“Warning: Coyote spotted in neighborhood.” You've probably seen such alerts pop up on Facebook or your neighborhood web page. People are catching sight of the wily animals because the young ones are on the move. “This time of year, it’s easier to see coyotes because it’s dispersal season,” said Amy Shutt, director of The Canid Project, a nonprofit fox and coyote rehab and educational collective based in Louisiana... Read the full article by Louisiana Master Naturalist Colette Dean in the Advocate

Whether you're trying to foster an appreciation of nature in your kids or just want to get them up off the couch, there's some great gifts that will entice your youngsters to leave the screens and head outdoors to explore. These ideas come from several members of Louisiana Master Naturalists. “Cameras are always a nice gift to encourage people of all ages to take photos of the things they see," said Erin Bryan.. Read more in the Baton Rouge Advocate

In early November, Gail Suberbielle thought it was time to take down the hummingbird feeder in her Baton Rouge backyard. Then, she spied a hummingbird buzzing nearby, so she refilled it and left it up. Not long after, she saw a flash of blue at the feeder, causing her to run for her camera. That bird was nothing like those that usually swooped in for a sip of the sweet nectar. Suberbielle tried to identify the bird using her photos and online apps but failed...
Read the full article in the Advocate

You're likely seeing spiders everywhere these days — and we're not talking about those giant Halloween decorations. “Most of our annual species hatch in the spring and spend the summer mating and eating," said Aimée Thomas, a spider biologist. "This is the time of year where they reach maturity and are at the peak of development.” But don't stomp (or scream) just yet...
Read the full article in the Advocate

If you're planning to add trees and shrubs to your yard, now is the time to do it. Planting in the fall gives them time to get established, and, when spring arrives, they will flourish. This season, look beyond crepe myrtles and Bradford pear trees and pick native trees, shrubs and plants. When you think "native," think plants that occur naturally in the region, state, ecosystem or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention...
Read the full article in the Advocate