WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071809

The hazards of leaving bottles and other recyclables within reach of raccoons and other wildlife is underscored by an article from Massachusetts as wildlife news begins; followed by the musings of a resident of Southern California who browbeats Brooklynites about their apparent fear of raccoons (evidently not considering the danger from rabies, bacteria, and lethal worms in their feces). The horrific life of a black bear used to train hunting dogs has taken a turn for the better in Indiana; but a nuisance bear was killed by wildlife officials in Vail, Colorado. A Montana homeowner shot a bear that got into his garbage and chicken coop; and a farmer near Pueblo, Colorado, reported a number of livestock had been killed by a bear. Human-bear encounters are growing in New York's Hudson Valley; even as rabies cases are on the rise in one New Jersey county. A cougar was reported in California's capital this morning, but after a fruitless five hours, authorities called off the search; but Motown is getting some foxy new residents. A new study on coyotes from Arizona shows that housecats are making up nearly half of an urban coyote's diet; but they also favor small dogs, as the next item from Connecticut shows. A motorcyclist who struck a deer in Ohio on Wednesday has died. And finally, as the hunt for invasive pythons in Florida's Everglades gets underway, herpetologists wonder how many they'll actually have to collect, since they lay 100 eggs at a time!

Improper disposal of recyclables can cause big problems for wild animals in Western Mass.

Scared of a Raccoon?

Once dog bait, bear finds sanctuary at Albion park

Vail Valley: Bear caught, killed in Wolcott

Blue Creek man shoots black bear rooting in his garbage, says it "was not a difficult shot"

Bear Attacks

Bear threats to humans grow

Health Department issues rabies alert

Update: Mountain lion hunt in West Sacramento called off

Red foxes moving to downtown Detroit

House cats big diet for coyotes

Coyote kills two dogs in Wolcott

Fostoria motorcyclist who struck deer dies

1st day of Fla. hunt nets nearly 10-foot python