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Louisiana’s wild whooping crane population continues to grow as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and partners work to reestablish a flourishing population to the Bayou State.
Twelve juvenile whooping cranes were received Monday (Nov. 19) at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge near Grand Chenier. It will bring the Louisiana wild population to 75 once the new arrivals are released.
Included in that wild population number are five chicks that were hatched and fledged in southwest Louisiana last spring. The five chicks are the most hatched in a single year since the project began in 2011 and represent a major milestone in the whooping crane reintroduction project.
Of the new arrivals, seven juvenile whooping cranes came from the International Crane Foundation and five cranes hatched and reared at Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center in New Orleans, part of the Audubon Nature Institute.
LDWF and Audubon Nature Institute have been longtime leaders in whooping crane conservation in Louisiana and are continuing to expand their partnership with the goal of developing a self-sustaining population of whooping cranes in Louisiana. With that support, LDWF and Audubon are committed to the long-term growth and stability of the whooping crane population to save the species from extinction, supported by generous donors including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chevron, Conoco Phillips, Cameron LNG, Coypu Foundation and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation
The 12 whooping cranes were placed into a holding pen at Rockefeller for observation as they acclimate to their new home. They’re expected to be released from the release pen after several weeks.
“With the addition of the 12 cranes along with the five wild hatched chicks, our whooping crane project enjoyed a banner year in 2018,’’ LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet said.
“So many hard-working folks deserve credit for the success as we work to bring back this majestic species that once was abundant in Louisiana,” Montoucet said. “Chevron and our other corporate partners, Audubon and our LDWF biologists, who constantly watch over these birds, are key cogs in this process.”
Montoucet said he appreciates the cooperation of private landowners in southwest Louisiana who have seen cranes take up residence on their land. “We thank them all and look forward to the continued partnership,” he said.
Since 2011, Chevron has invested in LDWF’s whooping crane reintroduction project. In addition to Chevron’s financial contributions their employees have also given volunteer hours.
The Louisiana flock began in 2011 when 10 whooping cranes from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Facility in Maryland were released at White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area to develop the non-migratory flock. This marked a significant conservation milestone with the first wild whooping cranes in Louisiana since 1950.
Anyone encountering a whooping crane is advised to observe the bird from a distance and to report the sighting to LDWF ( http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/webform/whooping-crane-reporting-form ). Whooping cranes are large-bodied, white birds with a red head and black facial markings. Birds measure a height of five feet and a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet that makes them very distinctive. In flight, whooping cranes display black wing tips, a fully extended neck, and legs which extend well beyond the tail.
Anyone witnessing suspicious activity involving whooping cranes is advised to call the LDWF’s Enforcement Division at 1-800-442-2511 or use the tip411 program, which may offer a cash reward for information leading to arrests or convictions. To use the tip411 program, citizens can text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the “LADWF Tips” iPhone app from the Apple iTunes store free of charge. Citizen Observer, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before LDWF receives the text so that LDWF cannot identify the sender.
For video, photos and an interview with LDWF biologist Sara Zimorski, go to https://ldwf.cantoflight.com/v/2018WhoopingCraneRelease/landing
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church for Delanie Blair Foreman Chapman, 26, who passed away on November 26, 2018 after a lengthy battle with Lupus and Pulmonary Hypertension.
Fr. Paul Bienvenu, Pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services with Deacon Byron Soley.
Burial will take place in St. Alphonsus Cemetery.
Delanie, a resident of Maurice, was the daughter of David Foreman and Debbie Credeur Foreman. Delanie enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was duck hunting with her husband, deer hunting with her father, or mud riding, as long as she was outside she was happy. She also was an avid Disney enthusiast, and often planned vacations to Disneyworld Resorts. She would always say that her vacations to Disney was her escape from her sickness. Delanie loved animals especially her dogs, Bandit, Chevy and Tiger. Delanie's infectious smile always lit up the room where ever she went. She never met a stranger and was truly loved by all.
She is survived by her husband, Seth Chapman; parents, David and Debbie Foreman; sister, Danielle Morgan and husband Nick; in-laws, Daniel and Nikki Chapman; mother-in-law, Jessica Meaux; brother-in-law, Bruce Broussard; 4 nieces and nephews, Emily, Alley, Kenneth and Kendrick Morgan; paternal grandmother, Lucille Foreman; godchild, Jackson Faucheux; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Paul Lyn Foreman; maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Viola Credeur.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 11:00AM to 9:00PM. A Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening in the funeral home. Visiting hours will continue Thursday from 8:00AM until the time of service.
Pallbearers will be David Foreman, Nick Morgan, Bruce Broussard, Daniel Chapman, Brock Dronet, Blake Morgan and Bryan Foreman.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Delanie's name can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, www.phassociation.org or the Lupus Foundation of America, www.lupus.org.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Chapman family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

September 2, 1934 ~ November 25, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Laura Mae Bourque Menard, 84, who died Sunday, November 25, 2018.
She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Fr. François Sainte-Marie officiating the services.
Laura is survived by her three sons, Raymond Menard, Raywood Menard and Loicy Menard, Jr.; five daughters, Bonnie Champagne, Mary Theresa Menard, Paula Veazey, Jeanette Peterson and Mary Ann Lange; two brothers, Jeffery Bourque and Purvis Bourque; two sisters, Linda Bourque and Velma Bourque; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Loicy Menard, Sr.; and parents, Louis Bourque and the former Anna Mae Bourque.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 10:00 AM until time of services.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

A Mass of Christian Burial honoring the life of Alfred C. Villien, Sr., 88, was held on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 1:00PM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maurice. Mr. Villien passed away peacefully at Pelican Pointe Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility in Maurice on Saturday, November 24, 2018.
Reverend Paul Bienvenu, Pastor of St. Alphonsus, was celebrant at the Mass and conducted the funeral services. Burial took place in St. Alphonsus Cemetery.
A lifelong resident of Maurice, LA, and a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Alfred (better known as Al), was born to Joseph A. Villien, Sr. and Maude Gaidry Villien on July 22, 1930. He was the grandson of Maurice Villien, the founder of the Village of Maurice.
He is survived by his four loving children, Carl Villien, married to Cathy Villien, Carleen V. Sandoz, married to Sandy Sandoz, Gary Villien, married to Vanessa D. Villien and Alida C. Villien. He will always be loved and remembered by his seven grandchildren, Carla (Jared) Bellard, Denise (Jared) Trahan, Claire (Boyd) Hoyt, Ted (Katie) Villien, Hilary (Joey) Wynn, Chris (Diana) Sandoz and now in his loving arms, Angela C. Villien; as well as his fourteen great-grandchildren, Kennedy, Patrick, Alex, Annie, Noah, Reese, Avery, Cooper, Blake, Jackson, Thomas, Baylor, Sawyer and Beau.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 58 years, Audrey Duhon Villien, his nine siblings and his granddaughter, Angela Christine Villien.
Visiting hours were observed at Delhomme Funeral Home in Maurice from 9 AM until the time of service, with a Rosary prayed at 11 AM.
Pallbearers were Ted Villien, Jared Bellard, Jared Trahan, Boyd Hoyt, Joey Wynn and Todd Cole.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the administration and staff of Pelican Pointe for the care given to their dad while in residence and Grace Hospice for the care given to him in recent months.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Villien family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA were in charge of funeral arrangements.