WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092309

In our first wildlife story today, a missing distance runner who was traveling a remote trail in Southern California's Cleveland National Forest could have been attacked by a cougar, according to authorities; while Washington state wildlife officials have received reports of a cougar in Redmond which could be the same one that was prowling around the Microsoft campus last week. Cougars have been spotted in the vicinity of a Northern California community; a homeowner in Park City, Utah, found a cougar in his backyard over the weekend; and a cougar was spotted in a Colorado Springs, Colorado, apartment complex. Wildlife authorities in Missouri are trying to track down a poacher who shot a black bear, then removed some body parts; while a black bear cub led Tennessee police on a merry chase yesterday. A female grizzly bear was caught near a Montana ski resort and released into an area the state is trying to repopulate; and a black bear, estimated to be 400 pounds, was rummaging around a Florida neighborhood. An update on German polar bear Knut and his new companion Giovanna is up next; but a Russian environmental group posted a message on their website asking Native Alaskans to stop hunting polar bears. Another rabid raccoon has been found in a North Carolina community, the 150th so far this year in that state; and although an increase in the potency of rabies vaccines is allowing pets to go longer between vaccinations, health officials in Arkansas are still cautioning residents about rabid wildlife. A bald eagle in Iowa that was feeding on roadkill was struck and killed by a pickup truck; and a motorcyclist struck a deer in New York State, ending up in the hospital. A motorcyclist struck a coyote in central California, ending up in the hospital with unknown injuries; and the phenomenon of the coywolf is revisited in an item from the Discovery Channel. An article from San Francisco, California, talks about living with coyotes in the vicinity; while residents in an Indiana town are lobbying to have wildlife officials remove coyotes spotted in the area. The next article provides a look at the increasing coyote population along Oregon's coast. And finally, an alleged Mafia chieftain is being charged with assault with a deadly... crocodile?

Hunt on for missing California runner

Cougar was sighted heading west in Redmond

Mountain lion sightings in foothills

Mountain lion spotted in backyard

Mountain Lion At Apartment Complex

Information sought about shooting of black bear in county

Bear cub leads officers on wild chase

Grizzly bear released near Spar Lake

Black bear staking a claim in Grayton neighborhood

Polar bear Knut's friend Giovanna meets the press

Russians to AK Natives: 'Stop polar bear hunts'

Rabid raccoon caught in Parkton

Health Dept. addresses new regulations on rabies vaccinations

Eagle dies after getting struck by truck

Olean motorcyclist hits deer on I-86

Motorcycle strikes coyote

Coyote + Wolf = Big, Carnivorous Coywolf

How to protect your pets from coyotes

Coyotes invading Mishawaka subdivision

Coyotes on the increase along the coast

Italian police seize mafia boss' pet crocodile