WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 080109

First up in wildlife news today, firefighters in Connecticut had to rescue an Osprey with a leg injury who was hanging upside down; while birders in a Florida community are trying to get an eagle-protection ordinance passed to halt development near eagles' nests. A representative of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in New Hampshire demonstrated a more agreeable side to bats and other creatures generally shunned by people; but Melbourne, Australia, is in the news today, as animal welfare groups cry foul over razor-sharp tree collars that are having a deleterious effect on possums in the city. A private wildlife capture organization that operates in Southern California is the subject of the next article; someone who could be useful in the situation faced by Newport News, Virginia, in which warnings went out about rabid wildlife. Western England is beset by invasive species, chief of which are raccoons; followed by an article about the decisions leading up to the shooting of a bear in a Colorado community. A black bear that has been hanging around an Ohio community did considerable damage to a home there. With attacks on pets and even humans on the rise in a Toronto, Ontario, suburb, local Canadian authorities are arguing for extermination of the coyote population. The American Society of Mammalogists put forth a plea to the government to help Mexican gray wolves in the southwestern US; while the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, is showcased in the next article. The Alpha Male of a Washington state wolf pack has been collared, allowing wildlife biologists to track the pack's movements. There's a bit of a mystery surrounding an apparent cougar attack outside of Grass Valley, California; and there may be a cougar prowling around Central Illinois as well. A motorcycle mixed it up with a deer in Northern Illinois last night, putting two people in the hospital; but an Indiana motorcyclist was more fortunate. Another look at a three-year study of black-tailed deer in California is offered by the next article. And finally, people at an Egyptian airport were startled by a foot-long crocodile that squirmed out of someone's luggage and took a constitutional around the baggage check area!

Firefighters rescue Osprey from nest

Tarpon may alter rules to protect eagles

Helping to overcome a bad reputation

Possum outrage

Humane Rescue Just A Call Away

Raccoon tests positive for rabies in NN

March of Killer Raccoons

Officers shoot, kill bear

Black bear spotted in Streetsboro: Rips hole in wall of S.R. 14 home

Coyotes an 'invasive species' that must be removed, councillor argues

Let science lift number of Mexican gray wolves

Animal Tales: Checking in with the wolves in Ely

Biologists collar, tag 2nd Wash. wolf pack

Transient claims cougar attacked him

Police Investigate Cougar Sightings in Henry

Motorcyclist, passenger taken to hospital after hitting a deer

Man walks away with minor injuries after hitting a deer on his motorcycle

THE SPORTSMAN'S CORNER: Study of black-tailed deer decline underway

Egypt: Foot-long baby croc causes scare in the air