Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Louisiana
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Louisiana History

The Louisiana Unit studies wetlands and wetland-dependent wildlife to enhance their conservation and management. Shown from left to right: blue crab, dead trees from salt water intrusion, students in airboat in the marsh, snow geese arising at dawn from a wetland at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and a student examining a massive baldcypress tree at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge.

In 1962, a Cooperative Wildlife Unit was established at LSU which was followed by the establishment of a Cooperative Fishery Unit in 1963. In 1985, both Units were combined into a single Fish and Wildlife Unit. In the mid-1990s, the Units were moved from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Louisiana Unit is a cooperative among the: U.S. Geological Survey, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Name Position Start Year End Year
Afton, Alan Assistant Unit Leader 1988 2020
Bryan, C. Assistant Unit Leader 1998 2003
Fowler, Drew Assistant Unit Leader 2022 Current
King, Sammy Unit Leader 2003 Current
La Peyre, Megan Assistant Unit Leader 2000 Current