Identification Links
iNaturalist
Record your nature observations, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Other users can help you identify your observations. iNaturalist Video Tutorials | iNaturalist Getting Started
BugGuide
An online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing our observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures.
Guide to the Plants of Louisiana
A guide to the vascular plants of Louisiana brought to you by LDWF and USGS.
Discover Life
UGA's online tools to identify species.
Snakes of Louisiana
Abbreviated information and photos from Jeff Boundy's book of the same name.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana
A guide to the natural history and identification of herptiles in The Pelican State by Brad "Bones" Glorioso.
Mushroom Observer
An online mycology community for recording observations about mushrooms and helping people identify mushrooms they aren’t familiar with.
A Walk Through the Moth Families
Mississippi Entomological Museum's moth identification photo guide.
Southeastern Flora
An online resource to assist you in identifying native or naturalized wildflowers you may find in the southeastern United States.
Tree ID
A guide to identifying trees by their leaves from Baton Rouge Green's MyTree Program.
Merlin Bird ID App
A smartphone app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology designed to help you quickly identify birds using either a short step-by-step wizard or uploading a photo.
Feather Atlas
This atlas helps you identify feathers you find on the ground and explains the laws regarding collecting feathers.
Louisiana Irises
Information about the 5 species in the Louisiana Iris group by the Society for Louisiana Irises.
Songs of Insects
A Guide to the voices of crickets, katydids and cicadas.
Larkwire
A complete, game-based learning system for mastering bird songs and calls. There is a website version and an app. $4-$45 depending on the bird pack you want.
Gallformers
A website to identify and learn about galls.
Record your nature observations, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Other users can help you identify your observations. iNaturalist Video Tutorials | iNaturalist Getting Started
BugGuide
An online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing our observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures.
Guide to the Plants of Louisiana
A guide to the vascular plants of Louisiana brought to you by LDWF and USGS.
Discover Life
UGA's online tools to identify species.
Snakes of Louisiana
Abbreviated information and photos from Jeff Boundy's book of the same name.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana
A guide to the natural history and identification of herptiles in The Pelican State by Brad "Bones" Glorioso.
Mushroom Observer
An online mycology community for recording observations about mushrooms and helping people identify mushrooms they aren’t familiar with.
A Walk Through the Moth Families
Mississippi Entomological Museum's moth identification photo guide.
Southeastern Flora
An online resource to assist you in identifying native or naturalized wildflowers you may find in the southeastern United States.
Tree ID
A guide to identifying trees by their leaves from Baton Rouge Green's MyTree Program.
Merlin Bird ID App
A smartphone app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology designed to help you quickly identify birds using either a short step-by-step wizard or uploading a photo.
Feather Atlas
This atlas helps you identify feathers you find on the ground and explains the laws regarding collecting feathers.
Louisiana Irises
Information about the 5 species in the Louisiana Iris group by the Society for Louisiana Irises.
Songs of Insects
A Guide to the voices of crickets, katydids and cicadas.
Larkwire
A complete, game-based learning system for mastering bird songs and calls. There is a website version and an app. $4-$45 depending on the bird pack you want.
Gallformers
A website to identify and learn about galls.
Informational Links
Herps: Reptiles and Amphibians
A Primer on Reptiles and Amphibians, by Micha Petty
Invasive Species
This trifold brochure designed by LMNGBR Master Naturalist Hannah Penn, describes how invasive, introduced, and native species differ and provides tips to avoiding the spread of invasive species, plus links to additional resources.
Invasive Species Brochure (PDF)
A Primer on Reptiles and Amphibians, by Micha Petty
Invasive Species
This trifold brochure designed by LMNGBR Master Naturalist Hannah Penn, describes how invasive, introduced, and native species differ and provides tips to avoiding the spread of invasive species, plus links to additional resources.
Invasive Species Brochure (PDF)
Socialize on Facebook
LMNGBR - public page
Louisiana Master Naturalist Association - public page
LMNGBR Participants - closed group
Louisiana Naturalist Network - public group
Baton Rouge Butterflies and Moths - public group
Louisiana Insects - public group
Louisiana Dragonflies and Damselflies - public group
Louisiana Birds and Birdwatching - public group
LIVE Snake Identification and Discussion - public group
Louisiana Amphibian and Reptile Enthusiasts - public group
LIVE Snake Identification and Discussion - closed group
Capital Area Native Plant Society Discussion Forum - public group
Louisiana Native Plant Society - public page
Baton Rouge Audubon Society - public page
The Nature Dude - public page
BugGuide - public group
Louisiana Nature Photography - public group
Louisiana Master Naturalist Association - public page
LMNGBR Participants - closed group
Louisiana Naturalist Network - public group
Baton Rouge Butterflies and Moths - public group
Louisiana Insects - public group
Louisiana Dragonflies and Damselflies - public group
Louisiana Birds and Birdwatching - public group
LIVE Snake Identification and Discussion - public group
Louisiana Amphibian and Reptile Enthusiasts - public group
LIVE Snake Identification and Discussion - closed group
Capital Area Native Plant Society Discussion Forum - public group
Louisiana Native Plant Society - public page
Baton Rouge Audubon Society - public page
The Nature Dude - public page
BugGuide - public group
Louisiana Nature Photography - public group
Get Involved in Citizen Science
Citizen science is a wonderful way to gather a lot of data for science - and have fun learning about nature at the same time! Here are some ways to get yourself and your family involved:
Nurdle Patrol
Simply survey the high tide line on the beach or riverbank for nurdles (plastic pellet pollution from industrial sources) for 10-minutes and submit the total number of nurdles found. A simple task that provides very valuable data!
Bat Colony Monitoring
Do you have a bat colony on your property? LDWF is looking for volunteers to submit data about their colony to help monitor for White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease among bats. Program flyer (PDF)
Hummingbirds at Home
Report on hummingbird visits in your yard or at your feeder. (Website and App)
Project FeederWatch
Over the winter season, survey the birds that visit your bird feeders and submit the data on the website. (Website)
FrogWatch USA
Identify frogs in your neighborhood by ear and report the data from Feb. to Aug. The BR Zoo manages the local chapter and hosts certification training in January each year. (Website)
Firefly Watch
Watch for fireflies in your yard once a week and submit your observations to the Boston Museum of Science. (Website)
iNaturalist
Record your nature observations, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Other users can help you identify your observations. Scientists use the observations for research. (Website & App)
NestWatch
Monitor nests in your yard every 3-4 days and contribute observations to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's nationwide monitoring program. Record when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. There is online certification training to get you started. (Website & App)
eBird
You can record your observation checklists from your birding outings on this website hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. This critical data is used for scientific research and conservation all over the world. eBird is also the platform used for special bird observation events, such as the Great Backyard Bird Count. (Website & App)
eButterfly
The eButterfly website is a real-time, online checklist and photo storage program providing a new way for the butterfly community to report, organize and access information about butterflies in North America. (Website)
BioBlitzes
The community takes over a selected park on a specific weekend and documents all of the species we can find. Bugs, birds, plants, mushrooms, mammals, fish - everything! BREC hosts a BioBlitz every spring. Keep an eye out for BioBlitzes at universities and other organizations as well. (iNaturalist)
City Nature Challenge
A new challenge is sweeping the nation - which city can find the most species? Lake Charles and New Orleans are the first in Louisiana to take on this challenge. Who's in for 2020? (iNaturalist)
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. Whenever you have a moment at your computer, you can assist professional researchers by completing simple guided tasks to record data from photographs, scans and other resources. Choose from hundreds of projects in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. A few project examples: Identify wild animals photographed on game cameras; Transcribe hand-written plant and insect tags from museum collections; Identify trees in the Amazon forest canopy from drone photographs; Help find Higgs-Boson particles, baby galaxies, comets, and much, much, much more! (Website & App)
Nurdle Patrol
Simply survey the high tide line on the beach or riverbank for nurdles (plastic pellet pollution from industrial sources) for 10-minutes and submit the total number of nurdles found. A simple task that provides very valuable data!
Bat Colony Monitoring
Do you have a bat colony on your property? LDWF is looking for volunteers to submit data about their colony to help monitor for White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease among bats. Program flyer (PDF)
Hummingbirds at Home
Report on hummingbird visits in your yard or at your feeder. (Website and App)
Project FeederWatch
Over the winter season, survey the birds that visit your bird feeders and submit the data on the website. (Website)
FrogWatch USA
Identify frogs in your neighborhood by ear and report the data from Feb. to Aug. The BR Zoo manages the local chapter and hosts certification training in January each year. (Website)
Firefly Watch
Watch for fireflies in your yard once a week and submit your observations to the Boston Museum of Science. (Website)
iNaturalist
Record your nature observations, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Other users can help you identify your observations. Scientists use the observations for research. (Website & App)
NestWatch
Monitor nests in your yard every 3-4 days and contribute observations to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's nationwide monitoring program. Record when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. There is online certification training to get you started. (Website & App)
eBird
You can record your observation checklists from your birding outings on this website hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. This critical data is used for scientific research and conservation all over the world. eBird is also the platform used for special bird observation events, such as the Great Backyard Bird Count. (Website & App)
eButterfly
The eButterfly website is a real-time, online checklist and photo storage program providing a new way for the butterfly community to report, organize and access information about butterflies in North America. (Website)
BioBlitzes
The community takes over a selected park on a specific weekend and documents all of the species we can find. Bugs, birds, plants, mushrooms, mammals, fish - everything! BREC hosts a BioBlitz every spring. Keep an eye out for BioBlitzes at universities and other organizations as well. (iNaturalist)
City Nature Challenge
A new challenge is sweeping the nation - which city can find the most species? Lake Charles and New Orleans are the first in Louisiana to take on this challenge. Who's in for 2020? (iNaturalist)
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. Whenever you have a moment at your computer, you can assist professional researchers by completing simple guided tasks to record data from photographs, scans and other resources. Choose from hundreds of projects in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. A few project examples: Identify wild animals photographed on game cameras; Transcribe hand-written plant and insect tags from museum collections; Identify trees in the Amazon forest canopy from drone photographs; Help find Higgs-Boson particles, baby galaxies, comets, and much, much, much more! (Website & App)
The Great Outdoors
LDWF Wildlife Management Areas
Permits are required to access Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and other LDWF-administered lands. There are three WMA permit options: Louisiana hunting license, Louisiana fishing license or a Wild Louisiana Stamp. For our workshops, the Wild Louisiana Stamp is a great option if you do not have a hunting/fishing license and costs only $9.50 per year. They can be purchased at LDWF offices and online.
USGS Louisiana Daily Streamflow Conditions
A good resource for paddling conditions.
Leave No Trace
Outdoor ethics information and techniques for enjoying our natural world in a sustainable way that avoids human-created impacts.
Louisiana Hiking Club
The Louisiana Hiking Club meets regularly for presentations and a variety of hikes ranging from short day hiking trips to big backpacking excursions. Members also receive a 10% discount at The Backpacker store.
Capital Area Native Plant Society
This Baton Rouge club provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about the value of native plants in landscaping and natural communities. Their events include plant walks, conservation projects, native plant propagation, and presentations.
Permits are required to access Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and other LDWF-administered lands. There are three WMA permit options: Louisiana hunting license, Louisiana fishing license or a Wild Louisiana Stamp. For our workshops, the Wild Louisiana Stamp is a great option if you do not have a hunting/fishing license and costs only $9.50 per year. They can be purchased at LDWF offices and online.
USGS Louisiana Daily Streamflow Conditions
A good resource for paddling conditions.
Leave No Trace
Outdoor ethics information and techniques for enjoying our natural world in a sustainable way that avoids human-created impacts.
Louisiana Hiking Club
The Louisiana Hiking Club meets regularly for presentations and a variety of hikes ranging from short day hiking trips to big backpacking excursions. Members also receive a 10% discount at The Backpacker store.
Capital Area Native Plant Society
This Baton Rouge club provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about the value of native plants in landscaping and natural communities. Their events include plant walks, conservation projects, native plant propagation, and presentations.
Invasives in the News
Roseau Cane Scale | or not?
Apple Snail
Feral Hogs
Nutria
Asian Carps | Silverfin Carp recipes
Cuban Treefrog information and awareness flyer
Poisonous Cuban Treefrog invades Audubon Park, Zoo
Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer
White Nose Syndrome in Bats
Spotted Lanternfly
Apple Snail
Feral Hogs
Nutria
Asian Carps | Silverfin Carp recipes
Cuban Treefrog information and awareness flyer
Poisonous Cuban Treefrog invades Audubon Park, Zoo
Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer
White Nose Syndrome in Bats
Spotted Lanternfly
Sightings
Links to report sightings of species of interest:
Swallow-Tailed Kite
Whooping Crane
Whale Shark
Gopher Tortoise
Report found bird bands at reportband.gov.
Eastern Spotted Skunk: Call LDWF at 337-735-8674 or post an observation on iNaturalist in the Eastern Spotted Skunk project.
Report stranded, entangled, injured, or dead marine animals
Whooping Crane
Whale Shark
Gopher Tortoise
Report found bird bands at reportband.gov.
Eastern Spotted Skunk: Call LDWF at 337-735-8674 or post an observation on iNaturalist in the Eastern Spotted Skunk project.
Report stranded, entangled, injured, or dead marine animals