WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082609

Two articles from Los Angeles Times Outposts lead off wildlife news today: Julie Sheer provides some background material on the deaths of two grizzlies in Montana's Glacier National Park last week; and Kelly Burgess provides an article about three Riverside County men accused of poaching deer in picturesque Yosemite National Park. Although bears have been spotted in some unusual situations, one from Snowmass, Colorado, is quite unique! Several changes implemented by wildlife officials in Alaska have apparently resulted in fewer bear deaths this year compared to last year. Residents in one part of Missouri are convinced that they've seen cougars in the area; and a California landscaping crew got a front row seat to a cougar attack on a deer. A deer hunt for young people in California is generating a good deal of controversy; while a wildlife biologist weighs in on the contentious plan to cull deer in a Kansas Park; and a deer hunter from Minnesota reflects on the dangers of raccoon poop. There was a delay of a ball game in Illinois due to the game (in this case, a skunk!) A writer from Oregon recounts the wildlife that visits their back porch every night, including a pair of possums; but a Washington state man who accidentally shot himself in a standoff with an opossum has decided next time he'll use a trap instead! Wildlife biologists in Ottawa, Canada, are warning pet owners that coyotes are on the prowl; and an influx of coyotes in one North Carolina county is causing some concern among residents. Idaho wildlife officials are puzzled by the deaths of half-a-dozen juvenile wolves. Raptor rehabilitators from South Carolina comment on the release of two red-tailed hawks and precautions to take on approaching injured raptors. And finally, we all know that firefighters save lives, but how many of them do you know who save hawks, bobcats, and coyotes?

Glacier National Park grizzly deaths

3 from Riverside County charged with poaching deer in Yosemite

Bear climbs ladder to escape Snowmass skate park

Bear deaths way down on Russian, Kenai rivers

Several in area convinced they’ve seen mountain lions

Lion attack: Landscape crew witness cougar kill deer

Youth deer hunt drama

Deer do great damage to parks

No joking; raccoon excrement should be no laughing matter

Thanks to Leroy, now I've seen everything

Pixie O’Possum, a nocturnal visitor

Man shoots himself during standoff with opossum

Coyotes wander Ottawa streets

Coyote Attacks Deer Near Forsyth Co. Line

6 juvenile wolves found dead in Idaho

Rescued hawks take to the skies after being released

FDNY veteran rescues all kinds of wildlife in spare time: hawks, bobcats, coyotes