Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NATCHEZ — While West Feliciana officials and residents are concerned about mysterious, coordinated drone sightings there, a Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office representative, just to the north, said Monday morning that no drone sightings have been reported.

Who is behind the drones that sheriff’s deputies and others have spotted in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana?

Many would like to know, including Louisiana’s governor, Jeff Landry, who said recently, “The federal government has stonewalled us.”

News outlets have reported the sightings began on Christmas Eve.

The drones seem most interested in the critical infrastructure area owned by Entergy in West Feliciana Parish: River Bend Nuclear Generating Station, located on 3,300 acres near St. Francisville, Louisiana.

According to news reports, eyewitnesses have reported seeing multiple objects flying simultaneously, which may mean the flights are being coordinated.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe these sightings pose a threat to public safety; however, it’s very concerning and we’re treating this as a criminal violation since they’ve been spotted over areas where drone flight is prohibited,” West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman told a Baton Rouge reporter.

Spillman said the sightings continued through the first two weeks of the new year.

Witnesses and law enforcement have reported seeing the drones flying as low as 200 feet and as high as 500 feet. According to news reports, they have also been spotted hovering over certain areas for extended periods and disappearing into the night.

“If these reports are accurate, these are not Christmas toys being operated by a hobbyist,” Spillman told a reporter.

He said his department plans to use technology to help locate and trace the activity and is also seeking resources to help identify the devices and their operators.