Some of the Creatures We Met in 2019

While exploring must-see destinations in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana in 2019, we witnessed spectacular scenery and met quite a few captivating creatures at the same time. This edition of our travel journal is dedicated to those that made the biggest impression and stood still long enough for us to shoot a photo. We hope you enjoy seeing them.

OUR TOP 10

This killdeer tried to distract Linda and lead her away from the bird’s nest that contained three speckled eggs. The bird created a loud commotion and pretended to be wounded.

This killdeer tried to distract Linda and lead her away from the bird’s nest that contained three speckled eggs. The bird created a loud commotion and pretended to be wounded.

We encountered Armadillos in several places, including the Arkansas Post Memorial where we spotted this one. They tend to ignore everything around them and chomp noisily on the grass roots or whatever they’re eating.

We encountered Armadillos in several places, including the Arkansas Post Memorial where we spotted this one. They tend to ignore everything around them and chomp noisily on the grass roots or whatever they’re eating.

We love to watch blue herons fly or rest on a perch over water like this one at Lake Lincoln State Park, Mississippi.

We love to watch blue herons fly or rest on a perch over water like this one at Lake Lincoln State Park, Mississippi.

We’ve seen many egrets in our travels with this beauty at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson, Mississippi.

We’ve seen many egrets in our travels with this beauty at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson, Mississippi.

Arkansas also has beautiful birds. In fact, here’s the state bird—a mockingbird. This one was greeting visitors at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock and politely posed for a photo.

Arkansas also has beautiful birds. In fact, here’s the state bird—a mockingbird. This one was greeting visitors at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock and politely posed for a photo.

This long-legged wolf prowled its enclosure at the New Orleans Zoo, appearing to be eager to escape. Fortunately, it didn’t happen.

This long-legged wolf prowled its enclosure at the New Orleans Zoo, appearing to be eager to escape. Fortunately, it didn’t happen.

While walking next to a pond at Bayou Segnette State Park near New Orleans, we noticed that we were being watched. A gator floated in the pond near us, keeping an eye on us at all times. Spooky!

While walking next to a pond at Bayou Segnette State Park near New Orleans, we noticed that we were being watched. A gator floated in the pond near us, keeping an eye on us at all times. Spooky!

Speaking of reptiles, we met this curious lizard at Black Bayou Lake in Louisiana. Surprisingly, he didn’t offer us any advice about how we could save money on auto insurance by switching to GEICO.

Speaking of reptiles, we met this curious lizard at Black Bayou Lake in Louisiana. Surprisingly, he didn’t offer us any advice about how we could save money on auto insurance by switching to GEICO.

These turkeys put on a great show at the Houmas House near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by parading around the estate as if they were dressed in their finest tuxedos.

These turkeys put on a great show at the Houmas House near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by parading around the estate as if they were dressed in their finest tuxedos.

With dirty hands to prove that he had been digging new tunnels, this prairie dog took a break from his work to say “hey” to us as we visited the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana.

With dirty hands to prove that he had been digging new tunnels, this prairie dog took a break from his work to say “hey” to us as we visited the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana.

OTHERS WE LIKED

These camels work at the lowest place on the earth—the Dead Sea in Israel.

These camels work at the lowest place on the earth—the Dead Sea in Israel.

This cat resides in Tiberias, Israel, where she works the tourists for snacks or dines on fresh scraps dropped by fisherman coming off the Sea of Galilee.

This cat resides in Tiberias, Israel, where she works the tourists for snacks or dines on fresh scraps dropped by fisherman coming off the Sea of Galilee.

We watched this stork catch fish near the shore of the Sea of Galilee while waiting for our cruise.

We watched this stork catch fish near the shore of the Sea of Galilee while waiting for our cruise.

This herd of ibex roamed an oasis near Jericho, Israel. They survive in an area as desolate as anything we’ve ever seen.

This herd of ibex roamed an oasis near Jericho, Israel. They survive in an area as desolate as anything we’ve ever seen.

We watched an epic battle of lizard versus spider at Woolly Hollow State Park in Arkansas and the lizard won it with a quick crunch.

We watched an epic battle of lizard versus spider at Woolly Hollow State Park in Arkansas and the lizard won it with a quick crunch.

We wondered if the Woolly Hollow lizard would be able to take down this giant grasshopper so easily. Probably not.

We wondered if the Woolly Hollow lizard would be able to take down this giant grasshopper so easily. Probably not.

At Chicot State Park in Louisiana, we saw these turtles near a gator cruising the bayou and worried that they might become lunch.

At Chicot State Park in Louisiana, we saw these turtles near a gator cruising the bayou and worried that they might become lunch.

However, at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, we learned that alligators and turtles are often friends in the wild as they are at the museum.

However, at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, we learned that alligators and turtles are often friends in the wild as they are at the museum.

Squirrels always pose for photos. Here’s one showing off in Mississippi as he hangs upside down while eating a nut and holding onto the tree with his back feet. No problem.

Squirrels always pose for photos. Here’s one showing off in Mississippi as he hangs upside down while eating a nut and holding onto the tree with his back feet. No problem.

This Arkansas squirrel wanted us to shoot his profile and make sure we included his fluffy tail.

This Arkansas squirrel wanted us to shoot his profile and make sure we included his fluffy tail.

This giraffe at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana enjoyed strolling around a large, grassy enclosure.

This giraffe at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana enjoyed strolling around a large, grassy enclosure.

Something about us seemed to bother this ostrich at the Baton Rouge Zoo.

Something about us seemed to bother this ostrich at the Baton Rouge Zoo.

If you’re wearing a wool coat in August in New Orleans, it’s a good idea to stand in cool water like this guanaco at the Audubon Zoo.

If you’re wearing a wool coat in August in New Orleans, it’s a good idea to stand in cool water like this guanaco at the Audubon Zoo.

These alpacas were trying out for roles in the nativity scene for Christmas at the Zoo, hoping the director wouldn’t notice that they aren’t sheep.

These alpacas were trying out for roles in the nativity scene for Christmas at the Zoo, hoping the director wouldn’t notice that they aren’t sheep.

ARLA’S FAVORITE

Arla insisted that we include this photo because she wanted to show off her friend, Mr. Eagle, and her new hat. We told her that the rest of the animals in this travel journal are real, not stuffed like her “friend.” She replied, “Stuffed? What are …

Arla insisted that we include this photo because she wanted to show off her friend, Mr. Eagle, and her new hat. We told her that the rest of the animals in this travel journal are real, not stuffed like her “friend.” She replied, “Stuffed? What are you talking about? He’s as real as I am.”

Doug Draper4 Comments