permanent water.
Cougar
Extirpated.
Bobcat
A few recent unconfirmed sightings.
White-tailed Deer
Common throughout the Preserve.
Bison
Extirpated.
Wild Boar
Introduced, occasional.
Snakes at the Barataria Preserve
“If you don't bother the snake, the snake won't bother you;” is an old saying, but is quite true. Taking some simple precautions in the Preserve will minimize problems and enable you to safely enjoy the Preserve's trails. Wear proper footwear, remain on marked trails, and above all, look before you sit, step or reach.
All snakes are protected. It is unlawful to handle or molest snakes in the Preserve. Snakes should not be captured: they are relatively delicate and internal injuries can result from improper handling. Besides, most bites occur during capture and handling.
Twenty-two species of snakes have been seen in the Preserve. Of these, only two species are venomous. Most of the snakes you see along the trails will be one of the twenty species of harmless, non-venomous snakes. Of these, four species of water snakes, the Ribbon Snake and the Black-Masked Racer are by far the most commonly encountered snakes in the Park.
A long, glossy snake with a uniformly black to gray body up to 75 inches in length; belly bluish gray, black stripe behind the eye. young individuals have a series of dark mid-body blotches on a gray body. Found in bottomland hardwoods and cypress swamps. They are largely confined to areas of high ground.
Texas Rat Snake
Elaphe obsoleta linsheimeri
A very long snake (up to 101 inches) characterized by dark blotches on a gray-brown or yellowish brown background. Belly mottled or checkered. Most often they are found in briar patches, wooded areas, and around buildings. When cornered rat snakes often pull their body in a tight coil and rapidly vibrate their tails. They have been known to cause undue concern to humans viewing their performance.
Mud Snake
Farancia abacura reinwardti
A very long (up to 81 inches) glossy black snake; belly bright red, the color extending onto the lower sides of the body as irregular bars. The Mud Snake is one the of thoroughly aquatic snakes in the area, rarely seen out of water. During spring flooding, Mud Snakes may be commonly encountered on trails or sitting on branches at the water's surface. Adults feed almost exclusively on the Amphiuma and sirens, large elllike salamanders.
Speckled Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki
A long shiny, black snake (up to 82 inches) with a pattern of small, light-colored spots, some spots fuse to form narrow crossbands, a characteristic of all juveniles. Belly usually light with black markings. King snakes occur in most types of habitat, although they are most abundant in moist areas. Kingsnakes are one of the only snakes that kill and eat poison snakes.
Broad-banded Water Snake
Nerodia fusciata
A moderately long, (up to 62 inches) heavy-bodied snake with broad dark bands on a brown or tan body. Belly light with large squarish dark blotches. It occurs in all aquatic situations, except salt marsh. They feed mainly on fish.
Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus orarius
A moderately long, slender, olive brown to black snake (up to 48 inches) with a gold vertebral stripe and a yellowish lateral stripe. Semiaquatic and remaining close to water sources. Very similar to Eastern Garter Snake but are distinguished by the position of the light lateral stripe.
Western Green Water Snake
Nerodia cyclopion
A moderately long (up to 50 inches), heavy-bodied olive brown snake with a distinct pattern of narrow dark crossbands, the ones on the back alternating with those on the sides; belly dark brown marked with light spots or crescents. One of the most aquatic of the Water Snakes, is seldom, if ever, found away from the immediate vicinity of water. It prefers still or very slow moving water.
Louisiana Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
A moderately short to medium-sized (up to 52 inches) snake with a series of black-bordered red bands or rings on a yellow or white background; belly patterned same, or the rings may be incomplete. Characterized by a predominately black snout, and usually two anterior temporal on either side of the head. Primarily inhabitants of bottomland hardwood forest, where during winter and early spring, they are often, found some distance above the ground beneath the bark of dead trees or in the heart of rotten trees.
This is the most frequently encountered venomous snake in the preserve. Young cottonmouths are brown to reddish brown with a pattern of crossbands along the back, and grow up to 74 inches in length. The tip of the tail is sulfur-yellow. With age, the yellow disappears, and darkening obscures the bands. Adults show almost no color or pattern. In a few individuals, the dark patch extending from the eye to the angle of the jaw, partially outlined by white stripes, is striking. Cottonmouths are found with the abundant water snakes, and are often difficult to tell apart. Concentrate on head shape - not only is the head of a Cottonmouth spade-shaped, it is also quite flat on top, so flat as to form a pronounced brow-line. When frightened, Cottonmouths maneuver into a tight coil, or simply pull back into a striking position, throw it's head back, and open it's mouth, revealing it’s fangs and cottony-white mouth. Give a snake in this posture a wide berth!
Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix
Copperheads are the drier ground counterpart to the Cottonmouth A moderately long (up to 53 inches), heavy bodied, tan or copper-colored head. This color extends throughout the body, interrupted by a pattern of broad reddish crossbands. The color pattern provides excellent camouflage in the species preferred habitat, the leaf-covered forest floor. Young Copperheads share the sulfur-yellow tail tip of the Cottonmouth. Copperheads are secretive and retiring. Largely nocturnal, they are fairly common along trails on the natural levee, but even in daylight are often overlooked as they remain still when approached.
