WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 032409

First up in wildlife news today, a woman in San Mateo County, California, believes her cat was killed by a cougar; followed by some Q&A about Oregon cougar hunting. Unfortunately, a 3-year-old cougar in an Oregon zoo didn't live up to her Lakota name of 'survivor', as she succumbed to an intestinal disease despite the best treatments available. A variety of ills were corrected with a prescribed burn of sparrow habitat in Ohio; and some advice on raptors was dispensed to a reader in North Carolina. An interesting thesis provides some background on a type of deer that frequents European locales; while a study on deer breeding drives (and the effect of testosterone on them) has been done in the UK. Sage advice is offered by Maine wildlife officials in regards to feeding deer in that state; but tragedy struck as a doe pregnant with twins was hit by vehicles while crossing a rain-slickened road in Missouri. Officials in a Michigan township are beginning a six-month campaign to track damage done by deer passing through the area. Hungry bears are beginning to roam Glacier National Park again; and Idaho Fish and Game officials are setting down ground rules for wolf hunting in the region. As spring mating season heats up, Florida wildlife officials provide some advice to residents about dealing with coyotes; and residents of an Ohio community are advised on how to live with coyotes in the neighborhood. A trio of rabies stories: animal control officers are on the lookout for a rabid raccoon in Southeast Virginia; two dogs were chased by a rabid skunk in Northern California; and a North Carolina pet had to be euthanized after an encounter with a raccoon that had rabies. In Australia, an endangered species of snake could actually benefit from bushfires in its habitat. Some hard-earned advice is offered from an Illinois resident about dealing with raccoons as neighbors. And finally, it's Raccoons 1, Mayors 0, as a mayor in British Columbia, Canada, had a nasty run-in with an aggressive raccoon!

Resident suspects mountain lion in cat killing

Cougar kills are below target

Ailing cougar euthanized at the Oregon Zoo

U.S. Forest Service Controlled Fire Enhances Bird Habitat

Most hawks will leave dogs alone

DNA analysis uncovers the prehistory of Norwegian red deer

Oak Duke: Territoriality in whitetail deer

Don't Feed the Deer, State Biologists Say

Deer sparks four-vehicle accident

Bears waking up in Glacier

F&G approves hunt on Sawtooth wolves

Coyotes spotted around Fairborn

Officials search for possible rabid raccoon in Chilhowie area

Rabid skunk attacks dogs

One dog put down after fight with rabid raccoon

Bush Fires May Actually Help Near-Extinct Australian Snake

Backyard bandit strikes again

Raging-raccoon attack sidelines mayor