Louisiana has a wide variety of Plants and Animals. The salt water marshes of south Louisiana are home to shrimp, crabs, and red fish just to name a few. The gulf tide helps to move lots of smaller critters in and out. Some just come in to breed and lay eggs others live and die in the marsh. As you move inland the marsh becomes fresher. Eventually the marsh is all fresh water this is a better place for some animals that don't like the salt water. As you continue father inland the marshes give way to flat grass lands. These grass lands are now used as fields to raise different agricultural crops. These grass lands have trees on the borders of the bayous and drainage ditches. The grass lands will turn in to swamps of cypress and gum these swamps have added to the notion that La is a sportsman's paradise. Swamps are fantastic for wildlife. The swamps have both food and cover.

Continue north inland to genital rolling hills that depending on the soil will raise ether hardwoods or pine. Hardwood bottoms are along most waterways.

The plants and animals are specific to the type of area you find. Because of the great fluctuations inland and water this changes the dynamics of what makes their home inland. Winters in Louisiana provide a vacation home for migratory birds like dove, ducks and geese. Many birds migrate through Louisiana several smaller fowl come to La. to breed and raise there brewed there young before migrating back to the Caribbean for the winter.

Marsh This is the section of La. along the gulf coast. for the most part it is tree less except for islands of high ground on these small rises live oak, willow, and palmetto grow. The islands appear much larger than they actually are ,because of the vegetation.

The salt water marsh is located on the coast, salt grass, cord grass, and black rush all grow here. These estuaries are the breeding grounds for many salt water animals like shrimp and other small marine life. The tidal currents move the shrimp in and out of the estuaries. there is on dividing point between salt water and fresh water but rather a gradual change As the water becomes less salt and more fresh it is called brackish in the brackish water, the fresh water is running to the gulf and the salt water from the gulf is rising and falling with the tide. The major vegetation in brackish water is spartina, cord grass, and wire grass. In fresh water marshes the vegetation is cattail, saw grass, iris, and bald cypress. Several plants where brought here by man like the alligator weed, and water hyacinth. The nutria was also introduced in Louisiana. These non-native species have created new problems for the state.

Prairie Wide open grass lands that once covered lower La. have nearly disappeared. They have been replaced by farms because of the fertile soil. The subtropical grass lands have trees along the water ways. Migratory water fowl winter on these fields. This has contributed to La being called Sportsman's paradise. During the winter migration the ducks and geese will be so thick they can appear as clouds, that can darken the sun.

Bottom land Swamps to day are found mostly along the river deltas and back water areas close to rivers and bayous. Bald cypress live in swamps it is a needle leaf coniferous tree that is deciduous. The base of a cypress is huge compared to the main trunk these large bases and extensive lateral root systems give this tree a firm grip during strong wind storms. The cypress lives mainly in wetlands because it can't tolerate fire.

Upland Their are two types of upland forest these are Pine and hardwood. Hardwood is home to oak, hickory, gum, magnolia, dogwood, holly, and beech. The beech live mainly along the tributaries. Pine forest are more developed by civil culture rather than nature, although pine is a native tree it would not exist in solid forest without intervention. Upland forest are home to much wildlife. Deer and rabbits are found throughout the state squirrels are limited to timber regions. Opossum is a nocturnal marsupial that also lives in most of Louisiana.

Endangered Species These are animals recognized by biologist and the government as having a high probability of going extinct. Louisiana has bald eagles, and red cockcaded woodpeckers to name a few. The woodpecker lives in a live mature pine where he bores a hole to create a cavity for roosting and raise young. The woodpecker pecks around the tree above and below the hole to allow sap to ooze down the trunk. This will deter predators. The woodpecker has become endangered because of both civil culture and nature. Civil culture clear cuts the largest most valuable trees, these would be the most desirable trees for the woodpecker use as a cavity tree. Nature also imposes hazards on the bird as strong winds will break the pine tree off right at the hole. The sap oozing down the tree is flammable which can ignite the tree during controlled burns and forest fires.
 
 

Pine Tree with Woodpecker Holes  (photo courtesy of Chris Gueydan)

Pine Tree with Woodpecker Holes  (photo courtesy of Chris Gueydan)