Reintroduction of Whooping Cranes to Southwestern Louisiana
Historically, Louisiana supported more Whooping Cranes than anywhere in North America. Both resident and migrant populations inhabited the coastal marshes and historic Cajun Prairie of southwestern Louisiana. Presumably, distinct populations utilized the landscape differently, with migrant cranes using the prairies and sea-rim brackish marshes, while resident cranes used freshwater and intermediate marshes situated around White and Grand Lakes. Populations of Whooping Cranes in Louisiana declined throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to hunting/shooting and habitat conversion from prairie to rice agriculture; eventually all Whooping Crane flocks were lost in southwestern Louisiana by the winter of 1950 – 1951.
Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (RWR) has a strong history of endangered species recovery and monitoring including the American Alligator, Bald Eagle, and Brown Pelican. Southwestern Louisiana was selected in 2010 as the next site to re-establish Whooping Cranes, the only reintroduction thus far into their historical range. This flock was designated a Nonessential, Experimental Population under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act, which provides management flexibility to public and private landowners. This ruling permits protection of the species to conserve the population, but still allow the presence of the cranes to be compatible with routine human activities (i.e., farming, hunting) in the reintroduction area.
For more information about the reintroduction program, videos, and updates on the reintroduced population, visit the LDWF Whooping Crane reintroduction website. If you have an observation of a Whooping Crane that you would like to report, please visit the Whooping Crane Reporting form webpage.
Annual reports on the reintroduction are provided below.
2014 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
2013 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
2012 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
2011 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
For more information about the reintroduction program, videos, and updates on the reintroduced population, visit the LDWF Whooping Crane reintroduction website. If you have an observation of a Whooping Crane that you would like to report, please visit the Whooping Crane Reporting form webpage.
Annual reports on the reintroduction are provided below.
2014 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
2013 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
2012 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report
2011 Louisiana Whooping Crane Report