Louisiana is a coastal state in the southern regions of the United States. Vast expanses of marshes and swamplands characterize the state. The expansive Mississippi River delta is located here, which means around half of its lands are formed by the sediments of the Mississippi River. Louisiana has mild winters and hot, humid summers, which along with its unique geology, has fostered the development of unique flora and fauna.
These swamps and bayous are home to hundreds of wild native animals, including alligators, water and wading birds, frogs, salamanders, aquatic mammals, and birds of prey. The Kisatchie National Forest, Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, and Toledo Bend Reservoir are some of the best places to take a closer look at the state’s wildlife.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Louisiana
Hundreds of fish are found in the state, including marine species and sharks that visit the state’s coastal waters. The following list includes both native and non-native fishes that can be seen in Louisiana:
Large predatory animals like the American alligator and Louisiana brown bears are the deadliest animals in the state. Venomous snakes like the eastern copperhead, cottonmouth, pigmy rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake, and eastern coral snake are no less dangerous. And then there are venomous spiders like the brown recluse.
What are the common invasive animals in Louisiana?
Some common animals considered invasive in this state are monk parakeets, nutria, and red fire ants.
The Louisiana black bear, a subspecies of the American black bear, has been taken off the list of endangered species in 2016, as the measures taken to protect and revive their population in the state have had positive results. The species continues to remain a protected species, and hunting them is illegal. The state also has a small population of mountain lions, which has been growing in recent years.
Other animals classified as threatened or endangered in the state are the brown pelican, American bald eagle, and red-cockaded woodpecker.
