WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 103109

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

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

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

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

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

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

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