BATON ROUGE – It appears the state is in need of a new head of its wildlife agency.

Just after 5 o'clock, Congressman Garret Graves office released a statement thanking Charlie Melancon for serving as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. It was an odd email from a federal authority since Melancon is appointed and by and serves under the state's governor – who as of the congressman's email – had not released information about Melancon leaving his post.

Shortly after, though, the governor's office released a statement about the situation to WBRZ.  A spokesperson for Governor John Bel Edwards said the governor and Melancon agreed the agency needed to go in a different direction.

"Secretary Melancon has been a tremendous public servant and great friend," the governor said in a statement.  The statement continued, "This will be a time of transition for the department, but there are still positive reforms we can make to LDWF..."

Graves said in his statement, “We appreciate Charlie’s years of public service and wish him well in future endeavors.  We also look forward to working with the new secretary to ensure Louisiana remains the Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Melancon, a former U.S. Congressman from Louisiana, was appointed to the position in January.  He is from Assumption Parish.  

************

Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz