WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 081709

Our first wildlife story today takes an inside look at falconry, where birds of prey take flight in some incredible video footage; followed by the story of a hawk that collided with a car and is believed to have come from a Seattle urban park. Although physically the largest member of the hawk family, Ferruginous hawks' numbers are small and declining in Washington state; but South Dakota is beset by burgeoning wildlife populations, particularly geese, that are decimating their crops, and could probably use some additional raptors in the area. A motorcyclist had a fatal collision with a bear in California early this morning; while the Chicago Tribune recounts a series of bear encounters across the US; and although there've not been an abundance of bear sightings in an Ontario, Canada, community this year, wildlife officials are still cautioning homeowners to take precautions with bears around. Wildfires set by farmers clearing land in Borneo threatened to overrun an orangutan preserve harboring 8,000 individuals, as well as many other species; while the impact of climate change on Australia's flora and fauna is examined in the next item. An ingenious (though expensive) device for killing ticks on deer is showcased in an article from Maryland; and wildlife authorities in Maryland are proposing draconian measures to protect white-tailed deer from chronic wasting disease. Residents in West Virginia's capital fear for their safety as an urban deer hunt season nears; while a deer management workshop will be offered at Auburn University in Alabama at the end of the month. A friendly deer in Minnesota has wildlife and public safety officials worried. An Op-Ed from Connecticut blames mankind for a coyote population explosion in New England; followed by an update on the Massachusetts coyote attack mentioned last week. A cougar cub became an unexpected guest at a Washington state wedding; but California Department of Fish and Game officials are cautioning people living near Lake Arrowhead about a cougar in the area. Some background material on cougar attacks and steps to take to prevent them while outdoors is brought to us by the next article from Durango, Colorado. And finally, a Virginia real estate agent got a shock when she saw what she thought was a cougar in a shed on the property she was showing, but the cat turned out to be much more docile than she expected!

Their love of falconry hasn’t crested

Hawk injured in Central District might be from Volunteer Park

Ferruginous hawks in decline

South Dakota crops damaged by wildlife, birds

Motorcycle Hits, Kills Bear Near Cool

San Bernardino National Forest bear: Californians biting off more than they can chew by feeding it

Bear reports coming in here

Borneo ablaze: forest fires threaten world’s largest remaining population of orangutans

Climate change 'threatens Australia's biodiversity'

Device aids in Lyme disease battle

In Maryland, Hopes that Plan to Slaughter Deer Will Stave Off Disease

Urban deer hunt has some residents worried

Deer Management Workshop Planned by Extension

DNR concerned tame deer will be safety issue

Coyotes Trying To Fill Shoes Of Wolf Cousins

Dartmouth coyote attack brings attention to predator population

Cougar crashes wedding near Washougal

Mountain Lions Prowling Local Communities

Mountain lions' presence shouldn't paralyze us in wild

'Mountain Lion' Turns Out to Be a Softy