WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071409

A Los Angeles Times writer contrasts Arkansas' urban deer hunt with Southern California sensibilities in our first wildfire story today; but in the wake of the dismissal of animal cruelty charges in the case of three Wisconsin men accused of running down deer with their snowmobiles, a bill has been introduced that would make such actions criminal. A deer crossing a road in Pennsylvania caused a chain reaction accident. The third shooting of a bear in Utah has authorities examining the problem; and a radio-collared grizzly sow who attacked hunters in Idaho has been identified by wildlife officials. A quick-thinking woman in Cape Coral, Florida, did the right thing when she encountered a black bear; but police in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, fearing for the safety of residents, shot a black bear that was rummaging through trash cans Monday night. Declining to add a black bear to their foursomes, golfers let the visitor play through their tournament in Arizona. A couple of unorthodox remedies for gopher infestations are highlighted in the next article. In what appears to be an increasing trend, more human-wildlife encounters are being reported in Canada as homes move into wilderness areas. The story of a breeding pair of eagles that was displaced from an airport near Baltimore, Maryland, had a happy ending as they are raising a pair of eaglets elsewhere now; but controversy still swirls around a Native American ritual that was interrupted when a decapitated eagle was disturbed by a hiker in Colorado. A hawk that plummeted through the windshield of an SUV in Michigan has been taken to a wildlife rehab center for treatment. A Canadian was attacked by wildlife on a bridge in British Columbia, however the exact species is unknown at this time. California Fish & Game officials have warned residents of Northern California towns to be wary after dusk since cougars have been spotted in the area; while the sighting of a cougar in San Mateo, California, last week has been followed by another sighting this week. The dangers of inbreeding is being brought home by the plight of wolves on Michigan's Isle Royale; however Washington state wildlife officials have now confirmed that there are at least two grey wolf packs in that state. And finally, an orangutan went for a little stroll outside her enclosure at an Australian zoo!

Urban deer hunts a 'touchy subject' but a reality in parts of Arkansas

Appleton legislator seeks law changes on heels of deer slaughter decisions

Deer creates chaos on Route 283

Camper kills another Utah bear

Fish & Game ID Grizzly Bear That Attacked Hunters

Officials warn: Active bears roam for food and mates in the summer months

Winston-Salem Police Shoot, Kill Bear

Rain delays, now bear delays

Action Line: Gopher problem? Try laxatives or castor oil

Predators strike back as urban sprawl takes over the landscape

Rousted eagles produce two soon-to-be fledglings

Ruined rite with bald eagle upsets Native Americans

Hawk flies into SUV on I-196, causes two-vehicle crash west of interchange with I-96

RCMP investigate possible cougar attack

Residents Report Several Mountain Lions

Two mountain lion sightings reported in San Mateo

N. Minn. Researchers Find Arthritis Killing Wolves

Second wolf pack confirmed in Washington

Orangutan escapes enclosure at Australian zoo