Latest news with #UrbanNaturalist
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Arrest made in Lafayette garden store burglary
LAFAYETTE, La. () — An arrest has been made in connection with the break-in at , which . Alicia Carrier, 31, of Opelousas, was arrested Friday in connection with the break-in. She is charged with theft and unauthorized entry of a place of business. Carrier also had two outstanding fugitive warrants, according to jail records. Marcus Descant, owner of Urban Naturalist, said security video captured someone smashing through the front door June 2 around 11:40 p.m. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Among the items taken were an iPad, AirPods, cash, clothing and several bags, Descant said. The break-in left behind an estimated $2,000 in property damage. Descant said the suspect caused additional destruction after realizing the front door had multiple locks. Carrier is being held in the Lafayette Parish Jail on a $11,000 bond, according to online jail records. New Trump travel ban takes effect Victim identified in fatal shooting in Scott Saturday morning Arrest made in Lafayette garden store burglary Will Chrysler's next 100 years be electrified? Warner Bros. Discovery set to split into 2 companies Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Lafayette business owner calls for public's help after break-in at Urban Naturalist
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — A Lafayette small business owner is asking for help identifying the person who broke into his store late Monday night and stole several items before disappearing in under seven minutes. Marcus Descant, owner of Urban Naturalist, said security video captured the suspect smashing through the front door around 11:40 p.m. 'At 11:40, an individual smashed my front door and went in and stole some things inside and left the property within seven minutes of smashing open the door,' Descant said. 'So we're really looking for the public's help to identify this individual.' Among the items taken: an iPad, AirPods, cash, clothing, and several bags. AM Grocery reopens after arson attempt, vows to give back to Jeanerette community Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The break-in left behind an estimated $2,000 in property damage. Descant said the suspect caused additional destruction after realizing the front door had multiple locks. 'When they noticed that there were several locks, many different locks without the ability to open them with their hands, they proceeded to smash the entire frame of the door,' Descant said. 'Destroying some other parts of the door and the wall in the process.' Descant described the emotional toll the incident has taken. 'It's very shocking to be violated like this,' Descant said. 'And it's a terrible feeling most of us have felt. And it rekindles all those other times that we've been violated in such a way. Each time this happens, it's like reopening an old wound.' St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office seeks suspect involved in the injury of a Narcotics Detective Descant is asking anyone with information to come forward and hopes people will share his Facebook post containing the suspect's photo. 'We are frantically trying to properly identify the individual,' Descant said. 'So anything you can do to help identify this person is tremendously helpful. And also, I would urge people to get camera systems because your security system protects everyone.' To the person responsible, Descant has a clear message: 'I have had some other cases where individuals have, you know, tried to do things and I have a 100% success rate at catching every one. And I intend to maintain that 100% success rate throughout my career.' Descant said. If anyone with any information regarding this crime they are asked to contact the Lafayette Police Department at 337-291-8600. Senate panel votes to tighten rules on big pharmacy firms California teen stripped of track title after imitating iconic celebration Jessie J reveals 'early' breast cancer diagnosis Hot Afternoon With Low Rain Chances, Rain Chances Increase Next Week… Lafayette business owner calls for public's help after break-in at Urban Naturalist Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Crocs and raccoons in Florida find odd new home
If you wanted to see a variety of wildlife, you'd probably head to the zoo, not the loo. But in Florida in the United States, crocodiles, raccoons, turtles and loads more animals were found making a cosy new home in a local sewer system.A study published in the journal Urban Naturalist in late 2024, found 35 species of animal were using the subterranean stormwater sewer systems (SSS) to get scientists put cameras through the pipes that snapped a pic if an animal walked, slithered or flew past. And they were shocked at what they found. As the name suggests, they're not quite the same as the sewers that flush our poo away, though - they are huge mazes of tunnels used to deal with large amounts of flood water during scientists say while some of the animals were down there by accident if they got caught in a flood, many were using the pipes to avoid busy roads on the Ivory, a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida who led the research, told The New York Times: ''It's like something out of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... The abundance of animals down there was surprising.''One of the animals that used the sewers the most was the American species of alligator called Alligator turtles called Yellow-bellied sliders were using the pipes as highways between ponds they wanted to visit. How did the scientists find this out? In total, 39 cameras were placed in 33 storm water drains in Gainesville, a city in North cameras were kept in place for 60 days, but not all of them survived - the sewers were still in use, so some got swept away with storm water and sometimes clever animals like raccoons would pinch them!Overall between February and May 2023, the team snapped 3800 images of 35 species of animals. Racoons were the most spotted animal, with 1800 on the list were bats, with over 700 pictures taken of them flying through the animals are using the sewers to avoid busy roads they can't cross, but others such as toads and snakes are falling in and being swept away with flood Ivory and his team believe that while more studies need to be done, their research highlights a need for urban planning that has local wildlife's best interests at heart. Did you know? Florida is sometimes nicknamed the sunshine stateHowever it has the most hurricanes of any state in AmericaThere are an estimated 1.5 million alligators in Florida Yellow belly sliders can live up to 25 years old in the wildRaccoons are nocturnal, which means they're active at night and sleep in the day
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers baffled after making unexpected discovery inside state's sewers: 'The abundance ... down there was surprising'
Forget urban legends about sewer alligators — in Florida, they're very real. A new study revealed that these underground tunnels are packed with gators, raccoons, and dozens of other animals using the pipes to move around cities, reported The Independent. Researchers from the University of Florida set up camera traps in Alachua County's stormwater sewer systems. Their study, published in Urban Naturalist, found at least 35 different species, including reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals. Raccoons and bats native to the southeastern U.S. made up a lot of the sightings, but the cameras also caught sight of opossums, armadillos, squirrels, egrets, toads, and even a few stray cats. "The abundance of animals down there was surprising," study co-author Alan Ivory from the University of Florida told the New York Times. Seven types of reptiles also showed up on camera, with American alligators being the most common. Most of the reptiles were found in sewer spots that held water for more than half the study period. The study's researchers explained that sewers act as pathways for urban animals — some use them as shortcuts between ponds, while others rely on them to avoid busy roads. Researchers warned that their numbers might not even tell the full story, since the cameras only captured animals warmer than their surroundings, potentially missing some reptiles and amphibians. Wildlife turning to sewers for safe passage serves as a reminder of how urbanization is disrupting natural habitats. As forests and wetlands make way for highways and strip malls, animals are left with limited options for finding food, water, and safe routes. This forces them into human-made structures that can trap or harm them. In fact, researchers found that several small animals appeared to be swept into sewers after storms carry large amounts of water into the system. Climate change is only making things worse. Rising sea levels, stronger storms, and habitat loss are pushing more wildlife into urban areas. That means encounters between humans and displaced animals — some of which aren't exactly friendly — could get more common and more dangerous. Ultimately, avoiding conflicts with animals comes down to respecting them by setting boundaries so they can do the same. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "If the people living with carnivores can be supported and given what they need to coexist, then human-carnivore coexistence is possible," Jen Miller, international program specialist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, told BBC. "Coexistence is happening successfully all over the world, even in the face of climate change." Researchers suggest simple fixes like exclusion devices and ramps in sewers to help animals get out safely. Bigger picture, we need urban planning that actually considers wildlife, like green corridors and dedicated crossings. Protecting wetlands and natural habitats is also key to keeping animals from turning to storm drains in the first place. Fighting climate change is part of the solution, too. Cutting pollution, preserving green spaces, and supporting policies that protect wildlife can help curb these encounters. Making cities safer for animals doesn't just help them — it also makes urban areas cleaner, healthier, and a little less wild. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
University Of Florida Researchers Said They Found An 'Abundance' Of Alligators In A Very Surprising Place
It sounds like a whopper that your gampy would tell, but this one is totally real: There are alligators living in the sewers in Gainesville. A recent study conducted by the University of Florida found that the sewer systems designed to hold stormwater are home to a lot more than rain runoff. 'It's like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Alan Ivory, a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida, who led the study told the New York Times. 'The abundance of animals down there was surprising.' The American alligator, also known by its scientific name, Alligator mississippiensis, was among seven types of reptiles found in the storm sewage systems. There were plenty of other critters turning the sewers into a home, too. The team used motion-activated trail cameras to monitor the animal activity around stormwater drains over the course of two months. They found that there were 35 different animal species, including armadillos, snakes, frogs, lizards, moles, raccoons, and 12 species of birds, all using the sewers either by choice or seemingly by accident after being swept in by rain. The animals all appear to be using the sewers as they learn to live in "human-modified environments", according to the study, which was published in the journal Urban Naturalist. The alligators and their three dozen other kinds of animal friends use the sewers under the Florida city to travel around the urban environment in peace reportedly. The clever critters have apparently learned that the sewers are safer than busy roads. According to the researchers, the gators were seen using the sewers to get from pond to pond far from humans. Maybe they haven't heard that gator bites don't actually contain any gator bits. Read the original article on Southern Living
