Alligator Park: Natchitoches, LA

When we left The Swamp, we passed by a schoolhouse with a variety of chicken and quail exhibits. The hens and roosters were molting and were either funny looking or unattractive, depending on your point of view. There was also a pair of prairie dogs. I love prairie dogs. There are only two prairie dog towns left in the United States that I know of - one in Lubbock, Texas, and one in South Dakota near Mount Rushmore. Prairie dogs are so human in the way that they show affection and care for each other. These poor little prairie dogs looked miserable in the hot Louisiana humidity instead of drier prairie air and in sawdust rather than prairie soil. I prayed for them. The schoolhouse area also had old-fashioned water pumps that the children could work and demonstrate a simple water wheel. And I could not resist ringing the school bell.

Next you find the emus. Emus are native to Australia but have been introduced to Louisiana to be grown as a source of protein besides beef or chicken. Emu farming has not taken off as an industry and I'm sure the Alligator Park owners were able to pick these two birds up cheap. The emus seemed cheerful and sweet despite what the heat was doing to their feathers.

Beside the emu area is an aviary with ducks, doves, and cockatiels. I would have liked a sign explaining what kinds of ducks are in the aviary - there were a variety of different colorings and markings. I'm not sure why there are cockatiels in the exhibit. But they are pretty, so I guess there doesn't have to be a reason.

If you are need of air conditioning, the next part of the park is inside and air-conditioned. The first inside exhibit has raccoons. They are the cutest beggars. All throughout the park are dispensers for food for the animals except the gators. The dispensers operate like gum machines that you put a quarter in, turn a knob and get a handful of goodies. By this time my groups was out of quarters, but the raccoons could not accept that and insisted with their eyes that we feed them.

Other furry creatures in this building are nutria. These rats were introduced from South America to provide another animal for fur-trappers. You look at the ugly critters and wonder, "What were they thinking? That's some ugly fur!" Nutria

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