The Water Cache Project Blog

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 103109

2009-10-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

Wildlife News Of The Day will be on hiatus next week, returning on 11/9. Australian wildlife biologists are trying to assess the damage caused by a leaking oil rig off the northwest coast. ABC news provides an in-depth study on coyotes in light of the mauling death of a Canadian singer; but some politicians in Nova Scotia have a simple solution to the problem: extermination! People in Madison, Wisconsin, are speculating about whether fake coyotes would keep geese from fouling parks and golf courses in town; while a coyote in Massachusetts who made off with a Yorkie got more than it bargained for when the dog's bulldog companion took off after the predator. An article from Florida provides a map of coyote sightings in the city of Gainesville. A log of the travels of a golden eagle equipped with a radio tracking collar is provided by an article from Minnesota; but researchers in Arizona are tracking a worrisome new trend in bat-transmitted rabies. Texas health officials, faced with testing 8-10,000 animals for rabies each year across the state, provide tips on identifying and avoiding rabid wildlife. Throw away your tomato juice - the next time your dog gets skunked, there's a new product that promises to work much better on ridding your pet (and your house) of the odor! Wildlife officials in Washington state are on the lookout for the mother of several bear cubs they've encountered; while wildlife officials at Mammoth Lakes, California, are reporting a decrease in black bear activity as winter approaches. Canada and Greenland are cooperating on limiting the number of polar bears hunted by indigenous peoples; while Churchill, Manitoba, the unofficial polar bear capital of the world, is issuing their annual Halloween warning to trick-or-treaters. Our next two articles show that sometimes wildlife just wants a good dip in the pool: a New Jersey homeowner came home to find that a bear had been paddling away in their pool; and the owner of an apartment complex in North Carolina thought that the report of the deer in their indoor swimming pool was a prank, but came to find out it wasn't! A careless hunter in New Hampshire shot himself with his own rifle as he hoisted it up onto his deer stand; while a Texas deer expert weighs in on the true characteristics of white-tail deer. A sheriff's deputy in Missouri had a painful collision with a deer; but not as bad as one in Oklahoma, where a motorcyclist from Arkansas was killed when he swerved to avoid a deer in the road. Residents of Vermont are being reminded not to bring deer and elk meat into that state from outside due to the danger of spreading chronic wasting disease to the Vermont herds. Echoing yesterday's story from San Bernardino about deer hunters reporting larger deer in the wake of wildfires, a story from San Diego tells much the same tale. Two stories, one from West Virginia, the other from Michigan, underscore the fact that wildlife can have an impact in the most unexpected places - in this case, your chimney! A resident of Pennsylvania was fined for illegal possession of wildlife; but a teenage hunter out to bag his first deer came face-to-face with a cougar instead in Montana. And finally, it's a story of the triumph of good over weevil, as the boll weevil infestation in the US, which has cost an estimated $20 billion to the cotton industry, has been all but eradicated!

Australian oil spill 'putting animals at risk'

Coyotes Attack and Kill: Should You Worry?

Coyote ugly

Doug Moe: Would coyote decoys keep geese away?

Family Bulldog saves Yorkie from coyote attack

Updated map: Coyote sightings

Tracking that Golden Eagle

Biting into bat research

Skunk confirmed rabid in county

Biocides Systems Introduces New Hi Technology Skunk Odor Eliminators for Dog, Cat, Home and Yard

State Wildlife Officers Still Looking for Mama Bear in West Bremerton

Bear activity quiets down for winter

Halloween Warning: That's Not A Polar Bear Costume

Greenland, Canada Commit To Polar Bear Protection

Bear has pool party in Boonton Township, ditches tab

Caught on tape: Deer swims in pool

NH hunter shot while using rope to hoist rifle

Deer expert has hunting down to a science

Deputy's car totaled after hitting deer

Motorcylist dies in LeFlore County after losing control to avoid deer

Deer, Elk Import Warning Issued

Deer hunters head out with the hooting owls

Fireplace safety

Fireplace Safety Tips

Fines imposed on Pocono man for illegal possession of birds

Teen shoots cougar

US cotton almost clear of voracious boll weevil

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 103009

2009-10-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, Sam Gowen of the Orange County Register, sent along a link to an article with photos of a bobcat on the prowl in the backyard of a Southern California residence with the following comments:

Hi, Michael .. Not sure if photos make your roster of wildlife news, but a reader sent us photographs of a bobcat that recently bolted into their yard after a rabbit... Nobody, not even the rabbit, was harmed :-)

Idaho Fish and Game officials have confirmed that a cougar killed two baby alpacas. A group of nine African elephants who had been grossly mistreated by a Safari club in Zimbabwe will be returned to the wilds following rehabilitation. Wildlife officials in Louisiana are cautioning residents not to feed the deer in the area; but one of the beneficial side effects of wildfires in Southern California appears to be larger deer, as the next article shows. Motorists in Texas received a reminder of the hazard of deer in the road as hunting season begins; and an article from Indiana reminds motorists of the danger of deer jumping into the road this time of year. A polar bear that was moved from a Scottish zoo into an animal preserve is doing quite well, contrary to fears of agoraphobia; while the next article discusses what you get if you cross a grizzly with a polar bear. Stetson University, in Florida, had an ursine visitor yesterday who drew quite a crowd. A hedgehog who had gotten drunk on fermented apples in the UK was handed over to a wildlife rehabilitator to "dry out"! Following the fatal coyote attack on a Canadian singer, wildlife officials have managed to kill one of the coyotes, and continue tracking the other; followed by a heartfelt letter from the victim's mother about the incident. The Christian Science Monitor discusses the danger coyotes pose; but despite the rarity of the fatal attack, a story out of another part of Nova Scotia underscores the fact that coyotes are becoming less fearful of people in that area; followed by a summary of coyote sightings in one community in British Columbia. Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue discusses rats, squirrels, and a few of our feathered friends in his column. And finally, a red-tailed hawk came in for a pounding in Illinois where a Kingbird hopped on its back and started pecking away!

Bobcat hunts elusive rabbit in Laguna Niguel yard

Mountain lion kills 2 alpacas

Nine maltreated Zimbabwe elephants to be freed

W&F: Don't feed the deer

Wildfires responsible for bigger deer?

TxDOT warns of roadway dangers created by deer

Fall back — and watch for deer in South Bend area

Agoraphobic bear fears 'allayed'

Polar bear plus grizzly equals?

Bear draws crowd on Stetson campus

Tipsy the hedgehog was as drunk as a skunk

Conservation officers hunt for second coyote in N.S.

Letter from coyote victim's mother

Fatal coyote attack: How dangerous are coyotes?

Cole Harbour man spooked by encounter with aggressive coyote

14 coyote sightings in Sarnia this year

Gary Bogue: Snails: Who's been eating escargot in my backyard?

Kingbird rides on back of hawk to defend young

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102909

2009-10-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, a Manatee that had traveled as far north as Connecticut was rescued and returned to Florida for rehabilitation; and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has had a busy time with wildlife lately, as the next article shows. A deer in the road was blamed for a freeway crash in Ohio; and an ATV driver in Indiana was hospitalized following a collision with a deer. Police in Northern Ireland are investigating the deaths of two deer at the hands of a poacher; while an article from Wisconsin points out another negative aspect of an overabundance of deer: soil erosion from deer trails. Deer hunters in Minnesota are being asked to donate deer hides to help fund programs within that state; and a community elsewhere in that state is closing a local park to allow a deer hunt that will keep the environment balanced. Residents of a community in New York state voiced overwhelming support for a deer hunt within the city limits; but a Florida law enforcement officer was forced to shoot a badly injured deer that had apparently been struck by a car. Massachusetts wildlife officials offered some advice on making coyotes feel "uncomfortable"; while a coyote attack on a pet was reported in Alberta, Canada. Wildlife biologists are still coming to grips with the unprecedented fatal attack by coyotes on a Canadian singer yesterday; but a wildlife biologist on Prince Edward Island has assured residents and visitors alike that another such incident would not occur in their area because coyotes are hunted and, therefore, wary of people. A coyote was spotted attacking a puppy in a Massachusetts community; and homeowners in a New York state community have seen coyotes in a nearby park. A trail camera in Minnesota captured several photos of a feline passing by; but residents of a Minnesota community are on edge following reports of a cougar prowling the area. Residents of a community in British Columbia, Canada, have lodged a trio of cougar sightings within the past month; while a resident of Tacoma, Washington, found a cougar prowling around on his roof! A region of Colorado closed to mountain lion hunting since 2004 will be reopened to hunters in November. A summary of rabies cases in one South Carolina county is provided by the next item; meanwhile, Massachusetts wildlife officials will be deploying raccoon baits impregnated with rabies vaccine in the Cape Cod area. Tacoma, Washington, wildlife officials are warning residents not to feed raccoons, something which is becoming a problem in a local park. Wildlife biologists recount the family tree of a bear shot in Wyoming in the next article; but four fishermen were mauled to death by a bear in India. A wildlife sanctuary in Green Bay, Wisconsin, released a pair of fledgling bald eagles back into the wild yesterday. And finally, our last article explores wildlife on California's Stanford University campus (no, not the frat houses!)

Saved! Wayward Manatee Rescued in NJ

Inside the Conservancy Wildlife Clinic: Good calls, bad calls make for mixed week

Deer Blamed For Freeway Crash

ATV Injury Involves Deer

Dead deer seized in poacher probe

Hixon Hunt

Donate your deer hides to good cause

Cayuga Heights village residents voice support of deer plan

Three Rivers closes for deer hunts

Deer clings to life, takes five rounds to the head

Coyotes too comfy in town?

Coyote attacks Canmore family's pet

Biologists baffled by attack

Coyote attack rare: wildlife biologist

Coyote attacks and kills puppy

More coyotes seen lurking in Ewen Park

Lanesboro man's trail camera might have captured a cougar

DNR can't confirm cougar is in area, but some area residents are worried

Third cougar sighting in three weeks

Cougar spotted in Tacoma's south end

Mountain Lion Hunting Reopened In Research Area

Oconee County flagged with its 6th rabies case this year

Baited cubes target rabies on Cape

Feeding raccoons at Point Defiance Park causes invasion

Grizzly shot in Northwest Wyoming was cub of famed bear

Four killed in bear attack in Madhya Pradesh

Bald Eagles released at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary

Stanford: Where the Wild Things Are

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102809

2009-10-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

An article from Colorado provides some background material on bobcats; followed by one from Minnesota about three horses that were attacked by what is believed to be a cougar that may have clawed another horse recently. A town in Alberta, Canada, had problems with coyotes attacking pets and a bear at a Catholic school; while Massachusetts wildlife officials believe a coyote killed a dog. A Canadian singer from Toronto, Ontario, was killed by a pair of coyotes as she was hiking on a trail in Nova Scotia; but a Minnesota community's leadership has decided against awarding coyote bounties for now. An emaciated coyote that was spotted in downtown Spokane, Washington, was taken into custody by animal control officers; while an article from the San Francisco Chronicle provides a thumbnail sketch of wolves in Montana and Idaho in light of their delisting. A look inside Minnesota's Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior is provided by the next article; followed by a brief look at wolves on that island. Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue provides advice to Central Californian homeowners about dealing with raccoons. A young black bear who had been relocated 78 miles away from an Oregon town returned, only to be shot; and bear biologists in Maryland are keeping a close eye on the statewide bear hunt, which filled nearly half its quota on the first day alone. A father and daughter who were out deer hunting in Georgia got more than they bargained for when a 520-pound black bear showed up! A resident of Washington state is in trouble with the law over shooting a deer within city limits; and a deer that crashed through an Ohio automobile dealership's window had to be euthanized due to injuries. A white deer has been spotted in Chicago's suburbs; while an outdoorsmen from Granite Bay, California, pontificates on the issue of a proposed antlerless hunt. An Op-Ed piece from New Zealand weighs in on the debate over using 1080 poison on the overabundance of possums in that country; while Busch Gardens in Florida has provided a "dropping off" point for exotic pet owners' unwanted charges. And finally, a London-based animal rights group may be a victim of their own success in Bolivia, where a ban on animals in circuses has gone into effect and now homes must be found for all the animals!

Close-up: Bobcat

Cougar suspected by owner in new horse attacks

Coyote attacks dog, bear visits OLS

Dog killed in Hampden coyote attack

Toronto singer dies in Cape Breton coyote attack

No bounties for Yellow Medicine coyotes

Injured coyote causes brief stir in downtown Spokane

Thrown to the wolves

Trouble in nature's laboratory

Search for prey keeps wolves on the go

Gary Bogue: Got raccoon problems? Trapping them won't help

Young black bear shot in return to Ore. town

Md. bear hunt near half quota on 1st day

Dad, daughter bring down 520-pound black bear in Gordon County

Deer hunter cited for firing gun in Kelso

Deer Crashes Through Springfield Dealership

White deer: Chicago's south suburbs, again

Weighing in on the proposed Placer County local deer hunt

Over the Fence: It's 1080 hysteria - again

Busch Gardens offers exotic pet amnesty

Bolivia Frees Its Circus Animals. Now They Need Homes

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102709

2009-10-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

In a follow-up to a story from yesterday's Wildlife NOTD, details emerging about the accidental shooting of a hunter in Oklahoma point to the fact that both the hunter and the shooter had violated deer hunting rules; while wildlife officials in Maine will be checking deer harvested this year for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Minnesota state officials have reported a reduction in the number of deer-auto collisions over previous years, although the number remains in the thousands. Residents of a Michigan community are complaining about increasingly aggressive coyotes; but wildlife officials in Montana have levied a stiff fine on a man who is cited for illegally killing a pair of wolves. North Dakota has passed down sentences on two men accused of dealing in bald eagle parts for religious ceremonies; and although the birth rate among bald eagles in New Hampshire has declined, there has been an increase in adults in the population. Residents of Sydney, Australia, are finding more possums invading their homes, so wildlife officials provide some tips on how to deal with the situation; but residents of Auckland, New Zealand, take a much dimmer view of the marsupials. Wildlife officials in West Virginia did some pretty clever forensic work to nab a hunting party from Ohio that was baiting bears; while a documentary set to air on the BBC will dispel some myths about black bears in North America. A rabid skunk was reported near Windsor, Virginia; cautions to residents of South Carolina about intervening in fights between dogs and rabid raccoons are offered in the next item; while a rabid raccoon was accosting people in a Connecticut town until animal control authorities killed it. And finally, keep those raccoons out of the furnace at all costs!

Hunting Violations Alleged in Fatal Shooting

Officials To Look At EEE In Maine Deer Herd

Car-Deer Collisions on the Decline

Coyote attacks dog accompanied by owner

Man cited for illegally killing 2 wolves in northwestern Montana

Man who bought bald eagle sentenced

Fewer bald eagles hatch in NH but more adults

Possum party pooper

LETTER: Blitzing the pests out West

Ohio Hunting Party Charged with Baiting Bears

The man who walks with bears

Health officials report skunk found near Windsor had rabies

Rabid Raccoon, Dog Fight; Man Injured

Raccoon Killed After Chasing People Down

Man found dead after raccoon causes furnace problem

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102609

2009-10-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

We lead off wildlife news today with the story of a very small form of wildlife that is facing extinction in Central California. With an estimated 10,000 deer in the area, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is prime deer-auto collision territory; but don't expect to keep them away with deer whistles, as a columnist from Central California comments on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of deer whistles fitted on car bumpers. A deer hunter in New York State is in trouble with the law after shooting a deer out of season; but one of the hazards of deer hunting, death by friendly fire, is underscored by a tale from Oklahoma. Some financial details of the arrangement with a firm that will be supporting sharpshooters culling the deer herd in a Kansas Park are provided by the next article; followed by a story about a Delaware knick-knack shop that is cleaning up the mess from a deer that came crashing through the front window. The ongoing battle between the federal government and Alaska over setting aside a polar bear habitat in that state is chronicled in a New York Times article; while a black bear and her cub spent the weekend in a tree in a Florida neighborhood before wandering back into the forest. A bear was beaten to death by angry villagers in eastern India after mauling several people, including a child; and a pet owner in Wisconsin watched in a horror as a black bear grabbed his dog by the scruff of the neck and tossed it aside. A study just published in the journal Ecology Letters finds that, contrary to popular opinion, wolves do live long enough to lose their ability to bring down prey; followed by some words of wisdom from a wildlife preservationist who has lived with wolves and shares some of his insights. Residents of a county in Alberta, Canada, are being warned about the danger to pets from coyotes in the area; and with reports of coyotes in all 67 counties of Florida, fish and game officials are advising pet owners to keep an eye on their charges. Reports of rabies in Colorado livestock has agricultural officials worried. Plans for poisoning possums on a large scale in New Zealand are proceeding; but not everyone is convinced this is the right path, as the next article shows. A behind-the-scenes look at the zoo in Fresno, California, which is taking endangered tadpoles out of the Angeles National Forest for safekeeping following the devastation of their habitat by Southern California's Station Fire is provided by the next article. And finally, a note to wildlife smugglers: keep track of your tarantulas!

Wildlife officials recommend endangered status for Bay checkerspot butterfly

Area drivers facing deer dangers

Roadshow: Do deer whistles work?

Hunter charged with shooting deer out of season

Deer hunter shot, killed in Gowen Mountain area in SE Okla.; no arrests made

Company gets $185 an hour to help with Shawnee Mission Park deer kill

Deer creates havoc inside Rehoboth store

Polar Bears vs. Development in Alaska

Mama Bear And Cub Spend Weekend In Tree

Villagers beat bear to death

Wisconsin man says dog recovering from bear attack

Ageing wolves 'lose their bite'

Real "Wolfman" Shares His Story

Coyote concerns

Wily coyotes in area? Keep eye on your pets

Colorado Rabies Finds Raises Ag Department Concern

Plan for possum-free peninsula

Tough line sought on use of 1080

Fresno zoo leaps to rescue imperiled frog

Norwegian accused of skin-crawling snake smuggling

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102409

2009-10-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

Zookeepers at a zoo in Miami, Florida, are rejoicing that a pair of rare harpy eagles are new parents, in our first wildlife story today; while Connecticut grammar school students had a rare treat, a visit from an eagle who resides in a nearby raptor center. Montana wildlife officials, pleased that that state's wolf population has topped 500, hope that the wolf hunt which begins tomorrow will help ease tension from residents who resent having the wolves in their areas. An LA Times article takes another look at Montana's controversial wolf hunt; and for those wishing to get a closer look at wolves in Yellowstone, some tour packages are being offered. The sighting of a coyote on a Kentucky campus caused teachers to keep students inside. A town in Wisconsin is planning a deer hunt to thin the herd; and deer hunters in that state are citing a deer-auto collision record as proof that the deer population in that state is dropping; followed by an article on the report itself. A hunting enthusiast expounds on the virtues of a cougar hunt to thin the cat population in Oregon. A bear cub that was orphaned when its mother was hit by a car in Louisiana will be transported to a bear rehabilitation center in Tennessee until it's old enough to be released back into the wild; while the Flathead National Forest dodged a bullet after two environmental groups that sued them for grizzly endangerment lost the case. Hall County, Georgia, has reported a rabid skunk in the vicinity; but an article from Alabama reassures pet owners that neither they nor their pets will contract rabies from raccoon rabies vaccine baits being distributed across the state; while an article from Kansas discusses creating a "pet-proof" raccoon trap. You just never know how wildlife may inspire artists and authors, as our last entry of the day shows!

Rare harpy eagle hatches at Miami Metrozoo

Grammar School Students Receive Visit From Adopted Eagle

This weekend wolves will be legally hunted, for the first time in years

Montana wolf hunt is stalked by controversy

At Yellowstone, wolves and winter deals

Coyote Sighting Prompts Principal To Keep Kids Inside

Little Chute plans managed deer hunt

Study Intensifies Wisconsin Deer Numbers Debate

Deer a danger for drivers in state

Bill Monroe: It's time to put the dog back in the (cougar) hunt

Orphaned black bear cub to be reared at rescue center

Flathead National Forest wins court cases accusing them of grizzly endangerment

Hall County confirms 17th rabies case of 2009

People, pets can't get rabies from vaccine bait

Creating pet-proof ’coon buckets

Family of Yosemite racoons inspire series of children's books

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102309

2009-10-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

First up today in wildlife news, Sandy Fernee, CEO of Wildlife Victoria, in Australia, has sent along an article about a kangaroo killer who pleaded guilty in court to acts of animal cruelty. Frogs that are in danger from mudslides in Southern California's Angeles National Forest areas that have been burned by the Station Fire are being relocated by wildlife biologists; while trappers in Deadwood, South Dakota, managed to catch a three-month-old cougar cub, the offspring of an adult cougar who was shot earlier this week. More data on deer-auto collisions in Ohio is provided by the next article; followed by an item about the award of a $75,000 grant to Essex County, New Jersey, which will allow that jurisdiction to put up "Deer Deter" systems to keep deer off the roads. Bristol, Connecticut, had another bear visitation this past week; while a black bear sow and two cubs were trapped in a Georgia neighborhood. A large section of Alaska, which encompasses both major polar bear populations, has been proposed as a protected habitat, even though Shell Oil Company was just given drilling rights in the area; but wildlife officials warned parents of elementary school children about a bear near their school in Montana. A detailed log of California Department of Fish and Game's response to a black bear report in Ventura County, California, is provided by the next article. Middlesex County in New Jersey has reported a dozen rabid animals so far this month; Greenbrier County, West Virginia, has seen over three dozen cases of rabies so far this year; and a rabid skunk was found in a New Hampshire community, prompting wildlife officials to warn residents of the danger of rabid wildlife in the area. A rancher in Montana, incensed about what he sees as official malaise in prosecuting predatory wolves on his ranch, has withdrawn 45,000 acres of prime hunting land from the state's inventory in protest; but contrary to popular opinion, wolves in Spain prefer wild game as opposed to domestic animals, according to a new study. A story from Arizona about a duct-taped coyote left to die brings up the issue of animal cruelty in a state where it's legal to hunt coyotes; while the Louise Kreher Forestry Preserve in Auburn, Alabama, will have a program on coyotes this weekend. Officials in Madison Wisconsin feel that a pair of dogs were killed by coyotes; and a meeting in Orange County California laid out the rules of engagement when confronting a coyote. And finally, A National Geographic photo spread includes pictures of an elephant underwater and a coyote found frozen solid standing beside a road!

Kangaroo Killer - update

Saving the Frogs from the Station Fire's Damage

GF&P looking for home for cougar kitten caught in Deadwood

Deer-crash crashes more likely now

County Roads Get Noisy At Night To Deter Deer

Bristol becomes Bear City

Three Bears Trapped in Warner Robins

Polar Bear Habitat Proposed for Alaska

Hellgate Elementary alerts parents of a bear sighting

DFG Issues Bear Kill Report

Rabid animals turn up in Monroe, Old Bridge

Four Cases of Rabies Confirmed in Greenbrier County in October

Police: Watch out for rabid skunk in Derry

Rancher ends public hunting in protest of wolf policies

Iberian Wolves Prefer Wild Roe Deer To Domestic Animals

Forget Tigers, This Weekend is About Coyotes in Auburn

The case of the duct taped coyote – Does anyone care about coyote abuse?

Coyotes suspected in deaths of two dogs

What should you do if you see a coyote?

An Underwater Elephant And A Coyote Frozen Solid

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102209

2009-10-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Pete Thomas of the Los Angeles Times provides our first wildlife article today about the continuing controversy over wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana; but a wolf preserve in Florida is having a 'Howl-O-Ween' fund-raising event to help open up more acreage for their preserve. A predatory hunter shot a rare albino coyote in Montana; and a letter to the editor of a Central California paper vents anger over a brazen coyote prowling their neighborhood. Radio tracking of two coyote packs in Rhode Island has provided some interesting new insights into urban coyotes, leading to adoption of a Coyote Coexistence and Management Plan there. One of two cougars spotted in Deadwood, South Dakota, has been killed, and a trap set for the other; and residents of Santa Rosa, California, have obtained a depredation permit and engaged the services of a tracker to hunt down a cougar that has been killing animals in the community. A South Dakota rancher blamed a predator, perhaps a cougar, for spooking his cattle, resulting in the death of nine of them on an interstate; but a deer hunter in Utah became the hunted when a cougar, evidently protecting nearby cubs, surprised him. A motorcyclist in Missouri suffered moderate injuries after collision with a deer in the road; and another biker from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, has been hospitalized after colliding with a deer in the road. Drivers in Missouri are once again being warned to slow down near areas frequented by deer as rutting season continues. A deer cull is being considered in a part of North Carolina that is being overrun by the ungulates; but a deer visited the lobby of a hotel in China, even pausing to get a drink at a water display. Wildlife officials in Reno, Nevada, are offering a reward for information on who has been poaching deer and antelope in the area. A falconer in Massachusetts was able to save a red-tailed hawk that had been shot; while the hunt is on for the owner of a hawk that barged into a chicken coop in Cheshire, UK. A bald eagle that was injured in a storm was released back into the wild in Delaware, as the next two articles show. Onlookers in Kyrgyzstan were stunned when an ice-skating bear killed the Russian circus director; and Alaska has filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that the polar bear should not have federal protection. A wayward raccoon got across some power lines in Wenatchee, Washington, depriving nearly 3,000 customers of power; even as health officials in Allentown, Pennsylvania, were warning residents of a rabid skunk that was destroyed there. A caravan park in Western Australia is coming up with ways to save their peppermint trees while simultaneously providing a food source for their endangered western ringtail possum population. And finally, police in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, suburb had an aggressive iguana to deal with who really didn't want to get sacked (but then, who does?)

Wolf hunts in Idaho, Montana still stirring up controversy

Howl with the wolves at weekend event

Hunter stalks, shoots albino coyote

Letters: Coyote kills another pet in Monte Sereno

Local scientist proposes ‘coyote coexistence’ animal feeding ordinance

Mountain lion killed in Deadwood city limits

Community Hunts Mountain Lion That Killed Pets

Wayward Cows Cause Chaos On Interstate

Syracuse deer hunter survives shocking encounter with angry mountain lion

Hannibal man hurt in collision with deer

Motorcycle Hits Deer

Active deer threat to drivers, patrol warns

As deer multiply, culling concerns rise

Deer hangs out in hotel lobby

Reward offered for info about Reno-area deer, antelope killings

Injured hawk let back into the wild in Hopkinton

Keep a hawk eye out for bird of prey’s owner

Bruised eagle takes flight

Photo gallery: Bald eagle release at Ingrams Pond

Ice-skating bear kills Russian circus director

Alaska Files Lawsuit Challenging Federal Polar Bear Protections

Power outage affects 2,800 customers

Rabid skunk found on Crest Avenue in Allentown

Caravan plan to save peppermint possums

East Vandergrift tangles with ornery iguana

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102109

2009-10-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

We lead off wildlife news today with a passel of possum stories: an Australian psychologist commented on a story about three boys torturing an opossum, opining that this could indicate a proclivity towards a life of crime; the presence of a possum habitat in Western Australia could change plans for a new hospital in the area; and a writer from Virginia offers sage advice on being kind to our marsupial friends - otherwise it could cost you a job! A new report from the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment argues that a proposed kangaroo cull in Australia's Capital Territory will increase the bushfire danger and reduce biological diversity. A children's gym in North Carolina had an unexpected guest crash through the window! Even the automobile club is getting into the act, warning motorists in the mid-Atlantic states about deer hazards this time of year; while the Florida Highway Patrol is blaming a deer in the road for a three car pile up which resulted in at least one fatality; followed by some statistics on deer-auto collisions in North Carolina, along with a few driving tips. A Minnesota Park will be closed for a deer hunt; but as deer and elk hunters begin reporting their results, Idaho Fish and Game officials indicate that the wolf population is having an impact on the elk population and behavior. A Cooper hawk that had gotten trapped in a power substation in Pennsylvania was successfully removed, then taken to a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center for evaluation. One of the hazards of hunting is underscored by an article from Minnesota in which a pheasant hunter was accidentally shot in the chest by someone who was aiming at a raccoon quarreling with the dogs. Protection for polar bear habitat is one step closer to reality as a New York Times article shows; and a pair of polar bears currently residing in Germany will be moved to France. A black bear spotted near a Florida school prompted cautions from wildlife officials to students and staff at the school. And finally, homeowners need to beware of using smoke bombs to evict raccoons under mobile homes, as a resident of Indiana and local firefighters found out the hard way!

Animal cruelty linked to disorder

Possum habitat 'no setback' for new hospital

Times are tough, but don't take it out on the marsupials

Roo cull 'will increase city's bushfire risk'

Deer Smashes Through Window Into Children's Gym

AAA issues driver safety tips for deer mating season

Deer Blamed for Area Traffic Fatality

Deer, drivers on collision course

St. Paul park to close for deer hunt

Elk and deer hunts open with success, frustration

Cooper Hawk gets stuck inside substation

Man Shot In The Chest While Hunting In Jackson County

White House Clears Habitat Protections for Polar Bear

Polar bear Flocke to move to France

Bear sighted near St. Marks school

Ind. woman trying to smoke out raccoon sets home on fire

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102009

2009-10-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

Camilla Fox of Project Coyote discusses coyotes in Marin County, California, in our first wildlife news item today; while a resident of West Seattle reported a coyote in the area. A retrospective on a celebrated wolf biologist who died in a plane crash at Denali National Park is up next. A photojournalist from Alabama provides us with the story of an elderly woman who feeds a pair of raptors at her place; followed by some amazing video footage shot by a BBC video crew in Finland that proves beyond a doubt that gold eagles do hunt reindeer! Kansas wildlife officials have confirmed a cougar sighting, only the second one in over 100 years in that state; but the mayor of a town in New Zealand is requesting a ban on a possum poison that will soon be deployed in his jurisdiction. A little history lesson from Ohio questions the value of deer in modern society; while a New Jersey tuxedo shop had an unexpected window crasher! A deer reportedly went through the windshield of a vehicle in Indiana this morning, causing a bit of a backup on the highway; and with 10,000 deer-auto collisions each year, Scottish authorities are warning motorists to watch for deer during the rutting season. Tabulating over 3,000 deer-auto collisions in Mississippi in 2008, wildlife officials are cautioning motorists to be "deer aware"; but wildlife officials in New Jersey are hopeful that a series of reflectors will help keep deer off the road. Due to a hard winter in 2008, hunters in Minnesota will find fewer deer this year; while the trial of an Ohio resident who illegally shipped dear out-of-state has ended, but no date has yet been set for sentencing. Granite Bay, California, had a visit from a trio of ursine neighbors; even as wildlife officials are cautioning residents of Florida near bear areas not to feed the animals, lest they become a problem. A Canadian polar bear residing in a Scottish zoo will finally be moving to some more spacious digs this week; but raccoons in Reno, Nevada, are living up to their "bandit" appearance, as residents complain about the increasingly aggressive critters. And finally, a story from Massachusetts shows that it is possible to actually build a better mousetrap!

Marin Voice: The coyotes in our midst

West Seattle wildlife: Coyote sighting in Gatewood

Stubbornness was Haber's best and worst quality

Hawk over my shoulder

Eagles filmed hunting reindeer

Mountain lion sighting in Trego Co.

Kaikoura mayor wants 1080 ban

What’s a deer worth?

MILLVILLE: Deer crashes through window at tuxedo shop

Deer causes crash on I-69

Drivers warned to watch for deer

MDOT: Watch out for deer on roads

Honk if you See a Deer in Headlights

State deer herd at manageable level

Kimbolton man guilty of shipping deer

Bear And Two Cubs Spotted In Granite Bay Tree

Stay Safe, Keep Bears Wild

Mercedes the Canadian polar bear to get new Scottish Highlands hideaway

Reno residents say raccoons incidents worsening

Animal control company uses robots

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101909

2009-10-19T13:35:00.001-07:00

In our first wildlife story today, groves of trees in Mexico where Monarch butterflies overwinter that have been threatened by illegal logging, are now threatened by another insect: pine-boring beetles! Texas raptor enthusiasts are in their glory as migrating hawks soar through southern skies; but the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Victoria, Australia, is on the lookout for a possum killer who could be severely punished financially for killing these protected animals. A writer from Arizona takes a whimsical look at raccoon removal in that state; while residents of Ocala, Florida, have been warned of a rabid raccoon in the area. A Connecticut man who shot a bear that was raiding his bird feeder is now suing to justify his actions; but a quintet of moon bears is being moved into senior housing in China. An abundance of bears in North Carolina has prompted officials to attempt to reduce encounters between people and bruins. A cougar was spotted near an elementary school in British Columbia, Canada; while a number of reports of cougars in Minnesota have been made recently. Wyoming is considering putting a ban on antler collection due to the impact on herds of elk and deer. A Motorcyclist was killed in Michigan when he collided with a deer in the road; and a deer and motorist collided in Pennsylvania as well. Connecticut homeowners denied a deer to a bow hunter after it had died on their back porch; and as job losses increase in parts of the US, deer hunters are increasing their activity simply to put food on the table. A coyote in the road caused an auto accident in Washington state; while Massachusetts is beginning their annual coyote hunt, as the next two stories show. Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering the most generous compensation for livestock killed by wolves in the western US. And finally, art imitates life in Scotland, with a play about the reintroduction of wolves into that country.

Mexico fells trees to save butterfly reserve

Annual migration of hawks can be a spectacular sight

Possum killer lurks in Keysborough

Journey into the shadowy world of raccoon removal

Rabies alert issued for NE 175th Street near NE 25th Avenue

Conn. man suing over shooting of bear

Five Aged Bears Moved to Chengdu for a Better Senior Life

Bear population booms, aim is to lessen encounters

Cougar sighting reported in Saanich

Cougar sightings leave questions unanswered

Antler frenzy leads to possible ban

Man Killed In Motorcycle Collision With Deer

Deer smashes through vehicle on Route 512 near Wind Gap

Couple to hunter: 'Leave without your dead deer'

In trying times, hunters go after deer to put food on the table

Coyote blamed for car crash south of Lake Quinault

Hunting season put coyotes in the crosshairs

State Opens War On Coyotes

Wash. offers payments for wolf kills of livestock

Wolves debate turned into a play

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101709

2009-10-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, a black bear found a comfy perch inside a beer cooler in a Wisconsin market (that is, until wildlife officers tranquilized it and returned it to the wild!) A black bear was reported in a Massachusetts community on Friday; while in British Columbia, the hunters became the hunted as a grizzly bear decided to have two men for an evening meal! A black bear was struck and killed by a car in Vermont on Friday, one of two reported accidents along the same stretch of highway. An article from Florida points out that raccoon attacks will become more commonplace as their habitat disappears; but a raccoon that was believed to be rabid was caught by authorities outside of the library at University of Richmond in Virginia. The difficult issue of keeping deer herd's numbers down is explored in an article from the New York Times; followed by another article from that same paper about the issue of feeding deer in the wild. Wildlife officials in Nebraska are asking hunters for help with reducing the deer herd in a state park; while residents of a Boulder, Colorado, neighborhood are complaining about deer hunters endangering them by shooting from the road with high-powered rifles. Motorists in Minnesota are cautioned to be wary of deer on the road this time of year; followed by a story about cougars in Missouri. Two articles express outrage at the wolf hunt in Montana; followed by one about a lifelike coyote decoy designed to scare off geese on a school athletic field in Illinois that has actually caused residents to report it to wildlife authorities in the area! Coyotes in Durham, North Carolina, are the topic of the next article; while police in a southern Ohio town are warning residents to keep an eye on their pets after the death of one due to a coyote. And finally, we've all probably heard of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride", but we conclude today with a story about a wily coyote's wild ride!

Bear Run! Black bear chills in Wis. beer cooler

Black Bear Lumbering Through Tewksbury

Bear attacks two sleeping B.C. men

Black bear killed in Vermont car crash

More raccoons, less habitat increase risk of rare attacks

Raccoon captured in front of the library

Culls Expand as the Deer Chomp Away

White-Tails in Love

Neb. commission seeks deer hunters for state park

Boulder-area residents protest deer hunting

Motorcyclists and other motorists, be ready for deer on the road

There's Nothing So Rare as a Cougar in Missouri

Save the wolves before it's too late

I am so pissed off right now

Lindenhurst coyote decoy scares off geese, prompts reports of 'sightings'

Coyotes on the howl in Durham

Coyotes in Newark

A wild car ride for a wily coyote

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101609

2009-10-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Camilla Fox of Project Coyote sent along our first wildlife news item today that announces the introduction of new legislation that bans the use of traps on fur-bearing animals in national wildlife refuges in the US; followed by a letter to the editor of an Alberta, Canada, newspaper that defends coyotes with some statistics of attacks on people by deer and dogs. A resident of suburban Chicago is in trouble after shooting a neighbor's husky, thinking it was a coyote attacking some cats. US government officials are attempting to limit polar bear hunting to reduce the loss in their numbers from causes other than the shrinking sea ice; while wildlife officials in Aspen, Colorado, reflect on a very busy year with bears. A dog owner in New Jersey is waiting pensively through the 45 day incubation period after his dogs were exposed to a rabid raccoon; followed by a look at deer-auto collision statistics in Illinois. Rumors of a cougar in an Ohio state park are circulating among visitors; and a Central California community in which a multitude of cougar reports have been filed is on edge. After the clothes of a boy lost on a Colorado hiking trail four years ago were found, authorities believe he was probably killed by a wild animal, possibly a cougar. A man who shot a skunk in Elmhurst, Illinois, has brought that city's skunk issue to a head. We conclude today with two stories about a wolf biologist who was killed in an air crash in Alaska.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey Introduces Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act of 2009

Coyotes don’t mean any harm

Man shoots dog he thought was a coyote - Update

US seeks tougher protections for polar bear

DOW attacks bear problem

Rabies advisory issued for Monroe after infected raccoon found

Car/deer accidents decline here

Possible Mountain Lion Sightings In Local State Park

Mountain lion problem isn't going away

Lost Colorado boy likely killed by animal

Man cited after shooting skunk

Denali Wolf Biologist Dies in Plane Crash

Haber Devoted His Life to Studying and Saving Alaska's Wolves

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101509

2009-10-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

In the news today, South Dakota researchers have determined that the bulk of the young cougars in the Black Hills are immigrants from other areas; followed by a letter to the editor of a Colorado newspaper that asks why officials had not informed local residents that a cougar has been preying on pets in the area; and a flurry of letters to a Pennsylvania newspaper have people wondering whether there is a cougar haunting the Poconos. Camilla Fox, of Project Coyote, among others, spoke out against Maine's coyote and fox trapping program, pointing out that it endangered the Lynx population; even as experts debate the coyote situation in parts of Minnesota. Residents of Lake Tahoe's Incline Village are petitioning officials to do something about the coyote population; and pet owners in a Connecticut community fear that coyote activity is contributing to an uptick in missing pets in the area. An Ohio State trooper shot and killed a coyote suspected of killing multiple pets; but police in a Michigan community have been thwarted in their efforts to catch a local coyote. A coyote expert is being brought in by Massachusetts community to discuss coexisting with the eastern variant of this canine; while hunters have taken over 50 of the 220 wolves allocated for this year's hunting season in Idaho. A bear was struck and killed by a motorist in California's San Bernardino National Forest; and Colorado wildlife officials provided some useful tips to prevent bears from breaking in to cars (or homes) while looking for food. Wildlife officials in Oregon were able to transport a young black bear back to the wild after it appeared on a gradeschool campus; but Utah Division of Wildlife is advising residents and visitors alike that black bears pose little threat. New Jersey is caught in a dilemma as both conservation and hunting groups protest the fact that that state has still not invoked a bear management policy, despite a 2004 Supreme Court ruling requiring one. A red-tailed hawk died after being severely shocked on power lines in Idaho. A letter to the editor of a New Mexico newspaper complains about the ineffectiveness of local animal control in removing skunks. With 60,000 to 70,000 auto accidents related to collisions with deer and moose, New York State is cautioning motorists about the danger this time of year; while the pros and cons of urban deer hunting are debated in an article from Kansas City, Kansas. A wildlife sanctuary in Mozambique was severely damaged by wildfires. And finally, a firefighter in New South Wales performing controlled burns outside of Sydney got a shock when a pygmy possum stuck its head out of his shirt pocket during lunch!

Researcher: Hills' dominant cougars mostly immigrants

Mountain Lion around Deerfield Park

Pocono readers 'swear' they've seen elusive mountain lion

Groups Seek Halt to Trapping Season to Protect Lynx

Coyote problem? It’s hard to say

Incline Village residents organize coyote petition

Coyote activity is increasing in Weston

Trooper Shoots Coyote In Interstate Median

‘Uncatchable’ coyote thwarts police

Coyote expert to speak on rise in sightings

51 wolves killed so far in Idaho

Bear hit, killed by car

PHOTO: Bear Breaks Into Car...Are You Bear-Proof?

Bear at school captured, released

The bear truth: Utah's black bears pose little danger to humans

Conservation, hunting groups sue N.J. for failing to adopt bear management policy

Death of a red-tailed hawk

Aztec's animal control needs to remove threats

State officials caution drivers to watch out for moose and deer

Pro-Con | Should hunting be used to control deer overpopulation in communities nationwide?

Mozambique: Bush Fires Strike Gorongosa Sanctuary

Possum's safe haven a surprise for firefighter

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101409

2009-10-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center in Oregon has rehabilitated hundreds of animals from dozens of species so far this year, as chronicled in our first wildlife article today; followed by a National Geographic article that discusses the world as it was at the time of a gigantic South American snake. A cautionary tale about approaching wildlife comes to us from Colorado, where a woman tried to pet a mule deer, only to be gored by the animal; while a 10-point buck was photographed swimming across the Savannah River between Georgia and South Carolina. Deer hunters will donate the venison from deer culled at Shawnee Mission Park in Kansas; but a deer hunter from Maine was in trouble with the law for improper disposal of a carcass. An article gives some background material on why driving in Minnesota this time of year, when deer are rutting, is dangerous between dusk and dawn; and a deer hunter from Ohio unexpectedly captured a cougar on a wildlife camera. A cougar in North Dakota was thoroughly focused on dragging away its kill near a highway, ignoring passing traffic; while another was reported in a neighborhood in British Columbia, Canada; and the debate over cougars in New Hampshire is once again examined in the next article. The Baltic state of Estonia, which reported over 800 cases of rabies in 2003, has declared victory over the disease nationwide; but a man in Georgia who was talking on his cell phone had an unexpected interruption from a raccoon that bit him on the leg (no word yet on whether it was rabid). The next story underscores the fact that it's hard to deter determined dumpster-diving bears in Colorado; and black bears at Yosemite national Park give two paws up for those 'Meals on Wheels' in the form of SUVs stocked with food! A black bear is also causing headaches for residents of a Florida neighborhood. A pair of captive red wolves will be the centerpiece of a presentation in Kentucky on why not to hate the canines; while a naturalist from England who has lived with wolves discusses his experiences in a new book. A resident of a Central California community asks plaintively whether officials will do anything about a coyote they accuse of having killed two of their cats; while residents of Minnesota are openly discussing a coyote hunt. Northern Kentucky University has an unwanted new striped mascot, lots of 'em! A bald eagle which was tagged, then released in Tennessee has been spotted in Pennsylvania. And finally, the exploits of a shoplifting seagull from New Jersey concludes our wildlife news today!

Catch and release

World's Biggest Snake Lived in 1st "Modern" Rain Forest

Mule deer gores woman near Florissant

Deer takes swim in Savannah River

Johnson County will donate meat to Harvesters as deer are culled from park

Kittery hunter warned for improper disposal of deer in York

DNR: Watch for deer after sundown

Cougar caught on camera near Salt Fork

Mountain lion observed dragging a deer carcass

Cougar sighting in Gordon Head on Monday

Truth about mountain lions as elusive as lions in NH

Estonian authorities have conquered rabies

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Raccoon attacks local man

Bailey's giant hot-dog stand battles Dumpster-diving bears

Black bears rate minivans as top dining vehicle

Bear Is Bothering Neighbors in Buckingham

Wolves are center of attention at Land Between the Lakes

Book Talk: Britain's Wolfman hopes to give wolves a voice

Letters: Coyote threatens Monte Sereno neighborhood

Coyote complaints start discussion at YM County Board meeting

Skunk country

Eaglet Released by Dollywood's American Eagle Foundation Spotted in Pennsylvania near Lake Erie

Point Pleasant Beach gull- update

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101309

2009-10-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

A skunk in Oklahoma required a "skunk whisperer" to help it out of a tight situation when its head became stuck in a peanut butter jar, in our first wildlife story today. An elderly hunter was mauled by a bear in Tahoe National Forest; and a teenage girl riding a trail bike was mauled by a grizzly outside of Anchorage, Alaska. With a record population of black bears in the state, North Carolina is reporting more incidents of bears seeking food in residential areas. A writer from Ontario, Canada, blames an abundance of raccoons for a lack of grouse this hunting season; while Tennessee is scattering rabies vaccine baits along their borders in hopes of reducing rabid raccoons in the area; something which it sounds like they need to do in parts of New Jersey and Virginia, as the next two articles show. Another cougar has been taken in North Dakota's badlands, bringing the tally to three so far during this hunting season; but a trail runner in Utah came face to face with a young cougar that was very much alive on Saturday. Objections to a new deer management plan in Wisconsin are coming from, of all people, hunters themselves; while the next story from Ohio underscores the importance of not getting between two bucks during rutting season! New Jersey, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Dakota join the chorus of states advising motorists to beware of deer in the road, as the next four articles show; even as Ontario, Canada, tallies up the number of accidents with deer in that province. A female coyote caught in a humane trap in Ontario was euthanized and local residents who fed the animal were criticized by provincial authorities. A dog that was out for a little exercise with her master on a trail in Utah nearly became dinner for a coyote; and pet owners in Cincinnati, Ohio, are pensive about disappearing pets in their neighborhoods, something attributed to coyotes in the area. Now that the state of Montana has taken in nearly $250,000 in wolf hunt licensing fees, several groups have suggestions on how to spend the windfall; but Washington state is allowing public comment on trans-locating wolves within the state; while Montana's first attempt at a wolf-hunting season has shown how delicate a balance they need to strike if they proceed with this policy. And finally, just when you thought you understood spiders, along comes a member of the family who is a vegetarian!

The Stuck Skunk

Brown bear mauls hunter in Tahoe National Forest

Bear attacks teen bike racer

More NC bears leave woods to find food

Thank racoons for gross grouse season

Rabies Abatement Program Targets Rabid Raccoons

Rabid raccoon in Galloway is county’s seventh case

Rabid Raccoon Killed In Near West End

Third Mountain Lion Killed in Western ND

Trail runner comes eye to eye with cougar above Bountiful

Objections surface to new deer management plan

Ohio boy, 7, hit by deer while playing football

Deer feeling frisky – and causing problems on N.J. roads

Beware of deer on the road

2 Area Counties Lead In Deer-Vehicle Crashes

Drivers urged to keep an eye out for deer

Sharpshooters latest tactic in desperate bid to prevent deer-car collisions

Province condemned Beach Strip coyote

Woman saves dog from hungry coyote

Pets Disappear As Coyotes Roam Neighborhood

Ravalli hunters want state to spend license funds to study wolves

State wants to talk about wolves

Wolf quota eyed after 9 shot near Yellowstone

"Surreal" Vegetarian Spider Found -- A First

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101209

2009-10-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

In our first wildlife article today, residents of Washington state are once again considering introducing wolves into the Olympic Peninsula; followed by a video segment that examines the plight of the Mexican wolves: caught between environmentalists trying to reestablish their population in the American Southwest, and ranchers who want them dead. A New York state resident managed to catch a coyote on film as it walked through his backyard; and a commentary from North Carolina points out that coyotes are now present in every county in that state. The investigation into a reported sighting of a cougar in Alabama is chronicled in the next article; while the plight of the Amur leopard in Russia's Far East, whose habitat is being destroyed by, among other things, forest fires, is examined. North Carolina's growing black bear population is becoming a growing problem, as a farmer reported that one mauled a llama on his property; but even though polar bear populations may be shrinking, polar bear tourism in Alaska is booming! The Binghamton Zoo, in New York state, has suffered the loss of a spectacled bear and a wallaby in the course of two days; while wildlife officials reported that a black bear that entered a trailer outside of Juneau, Alaska, was killed. Homeowners at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida may have to get some bear-proof trash bins due to frequent incursions by their furry neighbors; while homeowners elsewhere in that state found a black bear in their garage Sunday night. The contentious issue of poisoning possums in New Zealand has now transitioned to the political arena. A bald eagle that had been rescued as a fledgling was released into the wilds of Lake Tahoe, California, this weekend, and was quickly joined by two others in flight, something that is rarely seen at such events. A wildlife rehabilitator from Illinois discusses "Seattle", her red-tailed hawk that was rescued as a chick in Washington state from a bald eagle; but a very old bird may have been too heavy to fly, scientists now believe. Zoo and animal preserve workers are relocating over 100 deer in India to comply with population restriction; and having provided over 2 million meals to needy families, Illinois' deer hunting program is examined in the next article. A driver in Florida attempting to avoid hitting a deer in the road crashed his pickup truck, injuring three people; while a deer-motorcycle collision in Ohio left two people injured over the weekend. A deer decided to join restaurant patrons in Michigan for lunch; and a doe made an unexpected visit to a boutique elsewhere in that state Saturday. And finally, a forested area in England should probably put up a sign that reads: 'Never mind the dogs, beware of deer'!

Peninsula Poll Backgrounder: Are Wolves at the Peninsula's Door?

Assignment Earth: Mexican wolves

East Syracuse man photographs coyote in backyard

Newcomer: Get used to coyotes, because they're not leaving.

Morgan City cougars?

Land of Leopard in Flames

Bear mauls llama at Riceville Road farm

Polar bear tourism booms on Alaska's North Slope

Bear Dies at the Binghamton Zoo

Black bear killed in Juneau mobile home park

Residents at Fla. Air Force Base Clash With Growing Black Bear Population

Bear invades home in Buckingham

Politicians join fight against 1080

Rescued Bald Eagle Returned to the Wild

ILLINOIS SPOTLIGHT: Woman gives rescued hawk home

Archaeopteryx may have been more dinosaur than bird

Deer, neelgai being relocated from Seminary Hills to Bor

Deer Hunters Can Help the Hungry Through Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger Program

Three seriously injured in crash with deer

2 injured when deer, motorcycle collide

Deer Interrupts Lunch

Doe is a door-buster at Michigan women's boutique

Deer with 'attitude' savages dogs

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101009

2009-10-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

Researchers from UC Santa Cruz began their lion hunt yesterday in hopes of putting radio collars on cougars in the vicinity, our first wildlife story today; followed by a story about how wildlife biologists in several Washington state counties are still evaluating the impact of using cougar hunting dogs. Five orphaned cougar cubs will be distributed to two wildlife organizations in Minnesota to be raised in captivity. An upstate New York couple is grieving the loss of their cat, presumed to have been carried off by a coyote; while officials in a county in Virginia are debating the virtues of a coyote bounty program that has been in place since 2005. A deer cull in Michigan is proceeding without any fanfare; but in a case where lots of negatives are positive, deer that have been tested for Chronic Wasting Disease in Kent County, Michigan, have all proven to be free of the disease. The manager at a tire dealership in Delaware felt fortunate that the doors were closed when a deer decided to barge in; but a self-employed welder in Indiana has been charged with 17 counts of "thrill-killing" deer. An article from North Carolina offers some additional tips on avoiding deer-auto collisions this time of year; while Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation is advising motorists in that state about the danger posed by deer in the road. A letter to the editor of a Delaware paper comments on an abundance of skunks in their neighborhood. In Ontario, Canada, homeowner was crushed about having to euthanize his five dogs after they mixed it up with a rabid skunk; while Greenbrier County, West Virginia, has reported their 30th rabid raccoon so far this year; and another rabid raccoon has been found in a New Jersey community, the second in the past few weeks. Despite the outcry against two people accused of maliciously running down raccoons in a Half Moon Bay, California, parking lot, not everyone looks upon their act as infamous. A man had to be hospitalized after being attacked by a bear in Wyoming; but faced with a $5,000 fine and a six-month stint in jail, a wildlife photographer is fighting a bear-baiting charge in Alaska. In another head-scratcher, attorneys are arguing that the decision to put grizzly bears back on the Endangered Species Act list may actually harm their population near Yellowstone National Park; while a Kodiak bear living in a wildlife sanctuary in Florida is quite taken with his new swimming pool, donated by contractors who felt sorry for their ursine neighbor. And finally, here's a new app for the iPhone: bear repellent!

Santa Cruz Researchers Focus On Mountain Lion Whereabouts

Cougar hunting closed in some counties during deer season

Orphaned cougar cubs find refuge in Minn.

An Irondequoit couple says their beloved cat was killed recently by a coyote

County debates controversial coyote bounty program

A quiet 'cull': City again killing its deer

Kent County deer testing all clear so far

Deer nearly treads into Salisbury tire business

Wabash man faces multiple charges in deer killings

Detouring Deer

Danger alert: It’s deer crash season

Growing skunk population taking over the neighborhood

Owner upset at having to put dogs down after skunk attack

Another Rabid Raccoon Found in Greenbrier County

Second rabid animal found in Woodbridge

Safeway Raccoon Suspect a Local Hero?

Man attacked by bear near Cooke City

Alaska photographer charged with bear-baiting

Feds: Bears in more danger on threatened list

Contractors pitch in to give bear new pool

A bear ate my iPhone!

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100809

2009-10-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Raptor lovers are in their glory as hawks soar over Marin County, California, in our first wildlife story today; but a crippled bald eagle that had been a favorite in Indiana for many years died during surgery at the ripe old age of 22 years. Residents of Yankton, South Dakota, lost power after a wayward raccoon shorted out high power lines in town; and a school bus driver swerved to avoid a raccoon in the road in Chelan, Washington, ending up in a ditch. A Topeka, Kansas, woman has asked trappers to try to rid her area of a raccoon; while an elderly resident of Florida who was viciously attacked by a pack of raccoons a few days ago has returned home for a long recovery. A pregnant resident of New York state needs to go through a painful series of rabies shots after being exposed to a rabid raccoon her dogs had attacked. A black bear has been rummaging through trash bins in Ashland, Oregon; while a Colorado man will have to serve probation and has been fined in the death of a black bear which he shot in July; and a resident of Virginia has been fined $2,000 for illegally killing a black bear in a park there. An exotic Barasingha deer from India gored a man to death in Texas; but officials in a Virginia community are considering a deer hunt after a fatal auto-deer collision on a local road. Using silencers on their rifles, sharpshooters will begin culling the deer herd in a Kansas Park, perhaps as soon as tomorrow; however, a resident of British Columbia, Canada, who is feeding deer in her front yard may be popular with the deer, but her neighbors have quite a different opinion on the issue; and an apparent prank in which a dead deer was dressed up in a clown suit in Sioux City, Iowa, left officials nonplussed. A public official in an Ontario, Canada, township has no patience with people who defend coyotes in the area which he perceives as a threat to children and livestock; while another article from that province counsels to keep your pets safe from coyotes. As coyote trapping begins in Michigan later this month, wildlife officials are informing trappers about what to do if they trap a wolf instead; while a conservationist in Idaho discusses the lawsuit brought by an environmentalist group to stop wolf hunting in that state. A science center in New Hampshire is showing off an orphaned pair of cougars to familiarize residents with these impressive cats; but a bobcat seen prowling around the University of California, Irvine, campus was mistakenly identified as a cougar. A Canadian town on Prince Edward Island is undeterred in trapping skunks after learning that they were being shot by the trapper. Sea otters in Alaska, suffering from dwindling numbers, have been given a substantial area stretching from the Alaskan coast through the Aleutian Islands as a protected habitat. And finally, a small drama played out between a hawk and its intended prey, an industrious squirrel in Wisconsin!

Hawks, hawks and more hawks in Marin

Bald eagle popular around Ind. dies during surgery

Raccoon Causes Power Outage

Bus swerves to miss raccoon, hits power pole

GASPORT: Dog fight with rabid raccoon leads to painful injections for woman

Woman Afraid Of Raccoon Near Her Topeka Home

Long recovery ahead for woman attacked by raccoons

Residents spot bear near Ashland's Lithia Park

Steamboat Springs man sentenced in bear death

Man fined $2,000 for baiting, killing bear at SW Va. park

Exotic deer gores man to death

Harrisonburg Addresses Deer Population

Shawnee Mission Park deer killing may begin Friday

Feeding Nanaimo deer causes debate

Dead deer in clown suit left on Iowa porch

Coyote Kill Proposed For McNab Braeside

Keeping your pets safe from coyotes

Look out for wolves in coyote traps

Mike Medberry: Let's work together to ensure the future of Idaho's wolves

Mountain lions up close and personal

AV Bobcat Mistaken for Mountain Lion

Skunks remain under the gun in Charlottetown

Feds give sea otters habitat protection in Alaska

Hawk-squirrel drama unfolds in the ’burbs

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100709

2009-10-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

In our first two wildlife articles today, Pete Thomas of the LA Times points out how easy it's been for hunters to bag wolves in Montana; while a pair of grizzly bear hunters in Alaska who shot one right in front of wildlife tourists may find themselves in some legal trouble, in addition to being rapped for poor hunting ethics. Homeowners in Central Florida complain that bears are travelling by too near to their homes; but wildlife officials are blaming residents who leave their garbage accessible to wildlife for a couple of encounters that have made the news lately. Polar bears are one step closer to having a place of their own; which could be a good thing, considering the increase in sightings of these animals by oil field workers in Alaska. A polar bear who has lived at a zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, for 25 years will be moved to a wildlife park. A school was locked down in Arlington, Washington, yesterday due to a bear on campus; and a raccoon that quarreled with a pair of dogs in Pennsylvania turned out to be rabid. Residents of Lakeport, California, are being warned of increased cougar activity in their area. Some reasons for eastern North Carolina's increasing coyote population are given in the next article; followed by an appeal to stop feeding coyotes around Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, which is intended to reduce collisions between humans and the canines. An Op-Ed piece from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, relates the sad tale of a coyote who was shot and mutilated. Seeking to lessen the criticism from ranchers about reintroducing Mexican wolves into the Arizona/New Mexico area, federal agencies have set up a fund to reimburse them for livestock lost to wolf incursions. An advice columnist from central California provides tips on avoiding deer-auto collisions; while an Ohio man faces some serious charges for transporting deer to South Carolina in 2005. A letter to the editor of a Kansas City, Kansas, newspaper derides critics of a deer cull in a Kansas Park which has been generating a great deal of controversy for several months now. Wildlife officials in Colorado were called in to deal with a skunk whose head had become caught in a jar; while an article from Illinois underscores the benefits to one's waistline of skunk incursions! The humorous misadventures of a Seattle resident dealing with an obstinate possum is up next; followed by a profile of the Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center, a rehabilitation center in Oregon. And finally, a wild animal trapper from California who was recently featured on the cable program "Dirty Jobs" discusses his exploits in ridding households of nuisance wildlife.

Montana's wolves surprisingly vulnerable during inaugural hunt

Grizzly bear killed by hunters in front of 'disgusted' wildlife watchers in Alaska

Bears in DeBary: Wild Wander Dangerously Close To Homes

Officials suggest ways to avoid nuisance wildlife problems

Interior Sends Polar Bear Habitat Designation to White House

Alaska oil explorers encountering more polar bears

Polar bear preparing to move home

Bear in Arlington raises alarm at school

Rottweiler found in Upper Darby, under quarantine

Mountain lion problem isn't going away

Coyote population steadily rising in N.C.

Please, Just Stop Feeding the Coyotes

Even a coyote deserves proper burial

Fund will help ranchers deal with Mexican wolves

Roadshow: Drivers beware: It's deer-mating season

Man on trial in deer-trafficking case

Deer cull in park

Skunk gets head stuck in jar

Skunk-filled nights

Mr. Possum pays a visit

Injured, orphaned animals keep center busy

Bats in your belfry? Call Jeremy Bailey

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100609

2009-10-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

In our first wildlife story today, a bald eagle in Florida that is draped with fishing line has been spotted flying overhead; while a columnist from Minnesota tells an odiferous story about rescuing a baby skunk from the side of the road, with predictable consequences; and a resident of Prince Edward Island, Canada, was appalled that trappers were shooting skunks caught in their community. As wildlife officials in a Pennsylvania park prepare to implement a deer cull, a professor at a local college has offered to pay the cost for nonlethal alternatives; but a news item from North Carolina underscores the danger deer pose to motorists there. Police in Scotland are on the lookout for a man whose four dogs attacked a pair of deer, killing one; and several people were charged with baiting deer in Vermont, which is illegal. Helena, Montana, is considering sanctioning an urban deer hunt, but will wait for results from a survey before deciding; but a deer burst through the window of a West Virginia classroom, making a mess before departing the way it came. With protesters threatening to disrupt a deer hunt in a Kansas park, security is tight; followed by an article that provides some more details on one of yesterday's stories of a family of bears in North Carolina that came looking for honey, but ended up being treed. Fear rules a Florida neighborhood where a woman was attacked by a pack of raccoons, prompting people to stop walking at night and to take their kids in as well; even as wildlife officials scatter humane traps to catch the critters. In a follow-up to an article a few days ago about two young men who ran over raccoons in Half Moon Bay, California, the suspects were apprehended, but claim it was not an intentional act; and a motorist in Wisconsin lost control of her car after striking a raccoon in the road. Despite their skepticism, wildlife officials in New Hampshire continue looking for a cougar, though there have been none sighted in the state for over a century; while wildlife researchers in central California are keeping a close eye on the cougar population there; and the third report of a cougar in a Minnesota community has homeowners on edge. A coyote in South Texas jumped in front of a car, causing a rollover; and a family in Maine recounts the coyote problems they're having - first with their chickens, and now fearing for their children. Nine of the 75 wolves slated for hunters in Montana have reportedly been taken in an effort to reduce attacks on livestock. And finally, it seems that some enterprising folks in Waco, Texas, are having a predator calling contest in the near future (won't they be surprised if one decides to come and see what the ruckus is about?)

Entwined eagle spotted soaring above Bonita Springs

Pepe Lepew would have been proud

Skunk shooting upsets Charlottetown woman

For deer, a siege ahead at Valley Forge park

Fear the deer -- they can kill you

Dog attack ends in deer's death

7 charged in deer-baiting investigation

Helena begins to survey deer population

Deer breaks in, leaves W.Va. classroom in shambles

Tight Security as Shawnee Mission Park Reduces Deer Herd

Oh, Pooh! No honey for these bears

Wildlife expert: 'Raccoons are little bears on crack'

Traps yield raccoon, possum and cat after raccoon attack

Raccoon deaths an accident, suspect says

Woman injured in crash with raccoon

Search continues for evidence of mountain lion

Tracking the big cats

In Eagan, three reports of cougar sightings

Coyote Causes Rollover Accident - First Edition - October 6th, 2009

Thomaston woman reports coyote problems

Nine wolves taken so far in Montana

Outdoors: Predator calling contest coming soon

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100509

2009-10-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes - the Queensland pensioner who had been ordered to surrender his beloved pigmy possum by wildlife authorities not only has the right to keep possums now, but these same officials are now asking him to care for another one! Protesters in Vermont are up in arms against wildlife officials trying to remove a moose from a deer preserve; even as animal rights protesters tried blocking the entrance to a Kansas Park were a deer cull is scheduled to begin soon. As deer-auto collisions increase in North Carolina, two articles offer some insight on the subject; and the danger of motorists colliding with deer in the Washington DC area is examined in the next article. A foursome of bears took shelter in two trees in a North Carolina neighborhood Sunday; but despite an increase in nuisance bear reports, provincial officials in Ontario, Canada, have indicated they will not reinstate a spring bear hunt. A Pennsylvania resident was mauled to death by her pet black bear over the weekend; and a Florida homeowner was in shock after being attacked by five raccoons in her front yard. In a follow-up to a story in Saturday's Wildlife NOTD, an article from Colorado tells how a young llama came to be on the slopes of Pike's Peak; while a mountain lion hunt in North Dakota has bagged a second cougar. A game warden from Kansas tells some tales from an interesting life in the next article. A trio of skunk stories today: an Ohio family was finally able to get rid of a family of skunks that was making their life miserable, but now it will cost them $70,000 to repair the damage; a Colorado advice columnist tells readers with a skunk infestation that the state isn't going to be much help in clearing up the problem; and an advice columnist for Michigan offers a simple solution to skunks digging up the lawn: kill the grubs they're after! A Colorado woman is sounding the alert after a coyote tried to make off with her miniature pinscher; while coyotes have began making their homes in St. Tammany Parrish, Louisiana. An Op-Ed piece from Oregon discusses the problem of wolves from a rancher's perspective. And finally, newspapers in Las Vegas, Nevada, may soon see the following ad in the classifieds: 'Wanted, home for Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil, minimum care required, a bargain at $6 million!'

Possum carer raoul takes on his new charge

In Vermont, Making a Stand for Pete the Moose

Deer cull protesters try to block traffic into Shawnee Mission Park

Defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer

Deer fears: More vehicle crashes involving deer, and animals especially active now

Risk high for striking deer in Va. and Md.

Family Of Bears Spotted In Rockingham Co. Neighborhood

Ontario spring bear hunt won't return

Pet black bear attacks, kills Pa. woman

Raccoons attack woman as she tries to wave them away

Llama ran away when mother was killed by mountain lion

Second Mountain Lion Killed in ND

Times have changed, but game warden's role hasn't

Stinky guests gone for good at home in Sheffield Lake

Action Line: You're on your own in skunk situation

What you can do about skunks digging up your lawn

Wheat Ridge dog mauled by coyote

Coyotes are snatching pets in St. Tammany neighborhoods

Dealing with wolves on an Oregon ranch

T. rex still looking for home after Vegas auction

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100309

2009-10-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, a trio of stories in which law enforcement officials ran afoul of deer in the road: a Texas policeman on his way to assist another had some delay getting there due to a trio of deer in the road; a sheriff's deputy had a fatal encounter with a deer elsewhere in that state; and a Massachusetts state trooper was injured in yet another deer-auto collision. Deer management in Kentucky is a hot topic in that state right now; while a donkey being used by a South Carolina farmer to keep wild dogs away from his livestock was mistakenly shot by a hunter who thought it was a deer. The exploits of a baby llama on Pikes Peak, Colorado, makes for a good read with a happy ending. A coyote wandering through a Texas shopping center put shoppers on edge; but a Florida sheep rancher recounts the losses of 15 sheep to coyotes in the next item. A news video from British Columbia, Canada, underscores the tension in a community whose pet numbers have been decimated by coyote incursions. A controversial plan to land helicopters in wild land areas of Idaho as part of a wolf-collaring exercise is being proposed once again; while the next article takes a look at Oregon's planned expansion of a cougar hunting program that has resulted in over 100 cougar deaths out of a population of approximately 6,000 animals. A Native American court is going to take over the case of a man who shot a bald eagle for a religious ceremony in 2005; but shoppers at a Wal-Mart in Alexandria, Minnesota, were startled by a raccoon seen wandering around the parking lot in the daylight. Bear problems in Aspen, Colorado, where there were 275 encounters in August alone, are covered in the next article; while fewer salmon, trash that is better secured, and better-educated citizens are cited as reasons for a reduction in human-bear encounters in Anchorage, Alaska, this year. A Florida homeowner, expecting to interrupt a raccoon raiding his trash, instead was confronted by an aggressive black bear! A destructive ursine home invader has reignited the debate over the spring bear hunt in Northern Ontario, Canada. Pennsylvania wildlife officials caught up with a nuisance bear that apparently originally came from New Jersey; but elsewhere in that state, game officials are trying to track down someone who illegally killed a 600 pounder. And finally, a polar bear cub shows that sometimes you feel like walkin', and sometimes you just feel like ridin'!

Deer Create Unexpected Delay in Cops Routine

Burnet deputy dies in morning wreck

MA trooper injured in crash with deer

Deer zone designations a matter of concentration

Donkey killed after SC hunter mistakes it for deer

Rescuers capture 'Homer' the lonely llama on Pikes Peak

Coyote Sightings Making Grapevine Shoppers Nervous

Rancher loses sheep to coyotes, but law limits him fighting back

Pet predators

Idaho again wants to land choppers in wilderness

Oregon proposes expanding its cougar hunts

Tribal Courts To Take Over Eagle-religion Case

Raccoon Causes Commotion at Alexandria Wal-Mart

In Aspen, it's the year of the bear

Anchorage bears quiet after last year’s maulings

Black bear attacks Heathrow man outside home

Bear wanders into family home

Bear caught, tagged, shipped off

State investigates illegal killing of black bear in Wayne County

Polar bear cub hitches a ride

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100209

2009-10-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

In our first wildlife article today, a new study from Oregon State University shows that the decline in large predators worldwide over the past 200 years has led to an explosion in the population of midrange predators, such as coyotes, which has wreaked havoc on the ecosystem; while Davidson College, in North Carolina, has reported an abundance of wildlife in the green spaces of their campus. Residents of Pasadena, California, received reverse-911 calls about a bear rummaging through garbage and taking dips in people's pools in the northern parts of that city; while a mama bear and 2 cubs ended up treed at a Montana home after raiding the bird feeder. The first kill in the Oklahoma bear hunt has been announced; ; but wildlife officials have "bagged" nearly a dozen bear poachers in New York state in the past few weeks. A more detailed look at raccoon rabies vaccines is provided in an article from Tennessee. Washington state wildlife officials have requested that hunters remove half a dozen cougars from two areas in the western part of that state. The unique dynamics surrounding Yellowstone's wolves, in comparison with their northern brethren, is examined in the next article; followed by an Op-Ed piece from Oregon that councils against wolf depredation permits in that state. A letter to the editor of an Alberta, Canada, paper expresses concern about coyotes in their area. Statistically speaking, an insurance study shows that auto collisions with wildlife increase from now until November each year; which is probably why the Texas Department of Transportation is warning motorists about an increased risk from deer-auto collisions in the central part of that state during the fall. An elderly resident of Ohio has been sentenced to community service and a small fine after beating a fawn to death with a shovel; but the New York Times provides an excerpt from a new book mentioned in Wildlife NOTD a few days ago that examines the less obvious aspects of a deer's life. And finally, a good Samaritan helped a skunk in Michigan whose head became stuck in a McDonald's cup, a good deed which raised only a little bit of a stink!

Decline in big predators wreaking havoc on ecosystems, OSU researchers say

Campus wildlife causes fear, joy, awe

Big bear roams Pasadena neighborhood for dinner and a swim

Bear family treed after tempted by bird feeder

First black bear harvested

DEC charges 10 with bear poaching

Fighting Rabies And Counting Raccoon At Steele Creek Park

WA Public Safety Cougar Removal Applications Due October 19

Researcher: Yellowstone wolves distinct

Protecting wolves promotes a healthy landscape

Coyotes moving causes concern

Make sure your auto insurance covers accidents involving deer

TxDOT: Watch for deer on road

Ohio Woman Sentenced After Beating Baby Deer

‘The Hidden Life of Deer’

Officer saves wayward skunk disrupting traffic on Southfield Road

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100109

2009-10-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

An Op-Ed piece from Elmhurst, Illinois, (formerly known as Skunk Hollow) counsels that it's better to try to get along with skunks in the area than trying to trap and remove them all; but at a wildlife shelter in Woodland Hills, California, a "Romeo and Juliet" story played out between an improbable couple: a rabbit and a skunk! A columnist from Montréal, Canada, is definitely not a fan of skunks, as demonstrated by the next article. Louisiana's state bird, the brown pelican, whose numbers declined significantly due to DDT affecting their eggs, is making a comeback; three crowned eagles, South America's rarest raptor with only 1,000 members in the wild, will be released back into the wild after having been rehabilitated at the Buenos Aires zoo; and a juvenile red-shouldered hawk which ran into a window, nearly losing its foot, is being rehabilitated and should be released back into the wilds of New York state soon. A teenager from Ontario, Canada, was attacked by an aggressive coyote while the youth was out picking apples. A cougar was seen in Ontario, Canada, prompting wildlife officials to issue warnings not to approach the animal; while students at a Colorado school had their access to a nearby lake restricted due to a possible cougar sighting. North Dakota Game and Fish officials have yet to confirm reported sightings of a cougar near a golf course; but an e-mail of a cougar with a deer seen in South Dakota is stirring some controversy as to its origins. Officials in a North Island, New Zealand, community have voted to stop aerial drops of the deadly 1080 poison baits intended to kill off the abundance of possums in the area; but TB reduction in cattle herds has been a resounding success, causing officials to now look towards reducing the incidence in the possum population as well. A New Yorker who ventured onto a neighbor's property in the Hamptons to free a cat that was inadvertently caught in a raccoon trap could face jail time; while another rabid raccoon has been identified in eastern North Carolina; and a Florida man is being tested for rabies after being bitten by a raccoon in his tool shed. Connecticut officials inadvertently killed a black bear that fell out of a tree after being tranquilized and broke its neck; but although a Wyoming resident covered in deer blood was approached by a grizzly bear which he immediately shot, wildlife authorities claim that it was not a clear-cut case of self-defense; and a deer hunter on Sitka Island, Alaska, was attacked by a grizzly bear while climbing a steep slope. Deer-auto collisions in North Carolina are the topic of the next article; while motorists in Ohio are being warned not to swerve to avoid hitting a deer in the road ahead of them for fear of veering into traffic or a ditch along the road. A community in Pennsylvania is wrestling with the problem of how to curb their deer population; even as changes to deer hunting rules in New York state are being discussed amid reports from venison food banks that indicate that donations are down this year in a program that has yielded over 300 tons of meat to needy families during the past 10 years. A writer from Michigan gives a little ancient history on the origins of whitetail deer in the US. And finally, we close today with a story from Montana of mule-tide cheer!

EDITORIAL: Skunks in the City

Love Stinks: After Skunk Passes, Bunny Dies of "Broken Heart"

So how do you get rid of skunks?

Pelican populations recover but will continue to be monitored

Endangered Eagles to Be Released

Injured hawk has ticket to glide

Coyote attacks Ontario teen

Cougar spotted near Dealtown

Fairview students restricted due to possible mountain lion sighting

Mountain lions seen in area

Picture Of Big Cat Comes With A Big Story

Aerial Dropping Must Stop

Submissions called for bovine TB strategy review

NY 'cat rescuer' could face jail if convicted

Rabid Raccoon Confirmed In Carteret County

Raccoon in tool shed bites Spring Hill man — rabies a concern

Bear dies after being sedated by Conn. officials

Hunter charged with illegal grizzly bear kill

Grizzly Bear Chomps Down on Hunter's Arm in Alaska

Study: Deer Crashes Continue To Rise In NC

Officials say collisions with deer are down, but drivers still need to be aware

Mt. Lebanon seeks ways to curb deer population

Groups seeking changes in rules for deer hunting

Ask Eric: How long have whitetail deer been around?

Mule deer or Yule deer? Buck draped with decor

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 093009

2009-09-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Over a ton of elephant tusks being illegally shipped to Thailand were intercepted at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, our first wildlife article today; followed by some pointers on pet safety from the CEO of Seattle's Humane Society. While raptor enthusiasts are probably excited about the resurgent eagle population in Maryland, homeowners in Annapolis fear for the safety of their pets; and an Op-Ed piece from the New York Times discusses the effect of fear of predators on the prey. Four deer-auto collision stories underscore the danger in areas with deer populations: a motorcyclist had a deadly encounter with a deer in the road in Alabama; a motorcyclist in Montana took a spill after hitting a deer near Greycliff; and motorists in Colorado are being warned about deer in the road this time of year; but the odds are lower in Utah. Seeking to avoid bringing Chronic Wasting Disease into Michigan, wildlife officials are reminding hunters of restrictions on importing deer carcasses from designated states; but visitors to the Seneca, New York, area are able to get tours of an old army base at which a rare white deer resides. A letter to the editor of a Kansas paper defends hunters who've been vilified due to a debate over an urban deer hunt; while city officials in a Michigan community that has been embroiled in a similar dilemma is taking a "wait and see" attitude. A mountain biker in Colorado had a close encounter of the cougar kind; while a resident of Minnesota claims to have seen a cougar, but wildlife officials are skeptical. A cougar decided to make a meal of a small dog in Central California, but the pet owners had other ideas; however, a bold cougar in Tioga, North Dakota, had better make tracks for the wilderness before the city decides to do some hunting; like hunters elsewhere in that state, who have reported their first kill of the season. Bear hunters in Idaho reported four more hunting dogs killed by a wolfpack; while pet owners in parts of New York state are being warned about coyotes making off with their charges. Parents of school-age children in Austin, Texas, are concerned about the danger from roundworms borne in raccoon feces afflicting their children; while an elderly resident of New Jersey not only had her apartment ransacked by a raccoon, but ended up being bitten on the leg to boot! Another dangerous bear encounter story comes to us from Vail, Colorado. And finally, Knut, the world's most famous polar bear, got cuffed on his first date in Berlin!

Kenya, Ethiopia authorities seize ivory stash

Notes from the CEO: Protecting Pets from Coyotes, Raccoons and Skunks

Where Tasty Morsels Fear to Tread

Where eagles fly, pet owners better watch out

Man dies in wreck, deer at fault

Motorcyclist injured after hitting deer near Greycliff

Crashes Between Deer, Vehicles Jump In Colo.

Odds of hitting deer in Utah: 1 in 400

Tour rare world of Seneca’s white deer

Michigan hunters reminded about deer, elk import restrictions

Deer hunts need not be viewed as cruel

GHT officials: deer more of a 'nuisance'

Man encounters mountain lion on Quarry Mountain trail

DNR official skeptical about cougar report near St. Clair

Cat chases dog: Lakeport lion attempts attack

Officials disagree on threat posed by mountain lion

ND Reports Season`s First Mountain Lion Killed

Wolves kill 4 hunting dogs

Warning: look out for local coyotes

Raccoon Roundworm causing playground danger

Ventnor Woman Attacked by Raccoon in Her Apartment

Vail woman fends off bear with pillow

Polar Bear Knut Smacked on First Date (But It's a Good Thing!)

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092909

2009-09-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

First up today in wildlife news, Sam Gowen, of the Orange County Register, sent along an article that summarizes pet owners' comments on coyotes in Orange County, California; but in a bit of a mystery, two dogs hunting coyotes in Michigan were shot by someone. Although US Forest Service scientists agree the Angeles National Forest is sick after the recent wildfires, they feel that the foliage will come back quicker than expected, but the animals suffered terrible losses due to the fires. In another link to birds, a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen was apparently killed by trichomonosis, a common avian ailment. Some video footage of yesterday's story about a bear breaking into a Mount Baldy Village, California, home is provided in the next item; but one of Canada's northernmost provinces is faced with a dilemma: reduce polar bear hunts to avoid sanctions, or reduce a lucrative business in hosted hunts. Incursions by humans into koala territories, along with bushfires devastating the groves where they live, is stressing out the little animals, opening the door for a deadly disease that is decimating the population; however, a Washington state school bus driver is in trouble with the district after dropping a middle school student off near where a bear was standing! About 75 countries took part in a World Rabies Day event yesterday that sought to inform the public of the threat from rabies; as a family in North Carolina is waiting nervously to see whether their puppy contracted rabies from an encounter with a rabid skunk; a skunk examined in a Virginia community turned out to also have rabies; and rabid skunks in a Colorado county are suspected of having transmitted the disease to a cougar and a cow. The hilarious misadventures of a writer from Central California whose dog was "skunked" is up next. Customers and employees of a high-end beauty salon in Pennsylvania were stunned when a deer crashed through the front window unexpectedly; while deer hunters in Minnesota are assisting wildlife officials in measuring the health of the deer herd by allowing them to take tissue samples of their kills. A truck plummeted off an embankment in central California while trying to avoid a deer in the road; Michigan claimed the dubious honor of second-place in the number of deer-auto collisions in the US; but unlike residents of many towns where urban deer hunting is taking place, citizens of a town in Connecticut are supportive of the effort. A study just published in Conservation Genetics Magazine revealed that extermination of wolves on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, has led to a new breed of "monster" wolves; while an update on wolf hunting in Idaho is provided by the next item. A cougar was sighted near a garden party in Palo Alto, California; but a cougar that jumped out of a ditch yesterday was struck by a motorist near an Alberta, Canada, community. And finally, a photo from Colorado shows a case of David versus Goliath, or in this instance, kingbird versus red-tailed hawk!

Readers share sightings and wildlife attacks on pets

DNR Investigating Dog Shooting In Kalkaska County

With care, the forest will live

Did lowly parasite kill famous T. rex?

Video: Bear breaks into California home

Northern hearing told limit on polar bear hunt crucial to Nunavut economy

Stress disease kills Australia's koalas

Bus driver drops middle school student off near bear

Day stresses rabies awareness

16th rabies case reported in Rockwell

Skunk tests positive for rabies in eastern Henrico

Mountain lion, cow latest rabies victims in eastern El Paso County

After skunk encounter, house goes to the dogs

Deer Makes Unexpected Visit To Pa. Hair Salon

MN Deer Hunters Encouraged To Take Part In Disease Surveillance Testing

Deer Blamed For Highway 49 Crash

Michigan ranks 2nd in car-deer collisions

How will engaging a deer hunter help restore health and safety?

Cull led to hybrid 'monster' wolves: Study

15 wolves killed so far in Idaho

Mountain lion spotted near Highway 101 in Palo Alto

Cougar put down after being hit

Pictured: The tiny kingbird that took a piggyback on a predatory hawk and lived to tell the tale

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092809

2009-09-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

In wildlife news today, Camilla Fox of Project Coyote, provides our first two items of news on her favorite topic. A central California high school beset by geese has reconstituted their fake coyote population after thieves made off with the first batch; but although North Dakota's wildlife officials don't keep an official tally of how many coyotes are present in that state, residents are reporting increased sightings of the canines. In an update on the story of "Josie the possum", a Queensland, Australia, pensioner has succeeded in avoiding officials who want to confiscate the little creature; but the story appears to have a happy ending, as "Fred the possum" has been returned after a public upwelling arguing that, since the animals had never been in the wild, they would not survive if they were put in the wild. Wildlife authorities are still trying to figure out how a humpback whale ended up dead in a Virginia river; while first responders had a real mess on their hands when a truck transporting beehives in Turkey crashed, releasing swarms of angry bees that stung everybody in the vicinity. Mr. Bumble, a domesticated skunk in the UK, has been put on a diet after being fed inappropriate foods by his owners; followed by a editorial from Arizona that provides sage advice to husbands about listening to their wives, especially in regards to feeding skunks! As raptors continue their journey south for the winter, enthusiasts in Maryland are getting a "bird's-eye view" of the activity. A black bear in upstate New York that had wandered into a community was shot and killed by wildlife authorities; while Oklahoma's controversial black bear hunt is approaching. Colorado's Department of Wildlife has been experimenting with electric mats and fencing to deter hungry bears; something a resident of Mount Baldy Village, California, could have used, considering the $20,000 worth of repairs he has to pay for after a hungry black bear got trapped in the house! German zoo officials in Berlin were stunned when a Syrian brown bear attacked and killed a female brown bear with which he cohabited. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is getting ready to drop rabies vaccine baits in northern Tennessee and Southern Virginia to reduce the number of rabid raccoons in the area; while the driver of a Honda Accord that mowed down a pair of raccoons deliberately in Half Moon Bay, California, is being sought by authorities. It appears that Global Warming is a threat to more species than just polar bears, such as Minnesota's moose population. The role that hunting plays in the health of deer herds is examined in the next article; but there's trouble in paradise, as an overabundance of deer needs to be addressed by Hawaiian authorities. West Virginia led the nation in most deer-auto collisions, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; and motorists in Nebraska are being given tips to help avoid deer-auto collisions, something which is more frequent during October and November in that state. British police managed to arrest a quartet of deer poachers over the weekend; while Michigan wildlife officials fear that some deer in that state may have died of epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Residents of Arizona's rural areas are being reminded again not to feed elk and deer, lest they find a cougar on their front doorstep. The next article, from Minnesota, discusses all aspects of cougars; followed by an Op-Ed piece from New Hampshire that pontificates over the possibility of cougars returning to that state for the first time since 1885. And finally, what's 7 feet tall, weighs 400 pounds, and wants to be your friend on Facebook?

Protecting America’s Song Dog

Tell The Huntington To Stop Killing Coyotes!

Tam High's geese-spooking coyotes return

More coyotes reported in eastern ND

Josie is still 'on the run'

Possum-keeper reunited with "pet"

Dead humpback whale found floating in Va. river

Crash scene overwhelmed by bees in Turkey

Fat skunk gives up bacon butties

Listen to your spouse to avoid a big stink

Migration brings broad-winged hawks to Md. sky

Bear Killed in Village of Lowville

Hunters Prepare to Hunt Bear In Oklahoma

Aspen bears are in for a shock

Bear raids house in Mt. Baldy

Male brown bear kills female bear at German zoo

Wildlife Officials Prepare Massive Rabies Vaccine Air Drop

2 men sought for running over raccoons in Half Moon Bay

Warmer weather threatens moose in Minnesota

How Deer Hunting Preserves The Deer Herds

Maui County wrestles with spiraling axis deer population

West Virginia Drivers Hit Most Deer, State Farm Says

Neb. drivers urged to watch out for deer in fall

Dog gangs target deer in county

Mich. officials track disease that killed deer

At feeding time, elk don't need your help

DNR wildlife manager provides cougar fact sheet

Editorial: Does the lion roam our yards tonight?

Endangered Ugandan gorillas join Facebook, MySpace

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092609

2009-09-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

One of the last places you would expect to find an infestation of skunks, the New York Times reports that the skunks have taken Manhattan! To many people, lawyers stink, but one from Austin, Texas, really did after being sprayed by a skunk at his office! A Pennsylvania farmer was fortunate that he was able to kill a rabid skunk before it came near his horses; but a Massachusetts resident is having to undergo a painful series of rabies shots after an encounter with a raccoon that may have been rabid. A raccoon in Louisiana ran into some trouble with a Hawaiian Punch can; and a black bear visited a backyard in Massachusetts which the owner nicknamed "the wild kingdom", due to the abundance of wildlife passing through. A bear that wandered into St. Paul, Minnesota, was shot by authorities due to fears for the crowd of onlookers it drew; but residents of Aspen, Colorado, are being told to make life "unbearable" for ursine visitors. An inside look at rehabilitation of bald eagles is provided by an article from Arkansas; while hawk watching records were broken in Delaware this weekend, one location reporting more than 3,000 raptors passing by. Residents of an Arkansas community are concerned about coyote attacks on their pets; but a particularly bold coyote walked right in the front door of an Oregon home and carried off an elderly Pekingese napping there; and a Central California community is complaining about increase in coyote attacks. A deer forest which had entertained guests for 60 years in Northern Indiana went on the auction block today. The divisive issue of an urban deer hunt has come to Portsmouth, Ohio; but in contrast, Greenwich, Connecticut, has seen a reduction in deer-auto collisions and decimation of vegetation in areas where deer hunting has been sanctioned. A trio of cougar sightings and Shasta Lake, California, has authorities on edge; while a cougar was apparently shot in a Texas community. A cougar killing a deer in Willits, California, prompted wildlife officials to provide tips to homeowners on how to keep deer away from their property, and thereby reduce the chance encounter with a cougar; but after spending hours poring over a photo of an alleged cougar, Michigan wildlife officials have concluded that it was really just a house cat. And finally, for those who recall the biblical phrase "the lion will lie down with the lamb", here's an item that shows that that's already happening!

Just Get a Whiff of This! Skunks Get a Free Pass

Austin attorney is stunk up by skunk

Skunks tests positive for rabies

Bitten by possibly rabid raccoon, Palmer man undergoing series of shots

'Trouble' The Raccoon Doing Well After Rescue, Release

Black bear roams through yard in Harvard

Bear shot near school in St. Paul suburb

Bear Invasion! Aspen Sees Tenfold Increase in Bear Sightings

Healed bald eagle to be set free

Hawks soar in DE

Coyote attacks dog in Vilonia

Coyote snatches Pekingese from Lake Oswego home

Coyotes 'getting very bold,' says Monte Sereno resident

Deer Forest goes on auction block

Urban Deer Hunting Debated in Portsmouth, Ohio

Deer population still an issue in Greenwich despite slight improvements

Mountain lion sightings reported in Shasta Lake

Mountain lion reportedly spotted in Rancho Alegre

Mountain lion kills deer on Redwood Avenue

DNR: Pic of Alleged Cougar is Actually a Kitty Cat

Animal Odd Couples: Unlikely Duos Find Friendship

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092509

2009-09-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Over 100 new species of wildlife have been found in Southeast Asia, including frogs, bats, lizards, and snakes, as told in our first wildlife story today; followed by the tale of a pensioner in Queensland, Australia, who is resisting official pressure to surrender his tiny pet possum. Another look at the great raptor migration south across Connecticut is provided by the next story. A Wisconsin town's attempts to cull the local deer herd is starting out slow; but a gruesome token of the coming deer cull in a Kansas Park was presented to city officials. A pit bull mortally injured a doe in Michigan before being captured by Sheriff's deputies; followed by a look at deer-auto collisions in South Carolina. A city official in an Ontario, Canada, community who initially advocated coexisting with coyotes, is now advocating extermination; but the backlash from coyote activists has delayed an intended hunt of these canines in an Indiana neighborhood indefinitely. The contentious issue of what to do about gray wolves in the northern parts of the US is examined in the next article. Wildlife officials in North Carolina are cautioning residents about a number of cougar-sighting hoaxes stirring up false fear about cougars in a state which reportedly has none; even as a cougar was spotted on a popular hiking trail in Colorado, forcing officials to close the trail until they find the cat. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have called off a controversial cougar study that involves killing a number of these felines to see if it had any impact on livestock losses or human complaints; but Canadian Mounties have a mystery on their hands: after a man told a passerby he'd been bitten by a cougar and was driving himself to the hospital, he never arrived! Officials in a Pennsylvania township are hoping that a growing skunk problem will drift away in time; but a councilman in an Illinois town is advocating sterner measures to remove skunks from his community. A variety of wildlife with rabies have pushed the number of cases in Nogales, Arizona, to nearly 3 dozen; and Newport News, Virginia, reported their 18th case of rabies in the area. A male black bear reappeared in a Nevada community, forcing officials to tranquilize him prior to relocating him in the wilderness a second time; but a South Carolina resident was badly scratched on her hand by a caged black bear. A resident of Wyoming decries a judge's ruling that will protect grizzlies, fearing that there will now be more human-grizzly encounters with deadly consequences; and arctic explorers recounted some of their more hair-raising tales, including a polar bear incursion into their tent, to Welsh schoolchildren in the UK. And finally, a docile bear went nose-to-nose with a homeowner's pig in Massachusetts before scurrying back into the woods!

Fanged frog, 162 other new species found in Mekong

Raoul's possum magic

Record crowds gawk at the hawks

Little Chute's destructive deer near Heesakker Park could be culled

Deer head delivered in protest to SM Park officials

Sheriff: Pit bull kills deer

Deer-Auto crashes rise in 2008, deaths & injuries drop

Councillor calls for coyote cull

Coyotes’ removal from Mishawaka neighborhood put on hold

States should take control of gray wolves

Wildlife commission: no mountain lions in WNC

Mountain Lion spotted on popular Monument trail, trail closed

Controversial cougar study comes to end

North Vancouver RCMP fear man attacked by cougar

Skunks go wild in Aston

Skunks a 'stinky issue' for city

County posts record-setting 34 cases of rabies

Raccoon in Newport News tests positive for rabies

Roaming black bear caught off Highway 50 East

Woman Mauled By Bear In Pumpkintown

Ruling means ‘more griz, more conflict’

Explorer’s close call as polar bear attacked camp

Visiting bear was like a 'curious kid'

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092409

2009-09-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

In our first wildlife story today, Pete Thomas of the LA Times tells about a black bear that was killed by visitors to Mammoth Lakes, California; but Massachusetts homeowners were told to beware of a bear in the neighborhood. A raccoon in Concord, New Hampshire, is in the crosshairs, as one official said he would "put it 2 feet under" if he catches up to it. Residents of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are becoming concerned after another rabid raccoon was reported, the 10th such report so far this year in that area. Wildlife officials in Tennessee are scattering rabies-vaccinated baits in 15 counties in hopes of reducing rabid raccoon incidents; and a rabid raccoon was seen near a restroom in Yonkers, New York. Two cases of rabid wildlife (a skunk and a raccoon) were reported in Fairfax, Virginia; followed by the report of a rabid skunk in an Ontario, Canada, community which puts the tally of rabid wildlife at five so far this year. The hilarious misadventures of a family from Chicago, Illinois, is chronicled as their dog mixes it up with a skunk with predictable consequences! A wildlife biologist from Minnesota reflects on a cougar killed in an auto accident last Friday; while a cougar in Northern California jumped off a bluff right in front of an automobile, suffering severe injuries for which it was euthanized; and a feline spotted near an Oregon high school was confirmed to have been a cougar. A Michigan community will soon hear the findings of a deer committee on the wisdom of culling the herd. Sea Eagles in Scotland had a bonnie year, repopulating areas where eagles had been absent for a long time; followed by some advice on raccoons and blue jays in California from wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue. A rural homeowner from Ohio reflects on wildlife around their property. And finally, a 'Critter Catcher' from Kansas City, Missouri, is profiled.

Bear shot to death by angler at Lake Mary in Mammoth Lakes area

Methuen warns residents to be wary of bear

Suspicious raccoon eludes capture

More animal attacks in North Myrtle Beach subdivision

Tennessee Works To Prevent Raccoon Rabies

Rabies alert issued for Yonkers raccoon at Fleming Field

Animal Watch

Skunk the latest rabid animal in area

Kirby got skunked

Bemidji Cougar Death Brings Community Closure

Mountain lion killed near Smartsville

Cougar sighted near Estacada High School

Committee to present findings on Rochester Hills deer problem at meeting

Record year for sea eagle pairs

Gary Bogue: Tomatoes: Who's picking my heirloom tomatoes?

The squirrel and the ‘possum: A story of American agriculture

Catching critters

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092309

2009-09-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

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

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092209

2009-09-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

Pat Brennan, of the Orange County Register, discusses the difficult life of a Southern California mule deer buck as rutting season begins, our first wildlife article today; but an Iowa community is pushing ahead with its plans for a deer hunt, despite protests from PETA. The contentious issue of deer culling and sterilization in a upstate New York community is revisited in the next article; and the effectiveness of using wool string in fabricating a homemade fence to keep deer out of the garden is revealed by an article from New Brunswick, Canada. With a population of over 1 1/2 million deer, the UK has recorded 74,000 deer-auto collisions, forcing officials to ask drivers to slow down near deer areas. Birdwatchers got quite an aerial display from birds migrating south across Duluth, Minnesota, over this past weekend; while Raptor Rescue will be returning an eagle to the wild in northwest Arkansas this coming weekend. Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue discusses the possibility of a hawk making off with a chicken in California. A woman who was bitten by a raccoon in South Carolina had the presence of mind to capture the critter so that it could be determined whether it was rabid or not; but another trio of rabies cases has been reported in a North Carolina county that already had a dozen so far this year. The unlikelihood of cougars in Pennsylvania is revisited by wildlife officials there after reported sightings; while wildlife officials have brought in the hounds to try to smoke out a cougar on Microsoft's campus in Washington state. Urban coyotes are being joined by some of their wilder cousins from the hills after the devastating wildfires in Southern California; but Los Angeles officials are caught in a bit of a quandary on the issue of controlling aggressive coyotes in Griffith Park due to public outcry against killing the animals. An Op-Ed piece from Oregon argues that ranchers should be allowed to shoot wolves that are causing problems for their livestock. Residents of a community in Utah are being warned to secure their trash after a black bear was spotted in the area; and Yellowstone's grizzly population is once again under federal protection after a federal judge revoked Bush administration policies that took the bear off the Endangered Species list. Wildlife officials in Medford, Oregon, lamented the fact that the bear they shot with a tranquilizer dart in town drowned after running into a nearby river and passing out. And finally, in an interesting coincidence, Russian President Medvedev (whose name comes from the Russian word for bear) donated two Siberian bear cubs to the Swiss city of Bern (whose name comes from the German word for bear)!

For mule deer, fall is full of hazards

City responds to PETA attack on deer hunting

Heights reduces minimum deer sterilization target

Fence keeps deer from dahlias

Drivers told 'slow down for deer'

Birdwatchers Flock To Hawk Ridge In Duluth

Eagle release planned for Sunday at Hobbs State Park in northwest Arkansas

Gary Bogue: Chickens: Could a hawk fly off with a hen?

Little River woman undergoing rabies treatment

Three more rabies cases confirmed for a total of 15 this year in Rowan County

Official: Presence of mountain lion unlikely

Dogs search Microsoft campus for cougar

Our View: Beware of displaced coyotes

Griffith Park users outraged by shooting of 7 coyotes

Give ranchers right to kill problem wolves

Police: Bear spotted in Dunstable

Court restores safeguards for grizzly bears

Tranquilized Oregon bear drowns in creek

Medvedev gives Swiss city two bear cubs

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092109

2009-09-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

Our first wildlife article today provides an educational experience with 'Mouse School' and other hawk rehabilitation techniques at an Ohio raptor shelter; while raptor enthusiasts from all around the area flocked to Greenwich, Connecticut, over the weekend and recorded more than 700 hawks soaring past as they migrated south for the winter. The contentious issue of Native American religion versus the Endangered Species Act protections for the bald eagle is examined in a Los Angeles Times article. A Pennsylvania columnist voices his beef with skunks in the neighborhood. Some pointers on trapping coyotes is provided in the next article from Minnesota; followed by one on a hazard of hunting coyotes in Vermont: shooting a hunting partner! Public safety officials in an Illinois community are restrained from harming coyotes that are making a nuisance of themselves in the area; while a writer from Massachusetts has posted a warning to parents and pet owners that coyotes have been spotted in the area. The divisive issue of wolves is explored in an article from Oregon. Vladimir Putin was on hand for the release of two snow leopards into a wildlife preserve in Russia. An uptick in cougar sightings in Nebraska has prompted wildlife officials to inform residents of the ground rules in dealing with these predators; and reports of an adult and a juvenile cougar were filed in Portola Valley, California, over the weekend. Two people were hurt when a pickup truck swerved to avoid hitting a deer in upstate New York over the weekend; but with 18 deaths and millions of dollars worth of damage statewide over the past few years, North Carolina's Department of Transportation is providing drivers with some tips on how to avoid collisions with deer in the road. Authorities in the UK are attempting to curb illegal deer hunts; but after two harsh winters and an increase in predators, deer populations in the Northeast have suffered. For aspiring nature photographers, Vermont is offering to post your pictures of deer; while wildlife officials in Montana are trying to unravel a mystery about a deer found shot in the head on an elementary school playground. Wildlife officials in Québec, Canada, believe they have caught up with the bear which mauled a woman last week; but a bear's visit to a Seminole County, Florida, school caused a bit of a ruckus today. A press release from the Pennsylvania Game Commission provides useful tips to help residents avoid conflicts with bears; and an outdoor enthusiast from Washington state hiking in Olympic National Park had an unexpected berry-tasting partner: a bear! The plight of the polar bear due to Global Warming is explored in an article from U.S. News & World Report. And finally, a rare red panda nearly made the great escape from its enclosure at Beigong National Forest Park, China!

Young hawk takes flight with help from humans

Thousands turn out for annual hawk watch

Bald eagle case raises issue of religious liberty

Skunks: The real scourge of Johnstown suburbia

Challenged by the cunning coyote

Georgia Man Sentenced For Shooting Hunting Partner

Coyote spotted, but authorities are hand-tied

Coyotes sighted in Port

Wolves: majestic symbol or bloodthirsty predator? Debate divides Oregonians

Putin hangs out with the big cats: Snow leopards

Mountain Lion Sightings Prompt Policy Reminder

Two mountain lions spotted Saturday afternoon in Portola Valley

Two hurt as truck avoids hitting deer

NC DOT reminds drivers to be aware of deer

Police crackdown on deer poaching

Deer kill in Maine could be the lowest in 25 years

Vt. seeks deer photos

Deer found dead, shot in head on Helena playground

Bear involved in attack killed: Quebec officials

Bear Leaves Area After School Locked Down

Pennsylvania Game Commission Offers Advice on Avoiding Bear Conflicts

Bears, berries: Olympic park's High Divide trail

White Bear Takes Center Stage in Climate Drama

The little red panda who could ... almost

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091909

2009-09-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

We lead off Wildlife News Of The Day today with a story that comes to us from Paris, France, the fabled City of Lights, where beekeeping is becoming a popular activity (who knows, maybe it will be known in the future as the City of Bees!) A New York Times article discusses how humans introducing invasive species have made a mess of northern Australia's wildlife; followed by a story from Mississippi about how firefighters removed a crocodile monitor lizard from a tree outside of a grade school. The issue of what to do with dead or injured wildlife in a small Central California town is discussed in the next article. In a bizarre incident, a bear attacked a group of tourists in a mountainous region of Japan; while people pursuing outdoor activities in New Mexico's Gila National Forest are being advised to avoid feeding the bears. A bear evidently traveled nearly 100 miles to attack a horse in a Colorado community; but wildlife group in Colorado is asking for financial help from the city after wildlife officials killed the mother bear, leaving two cubs in their care. Residents of Tacoma, Washington, have been advised not to leave doggie doors open during the night after a raccoon snuck in through one and attacked the dog. A rabid raccoon interacted with an unknown number of cats this week, causing a bit of a health scare in a North Carolina community; and the death of a horse in El Paso County, Colorado, underscores the importance of vaccinating not only pets, but also livestock in areas where rabies is present in the wildlife. A cougar has been reported prowling around outside a Central California community, probably driven there by a population boom in the high country; while a cougar spotted by wildlife officials in New Hampshire is believed to be someone's pet who was illegally released into the wild, as related by the next two articles. A cougar was spotted jumping from a tree in a San Mateo County neighborhood this week; but Ohio's Department of Natural Resources is debunking cougar pictures as being fakes. Refinery workers at a Shell facility in Martinez, California, are on edge after several deer carcasses, attributed to either a cougar or coyote, were found on the grounds. An Iowa man who transported deer out of state in 2004 was sentenced for illegal hunting. Coyotes preying on pets in Santa Monica, California, are once again in the news; and the hunt is on for coyotes frequenting Griffith Park in Los Angeles after a man was bitten on the foot by one there earlier this week. Here's something they probably don't teach at the Chicago police academy: how do you get a skunk out of a Mayo jar? And finally, a Florida pool guy managed to rescue an eastern spotted skunk that had fallen into a swimming pool, took it home to help it recover and gave it an appropriate name: stinky!

Paris rooftops abuzz with beekeeping

The Extinction Knot: A Hidden Crisis in Northern Australia

Raw Video: Firefighters Capture Rogue Lizard

Oh deer! Disposing of dead or injured wildlife presents dilemma

Bear mauls 9 people at bus terminal on Gifu mountain

Be 'bear aware' in Mimbres region

Bear mauls horse in metro area

Silt wildlife group seeks funding to care for orphaned bears

Raccoon attacks family dog inside Tacoma home

Rabies alert issued for Flat River Township

Rabid horse dies in El Paso County

Evidence of mountain lion reported in San Benancio Canyon

State official: Mountain lion seen in New Hampshire

Mountain lion sightings? Two reported inside a week, one by Fish and Game staffer

San Mateo Co.: Mountain Lion Spotted near Home in Unincorporated Montara

Mountain lion picture a hoax

Four dead deer raise concerns about predator

Iowa man sentenced for illegal hunting

Coyotes moving further into city

Coyote reportedly attacks man in Griffith Park

Cop tries to free skunk from mayo jar

Catch of the Day - pool skimmer-style

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091809

2009-09-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

Homeowners in an Illinois town are concerned over the tepid response by the city to control the skunk population; while the skunk population at DePauw University in Indiana is causing concern for school officials. The controversial plan to hunt deer near the University of Mississippi has been suspended; and two animal control officers from Sioux City, Iowa, managed to rescue a deer trapped in a pipe, but then needed some help themselves after being overcome by fumes and heat. A mule deer that had been kept as a pet in Riverside County, California, has been confiscated by Fish and Game officials, and was an instant hit at their shelter! A little bear on campus caused a big stir at a couple of Virginia schools; but a bear shot near a Washington state high school may have been taken illegally. Wildlife officials in New Jersey will attempt to capture and haze an aggressive black bear before releasing it back into the wild. Wildlife officials in Virginia provided tips to residents about handling animal carcasses that could be rabid. A world-class pianist discusses her music and how wolves figure into it; but an Ontario, Canada, township is reporting an increase in coyote-livestock incidents. A juvenile coyote that had fallen into a sinkhole in Ocala, Florida, was rescued by animal control officers; even as pet owners are on the alert after reports of coyotes in Clearwater. Microsoft employees reported seeing a coyote and a cougar on the Microsoft campus yesterday (no doubt attracted by the abundance of mice at the facility!) Wildlife officials in Minnesota are debating whether a horse's wounds were caused by a cougar or something else; while rumors of cougars in Maine are explored in the next article. A New York chapter of the SPCA has taken a red-tailed hawk found along a busy road under its wing. And finally, a miniature town in Devon, UK, has a winged protector to chase away predatory seagulls!

Skunks concern residents; city says issue is under control

Skunk population brings health, trash concerns

Oxford deer hunt suspended

Iowa animal officers injured in deer rescue

Riverside animal services confiscates mule deer apparently kept as a pet

Bear causes scare for Alleghany County schools

Bear shot near Ocosta High School

DEP to capture aggressive bear

Rabid raccoon confirmed in Varina area

Pianist Grimaud: Wolves are a way into music

Coyote Problem In McNab Braeside

Young coyote rescued from Ocala sinkhole

Caution follows reports of coyotes roaming in two Clearwater neighborhoods

Coyote, Cougar Confusion Near Microsoft Campus

Cougars in the metro?

Kitty, kitty, here?

SPCA cares for hawk found on busy road

Don't mess with the bird: Hawk the slayer protects the citizens of ToyTown

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091709

2009-09-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

A compendium of animal encounters by wildlife officials in the Washington, DC, area is provided by our first wildlife article from the Washington Post; and a naturalist's paradise north of Yakima, Washington, is showcased in the next item. An alpaca breeder in Central California lost an estimated $60,000 worth of her animals to a cougar who went into a killing frenzy. A woman from Montréal, Québec, was mauled by a bear, later dying on her way to the hospital; while two Virginia communities have reported rabid raccoons in the vicinity; and a Texas town has reported that a skunk was confirmed to be rabid by health officials. Skunks, like their bigger neighbors bears, are chowing down for their long winter's nap in Illinois; while a Canadian skunk removal expert discusses how he got into the business in Calgary, Alberta; someone who might be retained by the next columnist from Montréal, Québec! A Kentucky dog park has seen coyotes frequenting the area; and coyotes are causing consternation for pet owners in Illinois as well. Texas hunters, providing feeding locations for deer, have found a useful way to prevent feral hogs from devouring the food. A self-avowed deer-hugger reveals their hidden life in a new book; but with the University of Mississippi reporting that deer have done $15,000 worth of damage to vegetation, wildlife officials are sanctioning a limited hunt to reduce the population; and a professional sharpshooter has been brought in to help police officers polish their skills for an upcoming deer hunt at Kansas wildlife park. Debate continues about footprints found in a Chicago suburb that some claim belong to a cougar. Lucky, the box turtle, was back in the news, appearing on the Today Show; and speaking of reptiles, consider visiting Cuban crocodiles on your next environmental junket! And finally, meet Raptorex, a pint-sized version of its more formidable descendant, Tyrannosaurus Rex!

Animal Watch

Desert canyon hosts birds, bighorns, occasional cougar

Mountain lion kills seven alpacas

Montreal woman dies after bear attack

Rabid raccoons in James City, Isle of Wight

Rabies reported near Commerce

Skunks fattening up for winter in Evanston

Mike Moser, skunk buster

I really, really hate skunks. Really

Coyote Sightings In Anderson Township

Beware coyotes don't eat your pet

Fence in food source, control population

New 'Hidden Life' in dogged pursuit of deer

Oxford can kill deer near golf course and airport

Firm hired to train officers for Shawnee Mission deer harvest

Expert: Prints found in Wheaton not likely from cougar

Lucky the injured turtle gets coasters for feet

Cuba hopes green tourism can keep it in the black

Early, smaller version of T. rex discovered

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091609

2009-09-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

New Westminster, British Columbia, is having a battle over wildlife living in green spaces within that city, in our first wildlife article today. Wildlife officials in Northern Arizona have been busily vaccinating wildlife, including over 100 skunks, from rabies; but police have reported their second rabid animal in a week, this time it was a skunk; and some residents of Half Moon Bay, California, have reported an increase in skunk sightings on their morning walks. Deer advocates, who were protesting a proposed deer hunting program to cull the herd at a Kansas park, have unveiled an anti-hunting billboard in nearby St. Louis, Missouri; and a trucker in South Dakota was killed when he rolled his rig attempting to avoid deer in the road. A Chicago suburb's residents debate what to do about an overpopulation of deer in their area; but some population control may already be in place as a cougar has been spotted on the outskirts of that metropolis. Arizona's Game and Fish commissioner waded into the debate over what to do about cougars that are impacting the bighorn sheep population in that state. A small black bear gave Canadian runners a fright in the Yukon over the weekend; followed by an update on the bear situation in Colorado. A nature lover from Kansas chronicles his ongoing battle with a mischievous raccoon; and public health officials in Seattle, Washington, warned residents about the danger of raccoon droppings. The seesaw battle over gray wolves in the Great Lakes region of the US has now tipped back in favor of the wolves; but an Op-Ed from Massachusetts argues against using traps on coyotes in the area. Virginia bird-watchers are reporting lots of raptors passing overhead on their way to Central and South America; as are hawk-watchers in New Jersey. And finally, a very interesting BBC documentary provides a window on a hidden world in the Andes, including mountaineering penguins!

Better wildlife protection needed for city

Rabies quarantine ends for Flagstaff-area pets

Police warn residents about rabid skunks

Skunk Population Increasing in El Granada?

Billboard Ups Park's Deer Killing Dilemma

Lemmon man killed when semi rolled to avoid deer

The trouble with too many deer

Second 'possible cougar' sighting in Wheaton

Commissioner suggests "lion free" zones

Black bear disrupts Yellowknife fundraiser

Bears spotted in Colo. foothills, plains towns

Raccoon testing limits of ‘great lover of nature’

Raccoons can leave dangerous droppings

Protections for wolves are officially back in place

YOUR VIEW: Coyotes can be deterred without traps

Annual hawk migration is upon us

The Hawk Watchers of Montclair

Mountaineering Magellanic Penguins

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091509

2009-09-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

The video of a very rare daytime gathering of over half a dozen coyotes in a Portland, Oregon, backyard has wildlife experts buzzing; but on a sadder note, Jessica Simpson has added her name to the list of celebrities whose pets have been poached by coyotes. A dog park in Ohio is being frequented by some different canines. A letter to the editor praises an article in yesterday's Salt Lake Tribune about wolves; and as the wolf hunt in Montana begins, residents are divided on the benefits of this activity. Some helpful tips for avoiding deer-auto collisions are offered in the next item; but anti-hunt activists in the UK are protesting a deer hunt that took place on Sir Paul McCartney's property. Hunters from Kentucky who take elk or deer in other states are forbidden from bringing certain parts back to Kentucky due to fears of spreading Chronic Wasting Disease to that state; while residents of Johnston, Iowa, are being advised not to feed deer, a practice which defeats the purpose of deer management. Wildlife officials in Louisiana have been frustrated in their efforts to try to catch a bear that continues to dumpster dive and spook cattle; but a trio of bears were left lounging in a tree in Boulder, Colorado, as wildlife officials decided to wait them out rather than chase them out. A California hiker was saved from a severe bear mauling by his dog; and the photo of a polar bear at a zoo in Tucson, Arizona, has entered the finals in a National Geographic photographic contest. Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch, a volunteer hawk-watching group in Delaware that counts raptors migrating south for the winter, is profiled in the next article. A pair of dogs has been quarantined after mixing it up with a rabid skunk in Virginia. 'Operation Possum Blitz', one New Zealander's attempt to rid her area of possums, is under way. And finally, for those of you who have toyed with making animal sounds from time to time, here's someone who can actually call raccoons (soon to be a competition at the local county fair, no doubt!)

Woman's backyard hosts coyote party

Jessica Simpson's Dog Snatched by Coyote

Coyotes found in Anderson Twp. dog park

Wondrous wolves

Wolves in the crosshairs as hunt starts today

Keeping Safe When Deer Take To The Road

Huntsmen 'filmed on McCartney deer sanctuary'

Kentucky defends against fatal deer, elk disease

Tip: Don't serve dinner to the deer in Johnston

Bear eluding traps in Dularge area

Momma bear and two cubs relax in Boulder backyard tree

Dog Saves Owner From Bear Attack In Calaveras Co.

Former R.I. zoo polar bear stars in national competition

Hawk watcher counts the birds

Skunk in Varina tests positive for rabies

Blitzing the pests out West

Monkeying around paying off

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091409

2009-09-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

In wildlife news today, a researcher from Cornell University in New York provides insight into wildlife in that state; followed by wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue, who provides some advice to a homeowner about a tail-less squirrel in California. A Washington couple and their dog had a vicious battle with an aggressive raccoon; but a dog's encounter with a rabid skunk in Ohio had a better outcome for the dog. A skunk crossing an Oklahoma Highway caused a head-on collision between two motorists; and a Missouri motorist missed a deer in the road, but hit the embankment. A US Geological Survey researcher fears that Wisconsin's deer herd, afflicted with Chronic Wasting Disease, could be going the way of deer herds in Colorado and Wyoming; but a letter to the editor of a Central Virginia paper argues for the elimination of a local golf course rather than culling of the deer population that damage the vegetation there. Wisconsin wildlife officials are on the lookout for a cougar spotted in a community last week; and a cougar was seen in a northern Michigan neighborhood as well. The emotional issue of hunting cougars in Arizona is debated in the next article; but there appears to be no debate on the topic in Colorado; while hunters in the borderlands of Minnesota and North Dakota are concerned about fallow fields disappearing. A coyote pup was seen in a Chicago suburb; but problems with coyotes in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, were once again in the news. A professor from the University of Wisconsin discloses why coyotes and bears are invading suburban areas: it was their home first! A former Fish and Game biologist has joined the chorus of critics chastising Alaska's government for their state-sanctioned wolf and bear hunts. An Op-Ed piece from Utah's Salt Lake Tribune blasts the federal decision to reinstate wolf hunting in neighboring states; but a letter to the editor of a Montana paper from a rancher argues quite the opposite. A bear was spotted by residents of a New Jersey community over the weekend; while wildlife officials in Florida are becoming victims of their own success, as an exploding population of black bears is making human-bear interactions more frequent. Wisconsin officials are pursuing a plan to have residents plant trees on their property in order to offset global warming, and thereby help preserve the polar bear population; followed by an article from ABC news that provides tips on how to enjoy bears without bears enjoying you! And finally, for those of you who have always wondered how a grizzly bear learns to swim, our last article answers the question!

Keeping nuisance animals under control

Gary Bogue: A squirrel with no tail and a talking fence -- Wow!

Raccoon attacks Ballard couple, dog

Rabid skunk found in Kirtland

Skunk causes head-on collision in Rogers County

Louisiana driver crashes truck after swerving to miss deer

Rate of fatal deer disease will increase in southern Wisconsin

Letter: Keep The Deer, Get Rid Of Vista Links

DNR, police investigate cougar sighting in Kronenwetter

Cougar in Leelanau County

Shorter cougar-hunting season to be restudied

DOW hosts lion hunting meeting

Conservation reserve acres steadily expiring

Wild Monday: Suburban coyote pup

Dartmouth residents at wits’ end in standoff with coyotes

Curiosities: Why are coyotes, bears moving closer to cities?

Alaska: Wolf, bear hunts increasing moose, caribou

Live and let live

Preserve Montana’s livestock heritage; control wolves

Black bear spotted in Hillsborough

Officials Coping With Growing Bear Sightings

Wis. DNR: Plant a tree, help a polar bear

How to Enjoy Bears Without Becoming Their Prey

Grizzly bear gets swimming lessons in local pool

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091209

2009-09-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

Raptor enthusiasts in Texas are in their glory as flocks of hawks, sometimes 500-1,000 in number, soar overhead in their annual fall migration, our first wildlife story today. Wildlife officials in Nevada have determined that a hunter who was after grouse, but ended up bagging a cougar instead, was justified in shooting the animal; and Nebraska's cougar policy is laid out in the next item. A new wildlife biologist in North Dakota has the task of keeping track of that state's cougar population; while an Illinois jogger believes she spotted a cougar in a municipal park about a week ago, although wildlife officials are skeptical due to the lack of cougar sightings in that state. Nebraska deer hunters have been asked to keep an eye out for bovine tuberculosis in deer that they shoot; but due to an overabundance of rain earlier this year, elk and deer may be hard to find in Montana due to scattered numbers amongst ample feed; while in West Texas, they're gearing up for a hunter's bounty of venison for needy families. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute is investigating the deaths of over a dozen deer at a zoo; but deer hunters in Mississippi will be culling the herd to cut down on the destruction of vegetation in communities there. A legally blind woman in Michigan bagged her first bear (with a little help from her boyfriend); while a black bear that came calling in a New Jersey borough last Saturday ended up being returned to the wild. More details on a recent bear attack in Aspen, Colorado, are provided by the next article; and another bear-human encounter in India's Kashmir has resulted in a man being hospitalized. And finally, the U.S. Army is considering a risky maneuver in the California desert: relocating tortoises!

Migrating hawks take flights of fancy

Mountain lion killed by startled hunter

Commission Has Reminders of Mountain Lion Policy

New furbearer biologist joins Game and Fish

Jogger claims to spot cougar in Wheaton park

Deer Hunters Asked to Watch for Signs of TB

Elusive Elk and Deer

West Texas Food Bank to Begin Receiving Deer Meat Donations

14 deer die at Kanpur zoo in one night

Oxford allows bow hunting for pesky deer

Legally blind Mich. hunter gets black bear

Bear caught in downtown Washington Borough

Aspen bear attack came at dinner

One attacked, injured by bear in Kashmir

Army to move forward with tortoise relocation

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091109

2009-09-11T13:12:00.001-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, an article reveals a species of eagle that lived in New Zealand centuries ago which may have actually been large enough to prey on infant humans! UC Davis has unveiled a new program, called the California Roadkill Observation System, which will tabulate roadkill within the state of California; and a variety of wildlife encounters from Fairfax, Virginia, are summarized in police dispatches, including bats flying around bedrooms, rabid wildlife, and deer-auto collisions. A retrospective on cougars in Lake County, California, is provided in the next article. A trio of cougar stories come to us from Washington state today: there's been another cougar sighting, however this one is in the Cascades; a writer from Seattle comments on that state's enlightened approach to wild animal control, compared to control of dangerous pets; but a large cougar, who was apparently killing just for fun elsewhere in that state, was killed by wildlife authorities. Wolf hunters in Idaho are finding out that coyotes aren't the only wily canines prowling the open plains. Canadian officials at Vancouver's Stanley Park are advising visitors not to feed raccoons, after a woman was hospitalized due to raccoon bites; while the report of a backyard shooting of a raccoon in Wisconsin may have been part of a larger issue about the open carrying of firearms in that area. A tally of rabid animals found in a New Jersey county so far this year is up next. Deer hunting in the suburbs of Contra Costa County, California, is raising some concerns for public safety; but an anticipated 300,000 hunters will begin culling deer herds across Ohio later this month. Wisconsin is looking to extend their deer hunt due to an overabundance of deer in that state; but deer hunters in Montana are being warned to stay out of dense vegetation frequented by grizzly bears, else the hunters may become the hunted! Aspen bears are in the news again, after one broke into a home and attacked the homeowner; but a study released yesterday in 'Science' magazine discusses the perilous situation of arctic wildlife. And speaking of the arctic, a photo spread from Churchill, Manitoba, the so-called 'polar bear capital of the world', shows Canadian polar bears in their natural element.

Extinct New Zealand eagle may have eaten humans

Wild Neighbors: Dead Skunks and Others: Looking at Roadkill for Science

Animal Watch

Mountain lion numbers have increased

Yet Another Cougar Sighting -- But This One's Closer To The Cascade Mountains

Cougars and pit bulls: How should we handle dangerous animals?

Livestock-killing cougar shot near Quilcene

Wolves Aren’t Making It Easy for Idaho Hunters

Vancouver raccoon attack prompts warnings

Open Carry Controversy in Racine

Stray kitten fifth rabid animal to be found in Monroe this year

Deer Hunting Raises Safety Concerns In Contra Costa

Deer-archery season opens statewide Sept. 26

Wis. board considers deer control options

Bird and bowhunters urged to be bear aware

Bear attacks man in Aspen home

Polar bear, arctic fox, caribou hurt by climate change

In the Polar Bear Capital of the World

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091009

2009-09-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

First up today in wildlife news, a potent reminder to never try to outrun a cheetah, especially one from Ohio; but a cougar in the Seattle area couldn't outrun a car and was killed. A story from Oregon about a poodle that was apparently snatched from a backyard by a coyote includes a link to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website on dealing with 'nuisance animals' in the area; while financial woes for a Virginia community have lowered the bounty paid on coyotes. A resident of Idaho is in trouble for poaching a young female wolf. A wildlife biologist in British Columbia, Canada, dismisses claims that grizzly bears will be severely impacted by a decline in the salmon population; but a hunter who illegally shot a huge grizzly last month may find himself endangered if Montana wildlife officials catch up with him! A bear that appeared in a Southern Arizona community caused bit of a stir yesterday; followed by an update on a story from New Jersey yesterday, in which a black bear sparked a number of 911 calls, but New Jersey Fish and Game officials calmed local residents. A county in Maryland plans to deploy rabies vaccine baits for raccoons; while a box turtle from central California, whose front legs were amputated after being mauled in an apparent raccoon attack, has found new motivation with a pair of furniture sliders! Public safety concerns have brought some controversy to a proposed deer hunt in Virginia; and techniques for counting deer, in order to tailor deer management plans more appropriately, are discussed in the next article. Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue provided some advice to homeowners fearful of residents illegally hunting deer in their neighborhood in Central California. There was a spirited debate at a Wisconsin community meeting over a proposed deer hunt within the city; and in a letter to the editor of the Michigan newspaper, a hunter dismisses alternatives to a deer culling project. A motorcyclist in Indiana who collided with a deer had to be hospitalized. We conclude today with a mystery from Boston: what exactly has invaded a gardener's domain?

Ohio cheetah is fastest land mammal, at 36 mph

Cougar hit by car, killed on SR 520

Coyotes Blamed For Gresham Pet Death

Coyote Ordinance Passed

Eagle man cited for poaching female wolf pup

B.C. grizzly bear population not in trouble: expert

Probe continues into illegally shot bear

Bear sighting near eastside school

Black bear sets off 911 calls

County's rabies vaccine project targets raccoons

Turtle whose front legs were amputated gets around with the aid of furniture sliders

Debate Raging over Deer Hunt in Loudoun

Deer counts integral to management plans

Gary Bogue: Dangerous deer hunting going on in Martinez

Archery deer season approved in North Hudson

Letter: Alternatives to proposed deer cull just aren't feasible

Motorcyclist, deer collide on Quince Road

A skunk in the garden (Part I)

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090909

2009-09-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

We lead off today with some personal comments from Catherine Pannell Waters, President of the Western Field Ornithologists, on skunks:

I remain a huge fan of Wildlife News of the Day. Thank you for compiling it. About skunks. Many years ago Robert and I lived in Seal Beach, California. When we purchased our first home and moved in with our cat, Miss Kitty, we found we had not only purchased a home but we had purchased a skunk habitat. They were our best house guests ever. They didn't drink, smoke or do unacceptable things with the neighbors' daughters yet they ate every snail and slug in the yard. They lived in the crawl space under the house. Miss Kitty spent nearly every day in the crawl space and would emerge at dinner time with a faint wisp of eau de skunk and an appetite but that was it. For two years the "gang" of us lived happily with each other. We never knew what the cat did under the house and we never asked. We rarely saw the skunks and they never sprayed in our yard. The noisy, pool- party- every- weekend neighbors saw a different side of our house guests who turned loose on the drunken pool parties with fervor. We honestly got used to the scent and ever since have wished that our current neighborhood had a few skunks to teach neighborly manners as well as our former skunk roommates did. No doubt they are rabies carriers, sadly. We kept our cat's vaccinations up to date . It is now over 35 years later and we still fondly remember our house guest skunks with fondness.

In wildlife news, a tame skunk was rescued by RSPCA workers in Wales after it was found wandering through a local community; but a New York community reported a rabid skunk, prompting officials to remind residents to secure their trash in order to cut down on skunk incursions. A bevy of red-tailed hawks have taken up residence in a Massachusetts park; and school kids from three Tennessee counties got up-close and personal with various forms of wildlife at a conservation camp. New Zealand is looking to import a new poison to deal with the runaway possum population; but drought conditions in Kenya, Africa, are taking a toll on their iconic elephant herds. A new study published in the British Journal 'Nature' postulates that chronic wasting disease and other maladies may be passed along by the feces of otherwise healthy deer; while poachers and illegal deer hunters beware - posting your exploits on Facebook may land you in a world of hurt! Police in a North Dakota community have been given shoot-to-kill orders in regards to a cougar that has been prowling around the city limits; and a letter to the editor of an Ontario, Canada, newspaper recounts their encounter with a cougar in their backyard. Residents of Stockton, California, have nervously noted coyotes moving into their neighborhood; while a resident of Minnesota reflects on a coyote encounter on a rural road. A coyote apparently made off with a Portland, Oregon, family's dog early one morning; followed by an article about suburban coyotes in Seattle, Washington. The coyote problem in parts of Orange County, California is addressed in an LA Times article in which Wildlife NOTD reader Laura Simon, who is field director of the Humane Society of the United States' Urban Wildlife Program, advocates hazing rather than trapping the animals; and some tips on avoiding coyote visitations are offered in the following article. An Op-Ed from Minnesota tallies up the charges against coyotes in their area by various parties; and coyotes have been making trouble for rural dwellers in Nova Scotia, Canada, as well. A New York Times ethicist decries the hunting of wolves, which has just begun in some Midwestern states. A Florida resident who fed raccoons has been let off the hook by law enforcement after stopping the practice. Residents of a New Jersey community are being warned to watch their children as a bear passes through their area; but there are concerns in British Columbia, Canada, that a salmon shortage may lead to a bear shortage. Due to an abundance of bear food, ursine encounters have been down in the Lake Tahoe area this year, but that may be about to change; while hunters in Ontario, Canada, claim the cancellation of a bear hunt has resulted in more orphaned bear cubs in their community. Wildlife officials in Louisiana are providing pointers for residents to help them avoid messy encounters with black bears as the creatures go into their fall feeding frenzy. Aspen, Colorado, has had an unbearable year with ursine visitors, according to an article from the Associated Press; followed by a few other stories of bear encounters in that state, including one from a firehouse in which a bear was drinking from a toilet! We conclude today with a still life study from New York State: bear in a chair!

RSPCA rescue skunk found wandering in Tredegar

Rabid skunk found in Norwich

Red-tailed hawks swooping through Medford

Conservation camp introduces students to concepts, critters

TRC supports use of alternative possum bait

Kenya's elephants dying amid drought

Healthy deer can spread prion disease through faeces

Facebook video leads to deer shining charges

Mountain lion confirmed near Tioga city limits

Cougar on the prowl in Meaford

Coyotes put some in neighborhood on edge

Dan Conradt: Coyotes are common in state

Family suspects urban coyote in disappearance of pet dog

Suburban coyotes

Hungry coyotes are hunting near homes

Keeping coyotes away

Is there a coyote problem in Yellow Medicine County?

‘An exceptional year for coyotes’

Killing Wolves for Fun

North Fort Myers 'Raccoon Lady' agrees to stop feeding critters

Parents are warned: Beware of the bear

British Columbia Bears Dying From Salmon Shortage, Globe Says

Lake Tahoe bear activity down, but maybe not out

Cancellation of spring bear hunt responsible for nuisances

LDWF aims for bear awareness

Aspen confronts bolder bears looking for food

Bear-ing the brunt

Still Life: Bear in a Chair

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090809

2009-09-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

In wildlife news today, University of Illinois' veterinary school was able to successfully rehabilitate a bald eagle found coated with sludge in a sanitary pond; the next article provides some background material on bald eagles in Florida, often the first 'snowbirds' to arrive for the winter; but wildlife officials in India, concerned for their vulture population, are keeping a close eye on these important carrion feeders. A Pennsylvania motorist, attempting to miss a deer in the road, hit a power pole instead! Farmers in Maryland are complaining about deer grazing on their crops, prompting many to call for hunters to thin their ranks; but with a robust deer population, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is sponsoring an urban deer hunt. A bow hunter in Oregon who had set up to bag a deer, bagged a cougar instead! Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue provides some insight on a darkened feline and how to get a possum out of your trashcan humanely. A letter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune chides would-be wolf hunters about their recreational choice; but a German Shepherd with neurological problems was mistakenly shot by animal control officers in a North Carolina community who thought that it was a rabid coyote. A writer from Grass Valley, California, advises pet owners to keep an eye on their critters when they let them outside, because coyotes are prowling the area; and a Virginia community is reconsidering their bounty on coyotes due to an increase in deadly encounters with pets; while cat owners in Providence, Rhode Island, have had a bad summer of coyotes making off with their pets. A resident of a community in Alberta, Canada, discusses some of the stinky local neighbors; even as a vet provides some tips on how to administer first-aid to 'skunked' pets. Hayward, California, is putting on an exhibit of the California grizzly bear, which was exterminated in the 1920s (but, hey, if the Australians can try to resurrect the Tasmanian Tiger, maybe Californians will resurrect the California grizzly bear!) A newspaper from New York is encouraging readers to send in photos and video of bears they have seen in their area. And finally, Knut, the world famous Berlin polar bear, is going to be getting a new friend, though not a true girlfriend!

Area wildlife experts get eagle back in the air

Bald Eagles Among First 'Snowbirds' To Arrive In Florida

State to keep hawk eye on vulture growth

Driver strikes utility pole after avoiding deer in Dickinson Township

‘Exploding’ numbers of deer present woe on crops

City brings back bow hunt to help control deer herd

Deer hunter comes home with a cougar

Gary Bogue: Mysterious big black cat: A mountain lion with mange?

Shooting wolves

German shepherd shot in Brunswick County

Beware of coyotes when letting your dog outside

Tazewell officials examine existing bounty on coyotes

Cats becoming prey to coyotes

Resident warns of Edson skunk problem

What to do if your pet is sprayed in the eyes with skunk spray

California s grizzly bears live on in new museum exhibit

READER PHOTOS: Local bear sightings (new photos today)

Bear meets girl: Berlin zoo gets female polar bear

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090709

2009-09-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

We lead off wildlife news today with a story about a red-tailed hawk that was released back into the wild in Ventura County, California; followed by one about a hawk observation post in Utah with 30 years of history that is struggling to remain open due to budget cuts. As the deer population exceeds the maximum allowable number in a Virginia wilderness park, hunters will be allowed to cull the herd; but a West Virginia woman captured a very rare albino deer visiting her yard on film. Two Kansas motorcyclists were injured, one of them seriously, when a pair of deer jumped out into the road ahead of them; while a deer-motorcycle collision in Central Texas resulted in a man going to the hospital, and a woman dying at the scene. A New York Times article explores the deer-tick problem in microcosm: the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. A coyote afflicted with mange will be put down by wildlife authorities in New Hampshire when they encounter it next; but an elusive cougar that had been prowling around a Seattle park was captured over the weekend and repatriated in the Cascade foothills. The plight of the Andean bear is recounted by the next article; however, a clever bear raided a freezer at a Colorado hotel lodge, outsmarting hotel workers! An Ontario, Canada, bow hunter is facing criminal charges after a wayward shaft aimed at a bear landed near a neighbor; while a Montana motorist had a close encounter of the furry kind! The limitations of animal control in a North Carolina community visited by black bears is discussed; but the value of GPS trackers in following the black bear population in Florida is explored by the next article. In the wake of a number of grizzly bear deaths in the Yellowstone National Park area, federal and state wildlife officials are discussing what to do about the situation. A number of counties in Ohio will be distributing rabies vaccine baits in the wild to reduce the number of rabid raccoons in that state; while a kitten in New Jersey that was bitten by a raccoon tested positive for rabies. Pet owners in Nebraska were reminded to keep rabies vaccinations current on their pets after a rabid skunk was found in a community there; and the next article, from Santa Cruz, California, discusses the phenomenon of adolescent skunks searching for new homes. A Colorado community is up in arms about skunks making their homes under houses in the area. And finally, cats of the world beware - a giant rat weighing 3.3 pounds has been found in New Guinea!

Release of hawk signals opening of Ventura Hillsides Festival

Utah town no longer hawk monitor

Hunters will aim to reduce deer numbers in Suffolk park

Albino Deer Spotted In Bethlehem Yard

Motorcycle-deer accident hurts two

Woman killed when motorcycle hits deer; attacker sought in North Austin stabbing

Tick-Borne Illnesses Have Nantucket Considering Some Deer-Based Solutions

Hampton marks increase in coyote sightings

Cougar caught in Seattle being released in wild

Hanging on, bearly

Bear Escapes From Hotel Lodge After Stealing Ice Cream

Man faces charges after slaying backyard bear with bow and arrow

Bear drops in on local woman's Glacier trip

Police investigate bear sightings

Bear trackers use GPS in bid to preserve the animals

Campaign Seeks to Stem Grizzly Bear Killings in Yellowstone Region

Raccoons to be fed vaccine for rabies

Mays Landing Kitten Tests Positive For Rabies

Rabid skunk in city draws attention to need for pet vaccinations

Skunk sightings increase as kits look for new homes

Time to raise a stink about skunks under houses

New giant rat species discovered

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090509

2009-09-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

As the wildfires in Southern California subside, wildlife who used to live in the hills are emerging tired, hungry, and homeless into the residential areas surrounding their former habitat (and with over 150,000 acres burned in the Angeles National Forest, there's going to be a lot of hungry, thirsty critters looking for succor in someone's back yard!) Residents in Palo Alto, California, probably wondered what the fuss was about a cat on the roof of a neighbor's house, however this kitty was a little larger than most! The father of a Canadian boy who was attacked by a cougar in Washington state comments on the attack and its aftermath. A Colorado family is mourning the loss of their dog, fatally injured by a coyote who jumped the fence into their yard; while the Christian Science Monitor jumps into the dogfight surrounding wolf hunting in the US. A man from Pawling, New York, died after a motorcycle collision with a deer; while an Indian man has been apprehended by authorities trying to sell the hides of protected deer. An orphaned bear cub that had wandered into the wild after its mother was killed needed some treatment and food, which was provided by a California Fish and Game facility; but law enforcement officials in Florida are investigating the shooting of a protected black bear. A Massachusetts community is bracing for the annual influx of hungry bears raiding bird feeders and trash in anticipation of a long winter's nap; however, doctors and nurses at a Tennessee medical center nearly had an emergency of their own when a black bear showed up outside their facility! An elderly woman in a North Carolina park had a bit of a disagreement with a black bear over a can of soft drink. An eagle will be released in a Michigan county later today after having been rehabilitated; but an injured hawk that had been taken to a New Jersey wildlife rehabilitator with a broken wing has died. A report titled "Australia's Hidden Treasures" lives up to its name with hundreds of new species of flora and fauna revealed. And finally, despite a traumatic experience escaping the Black Saturday bushfires, Tasmanian devils evacuated to Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary have proved remarkably resilient (not to mention prolific!)

Los Angeles wildfire drives wildlife to backyards

Mountain lion reported on south Palo Alto roof

B.C. dad says son is on the mend after being attacked by cougar

Coyote attacks Lakewood family dogs

Animal advocates howl over wolf killing

Husband of Pawling Town Supervisor killed in motorcycle accident

Man held with four deer skin

Orphaned bear treated at CALM, released back into wild

Officers probing bear shooting

Pelham police sound alarm on bear necessities

Black Bear Makes Stop At Bristol Regional Medical Center

Bear scares appear over

Eagle to be released in Leelanau County

Hawk rescued in Millville dies

Amazing new species identified

Fire and flight no turn-off for horny devils

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090409

2009-09-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

Pet and wildlife columnist Gary Bogue provides a cautionary tale about "scouting your yard" before sending pets out to do their business; which is an infinitely preferable alternative to that of shooting wildlife instead. Swedish wildlife officials have given hunters free range in exterminating raccoon dogs whenever they encounter them. A rabid raccoon was reported by passersby in Brattleboro, Vermont; health officials in New York state are advising residents to avoid rabid wildlife; but a rabid skunk turned a blessed event (the birth of several puppies) into a Nebraska family's nightmare; and nearly 3 dozen rabid animals have been identified in a West Virginia county so far this year. The downside of poisoning possums in New Zealand is revealed by a poison check of local water sources. A resident of Louisiana reflects on the virtues of using animal control instead of a shotgun to limit skunk incursions in your yard. An Arizona elementary school was forced into lockdown after a small black bear was seen on campus; but a black bear got a fatal welcome while raiding a freezer in an Alaskan home. Wildlife officials have closed parts of a popular park in Alberta, Canada, due to grizzly bears foraging in preparation for wintertime in the area; while, in the wake of the death of a Colorado resident by a hungry bear she was feeding, and knowing that bears are going into a feeding frenzy as fall nears, officials in Colorado are sponsoring a seminar to inform the public of how to coexist with their furry neighbors. A wildlife rehabilitation Center in Florida will be releasing their 374th bald eagle back into the wild. A second four-year-old girl was injured by a deer in a Massachusetts Park (a four-year-old girl was injured there a few weeks ago); and a bicyclist in Maine is recovering from a broken leg following a collision with a deer on the road. Another New Jersey town will allow deer hunting within the city limits to thin the herd and, thereby, avoid more deer-auto collisions and cases of deer starvation over the winter; but Minnesota lawmakers have decided to ban possession of weapons (guns or bows) whenever people "shine" deer in that state, in order to reduce poaching. A five-year-old Canadian boy was injured when a cougar jumped him in a northeastern Washington state park; while the remains of a Labrador retriever, which apparently had been attacked by a cougar, were found in Moorpark, California. Wildlife officials will be using Karelian bear dogs to help track a cougar that has been frequenting Seattle's Discovery Park; and cougar hunting will begin soon in North Dakota. Foxes had better make themselves scarce in West Virginia, now that wildlife officials are allowing sales of live foxes to organizations that provide hunting hounds; but residents of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, are taking precautions after several coyote encounters in the area. And finally, scientists have determined that wolves have an edge in logical analysis over dogs, in part because of their lack of association with human cues for making decisions.

Gary Bogue: Phillip Garrido: Long-distance concern for a cat's welfare

Man who shot raccoon could have avoided hurting animal

Rabid raccoon found on Williams Street

Avoid rabies threat

Rabies: Officials urge vaccination

Greenbrier Co. reports 35th rabid animal this year

Water supply gets all clear after checks for poison

Creatures cause problems in yards

Bear forces elementary school into lockdown

Black bear killed after raiding freezer

Hungry grizzly bears force partial closure of Cardston park

Living Safely in Bear Habitat the Subject of Public Presentation

Wakulla County To Release Bald Eagle

Another 4-year-old girl hurt by deer at Mass. zoo

Deer crossing road runs into bicyclist

Morris County town invites bowhunters to cull deer

Shedding light on changes in deer shining law

5-Year-Old Hurt in Washington State Cougar Attack

Mountain lion kills dog in Moorpark

Discovery Park closed after third cougar sighting

King of the mountain

Sale of Live Foxes Permitted in West Virginia

Coyotes Keep Residents On Edge

Wolves Beat Dogs on Logic Test

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090309

2009-09-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, Kelly Burgess, of the Los Angeles Times, chronicles the first two wolf kills in Idaho's controversial hunt; and a conservationist pleads for help in stopping the hunting of wolves in Alaska. Montana, another state that's hosting a wolf hunt, is also waiting to hear whether it will be canceled by a federal judge's ruling; but a hunter argues that they are not as bloodthirsty as critics make them out to be. Residents of Thousand Oaks, California, discuss the issue of coyotes attacking their pets; followed by an article from nearby Calabasas that details the aftermath of a coyote attack on a dachshund. Two Colorado communities are getting educated on coyotes: WildEarth Guardians is working with Centennial to educate people on coexisting with coyotes in the area; and Aurora has received some funds to help them discuss alternatives to shooting coyotes. An article written by Camilla Fox of Project Coyote discusses the dysfunctional organization overseeing testing of fur-bearing animal traps in the US. Residents of a Michigan town are debating what sort of wildlife has been "tearing up their yards". A New Hampshire wildlife rehabilitator is getting caught in a financial crunch which could impact their operation; and speaking of crunches, a software billionaire is recovering from a safari in which he suffered broken bones from an elephant attack! The body of a brown bear sow was discovered on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska and is believed to be the mother of three orphaned cubs that were euthanized a few days ago. An Op-Ed piece from Montana laments the lack of funding for better education of tourists on bears, resulting in more bears being destroyed due to humans feeding them; Montana wildlife officials had to euthanize a 20-year-old bear after a traffic collision severely injured him; and the long, colorful life of a fugitive bear in Montana is chronicled in the next item. A volunteer who had part of her finger bitten off by a black bear at a Florida wildlife shelter feels worse for the bear, who is paralyzed from the waist down, than she does for herself; while an organization researching bears that are dumpster diving in Durango, Colorado, reports on some of their findings. With winter on the horizon, bear activity in Ontario, Canada, communities is expected to increase as the ursines gorge themselves prior to hibernation; but a drug bust in British Columbia led to the discovery of poached bear paws in a freezer. A sheriff's deputy in Florida was able to help a raccoon out of a tight situation; followed by an article that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about skunks, minus the smell! Police in Redwood City, California, are warning residents of a cougar sighting this morning; and some background material on cougars in Colorado is up next. A male cougar in Arizona was shot by wildlife officials after killing 15 big horn sheep in a wildlife refuge. Restrictions on deer hunting in Missouri have yielded big bucks (unfortunately, not the kind that would help their deficit!); but at the opposite end of the spectrum, zookeepers in Belfast, Ireland, are ecstatic about their latest addition, a tiny endangered Chilean pudu. With preparations for an urban deer hunt underway, the police chief of a Wisconsin community discusses the event; while a Michigan motorcyclist struck a deer that jumped in front of him, ending up in the hospital. A fledgling red-tailed hawk that had fallen out of a nest was rehabilitated and released in a field in Oregon. And finally, a Cooper's Hawk in Washington state provided a graphic example of the old saying "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!"

Hunters kill two wolves in Idaho on opening day

Wolves under fire in Alaska, too!

Northern MT hunters can take most wolves in hunt

Wolves not really in danger

Living close to coyotes isn’t always easy for T.O. residents

Close call for pooch in coyote attack

Coyote education goal in Centennial program

Aurora receives funding to teach about coyote dangers

Trapped in Debate

Sanford residents wonder if wild pigs are tearing up Midland County town's yards

Tightening finances threaten couple's help for animals

Software mogul attacked by elephant during safari

Bear corpse found in Sterling: Fish and Game says it may be mom of dispatched cubs

Bear education needs more funding

Bear put down after collision near Gardiner

Killing of problem bear in Swan Valley ‘last resort’

Woman says bear bit her finger at Homestead rescue center

Bear Necessity?

Bear activity likely to jump here this month

Ten bear paws seized in bust

Fla. deputy helps raccoon with head stuck in jar

Getting to know skunk kits

Mountain lion sighted

Mountain lion spotted near 33 and C roads

Arizona officials kill mountain lion near Kofa wildlife refuge

Mo. rule on deer hunts leads to bigger bucks

Smallest deer is born at city zoo

Police chief discusses deer hunting within city limits

Motorcyclist hospitalized after striking deer, crashing

Red-tailed hawk soars free in memory of Gordon Scott Sr.

Birding: Cooper’s hawk gorged on goldfinch

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090209

2009-09-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

In wildlife news today, Camilla Fox of Project Coyote provides some background material on learning to coexist with coyotes in Central California (or indeed, anywhere); while coyote attacks in a Colorado area are considered normal for that part of the country by wildlife officials. An Arkansas skunk trapper was attacked by a hungry coyote; and a cautionary tale from Alabama about an encounter with a coyote that resulted in rabies shots for the dog owner underscores the importance of not getting bitten in the first place! Having killed 29 livestock in Oregon, a pair of wolves is being hunted by wildlife officials; and an animal that was found dead in a Texas barn may actually be an extremely rare Chupacabra. In order to limit the spread of disease, Wisconsin has imposed restrictions on moving deer carcasses within that state; followed by some advice to plant lovers faced with plant predators, like deer, provided in an ABC news story. A deer struck by a car flew into the windshield of another vehicle, killing a six-year-old occupant; but Maryland officials reported that there has been a decrease in deer-auto collisions in townships where an urban deer hunt was conducted each year. A Virginia community is debating the merits of urban deer hunting after complaints by homeowners about vegetation damage and concerns about deer tick-borne Lyme disease. A 34-year-old grizzly bear had to be put down at a zoo in Idaho due to health problems; but residents of a village in Kashmir, India, chased a black bear out of their town and killed it in the nearby forest. After a rabid raccoon was found in one North Carolina community, health officials alerted residents; and a rabid skunk got into a pen with a puppy elsewhere in that state, forcing the puppy owner to have the dog euthanized; while a New York County has reported four animals, each representing a different species, who have been diagnosed with rabies. Homeowners in a Nebraska community are on edge after reports of a cougar in the area; but an outdoorsman from Central California points out that news of cougars in their area is nothing new, that they've been there for years. Two stories from Colorado: more details on a cougar attack over the weekend are provided by the first article; followed by a story in which a backpacker provides some tips on surviving an encounter with a cougar. A cougar prowling a Seattle suburb has been spotted again; but wildlife officials say they're ready to collar it the next time it's seen. The Caribbean island of Grenada has reinstated hunting season after a moratorium. And finally, an article from Virginia hails back to a time when the state would actually pay a bounty for the scalps of wildlife considered to be vermin, including hawks!

Learning to coexist with coyotes

Wildlife officers downplay coyote attacks in Frisco

Coyote Attacks Man in Fort Smith Backyard

Rabid Coyotes And Flu Shots

Kill order placed on Ore. wolves killing livestock

"Chupacabra" Found Dead in Texas Barn; the Video Link

New Restrictions on Movement of Deer Carcasses from CWD Zone

Flower Bulbs Make a `Box Lunch' for Garden Pests

Flying Deer Kills 6-Year-Old Boy in Bizarre Traffic Accident

Deer-vehicle collisions in Montgomery continue to decline

Bow Hunt for Deer Debated in Leesburg

Zoo officials euthanize grizzly bear

Black bear killed in Jammu and Kashmir

Rabid raccoon found in Hope Mills

Skunk Confirmed With Rabies in Sherrills Ford

Rabid animals found in Genesee County

Elm Creek Residents Report Mountain Lion

Lake County home to healthy big cat population

Family believes mountain lion attacked horse

What to do if you meet a mountain lion

Magnolia residents: There's a huge cougar roaming here

Wildlife Agents Ready If Cougar Is Spotted Again

Grenada opens hunting season

Cash for hawk scalps was a popular program

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090109

2009-09-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

The first wolf that was produced by cloning has died from unknown causes in Seoul, South Korea, our first wildlife article today; while environmental groups have been unable to stop a pending wolf hunt in Idaho (looks like they may have to follow through with their threat to boycott Idaho potatoes!) Officials in Yorba Linda, California, will decide tonight whether coyote trapping, which has snared nine coyotes so far, is worthwhile to continue. Another cougar, this time a male, has been collared in California's Santa Monica Mountains; a large feline was spotted near a Santa Cruz County, California, high school last week; but an emaciated female cougar was euthanized by Washington state wildlife officials because she was too weak to hunt in the wild. Residents of one New York county have been alerted to the presence of rabid bats in the area; and a trio of dogs that mixed it up with a rabid skunk are now under observation in Virginia. A vacant house in a New Jersey neighborhood appears to be the new home of a family of skunks (much to the chagrin of the neighbors!) Deer hunters in New Jersey are being given the option of hunting feral hogs, which are causing grief for wildlife and humans alike; while a Connecticut community is debating the virtues of an urban deer hunt for safety and health reasons. An Ohio community is considering an urban deer hunt, something which has met with opposition from residents in the past; but a Virginia law that prohibits feeding wild deer, in order to limit their population growth, is now in effect in that state. An electronic deer checking program that was instituted in Nebraska will save hunters both time and gas by allowing them to check on the status of deer at check stations online, allowing timely distribution of venison to both hunters and food banks they support. Another bear has been euthanized in Aspen, Colorado, after attacking a woman who was napping on her deck; while officials in Utah are still puzzled over why an apparently healthy bear mauled an elderly man there last week. As Minnesota's bear hunting season opens, hunters are being cautioned not to shoot the bears fitted with radio collars; and, invoking the credo 'a fed bear is a dead bear', the Yellowstone Park Foundation is trying to raise money for bear-proof trash containers in order to save the lives of bruins in that national park. The dangers of feeding raccoons, both for homeowners and for the raccoons themselves, is explored in an article from Florida; while a raccoon that climbed a power pole in British Columbia has one more day to figure out how to get down before utility workers lend a hand. And finally, speaking of raccoons and utilities, a power outage in a Missouri town on Sunday was caused by an inquisitive raccoon.

World's 1st Cloned Wolf Dies of Unknown Cause

With No Order From Judge, Wolf Season Is Set to Begin

Coyote trapping off for now after 9 caught, killed

14th Cougar Collared by Rangers in Santa Monica Mountains

Big "Cat" Sighted at Aptos High — May Be Mountain Lion

Starving cougar killed at Manson

Bat Rabies Confirmed in Franklin County

Skunk Killed By Dogs In Henrico County Had Rabies

Old Bridge residents complain about family of skunks in vacant Laurence Harbor house

Deer hunters can take feral hogs in NJ DM Zone 25

Haydock: For health and safety, help reduce Darien's deer population

Urban deer problem: City hears about herd

Deer-Feeding Now Illegal

Electronic checking for harvested NE deer available this fall

Bear killed by wildlife agents after attack in Aspen

Bear that mauled man was healthy, Utah officials say

Minnesota Fall Bear Season Opens

Yellowstone Park Foundation Launches Campaign to Protect Bears and Save Lives

Killed by kindness

Workers leave raccoon stranded up a pole

Sunday power outage caused by raccoon

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 083109

2009-08-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

We lead off wildlife news today with a story about Western Plains Zoo, in New South Wales, Australia, which is in trouble for selling some endangered wildlife to hunting enthusiasts; but fallout from the poisoning of invasive possums in New Zealand includes concerns for pet owners and pollution concerns as rains washed carcasses into Wellington's harbor. An informative article about ferrets as pets reveals some interesting secrets, including the fact that they, like their stinky relative the skunk, also have musk glands that emit an odorous secretion; and speaking of skunks, a friendly one was the star of the show as a wildlife rehabilitator in Nova Scotia, Canada, conducted a presentation. With their mother missing, and no zoo willing to take them, three brown bear cubs had to be put down by Alaskan wildlife officials; but a motorcycle-bear collision in Tennessee evidently resulted in no injuries. A black bear wandering through a Connecticut town gave students going to school a bit of a scare; while grizzly bears in Wyoming have killed several dozen sheep so far this year, including a baker's dozen the middle of this month. Some videos of bears prowling around homes in New York State are up next; and a black bear visited Kent, Ohio, something which seldom happens in that community. Residents of a Fairbanks, Alaska, community reported a black bear going through the trash (most locals declared this a non-event); but bear hazing was the order of the day in Aspen over the weekend. An outdoorsman from Utah provides some tips for conduct in bear country; while several wildlife groups are appealing to the United States government to halt trophy hunting of polar bears. Given a choice between gang-bangers and a raccoon living in a vacant house, residents of a Colorado neighborhood prefer the raccoon; but after a second rabid raccoon was discovered in New York City, residents were provided with tips on avoiding dangerous situations with wildlife (and they probably just thought they had muggers and aggressive taxicabs to worry about!) A naturalist from Labrador, Canada, discusses the American kestrel; while a Utah resident who grew up in Simi Valley, California, recounts his interesting and sometimes hilarious interactions with birds and nature. Since over 100 raptors have been electrocuted by landing on power lines in Wyoming, a utility company will spend almost $10 million to retrofit their power lines to reduce this problem; but after trying rubber snakes and repellent sprays to scare off geese that were fouling athletic fields, Kentucky maintenance personnel have found that cardboard coyotes work the best. A cougar was reported in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe, California, so officials are advocating caution amongst hikers in the area; and a cougar was also seen near a mobile home park in San Mateo County over the weekend; while another big cat that has killed several livestock outside of Seattle, Washington, is still on the loose. A bill that would offer farmers greater latitude in dealing with crop-damaging deer in Michigan is discussed; even as officials debate the fate of deer at a preserve. A pair of deer-auto collisions occurred over the weekend in Ohio; and another in Missouri resulted in injuries. Although urban deer hunts have been approved in North Carolina, few townships are taking advantage to thin the herds; but poachers apprehended by officials in India included, surprisingly, a lecturer who was working on his PhD! And finally, officials in an Arizona tourist town are putting wild burros that frequent the area on a diet.

Ban for Australian zoo that sold antelope to hunter

Checks for poisoned possums in Wellington waters

Pets 101: About ferrets

Sweet skunk steals society’s show

Not a storybook ending: 3 bear cubs put down; mother missing

Motorcycle vs. bear in Blount County crash

Bear Causes Stir at New Britain Bus Stop

Grizzly Bear Kills 13 Sheep on Wyoming Grazing Allotment

Local Bear Sightings

Black bear visit unusual in Kent

Black bear roaming Gold Hill area

Bears busy in city, but not in county

Bear attacks: how to avoid them, how to survive them

Wildlife Groups Seek Halt to Polar Bear Trade

Neighborhood nuisance: Masked bandit moves in

With 2nd rabid raccoon found in Manhattan, NYC Health Dept. reminds citizens to avoid wild animals

The Sparrow Hawk

Cedar City 'bird man' has soaring dream

Nesting uncomfortably? G&F schedules study of golden eagle population

Ky. school uses cardboard coyotes to scare geese

Warning issued after mountain lions sighted

Possible Mountain Lion Sighting In Half Moon Bay

The Blotter

Deer population concerns farmers

Ferrysburg looks at impact of deer on dunes preserve

Deer cause two injury accidents

Passenger injured when car hits deer

Urban deer hunts raise quivers

Lecturer and electrician held with deer skin

Carrot-toting tourists making Arizona burros obese

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082909

2009-08-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

An apartment-dweller from Seattle, Washington, reflects on wildlife interactions with humans and their pets in our first wildlife story today; followed by the story of a wildlife rehabilitator from northern Alabama, who is currently caring for a quartet of orphaned raccoons. Vermont has joined the list of states deploying fish-baited rabies vaccine cubes for raccoons; but a daycare operator in Mississippi has had to keep the children inside due to half a dozen unruly raccoons outside. A closer look at the habits of black bears in West Virginia is provided by the next article; and a trio of bear cubs in an Idaho wildlife park are putting on weight rapidly. A popular hiking trail in Montana's Bitterroot Mountains has been reopened after it was determined that the bear that was causing trouble there earlier this year had left the area. Bears in Aspen, Colorado, are proving to be a tourist tonic, but a law-enforcement headache; and an elderly man from Utah was mauled by a bear after returning from a river trip. There's a tussle over grizzly bear hunting in Alberta, Canada, between hunting advocates and environmentalists. A writer from Colorado describes the experience of being very, very close to a cougar in the road; and after sightings of a cougar in Utah, residents were given some tips on how to avoid a deadly encounter. Police in Rapid City, South Dakota, felt that a cougar in a tree was a threat to residents and shot it. An Arizona man was given a reduced sentence for unlawfully selling eagle feathers after intervention by the Navajo nation. Pet owners and parents are concerned about multiple coyote sightings in Central Virginia; but actress Katherine Heigl swung into action when a coyote attempted to make off with her pet, right from her own backyard! Possums in Texas are the topic of the next article; followed by one about someone's pet alligator that made it into a creek in West Virginia, causing quite a stir. Texas landowners, concerned for their crops, will now be able to purchase a year-long deer hunting license to protect their fields from browsing deer; while a New Mexico community, overrun by deer, is concerned because where the deer go, the predators follow. Even the nation's capital is complaining about too many deer, in this case at Rock Creek Park. And finally, a clever deer exploited the rivalry between a cheetah and a hyena in Africa to make a quick getaway after playing dead!

Wildlife and Human Life

Raccoons' foster mom knows goodbye is hard

Vermont fights rabies with planes

Raccoons Plague Jackson Daycare

Bear truth: The answer's in the oak

Bear World cubs growing up

With no sign of bear, Big Creek reopened

Bears keep police busy, tourists enthralled

Man, 79, recovering from bear attack

Hunting group wants Alta. grizzly bear hunt reinstated

Meeting a mountain lion from 15 ft. away

Cougar sighting in Eureka

Mountain lion shot in western SD

Man sentenced for selling eagle feathers

Coyotes Terrifying One County In Central Virginia

Katherine Heigl Saves Distressed Dog

Opossum Problems

Alligator Found In Big Wheeling Creek

Landowners killing deer in crops nothing short of slaughter

Deer deluge poses danger, conservation officer says

Too Many Deer in Rock Creek Park

Deer 'fakes death' to escape cheetah and a hyena: video

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082809

2009-08-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

In our first wildlife story today, hunters who poached deer from a farm in the UK may get more than they bargained for if they eat the venison (but at least they shouldn't get worms!) Arizona Game & Fish officials have posted a reward for a deer poacher who shot a doe illegally; while a bicyclist discusses collisions between bikers and deer across the country over the years. A Q&A session presented in the next article tackles the issue of deer management in regards to deer ticks; and as the hunting season nears, hunters in Missoula, Montana, discussed wolves and deer. A wolf pack killed over 100 sheep in the largest single attack recorded in Montana since the reintroduction of wolves, something that will not help their case in regards to hunting them; and Swiss farmers are up in arms over the number of sheep being killed by wolves that have been returning to Switzerland after being eradicated a century ago. It's a race against time in Idaho, as hunters quickly buy up permits to hunt wolves, and a number of animal rights groups, including the Humane Society of the US, work to try and stop the hunt before it begins; but some animal rights groups are advocating measures beyond the legal realm. New Brunswick, Canada, will soon have a better handle on how many birds of prey transit that province each year; and a fledgling bald eagle, rescued from a golf course in Florida, has been released back into the wild after being treated for avian pox. An orphaned cougar cub from California has arrived at its new home at a zoo in Binghamton, New York. The rare sighting of an endangered Asian black bear in Iran was reported after it attacked a villager as it was looking for food; and a New Hampshire resident returned home to find a young ursine visitor in the backyard. A writer from Baltimore, Maryland, describes the turnabout of being in a fenced enclosure in Alaska and being observed by bears! A skunk that bit a New York woman turned out to be rabid. A new study points to the possibility that skunk musk may prove deadly for some pets who get sprayed, such as a writer's dog in Michigan. Wildlife authorities in Georgia issued warnings to local residents about rabid wildlife after an infected raccoon was reported. And finally, a cautionary (and expensive) tale for hoteliers who allow wildlife to roam around their guests is offered by our last wildlife article from Colorado today.

Deer killed by barbaric poachers

Game & Fish seeks help catching Prescott-area deer poacher

Bicycles colliding with deer

Myths and Facts About Deer Management

Hunters talk wolves, ammo and more with FWP officials in Missoula

Wolves kill 120 sheep at ranch near Dillon

Appetite spells three wolves' doom in Switzerland

Many Idahoans are eager to shoot wolves

Wolves Or Taters?

Hawk Watch project to help conserve birds of prey

Nursed back to health, bald eagle is returned to the wild

Young Cougar Goes on Exhibit at the Zoo

Drought brings out endangered bear in Iran

Bear a backyard surprise for local resident

Taking the Kids -- And Meeting Some Bears

Town of Batavia woman undergoing rabies treatment

Beyond Stinky: Dog's death raises worries about skunks

Rabies Alert for Athens

Sky Hotel guest sues over alleged raccoon ‘attack’

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082709

2009-08-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

The plight of cormorants in the Great Lakes region is discussed in our first wildlife article today; followed by the story of a wildfire which burned through 16 square miles of Nevada wilderness and is now contained, but not before destroying habitats frequented by sage grouse, desert bighorn sheep, and deer. A Texas man faces a stiff fine and the possibility of some jail time after beheading a tame deer in 2008; and a New York County which has been overrun by deer, and seen a consequent increase in deer-auto collisions, is moving up the date for their deer hunt. Environmental groups are offering up an unorthodox solution to help reduce climate change: wolves! A cautionary tale from North Carolina underscores the importance of keeping rabies vaccinations of pets current; and rabies vaccine baits will be distributed from the air and on the ground in Maine to help reduce the incidence of this virus in raccoons. The misadventures of an Ontario, Canada, family trying to "raccoon-proof" their trash is up next. A trio of cougar sightings in an Oregon neighborhood has both officials and residents edge; and a cougar, which was evidently struck by car over the weekend, disappeared from the crash scene in Idaho, prompting officials to request its return for study. A cougar is causing headaches for livestock owners on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula. A black bear in Florida that had been rummaging through people's trash and birdfeeders has been captured, tagged, and returned to the wild. And finally, Pete Thomas, of the Los Angeles Times, provides a cautionary tale about leaving food out in Yosemite National Park where the bears can find it.

Governments killing once-endangered cormorants

Nevada wildfire northeast of Reno contained

Guilty plea over beheading of tame deer in Houston

Town in a deer dilemma

Wolves Provide a Buffer Against Climate Change

Two rabies cases reported

Vaccines target rabies in raccoons

Garbage follies

Three cougar sightings in three days near Keno

Officers search for cougar taken from crash scene

Cougar killing animals on Olympic Peninsula

Backyard bear captured in Hernando County

Yosemite bears appear smarter than the average camper

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082609

2009-08-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Two articles from Los Angeles Times Outposts lead off wildlife news today: Julie Sheer provides some background material on the deaths of two grizzlies in Montana's Glacier National Park last week; and Kelly Burgess provides an article about three Riverside County men accused of poaching deer in picturesque Yosemite National Park. Although bears have been spotted in some unusual situations, one from Snowmass, Colorado, is quite unique! Several changes implemented by wildlife officials in Alaska have apparently resulted in fewer bear deaths this year compared to last year. Residents in one part of Missouri are convinced that they've seen cougars in the area; and a California landscaping crew got a front row seat to a cougar attack on a deer. A deer hunt for young people in California is generating a good deal of controversy; while a wildlife biologist weighs in on the contentious plan to cull deer in a Kansas Park; and a deer hunter from Minnesota reflects on the dangers of raccoon poop. There was a delay of a ball game in Illinois due to the game (in this case, a skunk!) A writer from Oregon recounts the wildlife that visits their back porch every night, including a pair of possums; but a Washington state man who accidentally shot himself in a standoff with an opossum has decided next time he'll use a trap instead! Wildlife biologists in Ottawa, Canada, are warning pet owners that coyotes are on the prowl; and an influx of coyotes in one North Carolina county is causing some concern among residents. Idaho wildlife officials are puzzled by the deaths of half-a-dozen juvenile wolves. Raptor rehabilitators from South Carolina comment on the release of two red-tailed hawks and precautions to take on approaching injured raptors. And finally, we all know that firefighters save lives, but how many of them do you know who save hawks, bobcats, and coyotes?

Glacier National Park grizzly deaths

3 from Riverside County charged with poaching deer in Yosemite

Bear climbs ladder to escape Snowmass skate park

Bear deaths way down on Russian, Kenai rivers

Several in area convinced they’ve seen mountain lions

Lion attack: Landscape crew witness cougar kill deer

Youth deer hunt drama

Deer do great damage to parks

No joking; raccoon excrement should be no laughing matter

Thanks to Leroy, now I've seen everything

Pixie O’Possum, a nocturnal visitor

Man shoots himself during standoff with opossum

Coyotes wander Ottawa streets

Coyote Attacks Deer Near Forsyth Co. Line

6 juvenile wolves found dead in Idaho

Rescued hawks take to the skies after being released

FDNY veteran rescues all kinds of wildlife in spare time: hawks, bobcats, coyotes

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082509

2009-08-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

We lead off wildlife news today with a study from a New South Wales university that shows that kangaroos account for an astounding 60% of the auto accidents with animals in Australia, resulting in 2,100 collisions and 13 human deaths! A deer that bounded onto the road in front of a pack of motorcyclists left one biker dead and several injured in Colorado; while residents of an Upstate New York community will have the opportunity to comment on deer culling after a reversal by the City Council that had previously barred public comment. A report on chronic wasting disease within Florida's white-tailed deer population has been compiled; and a graduate student conducting a deer tracking project in South Dakota comments on the aims of the project in the next item. A dispute between hunters and birdwatchers over the fate of an injured night heron played out on the Mediterranean island of Malta; but a pair of skunks brought to a rescue center in the UK produced not one, but two albino offspring. Some shepherds in Germany are relying on Pyrenean mountain dogs to protect their sheep from wolves. Farmworkers in Oregon were startled when a cougar suddenly appeared as they were gathering hay earlier this month; but in regards to cougars in Ontario, Canada, a paraphrased quote from Mark Twain is probably appropriate: "rumors of their extinction have been greatly exaggerated!" Rural dwellers in Texas are reminded of some of the dangers that wildlife pose to the unwary, such as rabies; while New Jersey officials confirmed that a raccoon which picked a fight with a dog was indeed rabid. It appears that polar bears, like the Arctic ice mass they inhabit, are also shrinking; but the limitations of relocating bears is highlighted in the next article. We often hear about the damage bear-auto collisions produce, but they're nothing compared to the damage bears do if they get inside a car, as the next article for Colorado demonstrates! Authorities in Florida have charged a couple with the death of a woman's daughter when she was asphyxiated by a pet python. And finally, some clever beluga whales which found themselves stranded on a mud flat in Alaska dug themselves a mud hole in order to survive until the tide returned!

Kangaroos a deadly Aussie road menace: study

Amarillo man dead in Colorado deer accident

It's OK to fawn over deer in Cayuga Heights again

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

Tracking the collared deer

Hunters hang on to injured heron

Skunk gives birth to rare albino skunks at Cumbrian rescue centre

Dogs recruited to protect German sheep from wolves

Hay harvesters encounter cougar

'Shadows' with teeth and claws

Rabies concerns and rural living

Rabid raccoon found in Absecon

'Stress' is shrinking polar bears

Bear sow killed in Basalt

Bear wrecks car in East Vail

Couple charged in python strangling

Stranded belugas in Alaska swim free

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082409

2009-08-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

First up in wildlife news today, a campaign in Australia to help Leadbeater's possums burned out by the Black Saturday bushfires is a big hit among school-age kids; but skunks, abandoned in the UK after passage of a law prohibiting de-scenting of pets, are adding their distinctive aroma to the countryside. In an ironic turnabout, either a skunk or a raccoon became a yellow jacket exterminator! A look at raccoons in Florida, where the four smallest varieties reside, is provided by the next article. Airborne distribution of a rabies vaccine intended for raccoons in northern New York state is underway; but a raccoon that quarreled with a pair of labs in Virginia a few days ago turned out to be rabid. The Southern California community of Sierra Madre played host to an ursine visitor. Hunters intent on reducing the urban deer population in Warsaw, Indiana, received training at the local police department; and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is putting together a survey on when the rutting season for deer in different parts of the state occurs. A motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet is in critical condition after striking a deer in the road in Wisconsin; while another motorcyclist was killed and his wife injured in a collision with a deer in Arkansas. In a letter to the editor regarding an article about counting deer in a New Jersey community, a writer points out that deer should not be counted nor hunted, merely enjoyed. The next story underscores the virtue of procrastination in dealing with a Big Deer on Campus in Wisconsin! A meeting to discuss a proposed deer hunt in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been scheduled; and the virtue of culling deer in a North Carolina community is discussed. With seven dogs killed by wolves so far this year in Minnesota, residents are beginning to voice their concerns about having the predators in the area. The adaptability of coyotes in the Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) area is explored; and a writer from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, reflects on coyotes in the area. The annual hawk migration through New York State is examined in the next article; but a friendly eagle brought to a Virginia wildlife rehabilitation center will remain their permanent guest due to its inability to feed in the wild. Authorities are warning residents of a British Columbia, Canada, community to keep an eye on their pets and children after a cougar was spotted in the area; even as cougars appear to be making their way back into parts of Nebraska, after having been virtually wiped out in that state years ago. And finally, endangered species are facing a threat from an unexpected quarter: the Internet!

TV takes aim on possums

Locals scent strangers in garden

SKOL: Look out for those ‘bees’

Tropicalia Wild File: Raccoon

County, USDA to distribute rabies vaccine for raccoons

Rabies Case Confirmed in Henrico

There goes the neighborhood... bear moves in

67 Archers Attend Deer Training Saturday At WPD

FWC seeks hunters to complete deer rut survey

Updated: Motorcyclist in critical condition after hitting deer

Motorcyclist Dies In Crash With Deer

Resident sees no point in counting deer in Cranford

Oh, deer: 10-point buck wanders onto WSU campus

Proposed suburban Philly archery deer hunt debated

Safety issues end Kure Beach deer hunting proposal

Rise of wolves putting Minnesota pets at risk

Coyotes thrive in urban setting

Wild ideas about coyotes

Mt. Kisco preserve hosts hawk watch during migration

Eagle with misaligned beak to stay at Va. center

Saanich cougar sighting a warning to those with children and small pets

Outdoors: Cougar makes a cameo [Omaha World-Herald, Neb.]

'Cyber-traffic' endangering primates in Cameroon