WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082109

Our first wildlife article today, from the BBC, delves into the fascinating life of some deep sea worms off the West Coast of the United States; but the seductive calls from male frogs in Australia may be missed by females due to excessive traffic noise. Aerial dispersal of 1080 poison, intended to kill possums in New Zealand, is slated for sometime between now and December. A nature columnist from Central California comments on squirrels, raccoons on outhouses, lost tortoises, and the safety of barn owls from cats; followed by a detailed look at eagle breeding in Minnesota. Residents of a Minnesota community have had an upsurge in coyote attacks on pets; but an Op-Ed from Oregon advocates cooperation between various groups in support of the wolf population. Yet another bear-hunting hound has been killed by wolves in Wisconsin; while over a dozen conservation groups are trying to derail plans to hunt gray wolves in Idaho and Montana. A Florida man turned himself in to authorities after he beheaded a 12 point buck at a game farm; and a Utah man has also been arrested for poaching. A Connecticut community plans to have a deer hunt to reduce deer tick problems and to provide venison to food shelters. Michigan will close a number of their deer-check stations in order to save over $500,000, but some will remain open to monitor areas affected by chronic wasting disease; but Florida wildlife officials contend that chronic wasting disease is at very low levels in that state. There is a debate raging in an Illinois community over whether footprints are from a cougar or dog; followed by the story of a Washington man who shot a cougar to save one of his pigs. Officials in a Southern California community advised people to keep an eye on their pets after the report of a cougar in the area; but environmentalists are supportive of Arizona wildlife officials preventing cougars from decimating the desert bighorn sheep population in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. A gigantic grizzly bear who stood over seven-and-a-half feet tall has reportedly been shot in Montana; while, in a tale of two Colorado bears, one was killed, after having broken into several homes; the other was relocated out of another community, as Colorado's summer of bears continues! There has been a rash of rabid raccoon encounters in one Sarasota, Florida, community in less than a year; and a skunk that had attacked a Connecticut homeowner and his pet turned out to be rabid. A writer from Minnesota recounts the harrowing tale of being skunked in her bedroom (airplane oxygen masks may be installed over her bed for future attacks!) And finally, Dudley-Do-Right to the rescue, as Canadian Mounties freed a small skunk from its predicament!

Glowing 'bomber worms' discovered

Traffic noise could be ruining sex lives of frogs

Timeframe set for poison drop

Gary Bogue: Squirrels: Where do they go to die?

VNP reports increase in fledged eagles

Coyote a suspect in attacks on Tower-Soudan area pets

Cooperation could could help protect wolves, livestock

Fifth Bear hunting hound killed by wolves in Clark County, Wisconsin

Groups try to block Idaho, Montana wolf hunts

Polk County man arrested for beheading prized deer

Suspected deer poacher arrested, awaits trial

Deer Hunt to Return

Chronic wasting disease precautions spare Kent County from DNR closing of deer-check stations

No evidence of chronic wasting disease found in Florida white-tailed deer

Henry footprints: Cougar or dog?

'My hands were shaking': Cougar-shooter tells his story

Mountain lion spotted in Calleguas Creek bed

Arizona is right to keep cougar from sheep area

Shooting death of large grizzly bear in Montana investigated by federal, state authorities

Bear slain; more come knocking

Wildlife officers relocate bear from Glenwood Springs area

Another family pet kills rabid raccoon

Rabid skunk found in New London

Column - Gassed by Mother Nature

RCMP rescue skunk