Louisiana
Feds offer $5K reward for info on Louisiana whooping crane's killer
A $5,000 reward is being offered to find out who killed a whooping crane in southwest Louisiana in January, federal authorities said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in a news release, announced the reward for information regarding the endangered bird, which was found dead Jan. 9 in Evangeline Parish along Besi Lane in Mamou, Louisiana. A necropsy determined that the juvenile bird was shot, resulting in a spinal fracture and internal bleeding.
ENDANGERED MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES STILL FACE THREAT DESPITE GROWING POPULATION NUMBERS
Whooping cranes are endangered under the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It is illegal to harm the species in any way. The reward is for information leading to the arrest or criminal conviction of those involved.
“It’s frustrating,” Richard Dunn, a curator at Freeport McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center, told The Advocate. “It’s bad enough to hear a bird got predated or hit a power line. Something as simple as it got shot is what kills us the most.”
A female whooping crane is photographed at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. (Photo by Wild Horizons/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Survival Center, based in New Orleans, has worked to improve the whooping crane population by breeding and raising cranes to be reintroduced into nature.
State officials and groups like the Audubon Nature Institute have gone to great lengths to reintroduce the species. As of 2023, 85 whooping cranes exist in Louisiana. Each bird reintroduced into the wild takes months of care, and nearly $33,000 is spent caring per bird, Dunn said.
Whooping cranes are large-bodied, white birds with a red head and black facial markings. They measure 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet. In flight, whooping cranes display black wingtips and a fully extended neck and legs, the latter reaching well beyond the tail.
Federal and state agencies began Louisiana’s reintroduction in 2011, when 10 were released at White Lake to develop the flock; the first chick hatched in 2016. Since 2011, the state has seen 11 cranes killed.
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Anyone with information about the January case is urged to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 985-882-3756 or the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Lake Charles Office at 337-491-2575.
Callers may remain anonymous.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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