WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 081309

In wildlife news today, Exxon Mobil was slapped with a heavy fine for contributing to the deaths of dozens of birds over the past five years; while several communities in England are keeping an eye out for a hand-raised owl that escaped its owner. A plastic coyote came to the defense of a Georgia sports field that was being overrun by geese; followed by some commentary on a study from Arizona about coyotes preying on cats; and the story of a Massachusetts kitty that used up most of its nine lives fending off a coyote attack. But cats aren't their only fare, as coyote incursions into one Ohio county are diminishing the population of red foxes in the area; even as a wildlife biologist from Alabama weighs in on coyote settlements in the eastern US. Next is a tale of two Virginia communities: one is reconsidering its bounty on coyotes, in light of the fact that livestock owners report no reduction in coyote attacks; while another considers changing the bounty. Denver, Colorado, pet owners are concerned that coyotes in the area are now attacking in packs; and a Colorado man has an uneasy waiting period after coming into contact with a coyote that may have had rabies. The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association is concerned about Mexico's intention to release grey wolves, fearing that they could cross the border into the US. The National Park Service has a new subject to study, in the form of a female cougar captured in July and given a GPS collar to follow her exploits in California's Santa Monica Mountains; but California homeowners are on the watch for a cougar that is been seen repeatedly in the area for the past month; and ranchers in a Nebraska community are on the lookout for a couple of cougars that may have been seen prowling around in the area. A Canadian woman has been told by provincial officials that she must return her pet deer to the wild; but the decline in the deer population in South Carolina, as explained by the next article, shows the impact of residential development on wildlife numbers. Officials in a New Jersey county have reported another case of rabies in the area, their third so far this year; and an Ontario, Canada, community reported their fourth rabid animal so far this year. A pair of dogs that were attacked by a skunk in Kansas had to be euthanized as the skunk turned out to be rabid. A new medical study underscores the danger to children, particularly to small children, from raccoon droppings. A bear decided to ramble through some back yards in San Dimas, California, yesterday afternoon. And finally, a bear in Boulder, Colorado, gave two paws up for Italian cookies at a local store!

Exxon Mobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Migratory Birds

Eagle owl at large in Great Sankey, Warrington

Water fowl don't dare cross path of Paran coyote

Study shows Southern Arizona coyotes are a risk to outdoor cats

'Lucky' Jasper the cat survives coyote attack

Coyotes wile away in Madison County

Coyote migration worries urban East

Coyote bounty discussed by supervisors

Coyote Bounty May Become Flat Rate

Pet Owners Warned About Coyotes Training Pups

Coyote attack brings rabies close to home

Wolf release in Mexico sparks concern in US

Meet the Newest Mountain Lion of the Santa Monica Mountains

Residents report lion

House Cat Or Mountain Lion? Animal Spotted In Elkhorn

Pet deer that sleeps on a bed must go: official

Deer season forecast good for 2009

3rd rabies case in county confirmed

Rabid skunk confirmed

Dogs that killed rabid skunk euthanized; make sure your pets are vaccinated

Raccoon Latrines Pose Risk to Kids

Bear goes for a dip in San Dimas

Bear Breaks Into Home For Biscotti