WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 070709

First up in wildlife news today, a North Carolina wildlife expert dispels some of the myths about critters; followed by Colorado wildlife officials explaining the reasons behind not feeding wildlife. A South Florida wildlife center released five hawks back into the wild, but now finds its future endangered; and it's amazing what you can learn about birds from their feathers, as one researcher in Indiana discloses. A wildlife writer from Central California dispenses wisdom on noisy hawks, gagging coyotes, and other wildlife peculiarities; but a man in Washington state who was shooting at a coyote was arrested after drugs were found in his possession. After several painful encounters between coyotes and residents of a New York town caused some coyotes to be hunted down, they appear to be resurgent yet again; and a Florida firefighter has a new focus in life - coyotes. A journalist from Wisconsin discusses the current debate over removing federal protection from gray wolves in that state. A woman trying to protect her pets from a young mountain lion ended up killing the cougar, but not in time for a dog and a kitty; and a radio-collared cougar that had haunted Prescott, Arizona, had a fatal run-in with an automobile. We've all heard of hawks, eagles, and the occasional raccoon being electrocuted by power lines, but a bear cub? Wildlife officials were defending their decision to kill a black bear at a campground in Utah earlier this week; while an Ohio homeowner reported a black bear clawing the side of the house yesterday. A black bear that found a perch in a tree caused quite a stir in a Connecticut town Monday; and Jacksonville, Florida, residents reported a black bear in the neighborhood yesterday. An Ontario, Canada, Op-Ed piece discusses the problems of a bear hunt in their city; but a family living in British Columbia was terrorized by a young black bear that was later shot by police when it attacked officers. Residents of Western New York are having a meeting about bears tonight; but a grizzly bear who killed several pigs in Cody, Wyoming, was collared and released back into the wild. A young raccoon decided to have some fun (and snacks) with children in an Indiana park. An environmental designer from Maryland provides sage advice on how to deflect herbivores from your foliage; but a California motorist had the shock of his life when a deer jumped right through the windshield of his truck! An Oklahoma teen trying to avoid hitting a deer ended up putting three people in the hospital, underscoring the importance of seat belts; while an elderly Ohio woman beat a fawn to death with a shovel. Researchers present their case that whales may have originally been related to - deer?!? Bound to be a hit on YouTube, surveillance video shows a deer rampaging through a New York hardware store!

Saving animals and separating fact from fiction

DON'T feed the animals

Folke Peterson Center releases hawks

Researcher uses feathers to learn about big birds

Gary Bogue: What's making those strange noises in my backyard?

Coyote shooting ends in arrest

Coyotes again on the prowl in North Tonawanda

Coyote Concerns

Durkin: Rhetoric on protecting wolves flawed

Woman shoots cougar who killed pets

Prescott's lion finally loses to urban perils

Bear Cub Blamed For Forest Fire

DWR calls bear killing justified

Black Bear Still Raising Ruckus

Bear heads for hills after exploring Meriden neighborhood, park

Black Bear Spotted on the Westside

Bear hunt won't solve immediate problem

Gibsons mom, baby and toddler hide in bedroom as bear ransacks home

Lancaster bear meeting today

Young bear kills four pigs on ranch

Raccoon takes a ride down slide, then sneaks away

Tips to keep deer and other wildlife from munching your plants

Deer Jumps Into Truck's Windshield

NEW: Deer force car off roadway; one hospitalized

Oh Deer! Woman Caught Beating Fawn

Aquatic deer and ancient whales

Deer Races Through Hardware Store