On a recent summer afternoon, I found myself on my hands and knees looking at what appeared to be a tiny, sneering Brazilian Free-tailed bat. It was all a part of my mission to learn more about Louisiana’s twelve species of bats, and about the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ bat monitoring program.
​These flying mammals are an integral part of our environment and provide critical ecosystem services. And they face many threats. One major threat facing bats in Louisiana is habitat alterations, including degradation, fragmentation, and destruction. When a bat’s habitat is altered or lost, the bat must move to a lower-quality habitat for roosting and foraging. An even more urgent threat for our region’s bats, however, is the deadly disease known as White-nose Syndrome.
​Read the full article by Harriett Pooler in Country Roads Magazine...
​This article features Katherine Gividen. Katherine is a member of the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge.

Almost since the beginning of man's time on Earth, people have been recording observations of nature. They drew on cave walls and painted stories on teepees and sheepskin.
And we are still doing it.
Drawing what you see in nature along with your perceptions and feelings about the world around you — it's called nature journaling — is one of the best ways to connect with the outdoors, said Matthew Herron, founder and education director of Coastal Plains Outdoor School.
Read the full article by Louisiana Master Naturalist Colette Dean in the Advocate... 

A ray of sunshine amid the hurricane cleanup might include a hummingbird or two buzzing by.
Late August through mid-September is the peak of hummingbird migration, and the tiny birds are trying to feed as much as they can to fatten up for their long trip to Central America or Mexico.
Jane Patterson, president of the Baton Rouge Audubon Society, said hummingbirds will flock to feeders after hurricanes looking for nourishment since the winds will have blown away flowers, their usual source of food, from most plants.
​“If you have ever wanted to see a hummingbird, now is the time of year to do it,” she said.
Read the full article by Louisiana Master Naturalist Colette Dean in the Advocate...