PINEVILLE - The Forest Service swim beaches will soon open. Kisatchie National Forest has swim beaches located on Caney Lakes, Kincaid Lake and Stuart Lake. Something to remember this summer is that wild animals are an integral part of any national forest.

Alligators are included in the wild animals that may be encountered while visiting our Louisiana national forest lands.

Alligators are considered a native wildlife species and the Forest Service ordinarily would not remove alligators from national forest lands.

However, occasionally if a large alligator is reported near a Kisatchie National Forest swim beach, the animal may be removed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Recently, the Forest Service worked with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to remove an alligator from Caney Lakes near Minden, La. The alligator was near the swim beach and had an overall length of over 10 feet.

If you spot an alligator near a Forest Service swimming area please contact the Forest Service. Please do not harass or feed alligators.

The Forest Service considers alligators which make their home in Kisatchie National Forest to be a normal component of the wild animal population.

However, alligators may be removed if they are large and near an area designated for swimming.

To report alligators near Forest Service swimming areas, please call 318-473-7160.

Also, to obtain Kisatchie National Forest recreation information call the above number or visit www.fs.usda.gov/kisatchie