Louisiana Wetlands Educational Center

04/25/2026

🎉 Fun Fact Friday: Bats 🦇

Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight! Their wings are actually made from elongated finger bones with skin stretched between them.

They may not be everyone’s favorite animal, but bats provide a lot of important benefits.

Most bats you’ll find in Louisiana are insect-eaters, and they play a big role in controlling pests. A single bat can eat hundreds of insects in an hour, including mosquitoes and crop pests.

Some bats also help with pollination and seed dispersal, supporting plant life in ecosystems around the world.

🌎 Why it matters:
By helping control insect populations (and in some places, pollinating plants), bats support ecosystems and agriculture, saving billions of dollars in pest control each year. Many bat species are also at risk, facing threats like habitat loss and disease, and they benefit from conservation efforts.

👀 Next time you’re outside at dusk, look up! You might spot bats flying overhead, hard at work!

Learn more here:

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. The department issues hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, as well as boat titles and registrations.

04/24/2026

A little rain never hurt, especially when it looks like this😚

04/23/2026

🥾 Trail Talk Thursday

Wetland plants aren’t just pretty. They’re powerful! 🌾

They help prevent erosion, filter water, and provide shelter for wildlife.

04/22/2026

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” - John Muir

The Louisiana Wetlands Education Center has quickly become something special for our community, a place to learn, explore, and stay connected to the landscape around us.

Here in Jean Lafitte, the beauty of the wetlands is all around us. It’s a place that’s always changing, shaped by water, weather, and time. That change is part of living here, and part of what makes it worth protecting.

The Center gives us a space to better understand our coast and why it matters, not just for today but for the future.

🌱 Small efforts add up, and there’s a lot to be hopeful for.

Happy Earth Day 💚

04/21/2026

Have you seen me? 👀

Probably not…

The Eastern Black Rail is a threatened marsh bird that’s incredibly secretive, spending most of its time hidden in dense vegetation. 🌿

Even if you don’t spot one, they might be closer than you think. Listen for their distinctive call!

Next time you’re on the trail, keep an eye—or an ear—out! You never know who’s hiding nearby!

(Please remember: do not feed, approach, or disturb wildlife. It's illegal to harm, harass, or kill this species.)

04/21/2026

04/21/2026

It’s official. April 2026 has been designated National Native Plant Month.

Native plants are essential to the health of our ecosystems, wildlife, and communities. From monarchs that rely on milkweed to birds that depend on native seeds and insects, these plants support entire life cycles.

If you’re interested in adding native plants to your yard or landscape, the Louisiana Native Plant Society offers guides, plant lists, and resources to help you get started: https://www.lnps.org/

This April, take action where you live.

Plant native. Support habitat. Be part of the solution.

04/20/2026

04/19/2026

Spending time outdoors is one of the best ways to connect with nature. 🌿

What’s your favorite way to enjoy the wetlands... walking the trail, spotting wildlife, or just taking it all in?

04/18/2026

🌎💚 It’s Love the Boot Week!

Our wetlands protect our communities, support wildlife, and make this place so special. 🐊🌿

Take a moment to appreciate them this week, and if you’re looking to give back, check out the Love the Boot Week website for local volunteer and cleanup events near you.

Get involved with Love the Boot Week, Louisiana's biggest anti-litter and beautification event. See event goals and register to volunteer in your area.

04/18/2026

🎉 Fun Fact Friday: John Muir 🌲

John Muir was one of the early voices for protecting wild places in the United States.

His writing and advocacy helped lead to the protection of places like Yosemite National Park, and he played a key role in the creation of the national park system.

🌎 Why it matters:
The idea that nature is worth protecting for its own sake, and for future generations, helped shape how we care for public lands today.

Next time you’re outside, take a moment to appreciate the landscape around you, people like Muir helped make sure places like that could be protected 💚

Learn more here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/john-muir.htm

Photo: National Parks Service