WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 053009

First up in wildlife news today, legislators in Connecticut wrangled over a bill that would ban possession of wild animals in that state; while a patriotic squirrel in Michigan is accused of stealing small flags placed at gravesites to use for its nest. There's been a cougar sighting near a Nebraska school. Dozens of whales had to be euthanized when they washed up on shore in South Africa; and New York has some big fans, but they would be dwarfed by these fans! A town in Manatee County, Florida, is coping with a young black bear who keeps popping up in the neighborhood; while three lucky koala bears were released from Victoria's Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, fully recovered from their bushfire injuries. A black bear that had been frequenting Everett, Washington, was tranquilized and moved back into the wild. A white tail deer in Delaware apparently decided to go for a swim in the Atlantic; but an overabundance of deer has prompted a Wisconsin community to ask wildlife officials for help; and deer culling protesters in a Michigan town risk arrest if they continue to interfere with sharpshooters targeting an exploding deer population. With one in six motorcycle fatalities in Iowa caused by collisions with deer, motorcyclists are voicing their concerns; however, a fawn that was rescued when a coyote was driven off has died, apparently from his wounds, in Massachusetts. Virginia country dwellers are beginning to become annoyed with coyotes attacking pets and livestock; and Greenbrier County, West Virginia, has seen a spike in rabid wildlife in the vicinity. Ornithologists are concerned that over fifty species of birds that frequent Britain may be in danger of extinction due to lack of food in sub-Saharan Africa. Perhaps the title for this next item from New Zealand should be 'Polly wants a passport'! And finally, while neither snow, nor sleet, nor dark of night may prevent the mail from coming through, a pair of Canadian hawks in Saskatchewan just might!

Conn. lawmakers won't take up wild animal ban

Squirrel at Mich. cemetery wraps nest in Old Glory

Mountain lion reported on Doane College campus

SAfrican officials kill 35 stranded whales

Blue whales found near NY, off their usual path

Weston bear remains on loose Saturday morning

Happy to be home

Bear tranquilized, removed in Everett

Deer in Rehoboth Beach waters no big deal, officials say

Little Chute residents ask village to control destructive deer herd

City to consider more deer herd reductions

Deer Pose Major Threat to Motorcycle Riders

Fawn rescued from coyote dies

Coyote scary

Society warns cuckoo bird in danger of extinction

Brazen NZ parrot steals passport, heads into bush

Pair of hawks cause mail delivery suspension