The pinelands of St. Tammany Parish are a paradise for carnivorous pitcher plants. These amazing plants, native to parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, are naturally long-lived yet endangered due to habitat disruption and development. And fun fact, they are carnivorous for good reason… they grow best in nutrient-poor soil, so they have to get their nutrition from other sources, like insects! Other insect-hunting creatures, like small mammals and frogs, do well living near pitcher plants.

Conserving and expanding habitats where diverse plantlife can thrive helps to ensure the health of the entire ecosystem.