Animals in Louisiana

Louisiana is a coastal state in the southern regions of the United States. Vast expanses of marshes and swamplands characterize the state. The expansive Mississippi River delta is located here, which means around half of its lands are formed by the sediments of the Mississippi River. Louisiana has mild winters and hot, humid summers, which along with its unique geology, has fostered the development of unique flora and fauna.

These swamps and bayous are home to hundreds of wild native animals, including alligators, water and wading birds, frogs, salamanders, aquatic mammals, and birds of prey. The Kisatchie National Forest, Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, and Toledo Bend Reservoir are some of the best places to take a closer look at the state’s wildlife.

Animals in Louisiana (LA)

List of Different Types of Animals Found in Louisiana

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Louisiana is the only place where the rare wild leucistic alligators can be found.

  • American Alligator
  • Alligator Snapping Turtle
  • Common Snapping Turtle
  • Razor-backed Musk Turtle
  • Chicken Turtle
  • Gopher Tortoise
  • Louisiana Pine Snake
  • Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
  • Eastern Copperhead
  • Cottonmouth
  • Western Pigmy Rattlesnake
  • Canebrake Rattlesnake
  • Eastern Coral Snake
  • Eastern Yellowbelly Racer
  • Northern Scarlet Snake
  • Rainbow Snake
  • Buttermilk Racer
  • Tan Racer
  • Broad-headed Skink
  • Coal Skink
  • Green Anole
  • Slender Glass Lizard

Amphibians

  • Eastern Tiger Salamander
  • Southern Red-backed Salamander
  • Northern-dusky Salamander
  • Gulf Coast Waterdog
  • Dwarf Salamander
  • Three-toed Amphiuma
  • American Green Tree Frog 
  • Pig Frog
  • Striped Chorus Frog
  • Bronze Frog
  • American Bullfrog
  • Southern Leopard Frog
  • Hurter’s Spadefoot Toad
  • Southern Toad

Fishes

Hundreds of fish are found in the state, including marine species and sharks that visit the state’s coastal waters. The following list includes both native and non-native fishes that can be seen in Louisiana:

  • White Perch
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Striped Bass
  • Bluegill
  • Channel Catfish
  • Blue Catfish
  • White Crappie
  • Red Drum
  • Black Drum
  • Speckled Trout
  • Flounder
  • Gulf Menhaden
  • Sheepshead
  • Alligator Gar
  • Bowfin
  • Cobia
  • Tarpon
  • Red Snapper
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Blacktip Shark
  • Lemon Shark
  • Tiger Shark
  • Bull Shark

Insects and Invertebrates

  • Honeybee
  • Cottonwood Borers
  • Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
  • Pavement Ant
  • Carpenter Ant
  • Odorous House Ant
  • Cow Killer Wasp
  • Wolf Spider
  • Blister Beetle
  • Eastern Hercules Beetle
  • Luna Moth
  • Ticks
  • Mosquitoes
  • Banded Garden Spider
  • Brown Recluse Spider
  • Blue Crab
Louisiana State Animals

State Animals of Louisiana

State MammalLouisiana Black Bear
State BirdBrown Pelican
State ReptileAmerican Alligator
State CrustaceanCrawfish
State AmphibianGreen Tree Frog
State FishWhite Perch
State InsectHoneybee
State DogCatahoula Leopard Dog

FAQ

What are the most dangerous animals in Louisiana?

Large predatory animals like the American alligator and Louisiana brown bears are the deadliest animals in the state. Venomous snakes like the eastern copperhead, cottonmouth, pigmy rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake, and eastern coral snake are no less dangerous. And then there are venomous spiders like the brown recluse.

What are the common invasive animals in Louisiana?

Some common animals considered invasive in this state are monk parakeets, nutria, and red fire ants.

Are there any endangered animals in Louisiana?

The Louisiana black bear, a subspecies of the American black bear, has been taken off the list of endangered species in 2016, as the measures taken to protect and revive their population in the state have had positive results. The species continues to remain a protected species, and hunting them is illegal. The state also has a small population of mountain lions, which has been growing in recent years.

Other animals classified as threatened or endangered in the state are the brown pelican, American bald eagle, and red-cockaded woodpecker.

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