Latest news with #LouisianaDepartmentofWildlifeandFisheries
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Woman fights off alligator to save dog in New Orleans' City Park
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A New Orleans woman is speaking out after she says her dog was violently attacked by an alligator during a walk in City Park. Katharine Hurley says she and her dog, Mina, were walking near Scout Island, a spot they've visited countless times when Mina dipped her head near the water and was immediately grabbed by an alligator. 'Within about one second of her putting her head down for two feet in the water, all I saw were huge jaws coming up out of the water, and they grabbed her,' Hurley said. She says she fought off the gator by kicking it repeatedly until it let go. Mina survived but needed emergency vet care. Hurley herself ended up with a hairline fracture in her leg. Habitat for Humanity building new homes starting at $175,000 Despite the known presence of alligators in City Park, Hurley says there were no warning signs posted in the area, and that she had never heard of an attack happening there before. 'I've never once seen a sign that indicated that there were alligators or dangerous alligators or aggressive alligators,' Hurley said. 'Everybody I had talked to said it's never been a problem.' After contacting City Park, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the New Orleans Police Department, Hurley says she found out another dog had been killed in a previous alligator attack in City Park. Still, no signs were ever posted along the trails. 'If that had been a child putting their two feet in the water, dragging a kayak in, which I've seen people do, and that alligator came up, there's going to be an accident,' Hurley said. Hurley says she put up her own warning signs following the attack. But within just a few days, those signs were taken down. She's now calling on park officials to install permanent signage in areas where attacks or sightings have been reported before something worse happens. 'This was bad and traumatizing,' Hurley said. 'But there's something worse that's going to happen, I think.' WGNO reached out to City Park officials for comment but has not yet received a Orleans' Jones Academy hosts Color Run to benefit students Lane of Bonnet Carré Spillway closed after overnight commercial vehicle trailer fire From racetrack to ballpark: Bristol's MLB transformation shifts into high gear Best New Car Warranties in 2025 Heat advisory issued for Wednesday until 7 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lake Charles man dies in Jeff Davis Parish boating accident
JEFF DAVIS PARISH, La. () — A Lake Charles man has died after a boating accident on Sunday, authorities said. The body of Danny Harrison, 71, of Lake Charles, was turned over to the Jefferson Davis Parish Coroner's Office. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents received a call around 8:30 p.m. Sunday about a boater that was fatally struck by an engine prop while he was in the water. Investigators said Harrison was operating a 16-foot vessel with a 40-horsepower hand tiller outboard motor when he hit an object in the water and was ejected from the vessel. The unmanned vessel then ran in circles when it struck Harrison in the water. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The LDWF Enforcement Division will be the lead investigative agency for this incident. Harrison was wearing a personal flotation device, but the evidence collected suggests he was not wearing a kill switch lanyard. A kill switch lanyard attached to the operator is required for anyone operating a vessel less than 26 feet with a hand tiller outboard motor over 10 horsepower that is designed to have an engine cut-off switch while the motor is running and the vessel is underway, officials said. The investigation remains ongoing, authorities said. Three dozen House Republicans urge Senate GOP against 'budget gimmicks,' deficit increases House Oversight Republicans schedule interviews with former Biden aides Gunfire erupts in Abbeville following group altercation Friday night ChatGPT is 'experiencing issues,' OpenAI says: What we know so far Girard Park pool opening delayed due to pump failure: LCG Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Church in Baton Rouge placed on lockdown due to bear sighting
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A bear sighting prompted a lockdown at a church in Baton Rouge on Friday morning. A spokeswoman with the Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed a bear was seen in a tree near Broadmoor United Methodist Church. The church, located on Mollylea Drive, currently hosts a summer camp program. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is at the scene. Earlier this week, the Central Police Department confirmed a Black bear was seen walking in near Glen Watts Road and Hooper Road. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shared the following tips for anyone who may come in contact with a bear. Remove any attractants such as pet food, trash, and bird feeders. Do not approach a bear. Do not feed a bear. Contact local authorities if a bear is seen in the area. Don't run. Instead, hold your arms above your head. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Bear boom: Livingston Parish neighborhoods see surge in sightings EBRSO investigating shooting that left 1 hurt in Baton Rouge Denham Springs sports center offers cheer, gymnastics camps for summer Todd Chrisley maintains innocence, vows to fight for prisoners Taylor Swift finally owns all her music after deal: 'Endlessly thankful' Port Allen police enforce zero-tolerance policy for juvenile curfew violations Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
8 men accused of driving boats while intoxicated on Tickfaw, Blind River arrested
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and state troopers arrested eight people for DWI during the 2025 Tickfaw 200 Poker Run on May 2 and 3. They also issued several boating safety citations. On May 2, LDWF agents arrested Wallace Wolfe, 54, of Gonzales, Todd Bourgeois, 38, of Paulina, and Dustin Miller, 24, of Franklinton after allegedly operating a boat while impaired on the Blind River and Diversion Canal. Agents also arrested Brandon Lecompte, 43, of Youngsville on the Tickfaw River the same day. On May 3, Chase Hebert, 30, of Prairieville, was arrested and charged with a second-offense DWI on the Blind River. Three others—Courtland Ray, 31 of Livingston, Joseph Bardzilowski, 58, of South Dakota, and Stephen Holland, 29, of Kentwood—were also arrested on the Tickfaw River and charged with DWI. LDWF said Blake O. Comardelle, 31, of Maurice, was cited for careless operation of a vessel after being involved in a boating incident on May 2 that resulted in serious but non-life-threatening injuries to himself and a passenger. LDWF said anyone arrested for DWI on the water faces the same penalties as on the road. This includes losing both driving and boating privileges, fines, and possible jail time. Rapper 50 Cent visits Gov. Landry to discuss Louisiana projects Pope Leo XIV previously shared criticism of Trump administration on social media Trump pushes Republicans to have rich pay more taxes 8 men accused of driving boats while intoxicated on Tickfaw, Blind River arrested Changes made to Louisiana bill inspired by Make America Healthy Again movement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
What are the rules for turkey hunting Louisiana?
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind hunters that taking juvenile male turkeys (jakes) is prohibited except for properly licensed youth 17 and under, who may only take one per season. A jake is defined as having a beard less than six inches and a spur less than 0.5 inch. Adult hunters may take one adult gobbler (male turkey) per day and two per season. An adult gobbler is defined by having one of the following: Wing feathers that have white barring all the way to the tip, tail feathers that are the same length, beard that is longer than six inches or a spur that is at least 0.5 inch long. The Louisiana turkey season begins Saturday (April) 5. Turkey hunting in Area A runs from April 5-May 4, Area B from April 5-27 and Area C from April 5-20. Turkey hunters are required to have a basic hunting license and wild turkey license, or an equivalent combination. A youth hunting license and turkey tags are required for those 17 or younger hunting turkey. To purchase a hunting license, go to Prior to hunting turkey, all turkey hunters, regardless of age or license status, must obtain turkey tags. They must have the tags in their possession while hunting turkey, and immediately after harvesting a turkey, tag the turkey before moving it from where it was killed. Hunters must record required information for tagged turkeys and validate tags within 72 hours of harvesting a turkey. To obtain turkey tags and to validate tags online, go to Many LDWF Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) offer turkey hunting during the season, including, but not limited to, Fort Johnson-Vernon, Fort Johnson North, Clear Creek, Bodcau, Big Lake and Tunica Hills WMAs. However, turkey season is closed on some WMAs, including Richard K. Yancey and Sherburne WMAs. For a complete list of WMAs open to turkey hunting and more information on WMA turkey hunting, go to All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise License or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to for more information. For more information on turkey hunting in Louisiana, go to or contact LDWF Small Game/Wild Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal at ccedotal@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What are the rules for turkey hunting Louisiana?
