Heads Up Wildlife

06/17/2026

FERAL, WILD , STRAY & TAME ANIMALS:

Feral - Refers to a domesticated species that lives in the wild and is typically unsocialized to humans. (Ez. Alley cats, mustangs or feral hogs)

Wild - A wild animal is an animal that was born in nature and belongs to an undomesticated species. They are independent of human care. These animals survive, reproduce, and find food and shelter within their natural ecosystems, entirely driven by natural instincts. (Ex. lions, wolves, eagles, deer)

Tame: A wild animal that has been accustomed to human presence, usually through training or hand-rearing, though it remains genetically wild (ex., a circus bear or a rescued hawk)

Stray -domesticated animals that were once socialized to humans but were lost or abandoned. (Ex: Cats and dogs)

06/11/2026

When a Nutria is seen, there is never just one. This job I have just completed, I cat caught 27 in one big Subdv pond

06/09/2026

🦌 The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has ratified a Declaration of Emergency issued by LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth that establishes Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zones across affected areas of the state in response to the 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗖𝗥 𝟮𝟰 as passed by the legislature.

The action, which results from the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 during the 2026 Legislative Session, shrinks former CWD Control Area regulations and establishes a framework for CWD Management Zones.

Key updates:
✔️ 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁. 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗪𝗗 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. NOTE: This allowance is based on achieving CWD sampling goals from the previous surveillance season (July 1-June 30). Apparent CWD prevalence rates 2.5% - 20% will result in the prohibition of baiting the following surveillance season.

✔️ No statewide feeding ban is included.

✔️ Deer carcass movement restrictions remain in place to help prevent the spread of CWD.

✔️ CWD Management Zones will be adjusted as new detections occur and may be removed after three consecutive surveillance seasons with no detections.

✔️The use of bait not normally ingested by deer may be used for feral hog trapping.

The first CWD-positive deer was detected in Louisiana in 2022. At present, 55 CWD-positive deer have been detected.

CWD is an infectious, always fatal disease affecting deer. While it has not been shown to be contagious to humans, health officials recommend against consuming deer known to be infected and encourage hunters in affected areas to have harvested deer tested. LDWF provides free CWD testing for hunter-harvested deer.

Full details: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/lwfc-approves-declaration-of-emergency-establishing-cwd-management-zones

06/09/2026

😂 this sums it up

06/06/2026

Then read how it affects deer and livestock.

Breakdown of Flies.

While all three discussed here are flies that can cause myiasis (infestation of living tissue by maggots), they differ drastically in appearance, life cycle, and the threat they pose to animals and humans.

Blow Flies: Also known as bottle flies (e.g., green or blue bottle flies), most species are nature's recyclers that lay their eggs on dead animals and rottingl meat. However, some species are opportunistic and will lay eggs in open wounds or wet, soiled fur, which can lead to severe maggot infestations.

Screwworm (New World Screwworm): A highly specific type of blow fly where the larvae are obligate parasites—meaning they only feed on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals. The females lay eggs in wounds (even tiny ones like tick bites) or body openings. As the maggots hatch, they burrow deep into the tissue using sharp mouth hooks and encircling bands of spines, tearing the flesh in a "screw-like" motion, which can be fatal if untreated.

Bot Fly: Adult bot flies are stout, bee-like insects that do not feed or bite. Unlike blow flies and screwworms, they do not lay eggs directly in wounds. Instead, they use intermediate methods (like catching a mosquito and sticking eggs to it, or laying them directly on a host's fur) so that the larvae hatch and burrow into the skin, living inside a raised bump and breathing through a tiny pore.

Click the link below to read about how screw worm affected live stock and deer populations in the past.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BKfjQKgkB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/21/2026

Now some of yall can relax

https://www.wafb.com/2026/05/21/rules-deer-baiting-change-following-louisiana-legislature-resolution/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAR8XmVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeDm7oL9L3KT6vTULYE7XsZOIW_Jz1-Q0ffBCpkCJsjLxO_ruhmpkvurmBv0E_aem_HXe4ZkIYLbpW4NsU2QJBkA

Rules for deer baiting change following Louisiana Legislature resolution Sen. Glenn Womack says they worked with LDWF to adjust rules to limit spread of CWD

04/30/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BQcynqwB3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/14/2026

📣𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗟𝗔! Join us on 𝑭𝒆𝒃. 𝟐𝟏-𝟐𝟐 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center!

🗓 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Feb. 21-22 - Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4
📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
🎟 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Adults $10; 6-11 $2 (Cash at the door)

For $𝟐 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Follow Page + Share Post
(Show cashier shared post from your phone)

02/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EZct9EWrm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) passed several amendments to the 2026–27 hunting regulations during its February meeting in Baton Rouge. 🦌🦃

The amendments include:
✔️ Updated language on drone use for recovery of mortally wounded deer or bear
✔️ Internal combustion engine restrictions on select LDWF WMAs (no use from noon until 4 a.m., other changes)

These amendments follow January’s passage of Notices of Intent for:
▪️ 2026–27 & 2027–28 hunting seasons
▪️ 2026–27 general & WMA seasons and rules & regs
▪️ 2027 general and WMA turkey season rules & regs
▪️ 2026–27 migratory bird season rules & regs

📣 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝟰 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, and will also be accepted at LWFC monthly meetings through March 5.

💻 𝗔 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗯. 𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝟲:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. where the NOI will be presented and comments will be taken. Register here: https://buff.ly/IR21yMr. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

📬 Submit comments to:
Dr. Jeffrey Duguay
LDWF Wildlife Division
P.O. Box 98000
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000
📞 225-765-2353
📧 [email protected]

🔎 View the full Notice of Intent, amendments, regulation changes, and proposed season dates here: https://buff.ly/cFOFywC