Bears Spotted In St. Landry & Point Coupee

Posted: May 24, 2011 5:51 PM by MIKE MAGNOLI
Updated: May 24, 2011 6:24 PM

All kinds of animals are seeking higher ground as the Flood of 2011 unfolds.

And the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is responding as best they can. Somewhere between a dozen and 20 bears have been spotted in St. Landry and Point Coupee. Reports of bears in Arnaudville-- in Morganza.

Lt. Donald Salpietra says, "Just recently one was hit by a train, we went and got the body off the tracks- it had come from the spillway."

An agents mans a mobile command post off highway 190 24 hours a day, so if you see spot bear it's better to call the agency-- don't take matters into your own hands.

"It's a federal offense to shoot a bear." Lt. Salpietra tells us.

Johnathan Bordelon is a biologist for Wildlife and Fisheries dept, he says bears are good swimmers and know when it's time to get away from flood areas: But while they're looking for new homes- out of the forest- remember this.

"Keep your trash inside and it's best to keep any temptations away from them." Bordelon said.

And you know when agents catch a bear, they place a GPS tracker on it so they can watch the bear's movements, that's how right now they know there is a bear somewhere in the area off the bridge and they hope to find it and move it before it gets into anyone's yard.