My Top Observations After Flying South- Part One

So here we go!  My first legitimate post after all of that nasty 'get to know me' stuff is outta the way.  I'll just do the top five, one a day until I get to the top one.

5. Wildlife

When I came down here, I knew things would be different, however, what I didn't anticipate was the difference in wildlife.  Whilst in PA, the common vermin were deer, skunk and the occasional racoons.  You could be driving down the road in PA and nail a deer with your car.... in fact my mom did that several times.  It wasn't uncommon to be driving and smell the waft of aromas from a nearby skunk who either sprayed someone's dog or was run over by an International Harvester.  Here, however, wildlife.... is surprising.

Firstly, and most famous due to shows like cult favorite "Swamp People," is the alligator.  The alligator lives in marshy swampy bayou places and lurk.  There are none around me per say- save for the gators in the swamp on campus at UL, but if you go to any swamp you will see them.  I went to a place called 'Avery Island'--you know, where Tabasco Sauce is made and there are Alligators EVERYWHERE. Signs around swamps even warn you not to bring your dogs because well, dogs are tasty. 

Next on the wildlife tour is the armadillo.  While not dangerous, the presence of the armadillo in Louisiana, BLEW MY MIND.  No really, I saw one, dead on the road of all places and I immediately went to work in order to verify that I had, in fact, seen an armadillo.  Look, here.... ARMADILLO

Morguefile.com

I've never seen an alive armadillo though.  I hear they rarely make it to the sprawling metropolis I call home.  If they get to the city, they are roadkill. I have, however, HEARD an armadillo.  Behind my building there is some nature with trees and green and, armadillos. How do I know?  Well, there is a really creepy grunting sounds that come from that area when night comes.  I've googled 'Armadillo Sounds' and it's the same sound.  Creepy.

Finally is something I have only seen once and know very little about.  I am only including because it is rather awesome looking.  The egrate,  

 

I saw this one outside of a gas station.  Just chillin' like a villain.   Like I said, I don't know much about this guy.  So, I'll end this here.

These of course are not the only cool animals here.  We cannot forget the lizards.  The nutrias.  The crawfish.  But these three are by far my favorite three cool wildlife finds.  So there you go.  Louisiana wildlife. 

Until tomorrow.... Maybe.... we shall see.