LOUISIANA

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Cover Story: Prescribed Burning ^ "^

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ulAiyiied By the Louisiana Department q^ldlife and Fisheries

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Comments

Bryant O. Hammett, jr.. Secretary

M

y abbreviated term as secre- tary has provided the opportu- nity to work with the agency's dedicated fish and game biologists, enforcement personnel, and a wide assortment of support personnel who direct the mission charged to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. I have been most impressed with the effort expended by LDWF personnel to carry on the mandated responsibilities of resource management, while shoulder- ing the detailed hurricane recovery duties that have become an additional priority since 2005.

The Office of Fisheries' Marine and Inland Divisions continue to work closely with the fishing industry on hurricane recovery efforts including implementing resource rehabilitation and industry assistance programs that utilize the $94 million in fed- eral recovery funds tunneled through the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Fisheries' efforts also contributed to a Louisiana Recovery Authority allocation of $19 million for the state's fisheries infrastructure needs within coastal parishes affected by Katrina and Rita.

The Enforcement Division now shoulders the responsibility of lead agency for all search and rescue efforts (SAR) staged in response to future disaster recovery scenarios. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will look to Enforcement to coordinate the SAR plan meshing the resources of the Louisiana National Guard, the U. S. Coast Guard, additionally assigned Dept. of Defense agencies, as well as other state and local responders. LDWF's funding challenges are nothing new and will remain until a sustainable, dedicated source of revenue is in place. The department supports the state by managing natural resources that generate an estimated $7 billion annually and that effort should be properly funded. A viable option for LDWF to provide for long term planning is to dedicate a percentage of the state's sales tax to the Conservation Fund.

Legislators in 2007 did provide for short-term budget shortfall relief through pas- sage of House Bill 919, which will direct additional mineral revenue to the Conservation Fund from the Attakapas Wildlife Management Area. Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, an additional $12 million (projected) will be directed to the fund. Those funds will offset rising departmental expenses that include the expanding invasive aquatic weed program, increasing equipment and supply costs, as well as salaries and benefits. The revenue projections from this source, beyond FY 2008-09, should maintain department funding needs through the next two years at a minimum.

A portion of those new funds will also be used for programs designed to recruit new users into the dwindling ranks of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen reflected in recreational license sales. To that end, developing a marketing strategy to bet- ter promote the resources we have to offer non-consumptive users, as well as hunters and anglers, is essential. And those increased promotional efforts need to be directed to both citizens and visitors seeking Louisiana outdoor experiences. It has been a fast paced year and a year that gave me a different perspective on state government operations. After 14 years of state service as an elected official, I sat on the other side of the table from many officials who were once legislative colleagues. Progress was made in many areas, but the never ending list of items that need attention will, as always, await the next secretary. On a personal note, serving as secretary certainly ranks near the top of the list of unique, rewarding and exciting life experiences for me. Surely my actions have been reflective of my passion for the outdoors and my sincere interest and con- cern for the department. I thank the entire Wildlife and Fisheries staff for their efforts and wish them well in the years ahead.

Louisiana Conservationist ISSN 0024-6778 Volume 61 No. 1 Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Kathleen Bnbineaux Blanco, Governor

Bryant O. Hammett, jr.. Secretary

Janice A. Umsing, Undersecretary I Interim Secretary

John Roussel, Deputy Asst. Secretary

Brandt Savoie, Deputy Asst. Secretary

Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioners

Earl P. King, jr.. Chairman, Amelia

Patrick C. Morrow, Vice Chairman, Opelousas

Frederic Miller, Shreveport

Henry M. Mouton, Lafayette

Stephen j. Oats, Lafayette

Wayne j. Sagrera, Abbeville

Robert Samanie, III, Houma

Division Administrators/Directors

jimmy Anthony, Wildlife Bo Boehringer, Press Secretary Phil Bowman, Fur and Refuge Karen Foote, Marine Fisheries Gary Tilyou, Inland Fisheries Col. Winton Vidrine, Enforcement

Magazine Staff

Marianne Burke, Public Information Director

Thomas Gresham, Executive Editor

Linda Allen, Circulation Manager

Becky Chapman, Publications Officer

Joel Courtney, Audio/Visual Production Managei-

Adam Einck, Nezos and Media Relations Officer

Candace Guidry, Office Manager

Ashlei/ Wethei/, Special Events & Public Relations

Paul Johnson, Web Master

Sarah Gilcrease, Office Manager

Copyriglit 200S by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. This publication is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other materials.

Louisiana Conservationist (USPS #320-300) is publislied quarterly by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 7080S, 225/765-2918. Periodical postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address clianges to Louisiana Conservationist. P.O. Box 9S000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person wlio believes he or she has been discriminated agahist in any program, activity or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance should write to: Director, Office for Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

This public document was published at an average cost of S1 1.539. 39, Approximately 18,650 copies of this document were published at an average printing cost of $11 ,539.39. The total cost of all printing of this document averages 311,539.39. This docu- ment was published for Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808. by LSD Printing Services, to provide information on outdoor opportunities in Louisiana. This materia! was printed in accordance with the stan- dards 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.

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A cover story J|

Just What the UocU

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Prescribed fire is an important tool for habitat mai

By Fred Kimnel

feature articles

8 The Fine Art of Jug Fishin'

Rickey Verrett practices his art with age-old techniques and a few new innovations. By Wendy Wilson Billiot

"12 F.U.N. Camps are Just That

By Becky Chapman

FUN!

"15 Moccasins: No Such Thing

LDWF's herpetologist takes on common myths about water snakes. By Jeff Boundy

■j 7 Outdoor Roots

The Lighter Side of Nuisance Wildlife Complaints By David Moreland

20 On Cold Times and Redfish

Finding reds when the mercury drops. By Pete Cooper, Jr.

23 Uninvited Guests

LDWF's aquatic weed strategy. By Adam Einci<

27 The Rebuild

LDWF continues to repair infrastructure damaged in the 2005 storms By Ashley Wethey

departments

32 LDWF Outdoor Journal

Wildlife and Fisheries News

34 Agents of Change

Becoming a Wildlife Enforcement Agent By Lt. Brian Theriot

35 LA Cuisine

Venison Roast

front cover Sandy Hollow Burn LDWF File Photo

back cover Canada Geese {Branta Canadensis) LDWF File Photo

'Ml 1 1 1

Prescribing Fire to Cure a Habitat's Ills

Smokey Bearfl^^^Wie of the m^^Ric- cessful advertising campaigns ever devised. Who doesn't remember Smokey, an early master of the modern sound bite, telling us, "only you can prevent forest fires." Generations of Americans learned that forest fires are bad and should be prevented. It may shock you to learn that Smokey was not telling the whole truth. In 2001, when Smokey was finally called on this, he changed his message to "only you can prevent wildiires/' However, the damage had been done. Millions 6f i^r^ericans con- sidered fire in the forest to be bad. Thus, the absence of fire was good. Nothing cotiiy further from the truth, mv

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Fire is no stranger to the Louisiana land- scape. Prior to European settlement, fires periodically burned across its prairies, marshes and pine forests. In fact, fire was probably one of the two most important factors in determining which plants were most common in the Louisiana landscape (flooding was the other). The pine forests and savaimahs that were once found across the upland regions of the state existed because of periodic fires. The tall grass prairie that once covered much of south- western Louisiana existed because of fire. Even the coastal marshes were shaped by fire.

Fire shaped the landscape by eliminating plants that could not withstand periodic burning. Thus, the plants that were adapt- ed to fire dominated and flourished. Trees with thick bark such as longleaf, shortleaf and loblolly pine, blackjack oak and post oak can withstand ground fires. Many of the native grasses such as wiregrass, little bluestem, and big bluestem are fire-adapt- ed, so they dominated sites that were peri- odically burned.

Prior to European settlement, fires were started by lightning strikes and native peo- ple. Lightning fires were most common during the spring and summer months, and because there were no roads or other man- made barriers, these fires could burn exten- sive areas. Native inhabitants used bums to facilitate hunting. They probably did most of their burning in the fall. They were quite skilled at burning and knew that wild animals were attracted to the new vegeta- tion that follows a bum.

When settlers arrived, they too periodi- cally burned. No doubt they learned from the native inhabitants about burning to improve hunting. They also knew that burning enhanced grazing conditions for cattle. Until recently, much of Louisiana was "open range," meaning people could allow their cattle to roam and graze on land they did not own. This led to periodic burning of large areas of open rangeland.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s most of the virgin timber in Louisiana had been^t. Commonly referred to as the "cut out anii get out" period; most loggers of this time did not practice conservation. No effort w'as made to replant cut areas or ' tain I M 1 s for resei'din^. They sirrigly >. ut ihe .trees and niovcJ on to other

While the burning conducted by the native people and later by settlers did not harm the land, fires that followed the "cut out and get out" logging had a different impact. The logging activity resulted in large amounts of debris left behind to fuel fires. Thus, fires that burned through these areas were unusually intense. The intense fires coupled with the lack of seed trees resulted in very little forest regeneration. Unfortunately, it was fire that was blamed for this situation, rather than tlie poor log- ging practices. Fire became known as the "red scourge" of the South. The modern day conservation movement was in its earliest stages during this period and a crusade against fire was a cause gov- ernment agencies and private conservation organizations could rally behind. The result was a decades-long campaign against forest fires that took off with the creation of Smokey Bear in 1944. Regrettably, Smokey and the anti-forest fire campaign did not differentiate between good fire and bad fire. Few would argue that fire can be a danger- ous and destructive force. Out-of-control fires can damage timber, cause soil erosion and destroy property. On the other hand, when used properly, fire is an effective tool for managing and restoring native ecosys- tems, enhancing long-term timber growth, improving wildlife habitat, and protecting property. Unfortunately, many people do not understand this distinction and this has contributed to a significant decline in the responsible use of fire.

Prescribed bui'ning, or controlled burn- ing, has been practiced for many years and involves setting fires under prescribed or controlled conditions to get certain results. Among the factors considered by experi- enced and responsible practitioners of pre- scribed burning are wind speed and direc- tion, relative humidity, fuel moisture, smoke dispersal, and proximity of smoke- sensitive areas. When conditions are favor- able, experts can conduct prescribed bums in a safe manner. Prescribed burning has numerous benefits.

e of the most significant is fuel reduc-

n. Over time, an upland forest or J^as; and that is not burned builds up hi'^ els of fuel in the form of pine nrvd 111 branches or trees, and dead vegetation. A lightning strike, a sonisf s matcf fire that will

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Above left, Sandy

Hollow WMA

immediately after

a prescribed

burn; center,

Ben's Creek WMA

two weeks after a

prescribed burn;

right, Ben's Creek

two months after

a prescribed

burn.

forest and destroy property. Unlike a pre- scribed burn practitioner, lightning and arsonists don't wait for wind conditions, humidity and fuel moisture to be ideal before striking. Thus, wildfires tend to be much more intense than prescribed fires. Periodic prescribed burns keep fuel at man- ageable levels so if a wild fire does start, it will do less damage and will be much easi- er to control. Prescribed fire is a key com- ponent in maintaining many of the native plant communities of Louisiana. Although not readily apparent, plant communities are in a state of constant change. This change, which land management profes- sionals refer to as "succession," is slow, but if left unchecked, a longleaf pine forest will eventually become a hard- wood-dominated forest and a prairie will eventual- ly become a forest. Fire is the natural process that halts succession and main- tains our native longleaf pine forests, mixed hard- wood - loblolly pine forests and prairies.

Additionally, in longleaf pine stands, prescribed fire helps control a fungal disease that affects longleaf pine seedlings and slows their growth. It also enhances lon- gleaf regeneration by creating patches of bare ground for seeds to fall upon and ger- minate. In prairies, prescribed fire encour- ages seed production in many native grass- es and wild flowers and removes accumu- lated plant litter that prevents seeds from sprouting and growing. Even

though it seems like one of the biggest threats to wildlife, prescribed fire can be benefit them. It is very important to keep in mind that wild animals are products of their surroundings and they cannot exist

animals, habitat is simply the species of plants and structure of the vegetation that occurs on a site. Prescribed fire is an impor- tant tool for managing some plant commu- nities. Some species such as bobwhite quail and gopher tortoises depend heavily on certain plant communities. Without fire to maintain these plant communities, bob- whites and gopher tortoises will disappear from forested habitats. Others, such as white-tailed deer and wild turkeys, can exist in a broader variety of habitats and are less dependent on prescribed fire, but still benefit from periodic prescribed burns.

Take for example a prescribed burn in a forest that is predominately pine (loblolly, shortleaf, or longleaf). A prescribed burn will impede growth of invading trees such as sweet gum and shrubby vegetation such as yaupon. Provided the overhead pine canopy is not too dense, reduction of these invading trees and shrubs allows more sunlight to reach the forest floor and encourages the growth of grasses and other herbaceous vegetation

which, unlike woody plants and trees, provide the struc- ture, food, and cover required by wild turkeys, bobwhite quail and other birds that live in grassland habitat. White-tailed deer find new food resources among the leafy plants and young woody growth that follows a prescribed fire.

Many of the declining species of wildlife that are listed as species of "con- servation concern" in Louisiana's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (available at iolf.louisiana.gov) live in habitats that depend on periodic fires. Scores of species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and even butterflies require habitat that is maintained by fire.

without the proper habitat. For most wild Increasing the use of prescribed burning is

%9 Louisiana Conservationist

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critical to restoring the habitats that these species

depend upon. While prescribed burns have many benefits, only

experienced and properly trained land managers should conduct them. In addition to safety issues, there are important resource issues that need to be considered before applying prescribed fire. For instance, the time of year, the amount of time since the last burn and the size of the area to be burned will affect the result. Landowners interested in prescribed burn- ing should contact a consultant forester, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry or the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for more informa- tion. Despite the benefits of prescribed burning, use of the practice has decreased due in part to liability concerns, increased cost and declining public acceptance and understanding. In order to address these and other issues, the Louisiana Prescribed Fire Council (LPFC) was created under the auspices of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The LPFC is composed of natural resource profession- als, land managers and interested citizens

from various backgrounds who have taken on the task of promoting the benefits and increasing the application of prescribed burning. The LPFC had its first meeting in October 2007, and is beginning to address some of the obstacles to prescribed burning. The next time you hear Smokey Bear talk about preventing wildfires, remember that one of the best ways to prevent wildfires is through the responsible use of prescribed burning. Also, keep in mind that fire is a natural process that has shaped Louisiana's landscape for ages. Prescribed fire is an essential tool for restoring and maintaining many of the plant communities that pro- vide habitat for Louisiana's wildlife. Without the continued and increased use of prescribed fire many of the unique and familiar components of our natural land- scape will disappear. %,

Fred Kimmel is an upland game biologist with the Louisiana Department ofWihilife and FisJieries and is a regular contributor to Louisiana Conservationist.

Damaging wildfire caused by failure to administer a prescribed burn at Sandy Hollow WMA.

Winter 2008 {

Old Ways Meet New in Commercial Gar Fishing

S tarv and phntn^raphs hv l//endyWILSON BILLIOt

Gone are the days when his ancestors stalked buffalo on the Louisiana prairies. Gone also are the days they used tomahawks to slay their supper. But Native American, Rickey Verrett still stalks his prey and wields a hatchet on a regular basis.

With a whoop and the stunning blow of a hammer, reminiscent of his ancestors attacking their prey, this fish- erman brings a sudden halt to the noisy thrashing of his own prey - an alligator garfish — before hoisting it into his crudely equipped Carolina skiff.

Down in the depths of the Terrebonne Basin, Verrett continues to rely on the rich produce of this fishery to sustain his livelihood. Alligator gar is the fish of the day about 180 days of the year.

Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is the largest of the gar family and is pursued by commercial and sport fish- ermen alike. While encyclopedic information states that these fish pre- fer freshwater, Verrett harvests them regularly from the saltwater estuary of Terrebonne Parish. He has earned a reputation as one of the most produc- tive gar fishermen in the area, accord- ing to Nicholls State University (NSU) marine biology professor Dr. Allyse Ferrar. "Rickey sets out about one fourth the gear of other gar fishermen

in the same area but consistently har- vests the same amount of fish they har- vest. He understands the movement of the gar and how factors such as wind, temperature, and tides can impact his catch."

Ferrar fishes with Verrett as often as she can. "Rickey has allowed NSU and Louisiana State University (LSU) biologists to tap into his knowledge and expertise. We could never catch as many fish as he catches, so he lets us collect data from the fish he harvests. He is a valuable resource to the garfish research we do at the Bayousphere Research Lab at Nicholls."

At first glance, the meager wharf where Verrett docks his boat looks more like a recycle station than a land- ing. Old ice chests sit around display- ing empty plastic two-liter soda bot- tles. Some appear old and dented, a faded orange color, apparently having served their purpose. Others lie in the boxes, clear and transparent. The bot- tles that really catch the eye are paint- ed bright fluorescent orange.

With bare feet and hair down to his shoulders, Verrett sits atop a chest- type freezer turned old-fashioned "ice- box." With a can of spray paint in one hand and an empty 12-ounce soda bot- tle in the other, he explains that the two-liter bottles function as floats or buoys for his gar fishing lines, called jug lines.

m^ Louisiana Conservationist

Verrett is a very patient man. Deeming it too wasteful to spray paint the jugs, he sprays the paint into the empty soda bottle, and then uses a brush to paint the now-liquid paint onto the two-liter jugs.

"See this one right here?" he asks as he holds up a faded orange jug with puncture marks in it. "These are teeth marks — alligator teeth. The alligator comes and tries to bite the jug and puts holes in it. Then the jug sinks and I lose the fish, too. But I took care of the problem."

Proudly he displays his latest innovation — a plastic bottle filled with polystyrene. "I had the idea that this would work. The first thing I used was those Styrofoam peanuts, but the gators could still bite the jugs. Then I tried the spray foam from a can, but that costs too much. Then I heard about this stuff you buy in big cans and mix together to make Styrofoam. You have to mix it real fast, but it works real good. See?" Verrett squeezes the bottle to show its durability and states with a victorious smile, "Now the gators can't bite my jugs!"

The jug floats on top of the water, with a fishing rig suspended below it. The rig is made up of an 18-inch length of nylon twine tied to a shorter length of 18-gauge wire twisted onto a No. 9 stainless steel hook — a simple rig, but effective. A clothespin holds the bait in such a position that pre- vents sharks from cutting the twine with their sharp teeth.

Unlike other commercial fisher- men who purchase bait for their lines, Verrett is a frugal purist, still practic- ing the old ways. In the afternoon, he heads out with his cast net in search of striped mullet. Verrett returns to his dock where he baits the hooks with the fresh mullet, stacks them in an old ice chest, loads up the boat and heads south.

At today's destination, Verrett drops the jugs strategically in shallow bays and out-of-the-way bayous. He

looks for places to drop the lines that will allow for the least possible escape route for the fish, because once the fish takes the bait and is hooked, it can continue to swim until retrieved. Making sure of the final count released, Verrett heads home to rest for the early morning trip.

Before sunrise the next morning, Verrett once again heads south, racing the sunrise to the fishing hole. As soon as he enters the first bay he shouts with the excitement of a child, "We got a fish!" As the boat nears the buoy, he slams the throttle into neu- tral, catapulting his lean, muscular frame toward the front port gunwale where he reaches down quickly and snatches up the buoy in one fell swoop.

He grabs the hammer, which waits at the ready in a wooden tool

Verrett readies his plastic jugs and lines.

Winter 2008 ^^

Verrett and Dr. Allyse Ferrar measure and weigh an alligator gar {Atractosteus spatula).

rack bolted to the gunwale. In one well-choreographed move he pulls the unsuspecting garfish to the side of the boat and strikes it firmly on the head, rendering it comatose before he heaves it into the boat, landing it in the huge ice chest. "That's a nice one!" he brags as though this fish is the first one he's ever caught.

The next jug is stationary. "Musta been a shark," Verrett observes, drop- ping the empty line onto the pile of jugs. Of the 20 jug lines Verrett put out the night before, 15 produced alligator gar of substantial size, two held red fish, and three were lost. Verrett makes a verbal and mental note of how many lines are missing in order to look for them next time out. He relates a mirac- ulous story of how he recently found a line that had been missing for two weeks and the gar was alive and still swimming.

After only a couple of hours, we return to the crude landing, where a rickety table lies in wait for the first gar to be offered like a sacrifice. The largest fish of the day is about four feet long and about 30 pounds. Verrett treats the

fish with respect and makes short work of the cleaning.

A cane knife, hatchet, and kitchen knife, freshly sharpened, wait like sur- geon's tools on the side of the cleaning table. A bucket of bayou water used for rinsing hands and tools sits below the table. Alligator garfish have an armor of thick overlapping scales, so the tools must be sharp. Many sport fisherman throw back the incidental garfish simply because they do not know how to clean them.

After securing the fish to the table with a screwdriver, Verrett chops off the anal and pectoral fins with a cane knife. He flips the fish, making quick work of removing the dorsal fin. With pliers in his right hand and cane knife in his left, he slices through the tail while pulling upward on the armored skin. Verrett continues the chopping and lifting down the entire length of the backbone toward the head. The two-foot length of skin is tossed on the side to be dealt with later.

With a sharp knife, he then slices the side skins away from the flesh, making it easier to pull off the side

f^jf Louisiana Conservationist

panels or armor. They too are tossed aside. In the final steps, the fish is beheaded and gutted.

Verrett immediately puts the slabs of white meat in his icebox, layered generously with fresh ice. Verrett sells his catch twice a week to the highest- paying buyer, who may come from as far west as Opelousas.

Buyers, in turn, sell the meat to restaurants and seafood markets as far north as Shreveport. "I could sell all the garfish 1 could get my hands on," says Danny Dupont of Dupont's Seafood in Shreveport. "We just can't get enough of it."

Jeremy Landry, owner of B&C Seafood Market and Cajun Restaurant in Vacherie buys garfish from local fishermen. "I'm actually smoking some right now. We have garfish burg- ers on the menu, but it is mostly a local food. We serve lots of tourists here, and they are just not aware that garfish is a good fish to eat."

What about those skins, you may ask. Verrett layers the skins in 55-gallon drums where natural agents of decay strip the scales clean for later use by local Native-American artists who make jewelry and flowers with the garfish scales. Nothing goes to waste.

In a time when our society thrives on consumerism and everything seems disposable, Verrett steps back in time and reminds us of the old adage, "waste not — want not." He reminds us not by word, but by action. He lives a simple life, works hard, is easily amused, and would not have it any other way. We could all take a life les- son from this resourceful man. %,

Wendy Wilson Billiot is a native Louisianian and longtime resident of South Louisiana. She is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed tour captain, fishing charter cap- tain, and wetlands educator and advocate. Billiot is the author of Before the Saltioater Came. This article is Billiot's first contribu- tion to Louisiana Conservationist.

If jug fishing for gar seems a little too adventurous, try setting out lines for catfish. A catfish jug rig is simple. A floatation device (plastic jugs work well), several feet of braided line, a sinker, a couple of hooks and some bait are all you need. Check your regulations pam- phlet, or with a local law enforce- ment agency or wildlife agent for rules in your area.

Winter 200S ^J|

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Camps are Just Thai

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Families Understanding Nature, or F.U.N. Camp, is a program offered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Education Center. The program offers parents and their chil- dren an opportunity to spend a weekend in the outdoors, re-establishing bonds and learning outdoor skills.

Winter 2008 ^

F.U.N. Camps started about ten years ago and were originally geared toward single parents and their chil- dren. Because of popular demand, LDWF has since moved away from the single parent concept to include all fam- ilies.

At F.U.N. Camp, parents and chil- dren participate in a variety of activities, which include rifle shooting, shotgun shooting, archery, canoeing, fishing, compass reading and a nature study hike. From this list, participants may choose four activities to learn through- out the weekend. Knowledgeable instructors head each activity, giving valuable information about each subject and hands-on guidance. All gear is pro- vided for each of the activities.

One activity in which everyone par- ticipates is a camp-out on Saturday night. This includes cooking supper and breakfast on a campfire, sharing stories and bonding with the group. Instructors show participants how to set up a camp, build a fire, cook and clean up. It's a fun night for parents and children alike.

There are two F.U.N. Camps offered each year, a "father-child" session usu- ally held in May and a "mother-child" session usually held in October. The age limit for children is between 10 and 13

years old. Each session is limited to 15 parent-child pairs. This small number helps to provide very personal instruc- tion for each activity.

The program is held at Woodworth Education Center near Alexandria, which offers overnight accommoda- tions and full bath facilities. F.U.N. Camp starts on Friday at noon and ends on Sunday at noon, giving partic- ipants a full weekend to enjoy the out- door activities. (Note: Parents and boys will be in one barracks wing, while par- ents and girls will be in another wing.)

This year the father-child session will be held May 2-4, 2008 and the mother-child session will be held Oct. 10-12, 2008. The cost is $50 per parent- child pair and $25 for an additional child. Registration forms are online at ioww.wlf.louisiana.gov under the Education /Research heading. Sessions fill up fast due to the limited space, so register early.

For more information contact Mike Burns, Woodworth Outdoor Education Center manager, at 318-484-2212. ^

Becky Chapman is the publications officer for LDWF and a frequent contributor to Louisiana Conservationist.

Activities to choose from inciude:

Rifle Shooting:

Firearm safety and marksmanship are reviewed, and shooting .22 caliber rifles is conducted.

Shotgun Shooting:

Firearm safety and marksmanship are reviewed, and shooting 20 gauge shotguns is conducted.

Archery:

Basic archery fundamentals are reviewed. Participants practice what they learn by shoot- ing bows and arrows.

Fishing:

The basics of fishing, such as rods and reels, baits, tackle and accessories are covered. Tips on casting and where to find fish are provided. There is plenty of time for partici- pants to practice these skills.

Compass Reading:

Participants learn how to use a compass and try to navigate a simple compass course. Parents and children work together to learn basic orienting skills.

Basic arcnery fundamentals are reviewed. Nature Study Hike:

Participants practice what they learn by shoot- Participants follow the instructor on a nature

ing bows and arrows. hike, where they identify plants and animals,

Canoeing- collect and identify aquatic organisms, and

Participants learn the basics of canoe handling !^^'" ^"""-^^ '""P^^ their observation skills.

and safety, then take a canoe trip around I'P' ^^^, ^'T °" ^°h ^° ^^^^ ^ '^^^ ^"^

beautiful Indian Creek Reservoir enjoyable hike, and ideas are given on.activi-

ties to do dunng the hike. Jfac/j activity is conducted under an instructor's supervision.

mS9 l^ouisinna Conservationist

ccasins

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"have a moccasin problem!"... some- one on the other end of my phone .seems distressed. I ask "What do these snakes look like?" "Moccasins", the caller explains. I try again: "What does a moccasin look like?" "My neighbor is 42 and has been in the woods all his life, and he says they're moccasins." Another step back: "I'm 48, and I, too, have been in the woods all my life, but have yet to see a moc- casin. What do these particular snakes look like?" The caller skips ahead - "They're all over my pond."

I skip further ahead: "There is no such thing as a 'moccasin' snake, and I ask that the word never be spoken again." The "m" word is usually assigned to snakes that live in or near water, which, in Louisiana, means water snakes, craw- fish snakes and the cottormnouth. The first two are harmless, the last is ven- omous, so getting the species correct makes a big difference.

"But how do I know which ones I have?" asks the caller. Those snakes that rest on brush and tree limbs over the water are water snakes. Those that dash off into the water from the lakeshore are water snakes. If it's in your goldfish pond, it's usually a water snake. Cottonmouths tend to prefer shaded areas - swamps or canopied sloughs in the forest - and they are inclined not to move when encountered.

"Yeah, they're !*^&% aggressive, aren't they!" Nope. Cottonmouths, like most other pitvipers, are ambush preda- tors. They lie motionless and camou- flaged at a place where prey is likely to pass, such as along a stream or beside a

log. They also lie motionless at the approach of danger, hoping that the potential predator will not see them. That is why we can walk right up to them without the snake moving. However, once they feel they have been discovered (your foot is about to land on theni), their only option is to go on the defense - pulling into a strike-ready coil and opening their mouth. In con- trast, water snakes are active foragers, swimming along lakeshores, and diving to the bottom in pursuit of prey. They rely on their ability to swim to avoid danger, and are often in the water before you can get to them.

"I guess I don't have to worry about seeing a cottonmouth unless I'm in the swamp." Not exactly. Cottonmouths wan- der and can turn up anywhere: subdivi- sions, ridgetops, and open marsh. There is almost nowhere in Louisiana where you'd be guaranteed never to see a cotton- mouth.

"I wish my boat was a moccasin-free zone." There's that word again. Was it a cottonmouth or

water snake? "It dropped off a limb." Then it was probably a water snake. They have a habit of bask-

Story and plwtos bu Je«BOUNDY, PhD

Top, cottonmouth {Agkistrodon piscivorus); bottom, diamond backed water snake (Nerodia rhombifer)

Winter 2008^^

fS9 Louisiaim Conseroatiouist

ing over water. And, lucky you - it's not often that one gets to see wildlife close- up. "I like to do my snake viewing look- ing over my shoulder. That one I shot!" You shot a hole in your boat? "Yep, what if it had bitten me?" If it was a water snake, as I've predicted, you would have gotten a bunch of tiny punctures and scratches. Water snakes have three pairs of tooth rows, each with about 25 teeth. The teeth are very short, so they just break the skin. The problem is that I have a tendency to jerk my hand away when something is about to bite, and that leads to shallow, but bloody lacerations. A cottonmouth bite is different. Aside from the small teeth are two fangs, which can penetrate a quarter of an inch. If the snake injects venom, there is immediate pain that becomes excruciating within minutes.

"What about the one that was in my carport? How do I know whether it was a cottonmouth or water snake?" Cottonmouths are very stout snakes, and are usually dark brown with wide, darker brown or black crossbands down the body Very rarely do they appear all- black. They have a "chunky" head with a rounded snout. Their belly is usually dark, especially towards the tail. In con- trast, water snakes are less stout and have a narrower snout. They can be col- ored just like a cottonmouth, or can be plain dark gray on top. The belly can be dark, spotted or yellow. "That's not much help." I'm sorry to say that these are relative characteristics, and that the unambiguous differences require closer examination. Cottonmouths have verti- cal pupils, whereas those of water snakes are round. The scales under the tail of cottonmouths are in a single row, just like on the belly, but with water snakes the scales are paired.

"I'm not getting down on my belly at midnight to see if the thing coiled on my doorstep has paired scales under its tail!" When in doubt, shoot. Safety comes first in your own yard, and there are plenty of cottonmouths and water snakes.

"But why are they staying at my

pond?" Water snakes feed primarily on fish, secondarily on frogs and crawfish. Our largest species, the diamondback water snake, feeds almost exclusively on catfish as adults, whereas the crawfish snakes feed on soft-bodied crawfish. But don't worry - they won't put a dent in your fish population. In fact, water snakes are beneficial to your pond. They eat the fish that are easiest to catch, which are often those that are sick or dis- eased. Along with other predators, they help thin the fish population and pre- vent the dwarfism that comes with over- crowding.

"I guess I don't mind a few at my pond, but I don't want them nesting." What folks consider a "nest" of snakes is usually just an aggregation of water snakes that are in proximity due to some resource - food, shelter or mates. For example, water snakes may pile atop each other in a patch of sun on a cool day, or, several males may be lingering around a female during breeding sea- son. Water snakes and cottonmouths don't make nests, but give birth to live young. The birth site is usually just a sheltered spot that the mother selects immediately prior to the event. The babies are then on their own, and will shortly disperse to their surroundings.

"Wow! How can I help water snakes?" Teach folks that all those snakes swimming and sunning along the lake are harmless water snakes. Most years I get a call from the State Capital to do something about all the deadly "moccasins" in Capital Lake. So far the tally is water snakes 343, cotton- mouths 0. If people would realize that all of those snakes are nothing to worry about, we could work on real problems. Consider that five water snakes swim- ming in your pond are no more danger- ous than a dozen robins pulling worms from your lawn. "Thanks, it's lesson time for my know-it-all neighbor." i

JeffBoundy is the stajf herpetologist for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and a frequent contributor to Louisiana Conservationist.

The Lighter Side of Nuisance Wildlife Complaints

The definition of nuisance wildlife is similar to the one for weeds. It is simply something showing up in a place where you don't want it to be. An oak seedling rising up from the ground in the rose bed is a weed to the person trying to grow roses. Likewise the majestic white-tail is a wonderful game animal in the forest but when it is eating the roses in the flower bed (deer do love roses), it is nothing but a nui- sance animal that needs to be removed. All across Louisiana our rural land- scape is slowly dwindling and is being replaced with human developments. An example of this is the growth and expansion occurring throughout the Florida Parishes just north of Lake Pontchartrain. Hurricane Katrina did much to speed the process up. All the rural property within an hour's drive of our major cities, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lake

Charles and Lafayette is quickly being developed.

When wildlife habitat is replaced with human development, the wildlife either adapts or disappears. Wildlife has learned to adapt and make use of small woodlots, parks, fields and drainage ditches in cities and suburbs. While most people enjoy seeing wildlife, they generally don't want it eating their pet's food, knocking over garbage cans, climbing into attics, get- ting into swimming pools or eating their flowers and shrubbery.

Those who have problems look to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for help with resolving their nuisance wildlife complaints. Unfortunately, the management tech- niques used by biologists to manage wildlife, hunting and trapping for instance, are difficult to apply to the city or suburban environment. While a per-

Winter 2008^^

ff^ Louisiana Conservationist

son with deer eating his roses wants something done about it, he often does not want it killed. Trapping and relo- cating animals are time consuming activities. Wildlife veterinarians do not recommend relocating animals to wild habitat because of disease concerns. Habitat is usually well stocked with native wildlife species and zoos have no need for these common animals.

Nuisance wildlife complaints utilize agency conservation funds that are needed for established projects. Most persons who have complaints are usu- ally individuals who do not hunt or fish or are not buying sporting goods equip- ment associated with these activities. Consequently they are not supporting the agency monetarily, yet they expect the agency to solve their problems.

When they are advised that the department cannot send someone out, they generally mention their tax dol- lars. Those tax dollars go to the state's general fund, of which LDWF receives very little. Hunters and fishermen, whose contributions make up the bulk of LDWF's operating expenses, gener- ally have basic wildlife knowledge and often resolve their own problems — as do those who live in the rural areas.

Biologists do provide information to the public regarding programs, regula- tions and permits that enable the public to solve their own problems. There are also licensed contractors that the public can hire to resolve a problem. Biologists do respond to complaints concerning endangered species or wildlife disease issues. Other agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LAF) or the USDA Animal Damage Control can also assist with complaints, especially those that are impacting farmers. LDWF has a nuisance alligator pro- gram to address complaints concerning alligators.

Still, biologists will go out and

address problems if time permits. The worst nightmare of a biologist is to have a nuisance complaint go bad. Remember the "Three Stooges" episode when they were cavemen and Moe tried to catch a duck for supper? Wild animals and birds can be unpre- dictable, but the biologist is supposed to be the expert. Unfortunately ani- mals do elude traps and nets, the biol- ogist zigs and the animal zags. Tranquilizer darts and drugs designed to sedate animals can also kill the ani- mal, which is the worst-case scenario for a biologist.

Over my 31-year career with the agency I worked my fair share of nui- sance complaints. Alligators in ponds, raccoons in attics, squirrels eating tomatoes, the list goes on and on. Some of these complaints were some- what amusing and the following are a few of the ones that I remember.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Early in my career I received a call from a frantic young woman who was eight months pregnant. She had to nav- igate a set of steps to go in and out of her house and whenever she did, a mock- ingbird would swoop down at her. She was afraid the bird would cause her to fall one day. I went and investigated the situation and advised her the bird may be defending a feeding or nesting area. I then removed every bird nest that I could find around the area of the house where her steps were with the hope that this would solve the problem. A few days later she called back and said the bird was still attacking her. I proceeded to the Hunter Safety Office, checked out a BB gun and drove to the house. No sooner had I gotten out of the truck when a mockingbird flew directly up into the tree over my head. The lady never called me back after that. She probably has grandchildren by now.

Attack of the Killer Blue Jay

Another bird complaint came in from an irate mother who advised me that a blue jay had attacked and pecked her boy on the top of his head. She wanted something done about it now. I advised her that the blue jay may be defending a nest or some young and the boy should not play in that area for a while. She did not like my answer and advised me she was calling the governor's office and the news stations (these are statements state employees don't like to hear, especially biologists). "Okay, I will be over there shortly," I told her and headed to the Hunter Safety Office. When I arrived at the house the moth- er quickly showed me her son's head and asked what I was going to do. She pointed me in the direction where the attack had occurred and, sure enough, there was an adult blue jay with three young hopping around in the shrub- bery. I went and got the mother and in Clint Eastwood fashion told her I would kill all the birds if that was what she wanted, or perhaps her son could play elsewhere. She gave the birds a reprieve and on the way back to the office I reflected on how I had just spent several hours of my day devel- oping my conflict resolution skills.

An Opossum Runs a Bluff

You can bet that a call coming in at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday is a person with a nuisance animal problem. I received such a call one Friday and spent an hour in Baton Rouge traffic going to the complaint. An opossum was stuck in a fence and couldn't get out and the man was afraid it was going to bite him. The animal indeed had its head stuck in a wire fence. A wire fence and a wooden fence were built side-by-side separating the two yards and the opos-

sum had decided to travel between the fences, and when the going got tough, tried to go through the wire fence. The two guys who met me, both could play defensive end on any football team, said they were going to get it out, but the animal opened its mouth and hissed at them. The excessive saliva of the animal also helped to seal the bluff, hence a call to Wildlife and Fisheries. Now an opossum has 50 teeth in its mouth but it is not aggressive. According to the book. The Wild Mammals of Missouri, when fright- ened they expose their teeth and drip saliva from the mouth. I asked them for a pair of wire cutters and put my gloves on. I closed the mouth of the opossum and held the animal's head with one hand, cut the fence and boxed the dangerous creature.

I could tell more stories about my many episodes of nuisance com- plaints, a dead owl wrapped in kite string in the top of a tree that came to life when I went up to get it, a way- ward owl in the governor's offlce in the mansion, squirrels in fireplaces, ducks with plastic six-pack rings around their necks, a Canada goose that would honk outside the bedroom win- dow throughout the night, a deer that went for a swim in a pool, the stories are endless. A really funny story, that I fortunately was not involved with, concerned a bear in a tree that could not get down. Seems someone saw this bear and believed it could not get down. Everyone at the scene also agreed the bear was not coming down on its own and so it was finally shot with a tranquilizer dart. The rescuers went up the tree to complete the res- cue, and to much surprise and embar- rassment, it was discovered that the bear was a black plastic trash bag that would occasionally move with the wind. As I said, a nuisance complaint can be a biologist's worst nightmare! ^

David Morelaud is a former biologist and administrator with LDWF. Outdoor Roots is his regular column in Louisiana Conservationist.

Winter 2008

andg|0fish

Just because it's a bit chilly outside doesn't mean the redfish won't bite.

PefeCOOPER JR.

Talk about some apprehension. It was 32 degrees that late-January morning when I left my home in Buras for a fly-fishing trip with an old friend turned guide, Capt. Barrett Brown - deflnitely not the kind of weather one would normally associate with decent fishing for reds, with flies or otherwise. I was to meet him at Hopedale - a place where I had never been, much less fished - in order to access the marshes in and near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area (WMA). As we crossed the Mississippi River Gulf Ouflet (MRGO) and headed out Bayou la Loutre, it didn't take long for me to begin wondering if my nose was about to freeze and break off. Folks, it was cold.

Now, that really didn't bother me much about how it would affect the fishing. I have caught reds convention- ally when skim-ice blanketed the shoreline shallows, and I've caught them on flies on days almost as cold as those. Reds are bullet-proof when it comes to temperature extremes, though it can kill them when it gets really low, like during the infamous "Christmas freezes" of 1983 and 1989. The chill this morning was not even close to what we experienced on those

fj^ Louisiana Conservationist

frigid days, and with the low tide, clear water and calm airs, I figured we'd catch a few. If I could only keep from getfing frost-bite before we started fish- ing.

Barrett finally idled down off a point where a protected shoreline began. It was a promising spot, but after sneaking along it for a couple of hundred yards, we saw no sign of prey or predator. I suggested we idle high along the bank a litfle farther to try and blow some out - a good winter tech- nique but inadvisable during warmer fimes. Still nothing! Finally, where the bank ended at the mouth of a large tidal cut, we tried less-obtrusive tactics again, and as we moved across the cut and onto a broad and very shallow flat along opposite shoreline, we blew out a school of very nice reds.

As is usually the case during win- ter, the fish did not go far. Barrett, up for the first shot soon spotted a good one, with his cast was on target, and I netted a 12-pounder not long there- after. And do you know what? Although the temperature hadn't risen, we were both suddenly much warmer. We swapped positions on the bow and stern platforms off and on until the sky clouded over around noon and we

could no longer see the fish. By then the tide had also come up considerably, scattering them deeper into the marsh. But no matter, we had caught six more including another double-digit fish, and my nose was still attached to my face when we got back to the marina

Winter redfishing can be quite frus- trating for many anglers. For years they have been force-fed erroneous data from various media about how reds head for deep water during this time, and in order to catch them that's where you must fish. Forty winters of fishing for them, along with timely observations of the results of the gill- netters of yesteryear, have proven quite plainly that's not the case. I have regu- larly come upon reds in water a foot or so deep immediately after the winds of the most recent January cold front had calmed. Timing your trip to coincide with light winds rather than comfort- able temperatures is the first step to success.

Very often reds "lay up" in small schools in the deeper water near a presently dry tidal cut or an almost- exposed flat. These fish are usually not active but are simply waiting for the tide to rise again so that they can regain feeding areas in the marsh that were drained by the offshore winds. However, they will bite. A few casts around the edges of that deeper water will often locate these frequently ignored fish.

On that note, reds will occasionally feed in areas that are normally too deep for their liking but have become shal- low because of the offshore winds and high barometric pressure. Benthic structure like low-relief humps and gullies, grass and shells attract various prey, and those attract fish, as do dilap- idated fishing camps and derelict oil- field structures. Fact is, some of my sweetest winter spots were built around such junk and remained pro- ductive for many, many years. Take heed concerning that low tide, during winter, I have always caught more reds on the bottom half of the rising tide.

and that

includes the

final minutes of

the slack low, than

at any other time

That's the second step to

success.

The clarity of the wati many areas free from charge is normally aJ^its ing winter. Within the occasional all-too-brief but /regularly occurring times after the most recent norther has blown itself \ut and before the impending southe sight-fishing can be option. You can see for y reds can inhabit some very s" water during some very chilly times^ especially when the sun is bright. Once the tide comes up, or once you lose good sunlight due to building clouds, forget it. If you simply must keep fish- ing, revert to blind-casting, targeting the slightly deeper edges of the shal- lowest water. Bright sunlight no matter how cold it may be is the third step to success.

No matter whether you fish with lures or with flies, smaller is frequently better during winter. Slow-sinkers like 1/8-ounce spinnerbaits, un-weighted Clouser Minnows, and spoon-flies are good choices. Be sure to carry along some in dark colors, solid purple and solid black being proven producers now. Yeah, solid purple. That's the fourth step.

Besides producing good catches of regular reds during the cold months, the marsh north of the MRGO has given up some real brutes lately. Fact is, that was the main intention of the trip with Barrett. Unfortunately, we didn't cross tracks with any bulls that morning, but they do provide a fine opportunity throughout winter. You can encounter one any time you are slipping along a shallow bank in search of another regular-sized target. The present state record fly-caught fish of 41.62 pounds was taken in this area in January 2004. Meeting a fish like that in

Winter 2008^^

Perseverance on

the part of a winter

angler will help him

reap ample

rewards.

mjlf Louisiana Conservationist

clear water less than two feet deep ought to knock the chill off your hide in a hurry.

There are apparently two primary reasons for their growing presence in these and other inland areas across our coast. The first is a result of the eroding marshes which allow the fish easy access into waters where historically they have been rare at best. The second is the fact that, thanks to stringent reg- ulations imposed on them by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as well as the Federal government, their numbers are much greater than they were a short time ago. It is there- fore a distinct possibility that some of these fish are seeking feeding areas with less competition than what is present in the often huge schools of off- shore fish. It's no secret that there are

plenty of prime bull-red groceries in our interior waters.

Whatever the case, there are scads of regular reds and enough big bulls to warrant keeping a watchful eye out for them inhabiting the waters of St. Bernard Parish around the Biloxi WMA. Give 'em a try, especially during cold, reasonably calm weather on the low tide. Your attitude towards winter redfishing might receive a serious adjustment, for the better of course. Just be sure to bundle up, and that includes covering your nose. %,

Pete Cooper Jr. is the author of Flyfishing the Louisiana Coast. He is a member of the Louisiana Spotrsman's Hall of fame and is a regular contributor to Louisiana Conservationist.

LDWF Takes Action Against Aquatic Invasive Weeds

Louisiana offers an abundance of diverse animal and plant species that contribute to the enjoyment of this Sportsman's Paradise. Whether you are an avid deer or duck hunter, bird watcher, fresh or saltwater angler, boater, hiker or outdoor photographer, Louisiana can satisfy all of these out- door pursuits and more.

However, there are a few species that can subtract from Louisiana's beautiful landscape and make the outdoor expe- rience less than pleasurable. Those include mostly foreign invasive species brought to Louisiana within the last 100 years or so, such as nutria, fire ants and some of the state's nuisance aquat- ic invasive weeds.

Like any plant, aquatic plants become nuisance weeds once they begin to negatively affect human activ- ities on the water such as boating, swimming, fishing or skiing. These weeds can also affect property and aes- thetic values, pose health risks by clog- ging water intake lines to drinking water and impact commercial naviga- tion on the waterways. The total water area infested with weeds is estimated to be 600,000 acres in Louisiana. The four non-native invasive aquatic weeds that are currently giving Louisiana the biggest problems are

common and giant salvinia, hydrilla and water hyacinth.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) came from South America and was first intro- duced to the United States in the 1880s. Water hyacinth is known for its beauti- ful flowers, which aided its spread across Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) treat more acres of water hyacinth than any other invasive weed in the state.

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is originally from Asia and it came to Louisiana in the 1980s. Hydrilla is a rooted weed that forms thick mats and canopies on top of the water and is found statewide. Expensive to treat with herbicide because the entire water column must be treated to kill the weed.

Common salvinia (Salvinia minima) came from Central and South America and was first recorded in Louisiana in 1980. It prefers slow moving and stag- nant waters such as bayous, cypress swamps, marshes, ponds and lakes. Common salvinia was first introduced to Florida in 1928 by either an intention- al release from an aquarium into a water body or flooding of a water garden.

Ston/ bu

>!\da/77EINCK

Winter 2008^^

Above (top to

bottom) hydrilla,

giant salvinia and

water hyacinth.

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) was probably intentionally introduced to the United States as an aquarium plant. It first appeared in Louisiana in 1998 in Toledo Bend. Giant salvinia spreads quickly and can double every seven to 10 days. Most of these four inva- sive weeds were intro- duced into America via the horticultural or aquarium trade because of ornamental value.

"The reason why these plants were chosen for the aquarium and orna- mental trade was because they look nice and are easy to take care of," said Rachel Walley, LDWF Nuisance Aquatic Weed Manager. "The problems start when people get tired of their aquariums and then dump the con- tents into their local waterbody." Once these plants are introduced to a water- body, they spread rapid- ly, because many do not have natural predators and can reproduce quick- ly. Hydrilla, for instance, can reproduce by frag- mentation, which means each new section of the weed that gets chopped up by a boat motor can possibly make an entire new plant. On the other hand, giant salvinia has buds and reproduces vegetatively.

"We think that giant salvinia is dou- bling every 10 to 14 days on Lake Bisteneau," said Gary Tilyou, LDWF Inland Fisheries Administrator. "So if you had 2,000 acres of giant salvinia one week, you might have 4,000 acres in two weeks minus the few hundred acres that were treated. This is why it is

so hard to control once it's introduced to a waterbody."

Walley added, "Once these plants are introduced to a new waterbody, they become a lifelong management problem and very expensive for the state to contend with as eradication is almost impossible. Preventing these weeds from getting into a new water- body is far easier than trying to deal with them afterwards."

All of these non-native species can clog boat lanes and bayous making waterbodies unnavigable, render docks useless for fishing or launching boats, and makes skiing or swimming near impossible.

Since Louisiana can't afford to treat all 600,000 acres of these weeds, LDWF is forced to prioritize the areas that will be treated.

"What we try to do is control where the plants are growing," said Tilyou. "We try to keep them out of boat lanes, away from people's docks and public and private boat launches, and out of open areas on the water that people use the most for fishing and skiing."

These weeds build a canopy on top of the water that degrades water qual- ity and clarity affecting fish and other lifeforms in the water. The canopies of weeds block sunlight from reaching any other plants that live in the water. Photosynthetic algae, which is one of the main oxygen producers for the water column, will begin dying and decaying from the lack of sunlight and will use up oxygen instead.

"For fish and invertebrate life to go on they need oxygen or they become starved and that is when you get fish kills," said Walley. "The weeds also put a lot of organic matter into the sys- tem because these plants produce so fast that they are dying all the time. So you have all this decaying organic mat- ter that also consumes a lot of oxygen."

LDWF utilizes several methods to control invasive weeds. Most of the time these methods are combined to improve weed control efficiency. The two most common control methods

^^ Louisiana Conservationist

I What You Can Do

Check boats and trailers for any grasses, plants or weeds imrnediately after loading a boat onto a trailer. Also, check boat and trailer before putting them in any new waterbody. "Trailers and boats spread these weeds the most," says Tilyou. "Small plants get caught in between the boat and trailer and then when you launch the boat into a different waterbody, the plant falls off." «

Clean out bilge and livewell areas of the boat. B

Don't throw away aquarium or water garden plants into any waterbod^

Please visit the following Web sites for help with plant identification and information: http://plants.ifas.ufl.eclu/welcome.html .^

http://plants. usda.gov/index. html fl

are drawdowns and herbicides.

Drawdowns - This method involves the partial draining of a waterbody. They are usually performed from the day after Labor Day until the end of January with the hopes that a strong freeze snap will kill the exposed weeds.

Herbicides - This method involves the use of a herbicide spray or granule that kills a specific type of invasive weed. Herbicide treatments are usual- ly done in the warmer months when photosynthetic behavior is at a peak and the weeds are more active. For a floating weed like water hyacinth or salvinia, either a herbicide spray or granule broadcasted on top of the weed is used. For a submergent weed that is connected to the waterbed like hydrilla, a spray is injected into the entire water column until a specific concentration is met that is deemed necessary to kill the hydrilla. Injecting a herbicide into the water uses up more of the chemical and thus is a more expensive treatment method.

With the recent giant salvinia prob- lem in the northern part of the state.

LDWF has increased their budget for treating invasive weeds from $2.2 mil- lion to $5.8 million a year. This budg- et increase has made it possible to treat over 36,000 acres of weeds with herbi- cides across Louisiana in 2007. That is almost the amount of weeds that were sprayed in 2005 and 2006 combined. "Giant salvinia was in the southern

o

3 o

Giant salvinia covers this por- tion of Caddo Lalce.

Winter 2008 ^^

Below are before and after photos depicting untreat- ed and treated water liyacintli.

part of the state in areas such as the Atchafalaya basin, but it pretty much stayed under control for the most part," said Tilyou. "Then in 2006, it just took off, especially in the northern part of the state, by spreading to eight new waterbodies and causing some major problems in Lake Bisteneau and Caddo Lake."

Lake Bisteneau, located about 25 miles west of Shreveport, received the most attention in 2007 with 4,500 acres of mostly giant salvinia treated with lit- tle to no impact. Caddo Lake in Caddo Parish had a little over LOOO acres of mostly giant salvinia treated.

"We have learned how to treat water hyacinth over the years. Water hyacinth is, for the most part under control, in Louisiana," said Tilyou. "When treat- ing any new weed, such as giant salvinia, a learning curve is involved. You have to under- stand what herbicide will work the best in what conditions. How to mix and spray the herbicide correctly, and the speed of the boat all factor into the effi- ciency of the treat- ment. With giant salvinia we are not there yet."

LDWF, working with the Louisiana State AgCenter is currently using wee- vils that eat giant salvinia as another type of control

Photos by Rachel Walley

method. These weevils are host specific and only eat giant salvinia without harming other species. Weevils have been introduced into Lake Bisteneau and other select waterbodies infested with giant salvinia in the past year and are being monitored to see if they can help control the weeds and survive a northern Louisiana winter.

These weevils spend their entire lifes- pan on salvinia. Therefore, the best method to introduce the weevils into a new waterbody is to transplant the entire salvinia plant with a reproducing popu- lation of weevils on it.

"The hope is that once they eat the plant they were brought in on, they will then move onto adjacent plants and just keep eating," said Walley. "Weevils have been very successful all over the world controlling common and giant salvinia and I haven't seen anything yet that would be problematic for other species because they are so host specific."

According to Tilyou and Walley, tradi- tionally nature has been a major control- ling mechanism. "Cold winters limited the northern boundary of most exotic plants," said Tilyou. "This has changed in the past couple of years, and we are now experiencing exotic plant problems in many northern parishes."

LDWF is taking the problem of giant salvinia and other known aquatic weeds very seriously and plans to increase the number of herbicide sprayings and giant salvinia weevil stocking and may imple- ment mechanical harvesting in the near future. ^

Adam Emck is the media relations officer for LDWF. He is a regular contributor to Louisiana Conservationist.

( Louisiana Conservationist

ST

THE

REBUILD^

Where Are W^Nowl

Rebuilding is no simple task, regardless of the situation. Rebuilding in the aftermath of one of the most destructive natural dis- asters to befall the United States takes the cake in terms of challenges. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are long gone, but the impacts of their passing will stay with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for many years. Beyond the obvious destruction caused to Louisiana's coastal habitat and wildlife, the Department suffered another loss, often overshadowed. A significant number of LDWF offices and facilities within the coastal portion of the state sustained significant damage from both storms. The efforts needed to recover and rebuild are as extreme as the storms' devastation.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused LDWF unprecedented and extensive damage to property owned by the state of Louisiana totaling over $L5 billion. Approximately L500 state buildings were affected by the storms. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the organization charged with the financial responsibili- ty of funding all necessary repairs through their Public Assistance Grant Program. While many people think of FEMA as an agency that mainly helps individuals, historically its greatest sin- gle disaster expense is to reimburse state and local governments for their losses and emergency costs.

Nearly two years have passed since the storms, yet there is little visible progress in terms of construction of new department facilities to replace those damaged. There are many rea-

sons for the slow pace of rebuilding, many of which stem from the structure of the funding process for the repairs.

Stringent rules are attached to feder- al funds distributed by FEMA. Their reimbursement process does not pro- vide funding until projects are com- plete. FEMA officials say the strict rules guard the misuse of federal money. To remedy the dilemma of state agencies lacking sufficient funds to begin work on costly repairs, the Office of Facility Planning and Control assumed owner- ship of all state buildings and imple- mented a prioritization system with which to rank state buildings' repair projects and provide money up front. "LDWF did not have any part in deter- mining the order of work on state buildings," said Dennis Kropog, facili- ties maintenance manager "The state buildings were separated into one of

Story by

>4s/7/eyWETHEY

This outbuilding at State Wildlife Refuge illustrates the damage caused to the property by Hurricane Rita.

Winter 2008^^

Rockefeller

Refuge suffered

over $13 million

in storm damage.

four priorities; we were included in the fourth."

The Office of Risk Management in conjunction with Facility Planning and Control, FEMA and LDWF then reviewed each claim for damage and determined the best approach to mak- ing repairs. "The level of cooperation between these agencies was excellent," Kropog stated. "However, the unique locations and functions of our facilities hampered rapid restoration."

In addition, the sheer magnitude of damage and costs associated with rebuilding has also slowed many proj- ects. FEMA has prepared a collection of more than 17,000 project worksheets for long-term recovery projects since the hurricanes hit. A "normal" disaster according to the agency, involves about 1,000 worksheets.

FEMA has estimated the depart- ment's damages to total more than $27 million, but the final figure is likely to be much larger. State and local officials contend that FEMA has routinely underestimated the amount of damage and the costs of repairing and rebuild- ing, and many estimates have been mil- lions of dollars below the actual cost of work. Kropog admits FEMA's estimate is a low figure, "Our repairs will likely end up being much greater than $27 million. Although nearly two years have passed since the storms, construc- tion costs are still much higher than before, with the remoteness of our sites driving the costs even higher."

Reconstruction and repair work has been bid out to contractors, but members

of department staff have also taken part in this crucial process. LDWF's mobile crew, accompanied by department equipment, was initially sent out to make immediate repairs. One of the department's main priorities following the storms was to have facilities back open to the public as soon as possible. (All LDWF facilities affected by the storms are currently open). "Staff returned to damaged sites as soon as they could, even before making repairs and tending to their own homes, many of which were completely destroyed," said Kropog. "This behavior exempli- fies the dedication our staff has for their jobs and the work they do."

With the coming of the new year, the process of rebuilding is now gaining momentum and the department is cur- rently amidst the design or reconstruc- tion phase on all of its projects. "FEMA has been very willing to go out numerous times to reevaluate sites to ensure the department gets adequate funding for each project," said Kropog.

FEMA's 50-percent rule is used in determining whether each facility will be rebuilt or repaired. A facility is considered repairable when disaster damages do not exceed 50 percent of the cost of replacing a facility to its pre-disaster condition, and it is feasi- ble to repair the facility so that it can perform the function for which it was being used as well as it did immedi- ately prior to the disaster. If the above cannot be accomplished, the facility is demolished and rebuilt.

LDWF's new facilities are being con-

fjjjy Louisiana Conservationist

structed with special design considera- tions including building elevation and wind resistance to prevent future dam- age. "Water is the real culprit when a hurricane hits," explained Kropog. 'Flood waters were responsible for a majority of our destruction, especially at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge. Elevating our facilities will prevent future flood damage."

In addition to building elevation.

newly constructed facilities will also be able to withstand 160 mph wind loads. Success will not come cheap or easy, but the upcoming year promises to be a busy one as the department embarks on numerous projects and the rebuild- ing process kicks into high gear. ^

Ashley Wethey is the special events and public relations officer for LDWF. This arti- cle is Wethex/'s first contribution to Louisiana Conservationist.

Damaged Infrastructure and Scheduled Repair Work

Pass a Loutre WMA

• This wildlife management area (WMA), located on the farthest southeastern tip of Louisiana's coast received some of the strongest east winds of Katrina.

• Repairs: replace headquarters/dorm, elevate shop and shed, replace and elevate boat shed, replace front dock and seaplane dock

• Estimated cost of repairs: $3.5 million

Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA

• Facilities received extensive rain and wind damage from Hun-icane Katrina. Hurricane Rita further com- pounded the flooding problem.

• Estimated cost of repairs: $169,000 contents and $15,127 buildings

White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area

• Considerable water over the marsh but structures intact and suffered only minor damage.

• Breach in the levee rebuilt.

• Estimated cost of repairs: $25,266 buildings and content and $250,000 levees

Marsh Island Refuge

• Damage to approximately 10 miles of the levee due to constant wind and wave action from hurricanes.

• Repairs conducted by LDWF

• Estimated cost of repairs: $160,447 structural damages and $987,009 levees

State Wildlife Refuge

• Approximately 75 percent of buildings were lost.

• Headquarters was completely gutted and the building will be destroyed.

• Duplex camp was damaged but has been repaired.

• FEMA funds from damage will be used to build a new headquarters/living quarters at Marsh Island.

Estimated cost of repairs: $647,037

Rockefeller Refuge

• The refuge office and dormitory complex sustained severe damage from ground level to the beams support- ing the main building.

Numerous structures were entirely washed away including the field laboratory.

• Repair work will be conducted in four separate phases. Phase 1 should be complete by mid-January 2008.

• Phasel: Shop/boathouse, lumber shed, airboatshed, tractor shed, and generator shed

Phase2: Four residences, general quarters and office Phase 3: Laboratory, alligator incubator sheds, lake 14 bridge, pump house, and west end quarters • Phase 4: Construction of a new office and interpretive center in conjunction with the interpretive drive.

• Estimated cost of repairs: $13,501,735

Sister Lake Facility

• The field facility at Sister Lake was damaged by Rita.

• Damage to the boathouse and levee.

• The headquarters building was not damaged in either storm but was destroyed by a fire in March of 2007.

• No decision has been made regarding the reconstruc- tion of this facility.

Grand Terre Facility

• Most of the buildings at the marine laboratory on Grand Terre Island were severely damaged. However, plans for a new laboratory at Grand Isle were already in the works, pre-storm.

• Temporary repairs were made until the new facility can be complete in the spring of 2009. Repair work was com- pleted in the summer of 2007.

• The remaining repair funds will be transferred to the construction of the new building.

• The new facility will contain laboratory and office space for department and other researchers as well as confer- ence and overnight facilities.

Pearl River WMA

• Extensive damage to the environment, but minor damage to the facilities.

• Estimated cost of repairs: $48,925

Lacombe Fish Hatchery

• Minor damage to facilities.

• Estimated cost of repairs: $60,380

Lake Salvador Facility

• Estimated cost of repairs: $158,143

Manchac WMA

• Destroyed boathouse. Mud and silt filled this facility

• Estimated cost of repairs: $125,436

Lake Charles Office

• Completely destroyed boathouse and wharf.

• Boatshed completely destroyed.

• Estimated cost of repairs: $364,257

Winter 2008^^

Books, Maps & Posters...

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Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Posters

Waterfowl, freshwater fish, offshore fish, saltwater fish, snakes, amphibians, and turtles.

Any combination:

1-2 posters $4.00 each

3-6 posters $3.50 each

7 or more $3.00 each

Also available — Mini Poster Sets

5" X 7" on waterproof paper.

$7 per set (one of each poster)

SOLD ONLY IN SETS.

Heavy Duty WMA Maps

Six different tear and water resistant

maps available: Wax Delta, Pass A

Loutre, Pointe Aux Chenes, Three

Rivers, Red River and Boeuf wildlife

management areas.

$5 each

^,

Folded Rolled

$11 each $1 2 each

Earth Day Posters

Our most enchanting posters:

Louisiana Butterflies (1996),

Louisiana Birds (1999),

Louisiana Wiidflowers (2000)

and Butterflies of Southern

Gardens (2001).

$10 per poster or

$32 per set of four.

Marine Recreational Fishing Maps

Six full-color maps indicate offshore/inshore

rig locations, launches, marinas, fishing

tips and species identification.

#1 -Venice to Fourchon

#2-Fourchon to Point Au Per

#3-Lal<e Pontchartrain to Chandeleur Sound

#4-Sabine Pass to White Lake

#5-White Lake to AtchafalayaBay

#6-TX/LA coast to LA/MS coast

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Bats of the Eastern United States Poster

Full color photographs with scientific and common names. Bat facts listed on the back. Bat house instructions included. $2.50

ANGLER'S GUIDE TO FISHES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO	~<*M!- ■ ' ^T^'L^ JERALD HORST AND MIKE LANE '
^TB	"-^j;^^^^

Angler's Guide to Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico

One-stop reference tool for anglers, fisheries experts, biologists and outdoor writers. Hard cover book. $35

America's Wetland: Louisiana's Vanishing Coast

Photo essay outlining Louisiana's diminishing coast and restorative efforts. Hard cover book. $39.95

Checklist of Woody and Herbaceous Deer Food Plants of Louisiana

On tear-and-w/ater- resistant pages. $20

SMALL M\MMA1*

Snakes of Louisiana

Newly

updated!!

$5

Building and Maintaining

Nest Boxes

Easy-to-follow instructions and

blueprints for nest boxes to house

dozens of species. Great craft ideas

for scouts, students or anyone who

wants to bring wildlife into the

back yard.

$2.50

MERCHANDISE Order Form

Itenn	Quantity	Price
%H\P TO: ^"'' °^^'
Tax (4% for Name: LA residents)
, , , Additional 5% tax for Adaress: EBR Parish residents
'"Iry ST Zip- ^	& H (see chart) rAL amount due
Phr,no-	TGI	1

Shipping & Handling Charges
Merchandise	S&H
Up to $15.00	$3.50
$15.01 -$30.00	$5.25
$30.01 -$45.00	$6.50
$45.01 -$65.00	$8.00
$65.0 i -$95.00	$9.50
$95.01 and up	$11.00

Payment Information

|_j Check/Money Order QVISA '"' Am Express T Mastercard Acct. No.:

Expiration:

Order By Phone: 225/765-2918

or Send Orders (payable to):

Louisiana Conservationist

Marketing Unit

RO. Box 98000

Baton Rouge, LA 70898

Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. Prices subject to change without notice. Defective or damaged merchandise only will be refunded or exchanged for same product.

L.D.W.F. Breaks Ground on New Minden Regional Office

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) officially broke ground Dec. 14 on a new $3.5 million regional office in Minden that will house the agency's Enforcement, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Divisions.

"Our customer service capabilities will be greatly increased for walk-in cus- tomers, group meetings and classroom needs," said LDWF Secretary Bryant Hammett. "Staff needs for additional office space will also be accommodated."

The 15,000 square-foot facility will replace a 6,000- square-foot building that has housed LDWF regional office since 1963. Located southwest of Minden off U.S. Hwy. 80, the multi-pur- pose building will provide office, laboratory and meet- ing room space for Wildlife Division and Inland Fisheries Division biolo- gists, Enforcement Division agents and administrative staff serving LDWF Region 1 in northwest Louisiana.

"Louisiana is the Sportsman's Paradise and convenient access to department personnel in the region is critical to the Wildlife and Fisheries mis- sion that supports recre- ational and commercial out- door activities in the state," said Sen. Robert Adiey

^c^ Louisiana Conservationist

(Dist. 36, Benton). "Add to that the support LDWF per- sonnel provide landowners needing assistance with habitat management and the funding for this project is certainly a smart invest- ment for the state."

The new facility will serve as the focal point for developing educational opportunities with regional universities, schools, other governmental agencies and sportsmen organizations. It will also provide a conven- ient location for conducting Hunter and Aquatic Education classes as well as Boater Safety Courses.

The Louisiana National Guard (LANG) worked cooperatively with LDWF to provide approximately 30 acres of state property managed by LANG in exchange for 30 acres of LDWF property in Webster Parish. The new LDWF Region 1 office, just east of LANG'S Camp Minden on U.S. Hwy. 80, will be easily accessible via Interstate 20.

"This project is a good example of government entities working together to satisfy mutual needs and better serve the public as an end result," said Col. R.D. Stuckey Camp Minden commander.

The projected opening date is set for December 2008.

L.D.W.F. AND LSU Deer Telemetry Study Update

The Louisiana deer teleme- try study that started in the fall of 2006 has yielded some preliminary findings. The study's primary objec- tives are to assess range and movements of male and female white-tailed deer, evaluate age and sex- specific harvest rates of white-tailed deer and evalu- ate survival and causes of death among male and female white-tailed deer.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and Louisiana State University have spearheaded the study entitled "Population Characteristics of a White- tailed Deer Herd in a Bottomland Hardwood Forest of South-central Louisiana."

"The deer telemetry study is proceeding well and some important infor- mation is being accumulat- ed," said LDWF Deer Study Leader Scott Durham.

According to Durham, of the 24 collared deer, two bucks have slipped their collars (one in a cutover and one collar malfunction), one adult doe died from pneumonia and two adult does were harvested by hunters. That leaves 19 deer still being monitored of which five are does and 1 4 are bucks. Another 1 6 deer are ear marked only.

"All summer long the deer showed little move- ment, other than one 1 .5- year-old-buck that traveled over eight miles one way, two months after being col- lared," Durham said. One collared doe had a core (50 percent of the locations) home range of only 14 acres. Durham said that this is a very small home range and smaller than most previous home ranges found in past studies in other places.

Durham also remarked that two adult bucks have finally begun to show increased movement, with one making about a two- mile trek and then returning.

The deer study site is in the state's latest breeding area, and deer movement likely will continue to increase into January and February.

Trapping deer for the study is scheduled to begin for the second season in early February and deer movement will continue to be monitored. Trapping efforts will be expanded to the north side of Interstate 1 0 and on the west side of Choctaw Bayou.

A camera survey will also be conducted in February, as well as the second herd health collec- tion. A browse survey will be conducted in the spring.

Retired L.D.W.F. Wildlife Administrator Receives the Dunbar Award

Former LDWF Wildlife Administrator, Dave Moreland, will receive the 2007 Charles Dunbar Award for his exemplary work in state government. Moreland retired September 2007 after 31 years of service with LDWF.

Moreland began his career with Wildlife and Fisheries in 1976 as a biol- ogist and progressed in his career to wildlife division administrator before retir- ing. However, he is best known for his work with deer and deer habitat, and is considered the foremost authority on the subject in the southeastern United States. He raised the bar for Louisiana's statewide deer program work through many publications and applied research. He pub- lished dozens of articles and scientific papers throughout his career. His last publication, Checklist of Woody and Herbaceous

Deer Food Plants of Louisiana documents his life's work in deer foods.

Moreland has been active in the Wildlife Society in local sympo- siums and meetings, a life long wildlife photographer, and regular contributor to local magazines and newsletters.

The Dunbar Award is the highest honor classified Louisiana state employees can receive. The Civil Service League bestows the award on local, state and municipal civil service employees who distinguish themselves through unselfish service to the citi- zens of Louisiana. Nominees are judged on commitment to the classi- fied service, contributions toward workplace improve- ment, personal initiative, and volunteer community service.

The award is named after the founder of the league, Charles E. Dunbar, Jr., who is responsi- ble for spearheading the effort to establish a classified workforce that would be gov- erned through merit system principles. Moreland is among 12 recipients receiv- ing the award in February 2008.

Statement of Ownership, Management AND Circulation (Required by 39 USC 3685)

1. Publication title: Louisiana Conservationist

2. Pub.no.: 246778

3. Filing date: 11/14/07

4. Frequency: quarterly

5. No. of issues published annually: 4

6. Subscription rate: $12

7. Address of office of pub- lication: PO. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898

8. Address of publisher: Same as 7

9. Names and addresses of publisher, editor and man aging editor: Publisher- La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries; Executive Editor-Thomas Gresham; Editor- Vacant, PO. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898

10. Owner: La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries (nonprofit), 2000 Quail Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808; PO. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898; No stockholders.

11. Security holders own- ing one percent or more of total securities: None

12. The purpose, function and nonprofit status for federal income tax purpos- es have not changed during the preceding 12 months.

13. Publication title: Louisiana Conservationist

14. Circulation data below from Fall 2007 issue.

15. Extent and nature of circulation (average no.

of copies each issue during preceding 12 months/ actu- al no. of copies of single issue published nearest to

filing date):

a. Total no. of copies (net press run): 19,209/16,979

b. Paid circulation:

1) Sales not mailed-

none/none

2) Paid subscriptions —

18,625/16,675

c. Total paid circulation: 18,650/16,223

d. Free distribution by mail: none /none

e. Free distribution outside the mail: none/none

f. Total free distribution: none /none

g. Total distribution: 18,625/16,675

h. Copies not distributed: l)Office use— 584/304 2)Returns — none / none

i. Total: 19,209/16,979

j. Percent paid: 100

16. This statement printed in the Winter 2008 issue.

17. Editor, (Vacant)

1 certify that all information furnished in this statement is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or mis- leading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on this form may be subject to criminal sanctions (includ- ing fines and imprison- ment) and /or civil sanc- tions (including multiple damages and civil penal- ties).

Thomas Gresham, Executive Editor

Winter 2008^^

the evolving role orwildlire and fisheries enrorcement agents

Becoming a Wildlife Enforcement Agent

By Lt. Brian Theriot

and Senior Agent Spencer Cole

The Enforcement Division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 261 total employees, including 241 wildlife enforcement agents. LDWF enforcement agents are unique and versatile assets to the professional law enforcement commu- nity protecting and preserving Louisiana's wildlife resources. While a wildlife agent's general duties are enforcing state and federal wildlife and fisheries laws, wildlife agents are often called to assist other law enforcement agencies with the appre- hension of criminals, stemming the flow of illegal drugs into our state, as well as securing our borders, ports and vital infrastructure. On a state level, wildlife agents are the most mobile agency due to the equipment possessed and knowledge of the var- ious types of terrain of the state. Additionally, the wildlife enforcement agency is the lead enforcement agency for the waterways of the state as well as the lead agency in search and rescue operations. This requires an enforcement agent to possess many skills enabling him or her to meet the versatile requirements of the profession. These skills are acquired at the Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Training Academy.

Selection for the training academy is an intense and thorough process. Candidates for the academy must have 60 semester hours from an accredited college, two years as a Peace Officer Standards and Testing (POST) certified law enforcement offi- cer, four years of active military serv- ice, or a combination of the three. Once qualified, a candidate must achieve a passing grade on the civil service exam (Level 5000/Wildlife Enforcement Cadet). After meeting

^^ Louisiana Conservationist

these requirements, selected candi- dates are graded through a two-part interview process, physical fitness test and drug screen. Potential candi- dates are notified of employment opportunities and upon acceptance into the program, begin their training as wildlife enforcement cadets.

The Wildlife Enforcement Training Academy is located on the east half of the 80-acre Waddill Wildlife Refuge in north-central Baton Rouge. The length of the academy averages between 21 and 26 weeks. Cadets are tested mentally and physically throughout the duration of the academy.

As mentioned earlier, the versatility of a wildlife enforcement agent's pro- fession requires extensive training received from the training academy Initially, cadets are POST certified, a requirment of all state law enforce- ment officers. POST certification con- sists of physical fitness, defensive tac- tics, firearms, state and federal laws, proper law enforcement and arrest procedures, DWI detection and appre- hension, standard first aid, and vari- ous other areas of law enforcement. Upon completion of the POST certifi- cation, cadets then receive special- ized training in areas that are more consistent with that of a wildlife agent. These areas include but are not limit- ed to, more intense and extensive physical fitness training, defensive tactics, firearms training, ATV operator certification, waterfowl detection, vio- lator apprehension, wildlife forensics, wildlife and fish identification, land and water navigation, extensive boat han- dling, enforcement of state and feder- al wildlife and fisheries laws, water survival, marine theft identification, and hunter education instructor certifi- cation.

Enforcement cadets are held to a strict academic standard throughout the training process. Cadets are given weekly tests throughout the course of the academy on which they must score a minimum of 80 percent. Failing to meet this academic stan-

dard results in dismissal from the training academy.

Most law enforcement officers receive physical fitness training to prepare them for a confrontation. Wildlife agents are no different, but are dependent on good physical con- dition in order to meet the rugged requirements of the occupation. Quite often, for a wildlife agent to get to a location to initiate the apprehension of a violator, the agent has to be in very good physical condition. An agent may have to drag a pirogue, travel by boat in rough seas, ride an ATV over rough terrain, or run a mile or more through the muddy swamps. This type of versatility is often required of wildlife agents. The defensive tactics and firearms portion of the academy are expanded to include those possi- bilities that are consistent with a wildlife agent's job duties. These areas include but are not limited to marine environments, rural night operations, and boat operations.

Upon graduating from the wildlife enforcement-training academy,

cadets are assigned to a designated parish for a supervised field training officer program. After successful completion of the field training pro- gram, they are promoted to wildlife enforcement agents.

Louisiana wildlife enforcement agent-the title evokes an iconic image of a Louisiana peace officer ready for anything. On the rutted mud tracks of the south Louisiana swamps, on the storm-tossed coastal waters, in hunt- ing camps deep in the piney woods, in every parish across this great state, Louisiana wildlife agents stand ready to protect our natural resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They teach. They inspire. They promote a culture of conservation that benefits all within our state. It is a tough title to earn. It is a title synonymous with words like duty, passion, dedication, courage, integrity, and service. That is a Louisiana wildlife enforcement agent. 4

THE LOUISIANA KITCHEN

Venison Roast

8-10 pound venison roast 1/2 pound salt pork, cut into strips 1 cup red currant jelly 1 tablespoon brandy flour for gravy

Marinade

quart vinegar quart water tablespoon salt tablespoon red pepper tablespoon black pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 bay leaves

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon allspice

Mix marinade ingredients and pour over roast. Let it soak at least 6 to 8 hours, turning several times. Before roasting punch several holes in the roast with a sharp knife. Insert the salt pork with additional garlic cloves.

Cook at 325 to 350 degrees, approximately 20 to 25 minutes to the pound. Baste frequently with the drip- ping and the marinade. When the meat is tender, remove from the roasting pan and keep warm while making the gravy.

In the roasting pan slowly melt 1 cup red currant jelly with the drippings and marinade. Add flour mixed with water to thicken. When gravy is the desired consistency, add 1 tablespoon brandy, stir well and serve.

Louisiana Conservationist Nov./Dec. 1981

Shrimp Bisque

3-1/2 pounds uncooked heads-on shrimp

2 carrots, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 (3 oz.) pkg. crab and shrimp boil

2 onions, stuck with 6 whole cloves 1/2 cup unsalted butter

5 green onions, chopped fine

1/4 cup minced parsley, flat-leaf

2 medium garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced

1 bay leaf

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cup whipping cream

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup dry sherry

red (cayenne) pepper & salt to taste

chopped chives, if desired

Peel shrimp, reserving shells and heads. Cover and refrigerate shrimp until ready to use. Place reserved shrimp heads and shells in a heavy 6 - quart soup pot. Add carrots, celery, crab and shrimp boil and onions stuck with cloves. Add enough cold water to cover shells and vegetables by 5 inches. Bring shell mixture to a boil; skim foam from surface. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, 3 hours. Strain stock through a fine strainer; discard shells and vegetables. Reserve 2 quarts for bisque. Freeze extra stock for another use.

Melt butter in soup pot over medium heat. Add green onions, parsley, garlic, chopped onion, mushrooms and bay leaf. Saute until vegetables are wilted, about 5 minutes. Do not brown. Stir in tlour; cook 3 to 4 min- utes, stirring. Slowly whisk in reserved shrimp stock. Bring to a boil to thicken; stir in refrigerated shrimp. Reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf.

Puree soup in small batches in a blender or food processor fitted with the steel blade. When all soup has been pureed, return to soup pot; reheat over low heat. Stir in cream. Add black pepper, cayenne, salt and sher- ry; heat through. Do not boil. Ladle soup into soup bowls and; garnish with chives. Serve hot. Serves 8.

Louisiana Conservationist Nov./Dec. 1990

Winter 2008

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Conserve. Protect. Repl^ni www.wlf.louisiana.gov ^

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