Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in new orleans, LA

5 Critters to Keep an Eye Out For

by Kelly Leahy

July 28, 2009

Here in New Orleans we have a wide array of heat loving creatures in town year round. However summer brings even more to our backyards and sometimes in the home (oh the dreaded Palmetto Bug). Here are five little guys to keep an eye out for this summer while lounging poolside.

1. Baby anoles. Ok, sure we see the adults all the time but this is the first year that I have been outside enough to notice all of the summer babies. The girls and I love finding them in the leaves of our garden. Too cute.
2. Monarch Butterflies. Monarchs are known for their beautiful black and orange wings as well as their unbelievable annual migrations down to Mexico and back again. This time of year you can find them munching on milkweed (for free milkweed seeds, go here).
3. Bumblebees. With everything still in bloom, giant bumblebees are everywhere! Take the opportunity to teach your preschooler about pollen, fertilization and honey. Don't be afraid to pull out Bee Movie for backup.
4. Winged Mammals. Aaah the bat. For the longest time I thought that little sparrows were taking flight in the evening sky around my house until someone pointed out to me that they were bats. Bats are great. They eat mosquitoes and other nuisances. As long as they stay out of my attic, we're cool.
5. Frogs and Toads. You'll probably hear the peepers before you see them but their choruses can still be picked out of the New Orleans nights. I saw one hopping through our overgrown grass the other day. The kids enjoyed chasing him down. Toads are a little more reclusive and can be found underneath stones, tucked away in the shade. This is also where snakes like to hide so I wouldn't go digging too far under the house or in the brick pile.