Critters of Louisiana

American Alligator - star of the show

Monarch Butterfly

Golden Orb Weaver

Gasteracantha cancriformis, Spiny-backed Orb Weaver or Smiley-faced Spider

Five-lined Skink

Great Blue Skimmer

Golden Orb Weaver

Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper 'Devil's Horse'

Green Anole

Green Anole

Crab (anyone know crab species?)

These were just a handful of the non-birds that slinked, sprang, scurried, spun, swooshed or swam their way past me on my adventures in Louisiana.   Many of the above photos were taken at the Barataria Preserve section of the Jean Lafitte National Park.  That day was incredible, but due to the park opening hour of 9:00 it was already too hot for any good bird activity while I was there.   The place was incredible though, and a definitely recommended destination for visitors to New Orleans.   I even saw a River Otter, (not pictured) which was a lifer mammal in the wild!