Flooding And Wildlife

The rising flood waters along the Mississippi and in the Atchafalaya Basin is pushing wildlife out of their normal habitats to higher ground. Kenny Ribbeck, Chief of Wildlife Division with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries asks curious onlookers to keep their distance and let the animals seek sanctuary. Ribbeck says displaced wildlife and deer in particular are crossing roads and highways in search of shelter. The numbers of accidents
involving deer are already on the rise. He cautions drivers to slow down and be wary. Ribbeck says the Corps of Engineers is using the lessons they learned from the flood in 1973 and are releasing the water more slowly into the Basin. He says the slower release is giving wildlife in the area a better chance to escape. It has been estimated that there are as many as 300 Louisiana Black Bears living in the Atchafalaya Basin. Ribbeck says there have been numerous sightings of the animals as they move to safety. He says, so far, they haven't had to do more than stay out of their way.