Louisiana
Here’s how to protect the Baton Rouge bat population, plus how they benefit Louisiana yards.
Bats are all around, but due to their nocturnal nature, Baton Rouge residents do not see them often. Misconceptions about the flying mammals abound, despite their significance to ecological systems.
Aaron Ashbrook, an assistant professor for the LSU Entomology department, specializes in urban entomology. He recently hosted a seminar series at LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Research and Education Center for state sanitarians who expressed interest in the local bat population. Ashbrook’s lecture focused on correcting misinformation about pollinator support, mosquito management and bat conservation.
After the interest and success of the sanitarian lecture, Ashbrook and Christine Gambino, an extension associate for the entomology department, joined forces to plan a “Bats in Our Ecosystem Day” for the public.
Full lecture hall in the Howe-Russell auditorium to hear Teague O’Mara at the “Bats in Our Ecosystem Day.”
Ashbrook and Gambino planned a two-part event on May 24 that included a lecture on different bat species, their benefits and a demonstration on how to build a bat house.
Initially, the presentations were supposed to take place at LaHouse, but due to the large amount of interest and turnout, the event was moved to LSU’s Howe Russell Auditorium.
Gambino said that 405 people registered and 85 attended. She has noticed an increase in similar events that focus on gardens, pollinators and conservation efforts.
“We had people drive in from all over the state to attend,” she said. “We wanted to get the word out about bats, and we got lots of interest. People who couldn’t attend asked for the presentation to be recorded.”
From left: Teague O’Mara, Christine Gambino, Aaron Ashbrook and Mike Meyers after the bat conservation event.
Ashbrook and Gambino were pleasantly surprised at the registration and the turnout.
Teague O’Mara, director of conservation evidence at Bat Conservation International and adjunct professor of biological sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University, presented the lecture on bat diversity, Louisiana bat species, bat abilities, the benefits of bats for humans, threats to the bat population and solutions to protect bats.
O’Mara shared that there are 12 bat species present in Louisiana, all of which are insectivores and protected by law. Mexican free-tailed bats reside in the state year-round and primarily feed on moths, beetles, flies and ants.
Bat house that Mike Meyers, the Boy Scout Master who demonstrated building a bat house at the bat conservation event.
Beneficially, bats consume agricultural pests and insects, which positively affects farming economies. They also disperse seeds and pollinate commercially and ecologically valuable plants like agave, which flowers at night.
O’Mara included threats to bat populations, which include white-nose syndrome, wind turbines, land use change like deforestation and human diseases. The more natural separation between bats and humans provides a buffer, which means the less chance of viral spillover between the two species.
There are multiple ways Louisianans can help protect the local bat population, including building and setting up a bat house — which Mike Meyers, a Boy Scout Master in Metairie, demonstrated at the “Bats in Our Ecosystem Day.”
Mike Meyers, Boy Scout Master, demonstrates building a bat house at the bat conservation event.
The bat houses must be attached to a structure that could be inhabited by bats and need to be built with specific dimensions, distance from a house and height for the bats, to allow them to find the space comfortable and appealing to live in. Meyers even recommends a specific color, nutmeg, to paint the houses.
Other ways people can protect bats are planting bat-friendly pollinator gardens, using less pesticides and standing up for bat conservation.
For more information, visit batcon.org.
GONZALES, La. (WAFB) – A once-busy Mexican restaurant in Gonzales now sits nearly empty, as its owner says fear surrounding recent immigration operations in Louisiana is keeping workers and customers away.
La Mexicana, which has served the community for almost 30 years, has seen a sharp decline in business. Owner Veronica Chaves said the restaurant currently has no employees and only a handful of customers.
“This is sad,” Chaves said.
She believes recent immigration enforcement efforts, including an operation known as Catahoula Crunch, have left many immigrant families afraid to leave their homes even for work or meals.
“I just can’t believe it,” Chaves said.
Out of that fear, a new community effort has emerged.
Local college professor Raynell Hernandez, along with several volunteers, has helped turn La Mexicana into a donation drop-off site for families in need. Community members can donate food, clothing, and other essentials, while families can arrange safe pickup locations without being asked questions about their immigration status.
“We’re not trying to hide anyone. We’re just trying to help in any way that we can,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said she has received dozens of messages from people requesting basic necessities, including jackets, diapers, and baby formula. She said the effort is focused on helping as many families as possible, especially children.
“Children don’t understand immigration status. They just know they’re hungry,” Hernandez said.
Both Hernandez and Chaves said they hope tensions surrounding immigration enforcement will ease soon. Until then, they say the community’s support is critical.
“Our hearts pour out to them,” Chaves said.
You can send donations to La Mexicana at any time between 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. The restaurant is located at 648 Louisiana 30 W B in Gonzales.
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Louisiana
First Alert Forecast: Coldest Night of Season in Southwest Louisiana — Here’s What You Need to Know
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – After enjoying mild weather in the 70s just yesterday, southwest Louisiana is bracing for the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures expected to plunge well below freezing overnight and wind chills dipping into the teens.
What to Expect Tonight
Temperatures will vary depending on where you live in southwest Louisiana:
Inland areas north of I-10: Temperatures will drop below 32 degrees for 8 to 12 hours, with wind chills potentially reaching the upper teens.
Along I-10: Freezing conditions expected for 5 to 8 hours.
Coastal areas: Temperatures will dip below freezing for 1 to 2 hours, with the least severe impacts.
Monday morning will be brutally cold to start, but temperatures will gradually warm into the low 50s by afternoon as the sun rises.
Protect Your Pipes
The most immediate concern for homeowners is frozen water pipes. Here’s what you need to know:
If you’ve never had pipe problems before: You likely won’t experience issues tonight. Pipes typically only freeze when temperatures stay below 25 degrees for several hours.
If you’ve had problems in the past: Take precautions now. Cover exposed pipes or leave a faucet dripping slowly. Once temperatures rise above freezing, stop dripping the faucet to avoid wasting water.
Use common sense and assess your home’s vulnerable areas. Every situation is different.
Other Safety Reminders
- Outdoor pets: Bring them inside if possible, or ensure they have adequate shelter and unfrozen water.
- Check on neighbors and friends: Make sure elderly relatives and those living alone are staying warm and safe.
- Test your smoke detector: Cold weather increases the use of heating sources — make sure your smoke detector is working properly.
- Dress in layers: If you’ll be outside, bundle up. Wind chills will make it feel significantly colder than the actual temperature.
Looking Ahead
The good news? This cold snap won’t last long. Southerly winds should return as early as Tuesday afternoon, gradually warming temperatures back toward normal.
However, Monday night into Tuesday morning will bring widespread frost with calm winds and temperatures in the 30s.
Another cold front is expected to move through Wednesday night into Thursday, bringing scattered showers. This system won’t be as severe as today’s front, but temperatures will drop slightly by week’s end.
A third cold front may arrive Sunday with scattered showers and possibly a few thunderstorms, though impacts appear minimal.
By Thursday and Friday, temperatures will rebound into the 70s before cooling slightly over the weekend.
Copyright 2025 KPLC. All rights reserved.
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