LDWF says be mindful of displaced wildlife following Hurricane Francine

BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reminds people to be aware that you may see animals that you’re not used to seeing for a while.

In a Thursday news release, LDWF said wildlife species will seek higher ground and be displaced by Hurricane Francine into habitat with which they may not be familiar.

“The LDWF urges the public to be especially cognizant of wildlife forced into populated areas by flood water from the storm,” the release read. “Rising waters force wildlife from flooded habitat into adjacent residential and commercial areas where they may come into contact with residents. LDWF urges citizens to minimize contact with animals while they seek temporary refuge from their flooded home range.”

Wild animals not posing a threat to humans should be left alone and should not be fed, as feeding wild animals will encourage them to remain in the vicinity of a new food source when they should be allowed to find natural habitat and food sources on their own.

LDWF recommends the following basic tips:

• Avoid areas where displaced wildlife has taken refuge.
• Avoid interaction with and do not feed displaced wildlife.
• Avoid roadways near flooded areas to reduce likelihood of disturbance and collisions with wildlife.

LDWF said the Louisiana black bear is a species of concern when high water moves bears out of their habitat. Also, flood waters will carry alligators and snakes into populated areas where they may not normally be noted in significant numbers. Following the impact of flood waters, exercise extreme caution when salvaging possessions from flooded areas. Venomous snake species in Louisiana include the canebrake rattlesnake, the copperhead, the cottonmouth, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the harlequin coral snake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the Texas coral snake.

Deer and feral hog populations may also appear in populated areas as flood waters move wild animals out of natural habitat. LDWF recommends allowing these species, when sighted individually or in groups, to move unimpeded through flooded areas as they seek higher ground.

To report nuisance or displaced wildlife, go to this LDWF web page.