WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 083109

We lead off wildlife news today with a story about Western Plains Zoo, in New South Wales, Australia, which is in trouble for selling some endangered wildlife to hunting enthusiasts; but fallout from the poisoning of invasive possums in New Zealand includes concerns for pet owners and pollution concerns as rains washed carcasses into Wellington's harbor. An informative article about ferrets as pets reveals some interesting secrets, including the fact that they, like their stinky relative the skunk, also have musk glands that emit an odorous secretion; and speaking of skunks, a friendly one was the star of the show as a wildlife rehabilitator in Nova Scotia, Canada, conducted a presentation. With their mother missing, and no zoo willing to take them, three brown bear cubs had to be put down by Alaskan wildlife officials; but a motorcycle-bear collision in Tennessee evidently resulted in no injuries. A black bear wandering through a Connecticut town gave students going to school a bit of a scare; while grizzly bears in Wyoming have killed several dozen sheep so far this year, including a baker's dozen the middle of this month. Some videos of bears prowling around homes in New York State are up next; and a black bear visited Kent, Ohio, something which seldom happens in that community. Residents of a Fairbanks, Alaska, community reported a black bear going through the trash (most locals declared this a non-event); but bear hazing was the order of the day in Aspen over the weekend. An outdoorsman from Utah provides some tips for conduct in bear country; while several wildlife groups are appealing to the United States government to halt trophy hunting of polar bears. Given a choice between gang-bangers and a raccoon living in a vacant house, residents of a Colorado neighborhood prefer the raccoon; but after a second rabid raccoon was discovered in New York City, residents were provided with tips on avoiding dangerous situations with wildlife (and they probably just thought they had muggers and aggressive taxicabs to worry about!) A naturalist from Labrador, Canada, discusses the American kestrel; while a Utah resident who grew up in Simi Valley, California, recounts his interesting and sometimes hilarious interactions with birds and nature. Since over 100 raptors have been electrocuted by landing on power lines in Wyoming, a utility company will spend almost $10 million to retrofit their power lines to reduce this problem; but after trying rubber snakes and repellent sprays to scare off geese that were fouling athletic fields, Kentucky maintenance personnel have found that cardboard coyotes work the best. A cougar was reported in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe, California, so officials are advocating caution amongst hikers in the area; and a cougar was also seen near a mobile home park in San Mateo County over the weekend; while another big cat that has killed several livestock outside of Seattle, Washington, is still on the loose. A bill that would offer farmers greater latitude in dealing with crop-damaging deer in Michigan is discussed; even as officials debate the fate of deer at a preserve. A pair of deer-auto collisions occurred over the weekend in Ohio; and another in Missouri resulted in injuries. Although urban deer hunts have been approved in North Carolina, few townships are taking advantage to thin the herds; but poachers apprehended by officials in India included, surprisingly, a lecturer who was working on his PhD! And finally, officials in an Arizona tourist town are putting wild burros that frequent the area on a diet.

Ban for Australian zoo that sold antelope to hunter

Checks for poisoned possums in Wellington waters

Pets 101: About ferrets

Sweet skunk steals society’s show

Not a storybook ending: 3 bear cubs put down; mother missing

Motorcycle vs. bear in Blount County crash

Bear Causes Stir at New Britain Bus Stop

Grizzly Bear Kills 13 Sheep on Wyoming Grazing Allotment

Local Bear Sightings

Black bear visit unusual in Kent

Black bear roaming Gold Hill area

Bears busy in city, but not in county

Bear attacks: how to avoid them, how to survive them

Wildlife Groups Seek Halt to Polar Bear Trade

Neighborhood nuisance: Masked bandit moves in

With 2nd rabid raccoon found in Manhattan, NYC Health Dept. reminds citizens to avoid wild animals

The Sparrow Hawk

Cedar City 'bird man' has soaring dream

Nesting uncomfortably? G&F schedules study of golden eagle population

Ky. school uses cardboard coyotes to scare geese

Warning issued after mountain lions sighted

Possible Mountain Lion Sighting In Half Moon Bay

The Blotter

Deer population concerns farmers

Ferrysburg looks at impact of deer on dunes preserve

Deer cause two injury accidents

Passenger injured when car hits deer

Urban deer hunts raise quivers

Lecturer and electrician held with deer skin

Carrot-toting tourists making Arizona burros obese