WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 060509

California officials, including the governor, are protesting a federal directive that would protect salmon, but further reduce water flow into areas already parched by drought. A success story at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, where workers were able to artificially inseminate a rare crane who had failed to conceive naturally; but shooting bald eagles can be expensive, as one Florida duck hunter found out. The search for a man's pet owl in the UK had a happy ending; and an injured red-tailed hawk, apparently hit by a vehicle last month, will be released back into the wilds at a ceremony in New York this weekend. A cougar in a Southern California neighborhood had authorities on edge; followed by the recollections of a cougar predation specialist. Hunting reports from Michigan, which give some idea of the deer population size, are provided in the next item. The Humane Society is advising Virginia residents to leave baby animals where they find them. Four articles about deer-auto collisions follow: a deer struck by a passing motorist in Reno, Nevada, has died of its injuries; a discussion of deer-auto collisions in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is offered up next; a motorcyclist who hit a deer in Upstate New York has been hospitalized due to serious injuries; and an Illinois woman ended up in the hospital after swerving to avoid a deer in the road. Alaska is embarking on a controversial plan to trap bears in order to increase the moose population; followed by three Canadian bear stories: the sighting of a polar bear near a Labrador community prompted authorities to remind residents not to approach the animal; a black bear was seen in Lakefield, Ontario; and a rare 'blonde' black bear was captured on film on Canada's west coast. Florida wildlife officers planned to relocate a black bear found lounging in a Fort Myers neighborhood; but a Connecticut bear who raced out of the woods, right into the side of a passing SUV, had to be euthanized due to injuries sustained in the collision. Virginia's black bear population is the topic of the next article. A Massachusetts family had an unexpected visit from a raccoon kit. Another warning to pet owners about coyotes in the area, this time from La Crescenta, California; residents of Aspen, Colorado, are on edge due to a coyote who appears to be stalking people walking dogs in the area; and a small dog was evidently killed by a coyote in a Cincinnati, Ohio, neighborhood. And finally, the British Royal Family has been robbed - thieves made off with several bee hives destined for the royal estate at Balmoral Castle in Scotland (prompting one to ask whether this means there will be a shortage of royal jelly?)

Feds release Calif. plan to protect chinook salmon

After failed courtship, zoo helps rare birds breed

Duck hunter who shot bald eagle sentenced Friday

'Birdman' reunited with his owl

Hawk to be released during celebration

Mountain lion reported in backyard near elementary school

Mountain (Lion) Man

Michigan deer kill up statewide, but down in U.P.

Don't Move Baby Deer

Injured deer on Interstate 80 has died, NHP reports; no traffic impact

BEWARE: Deer Xing

Motorcyclist hits deer, is in serious condition

Woman hospitalized after flipping car to avoid deer

State says bear baiting will boost moose numbers

Polar bear warning issued for Black Tickle

Reported black bear sightings in Lakefield

In pictures: The Spirit Bear, the rare 'blonde' black bear of Canada's western coast

Black bear sighting

Conn. police put down bear injured in accident

State’s black bear population is thriving

Raccoon scare on Juniper Drive

Coyotes on the prowl; area pets in danger

Coyote attacks dog on Smuggler near Aspen

Coyote suspected in dog disappearance

Royal family stung by theft of beehives