Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - Whooping Cranes

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - Whooping Cranes Information and updates about the non-migratory whooping crane reintroduction project in Louisiana. By 1945, only two cranes remained in Louisiana.

Historically, whooping cranes occurred in Louisiana in both a resident, non-migratory flock as well as migratory birds that wintered in the state. Conversion of prairies and wetlands to mechanized agriculture and unregulated hunting lead to the decline of this species both nationally and at the state level. In March of 1950, the lone Louisiana crane referred to as “Mac” was captured at White Lake

and transported to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the central Texas coast. For 60 years whooping cranes were absent from the Louisiana landscape until their reintroduction at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WLWCA) located in Vermilion Parish starting in 2011. The goal of the project is to establish a self-sustaining population in southwest Louisiana. A self-sustaining population will likely require approximately 120 individuals and 30 productive pairs with those levels maintained for 10 years without additional restocking. This goal is part of the overall recovery goals for the species. Whooping cranes that are reintroduced to Louisiana will be non-migratory.

Since the whooping crane reintroduction program began, juvenile cranes have been released mainly at the White Lake Wetla...
09/05/2026

Since the whooping crane reintroduction program began, juvenile cranes have been released mainly at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish, but also at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Vermilion and Cameron parishes, for several years before hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020.

Of course, birds being birds, once released, the cranes have explored and spent time in 37 of the state's 64 parishes. Many of the exploratory movements are by young birds and are short in duration, with most of the population settling in and establishing territories in the south central and southwest parishes.

National Hunting and Fishing Day is this month and you can join LDWF at one of the four free events across the state! Ge...
09/03/2026

National Hunting and Fishing Day is this month and you can join LDWF at one of the four free events across the state!

Get the details for each location here: https://tinyurl.com/4mufnk3r

Closing out the week with a few shots from the air! These are just a few of of the whooping cranes spotted during an aer...
08/28/2026

Closing out the week with a few shots from the air! These are just a few of of the whooping cranes spotted during an aerial survey this past Wednesday.

Several weeks ago while out tracking and checking on birds we came across an exciting find, males, L6-13 and L3-14. Comi...
08/24/2026

Several weeks ago while out tracking and checking on birds we came across an exciting find, males, L6-13 and L3-14. Coming across these two was exciting because it had been 8 and 6 months since we'd last seen each of them! Although they seem to stick mainly in Vermilion Parish, they both carry old transmitters that are no longer functional. Additionally, even though each of them has been paired in the past they haven't remained in a long-term pair and don't have a definite territory where we can regularly look for and find them.

So, even though we know where most of the cranes are most of the time, we still ALWAYS want to know if and when you come across whooping cranes in Louisiana! Please report your sighting to us using the link below or in our IG bio, your observations really are valuable to us, thank you!

https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/report-a-whooping-crane-sighting-or-violation

Happy Throwback and Trail Camera ThursdayLast spring, our nest camera perfectly captured male, L12-16 stretching his win...
08/20/2026

Happy Throwback and Trail Camera Thursday

Last spring, our nest camera perfectly captured male, L12-16 stretching his wings as he was either sitting down or getting ready to stand up on his nest during one of his turns incubating the pair's two eggs.

Cutting it close, but happy National Aviation Day! ✈️Celebrating the innovation that got us into the skies and now helps...
08/20/2026

Cutting it close, but happy National Aviation Day! ✈️

Celebrating the innovation that got us into the skies and now helps us monitor wildlife, including whooping cranes!

08/10/2026

Here's another throwback, this time to March 2025, when LF1-00 took the opposite approach of L14-17 (see our previous post of her release) and practically burst out of his box when he was released!

08/06/2026

It's Throwback Thursday!

Today we're going back almost 3.5 years, resharing the video of female, L14-17's release back in LA.

For those that don't remember or are unfamiliar with her history, L14-17 and her first mate actually set up a territory and nested in Jefferson County, TX for 2 years. Unfortunately, her mate died in late June 2022 and she remained on their territory, never attempting to return to LA. While it was a good location and she was loved and enjoyed by the local landowner there were no other cranes in the area with whom she could associate or pair. So, in mid-March 2023, we traveled to TX, caught her, drove back to LA and released her at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area.

Luckily, it didn't take long before she found other cranes nearby and quickly paired with 2-year-old male, L3-21. Much to our surprise, the pair nested only a few weeks later.

Although that first nest wasn't successful, the pair has remained together in Vermilion Parish and has successfully fledged 4 chicks in the past 3 years!!

Attention Louisiana residents - did you know that you can get a license plate featuring a whooping crane?!It's a great w...
08/04/2026

Attention Louisiana residents - did you know that you can get a license plate featuring a whooping crane?!

It's a great way to show your support AND help raise awareness for our favorite LA birds! Additionally, the funds from the sale of these specialty plates help support endangered species right here in LA!

The link below and in our bio takes you to the OMV site where you can get started ordering your new whooping crane plate! 🥰

https://expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov/SpecialPlatesPublic/SpecialPlates1.aspx

Reminder, starting tomorrow intentionally releasing 12 or more balloons outdoors in Louisiana will be illegal! Balloons ...
07/31/2026

Reminder, starting tomorrow intentionally releasing 12 or more balloons outdoors in Louisiana will be illegal!

Balloons don't disappear, what goes up must come down, which means balloons end up in our marshes, waterways and pastures where they can become a hazard for wildlife as well as domestic animals, not to mention being unsightly litter.

Luckily, we've never documented a direct impact to a whooping crane from a balloon (though we have with other forms of litter) but we've certainly come across plenty of balloons in the places where whooping cranes live.

Love the boot, don't pollute!

Learn more about this new law: https://bit.ly/4o1HUxn

Address

White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area 16105 Highway 91, PO Box 480
Gueydan, LA
70542

Telephone

+13375369400

Website

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