Wildlife officials are expressing great concern in Louisiana and Mississippi about swamp lands and outlying areas pounded by storm surges and flooding they say are confusing local wildlife and sending alligators, snakes, and other dangerous animals into public streets.

There are reports of sightings of hundreds of alligators swimming in flooded streets in Louisiana as well as snakes in northern parts of New Orleans.

Police are searching for a woman who robbed a hardware store of $400 with a parakeet on her shoulder.

Sue Zaun, of the owners of Sellers Trustworthy Hardware, says the woman, who kissed the bird during the robbery, pretended to be interested in buying a cookie jar.

A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was sentenced Tuesday to 3 years probation for failing to deliver nearly 2,200 letters discovered in his home.

Lance Shaviers, 38, who was assigned to the Irving Park station, said he was overburdened and couldn't deliver all the mail assigned to him, Assistant U.S. Atty. Lela Johnson said.