WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 042809

First up in wildlife news today, wildfires are raging across Nepal in the Himalayas, threatening a wildlife park that has 50% of the endangered bird species in that country within it's boundaries; while the reminisces of a Texas animal control officer (including the scary hunt for a cougar) are provided in the next item. Hoax or reality, is the question being asked by wildlife officials told of cougar sightings in Nova Scotia, Canada; but Paradise, California, turned out to be anything but for a pair of goats killed by what was believed to be a mountain lion. After analyzing data from several sources, South Dakota wildlife officials are content with the cougar population in the Black Hills; and a cougar accosted a woman walking her dog in Healdsburg, California. Cougars in Arizona are getting a 90-day reprieve from depredation permits; and after all the negative articles about coyote incursions, here's one about how they help balance the ecosystem in the Ozarks. An Eau Claire, Wisconsin, homeowner had an uninvited ursine guest in his basement when he returned home; but critics of authorities who euthanized a bear in Colorado Springs voice their ire in the next item. You just never know where investigation of illegal deer killing may lead, as law enforcement officers found in Florida; and The Law of Unintended Consequences was in force again when the occupants of a car that struck a deer in Michigan exited the car to examine the damage, only to be struck by another car. A Milwaukee homeowner recounts a raccoon invasion of their house; and, with all the atrocities heaped on the Nazis in Europe, introducing raccoons into Germany appears not to be one of them. If you ever needed a reminder of how dangerous and tenacious a rabid animal can be, this item from Pennsylvania should clear up any uncertainty. And finally, romantic skunks in Nebraska are producing a road kill problem of epic proportions (olfactory-wise)!

Forest fires rage across Nepal

For animal control, it's a busy time of year

Cougar sightings 'highly unlikely'

Cougar takes goats near Paradise park

GF&P: Hills mountain lion population stable

Mountain lion spotted in Healdsburg

Moratorium on killing mountain lions extended

Increased coyote population is good news for hunters, ecosystem

Man Comes Home to Find Black Bear in His House

Lessons learned from the bear attack on Colorado Springs woman

Deer Killing Arrests Ends in Two More Arrests

Five injured after people leave car following car-deer crash in Fremont

Raccoons besiege Bay View roof

Raccoons found not guilty of their Nazi association

Rabid raccoon killed in Delco

Skunk Mating Season Causes Smelly Problem