WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 093009

Over a ton of elephant tusks being illegally shipped to Thailand were intercepted at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, our first wildlife article today; followed by some pointers on pet safety from the CEO of Seattle's Humane Society. While raptor enthusiasts are probably excited about the resurgent eagle population in Maryland, homeowners in Annapolis fear for the safety of their pets; and an Op-Ed piece from the New York Times discusses the effect of fear of predators on the prey. Four deer-auto collision stories underscore the danger in areas with deer populations: a motorcyclist had a deadly encounter with a deer in the road in Alabama; a motorcyclist in Montana took a spill after hitting a deer near Greycliff; and motorists in Colorado are being warned about deer in the road this time of year; but the odds are lower in Utah. Seeking to avoid bringing Chronic Wasting Disease into Michigan, wildlife officials are reminding hunters of restrictions on importing deer carcasses from designated states; but visitors to the Seneca, New York, area are able to get tours of an old army base at which a rare white deer resides. A letter to the editor of a Kansas paper defends hunters who've been vilified due to a debate over an urban deer hunt; while city officials in a Michigan community that has been embroiled in a similar dilemma is taking a "wait and see" attitude. A mountain biker in Colorado had a close encounter of the cougar kind; while a resident of Minnesota claims to have seen a cougar, but wildlife officials are skeptical. A cougar decided to make a meal of a small dog in Central California, but the pet owners had other ideas; however, a bold cougar in Tioga, North Dakota, had better make tracks for the wilderness before the city decides to do some hunting; like hunters elsewhere in that state, who have reported their first kill of the season. Bear hunters in Idaho reported four more hunting dogs killed by a wolfpack; while pet owners in parts of New York state are being warned about coyotes making off with their charges. Parents of school-age children in Austin, Texas, are concerned about the danger from roundworms borne in raccoon feces afflicting their children; while an elderly resident of New Jersey not only had her apartment ransacked by a raccoon, but ended up being bitten on the leg to boot! Another dangerous bear encounter story comes to us from Vail, Colorado. And finally, Knut, the world's most famous polar bear, got cuffed on his first date in Berlin!

Kenya, Ethiopia authorities seize ivory stash

Notes from the CEO: Protecting Pets from Coyotes, Raccoons and Skunks

Where Tasty Morsels Fear to Tread

Where eagles fly, pet owners better watch out

Man dies in wreck, deer at fault

Motorcyclist injured after hitting deer near Greycliff

Crashes Between Deer, Vehicles Jump In Colo.

Odds of hitting deer in Utah: 1 in 400

Tour rare world of Seneca’s white deer

Michigan hunters reminded about deer, elk import restrictions

Deer hunts need not be viewed as cruel

GHT officials: deer more of a 'nuisance'

Man encounters mountain lion on Quarry Mountain trail

DNR official skeptical about cougar report near St. Clair

Cat chases dog: Lakeport lion attempts attack

Officials disagree on threat posed by mountain lion

ND Reports Season`s First Mountain Lion Killed

Wolves kill 4 hunting dogs

Warning: look out for local coyotes

Raccoon Roundworm causing playground danger

Ventnor Woman Attacked by Raccoon in Her Apartment

Vail woman fends off bear with pillow

Polar Bear Knut Smacked on First Date (But It's a Good Thing!)

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092909

First up today in wildlife news, Sam Gowen, of the Orange County Register, sent along an article that summarizes pet owners' comments on coyotes in Orange County, California; but in a bit of a mystery, two dogs hunting coyotes in Michigan were shot by someone. Although US Forest Service scientists agree the Angeles National Forest is sick after the recent wildfires, they feel that the foliage will come back quicker than expected, but the animals suffered terrible losses due to the fires. In another link to birds, a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen was apparently killed by trichomonosis, a common avian ailment. Some video footage of yesterday's story about a bear breaking into a Mount Baldy Village, California, home is provided in the next item; but one of Canada's northernmost provinces is faced with a dilemma: reduce polar bear hunts to avoid sanctions, or reduce a lucrative business in hosted hunts. Incursions by humans into koala territories, along with bushfires devastating the groves where they live, is stressing out the little animals, opening the door for a deadly disease that is decimating the population; however, a Washington state school bus driver is in trouble with the district after dropping a middle school student off near where a bear was standing! About 75 countries took part in a World Rabies Day event yesterday that sought to inform the public of the threat from rabies; as a family in North Carolina is waiting nervously to see whether their puppy contracted rabies from an encounter with a rabid skunk; a skunk examined in a Virginia community turned out to also have rabies; and rabid skunks in a Colorado county are suspected of having transmitted the disease to a cougar and a cow. The hilarious misadventures of a writer from Central California whose dog was "skunked" is up next. Customers and employees of a high-end beauty salon in Pennsylvania were stunned when a deer crashed through the front window unexpectedly; while deer hunters in Minnesota are assisting wildlife officials in measuring the health of the deer herd by allowing them to take tissue samples of their kills. A truck plummeted off an embankment in central California while trying to avoid a deer in the road; Michigan claimed the dubious honor of second-place in the number of deer-auto collisions in the US; but unlike residents of many towns where urban deer hunting is taking place, citizens of a town in Connecticut are supportive of the effort. A study just published in Conservation Genetics Magazine revealed that extermination of wolves on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, has led to a new breed of "monster" wolves; while an update on wolf hunting in Idaho is provided by the next item. A cougar was sighted near a garden party in Palo Alto, California; but a cougar that jumped out of a ditch yesterday was struck by a motorist near an Alberta, Canada, community. And finally, a photo from Colorado shows a case of David versus Goliath, or in this instance, kingbird versus red-tailed hawk!

Readers share sightings and wildlife attacks on pets

DNR Investigating Dog Shooting In Kalkaska County

With care, the forest will live

Did lowly parasite kill famous T. rex?

Video: Bear breaks into California home

Northern hearing told limit on polar bear hunt crucial to Nunavut economy

Stress disease kills Australia's koalas

Bus driver drops middle school student off near bear

Day stresses rabies awareness

16th rabies case reported in Rockwell

Skunk tests positive for rabies in eastern Henrico

Mountain lion, cow latest rabies victims in eastern El Paso County

After skunk encounter, house goes to the dogs

Deer Makes Unexpected Visit To Pa. Hair Salon

MN Deer Hunters Encouraged To Take Part In Disease Surveillance Testing

Deer Blamed For Highway 49 Crash

Michigan ranks 2nd in car-deer collisions

How will engaging a deer hunter help restore health and safety?

Cull led to hybrid 'monster' wolves: Study

15 wolves killed so far in Idaho

Mountain lion spotted near Highway 101 in Palo Alto

Cougar put down after being hit

Pictured: The tiny kingbird that took a piggyback on a predatory hawk and lived to tell the tale

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092809

In wildlife news today, Camilla Fox of Project Coyote, provides our first two items of news on her favorite topic. A central California high school beset by geese has reconstituted their fake coyote population after thieves made off with the first batch; but although North Dakota's wildlife officials don't keep an official tally of how many coyotes are present in that state, residents are reporting increased sightings of the canines. In an update on the story of "Josie the possum", a Queensland, Australia, pensioner has succeeded in avoiding officials who want to confiscate the little creature; but the story appears to have a happy ending, as "Fred the possum" has been returned after a public upwelling arguing that, since the animals had never been in the wild, they would not survive if they were put in the wild. Wildlife authorities are still trying to figure out how a humpback whale ended up dead in a Virginia river; while first responders had a real mess on their hands when a truck transporting beehives in Turkey crashed, releasing swarms of angry bees that stung everybody in the vicinity. Mr. Bumble, a domesticated skunk in the UK, has been put on a diet after being fed inappropriate foods by his owners; followed by a editorial from Arizona that provides sage advice to husbands about listening to their wives, especially in regards to feeding skunks! As raptors continue their journey south for the winter, enthusiasts in Maryland are getting a "bird's-eye view" of the activity. A black bear in upstate New York that had wandered into a community was shot and killed by wildlife authorities; while Oklahoma's controversial black bear hunt is approaching. Colorado's Department of Wildlife has been experimenting with electric mats and fencing to deter hungry bears; something a resident of Mount Baldy Village, California, could have used, considering the $20,000 worth of repairs he has to pay for after a hungry black bear got trapped in the house! German zoo officials in Berlin were stunned when a Syrian brown bear attacked and killed a female brown bear with which he cohabited. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is getting ready to drop rabies vaccine baits in northern Tennessee and Southern Virginia to reduce the number of rabid raccoons in the area; while the driver of a Honda Accord that mowed down a pair of raccoons deliberately in Half Moon Bay, California, is being sought by authorities. It appears that Global Warming is a threat to more species than just polar bears, such as Minnesota's moose population. The role that hunting plays in the health of deer herds is examined in the next article; but there's trouble in paradise, as an overabundance of deer needs to be addressed by Hawaiian authorities. West Virginia led the nation in most deer-auto collisions, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; and motorists in Nebraska are being given tips to help avoid deer-auto collisions, something which is more frequent during October and November in that state. British police managed to arrest a quartet of deer poachers over the weekend; while Michigan wildlife officials fear that some deer in that state may have died of epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Residents of Arizona's rural areas are being reminded again not to feed elk and deer, lest they find a cougar on their front doorstep. The next article, from Minnesota, discusses all aspects of cougars; followed by an Op-Ed piece from New Hampshire that pontificates over the possibility of cougars returning to that state for the first time since 1885. And finally, what's 7 feet tall, weighs 400 pounds, and wants to be your friend on Facebook?

Protecting America’s Song Dog

Tell The Huntington To Stop Killing Coyotes!

Tam High's geese-spooking coyotes return

More coyotes reported in eastern ND

Josie is still 'on the run'

Possum-keeper reunited with "pet"

Dead humpback whale found floating in Va. river

Crash scene overwhelmed by bees in Turkey

Fat skunk gives up bacon butties

Listen to your spouse to avoid a big stink

Migration brings broad-winged hawks to Md. sky

Bear Killed in Village of Lowville

Hunters Prepare to Hunt Bear In Oklahoma

Aspen bears are in for a shock

Bear raids house in Mt. Baldy

Male brown bear kills female bear at German zoo

Wildlife Officials Prepare Massive Rabies Vaccine Air Drop

2 men sought for running over raccoons in Half Moon Bay

Warmer weather threatens moose in Minnesota

How Deer Hunting Preserves The Deer Herds

Maui County wrestles with spiraling axis deer population

West Virginia Drivers Hit Most Deer, State Farm Says

Neb. drivers urged to watch out for deer in fall

Dog gangs target deer in county

Mich. officials track disease that killed deer

At feeding time, elk don't need your help

DNR wildlife manager provides cougar fact sheet

Editorial: Does the lion roam our yards tonight?

Endangered Ugandan gorillas join Facebook, MySpace

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092609

One of the last places you would expect to find an infestation of skunks, the New York Times reports that the skunks have taken Manhattan! To many people, lawyers stink, but one from Austin, Texas, really did after being sprayed by a skunk at his office! A Pennsylvania farmer was fortunate that he was able to kill a rabid skunk before it came near his horses; but a Massachusetts resident is having to undergo a painful series of rabies shots after an encounter with a raccoon that may have been rabid. A raccoon in Louisiana ran into some trouble with a Hawaiian Punch can; and a black bear visited a backyard in Massachusetts which the owner nicknamed "the wild kingdom", due to the abundance of wildlife passing through. A bear that wandered into St. Paul, Minnesota, was shot by authorities due to fears for the crowd of onlookers it drew; but residents of Aspen, Colorado, are being told to make life "unbearable" for ursine visitors. An inside look at rehabilitation of bald eagles is provided by an article from Arkansas; while hawk watching records were broken in Delaware this weekend, one location reporting more than 3,000 raptors passing by. Residents of an Arkansas community are concerned about coyote attacks on their pets; but a particularly bold coyote walked right in the front door of an Oregon home and carried off an elderly Pekingese napping there; and a Central California community is complaining about increase in coyote attacks. A deer forest which had entertained guests for 60 years in Northern Indiana went on the auction block today. The divisive issue of an urban deer hunt has come to Portsmouth, Ohio; but in contrast, Greenwich, Connecticut, has seen a reduction in deer-auto collisions and decimation of vegetation in areas where deer hunting has been sanctioned. A trio of cougar sightings and Shasta Lake, California, has authorities on edge; while a cougar was apparently shot in a Texas community. A cougar killing a deer in Willits, California, prompted wildlife officials to provide tips to homeowners on how to keep deer away from their property, and thereby reduce the chance encounter with a cougar; but after spending hours poring over a photo of an alleged cougar, Michigan wildlife officials have concluded that it was really just a house cat. And finally, for those who recall the biblical phrase "the lion will lie down with the lamb", here's an item that shows that that's already happening!

Just Get a Whiff of This! Skunks Get a Free Pass

Austin attorney is stunk up by skunk

Skunks tests positive for rabies

Bitten by possibly rabid raccoon, Palmer man undergoing series of shots

'Trouble' The Raccoon Doing Well After Rescue, Release

Black bear roams through yard in Harvard

Bear shot near school in St. Paul suburb

Bear Invasion! Aspen Sees Tenfold Increase in Bear Sightings

Healed bald eagle to be set free

Hawks soar in DE

Coyote attacks dog in Vilonia

Coyote snatches Pekingese from Lake Oswego home

Coyotes 'getting very bold,' says Monte Sereno resident

Deer Forest goes on auction block

Urban Deer Hunting Debated in Portsmouth, Ohio

Deer population still an issue in Greenwich despite slight improvements

Mountain lion sightings reported in Shasta Lake

Mountain lion reportedly spotted in Rancho Alegre

Mountain lion kills deer on Redwood Avenue

DNR: Pic of Alleged Cougar is Actually a Kitty Cat

Animal Odd Couples: Unlikely Duos Find Friendship

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092509

Over 100 new species of wildlife have been found in Southeast Asia, including frogs, bats, lizards, and snakes, as told in our first wildlife story today; followed by the tale of a pensioner in Queensland, Australia, who is resisting official pressure to surrender his tiny pet possum. Another look at the great raptor migration south across Connecticut is provided by the next story. A Wisconsin town's attempts to cull the local deer herd is starting out slow; but a gruesome token of the coming deer cull in a Kansas Park was presented to city officials. A pit bull mortally injured a doe in Michigan before being captured by Sheriff's deputies; followed by a look at deer-auto collisions in South Carolina. A city official in an Ontario, Canada, community who initially advocated coexisting with coyotes, is now advocating extermination; but the backlash from coyote activists has delayed an intended hunt of these canines in an Indiana neighborhood indefinitely. The contentious issue of what to do about gray wolves in the northern parts of the US is examined in the next article. Wildlife officials in North Carolina are cautioning residents about a number of cougar-sighting hoaxes stirring up false fear about cougars in a state which reportedly has none; even as a cougar was spotted on a popular hiking trail in Colorado, forcing officials to close the trail until they find the cat. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have called off a controversial cougar study that involves killing a number of these felines to see if it had any impact on livestock losses or human complaints; but Canadian Mounties have a mystery on their hands: after a man told a passerby he'd been bitten by a cougar and was driving himself to the hospital, he never arrived! Officials in a Pennsylvania township are hoping that a growing skunk problem will drift away in time; but a councilman in an Illinois town is advocating sterner measures to remove skunks from his community. A variety of wildlife with rabies have pushed the number of cases in Nogales, Arizona, to nearly 3 dozen; and Newport News, Virginia, reported their 18th case of rabies in the area. A male black bear reappeared in a Nevada community, forcing officials to tranquilize him prior to relocating him in the wilderness a second time; but a South Carolina resident was badly scratched on her hand by a caged black bear. A resident of Wyoming decries a judge's ruling that will protect grizzlies, fearing that there will now be more human-grizzly encounters with deadly consequences; and arctic explorers recounted some of their more hair-raising tales, including a polar bear incursion into their tent, to Welsh schoolchildren in the UK. And finally, a docile bear went nose-to-nose with a homeowner's pig in Massachusetts before scurrying back into the woods!

Fanged frog, 162 other new species found in Mekong

Raoul's possum magic

Record crowds gawk at the hawks

Little Chute's destructive deer near Heesakker Park could be culled

Deer head delivered in protest to SM Park officials

Sheriff: Pit bull kills deer

Deer-Auto crashes rise in 2008, deaths & injuries drop

Councillor calls for coyote cull

Coyotes’ removal from Mishawaka neighborhood put on hold

States should take control of gray wolves

Wildlife commission: no mountain lions in WNC

Mountain Lion spotted on popular Monument trail, trail closed

Controversial cougar study comes to end

North Vancouver RCMP fear man attacked by cougar

Skunks go wild in Aston

Skunks a 'stinky issue' for city

County posts record-setting 34 cases of rabies

Raccoon in Newport News tests positive for rabies

Roaming black bear caught off Highway 50 East

Woman Mauled By Bear In Pumpkintown

Ruling means ‘more griz, more conflict’

Explorer’s close call as polar bear attacked camp

Visiting bear was like a 'curious kid'

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092409

In our first wildlife story today, Pete Thomas of the LA Times tells about a black bear that was killed by visitors to Mammoth Lakes, California; but Massachusetts homeowners were told to beware of a bear in the neighborhood. A raccoon in Concord, New Hampshire, is in the crosshairs, as one official said he would "put it 2 feet under" if he catches up to it. Residents of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are becoming concerned after another rabid raccoon was reported, the 10th such report so far this year in that area. Wildlife officials in Tennessee are scattering rabies-vaccinated baits in 15 counties in hopes of reducing rabid raccoon incidents; and a rabid raccoon was seen near a restroom in Yonkers, New York. Two cases of rabid wildlife (a skunk and a raccoon) were reported in Fairfax, Virginia; followed by the report of a rabid skunk in an Ontario, Canada, community which puts the tally of rabid wildlife at five so far this year. The hilarious misadventures of a family from Chicago, Illinois, is chronicled as their dog mixes it up with a skunk with predictable consequences! A wildlife biologist from Minnesota reflects on a cougar killed in an auto accident last Friday; while a cougar in Northern California jumped off a bluff right in front of an automobile, suffering severe injuries for which it was euthanized; and a feline spotted near an Oregon high school was confirmed to have been a cougar. A Michigan community will soon hear the findings of a deer committee on the wisdom of culling the herd. Sea Eagles in Scotland had a bonnie year, repopulating areas where eagles had been absent for a long time; followed by some advice on raccoons and blue jays in California from wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue. A rural homeowner from Ohio reflects on wildlife around their property. And finally, a 'Critter Catcher' from Kansas City, Missouri, is profiled.

Bear shot to death by angler at Lake Mary in Mammoth Lakes area

Methuen warns residents to be wary of bear

Suspicious raccoon eludes capture

More animal attacks in North Myrtle Beach subdivision

Tennessee Works To Prevent Raccoon Rabies

Rabies alert issued for Yonkers raccoon at Fleming Field

Animal Watch

Skunk the latest rabid animal in area

Kirby got skunked

Bemidji Cougar Death Brings Community Closure

Mountain lion killed near Smartsville

Cougar sighted near Estacada High School

Committee to present findings on Rochester Hills deer problem at meeting

Record year for sea eagle pairs

Gary Bogue: Tomatoes: Who's picking my heirloom tomatoes?

The squirrel and the ‘possum: A story of American agriculture

Catching critters

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092309

In our first wildlife story today, a missing distance runner who was traveling a remote trail in Southern California's Cleveland National Forest could have been attacked by a cougar, according to authorities; while Washington state wildlife officials have received reports of a cougar in Redmond which could be the same one that was prowling around the Microsoft campus last week. Cougars have been spotted in the vicinity of a Northern California community; a homeowner in Park City, Utah, found a cougar in his backyard over the weekend; and a cougar was spotted in a Colorado Springs, Colorado, apartment complex. Wildlife authorities in Missouri are trying to track down a poacher who shot a black bear, then removed some body parts; while a black bear cub led Tennessee police on a merry chase yesterday. A female grizzly bear was caught near a Montana ski resort and released into an area the state is trying to repopulate; and a black bear, estimated to be 400 pounds, was rummaging around a Florida neighborhood. An update on German polar bear Knut and his new companion Giovanna is up next; but a Russian environmental group posted a message on their website asking Native Alaskans to stop hunting polar bears. Another rabid raccoon has been found in a North Carolina community, the 150th so far this year in that state; and although an increase in the potency of rabies vaccines is allowing pets to go longer between vaccinations, health officials in Arkansas are still cautioning residents about rabid wildlife. A bald eagle in Iowa that was feeding on roadkill was struck and killed by a pickup truck; and a motorcyclist struck a deer in New York State, ending up in the hospital. A motorcyclist struck a coyote in central California, ending up in the hospital with unknown injuries; and the phenomenon of the coywolf is revisited in an item from the Discovery Channel. An article from San Francisco, California, talks about living with coyotes in the vicinity; while residents in an Indiana town are lobbying to have wildlife officials remove coyotes spotted in the area. The next article provides a look at the increasing coyote population along Oregon's coast. And finally, an alleged Mafia chieftain is being charged with assault with a deadly... crocodile?

Hunt on for missing California runner

Cougar was sighted heading west in Redmond

Mountain lion sightings in foothills

Mountain lion spotted in backyard

Mountain Lion At Apartment Complex

Information sought about shooting of black bear in county

Bear cub leads officers on wild chase

Grizzly bear released near Spar Lake

Black bear staking a claim in Grayton neighborhood

Polar bear Knut's friend Giovanna meets the press

Russians to AK Natives: 'Stop polar bear hunts'

Rabid raccoon caught in Parkton

Health Dept. addresses new regulations on rabies vaccinations

Eagle dies after getting struck by truck

Olean motorcyclist hits deer on I-86

Motorcycle strikes coyote

Coyote + Wolf = Big, Carnivorous Coywolf

How to protect your pets from coyotes

Coyotes invading Mishawaka subdivision

Coyotes on the increase along the coast

Italian police seize mafia boss' pet crocodile

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092209

Pat Brennan, of the Orange County Register, discusses the difficult life of a Southern California mule deer buck as rutting season begins, our first wildlife article today; but an Iowa community is pushing ahead with its plans for a deer hunt, despite protests from PETA. The contentious issue of deer culling and sterilization in a upstate New York community is revisited in the next article; and the effectiveness of using wool string in fabricating a homemade fence to keep deer out of the garden is revealed by an article from New Brunswick, Canada. With a population of over 1 1/2 million deer, the UK has recorded 74,000 deer-auto collisions, forcing officials to ask drivers to slow down near deer areas. Birdwatchers got quite an aerial display from birds migrating south across Duluth, Minnesota, over this past weekend; while Raptor Rescue will be returning an eagle to the wild in northwest Arkansas this coming weekend. Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue discusses the possibility of a hawk making off with a chicken in California. A woman who was bitten by a raccoon in South Carolina had the presence of mind to capture the critter so that it could be determined whether it was rabid or not; but another trio of rabies cases has been reported in a North Carolina county that already had a dozen so far this year. The unlikelihood of cougars in Pennsylvania is revisited by wildlife officials there after reported sightings; while wildlife officials have brought in the hounds to try to smoke out a cougar on Microsoft's campus in Washington state. Urban coyotes are being joined by some of their wilder cousins from the hills after the devastating wildfires in Southern California; but Los Angeles officials are caught in a bit of a quandary on the issue of controlling aggressive coyotes in Griffith Park due to public outcry against killing the animals. An Op-Ed piece from Oregon argues that ranchers should be allowed to shoot wolves that are causing problems for their livestock. Residents of a community in Utah are being warned to secure their trash after a black bear was spotted in the area; and Yellowstone's grizzly population is once again under federal protection after a federal judge revoked Bush administration policies that took the bear off the Endangered Species list. Wildlife officials in Medford, Oregon, lamented the fact that the bear they shot with a tranquilizer dart in town drowned after running into a nearby river and passing out. And finally, in an interesting coincidence, Russian President Medvedev (whose name comes from the Russian word for bear) donated two Siberian bear cubs to the Swiss city of Bern (whose name comes from the German word for bear)!

For mule deer, fall is full of hazards

City responds to PETA attack on deer hunting

Heights reduces minimum deer sterilization target

Fence keeps deer from dahlias

Drivers told 'slow down for deer'

Birdwatchers Flock To Hawk Ridge In Duluth

Eagle release planned for Sunday at Hobbs State Park in northwest Arkansas

Gary Bogue: Chickens: Could a hawk fly off with a hen?

Little River woman undergoing rabies treatment

Three more rabies cases confirmed for a total of 15 this year in Rowan County

Official: Presence of mountain lion unlikely

Dogs search Microsoft campus for cougar

Our View: Beware of displaced coyotes

Griffith Park users outraged by shooting of 7 coyotes

Give ranchers right to kill problem wolves

Police: Bear spotted in Dunstable

Court restores safeguards for grizzly bears

Tranquilized Oregon bear drowns in creek

Medvedev gives Swiss city two bear cubs

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092109

Our first wildlife article today provides an educational experience with 'Mouse School' and other hawk rehabilitation techniques at an Ohio raptor shelter; while raptor enthusiasts from all around the area flocked to Greenwich, Connecticut, over the weekend and recorded more than 700 hawks soaring past as they migrated south for the winter. The contentious issue of Native American religion versus the Endangered Species Act protections for the bald eagle is examined in a Los Angeles Times article. A Pennsylvania columnist voices his beef with skunks in the neighborhood. Some pointers on trapping coyotes is provided in the next article from Minnesota; followed by one on a hazard of hunting coyotes in Vermont: shooting a hunting partner! Public safety officials in an Illinois community are restrained from harming coyotes that are making a nuisance of themselves in the area; while a writer from Massachusetts has posted a warning to parents and pet owners that coyotes have been spotted in the area. The divisive issue of wolves is explored in an article from Oregon. Vladimir Putin was on hand for the release of two snow leopards into a wildlife preserve in Russia. An uptick in cougar sightings in Nebraska has prompted wildlife officials to inform residents of the ground rules in dealing with these predators; and reports of an adult and a juvenile cougar were filed in Portola Valley, California, over the weekend. Two people were hurt when a pickup truck swerved to avoid hitting a deer in upstate New York over the weekend; but with 18 deaths and millions of dollars worth of damage statewide over the past few years, North Carolina's Department of Transportation is providing drivers with some tips on how to avoid collisions with deer in the road. Authorities in the UK are attempting to curb illegal deer hunts; but after two harsh winters and an increase in predators, deer populations in the Northeast have suffered. For aspiring nature photographers, Vermont is offering to post your pictures of deer; while wildlife officials in Montana are trying to unravel a mystery about a deer found shot in the head on an elementary school playground. Wildlife officials in Québec, Canada, believe they have caught up with the bear which mauled a woman last week; but a bear's visit to a Seminole County, Florida, school caused a bit of a ruckus today. A press release from the Pennsylvania Game Commission provides useful tips to help residents avoid conflicts with bears; and an outdoor enthusiast from Washington state hiking in Olympic National Park had an unexpected berry-tasting partner: a bear! The plight of the polar bear due to Global Warming is explored in an article from U.S. News & World Report. And finally, a rare red panda nearly made the great escape from its enclosure at Beigong National Forest Park, China!

Young hawk takes flight with help from humans

Thousands turn out for annual hawk watch

Bald eagle case raises issue of religious liberty

Skunks: The real scourge of Johnstown suburbia

Challenged by the cunning coyote

Georgia Man Sentenced For Shooting Hunting Partner

Coyote spotted, but authorities are hand-tied

Coyotes sighted in Port

Wolves: majestic symbol or bloodthirsty predator? Debate divides Oregonians

Putin hangs out with the big cats: Snow leopards

Mountain Lion Sightings Prompt Policy Reminder

Two mountain lions spotted Saturday afternoon in Portola Valley

Two hurt as truck avoids hitting deer

NC DOT reminds drivers to be aware of deer

Police crackdown on deer poaching

Deer kill in Maine could be the lowest in 25 years

Vt. seeks deer photos

Deer found dead, shot in head on Helena playground

Bear involved in attack killed: Quebec officials

Bear Leaves Area After School Locked Down

Pennsylvania Game Commission Offers Advice on Avoiding Bear Conflicts

Bears, berries: Olympic park's High Divide trail

White Bear Takes Center Stage in Climate Drama

The little red panda who could ... almost

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091909

We lead off Wildlife News Of The Day today with a story that comes to us from Paris, France, the fabled City of Lights, where beekeeping is becoming a popular activity (who knows, maybe it will be known in the future as the City of Bees!) A New York Times article discusses how humans introducing invasive species have made a mess of northern Australia's wildlife; followed by a story from Mississippi about how firefighters removed a crocodile monitor lizard from a tree outside of a grade school. The issue of what to do with dead or injured wildlife in a small Central California town is discussed in the next article. In a bizarre incident, a bear attacked a group of tourists in a mountainous region of Japan; while people pursuing outdoor activities in New Mexico's Gila National Forest are being advised to avoid feeding the bears. A bear evidently traveled nearly 100 miles to attack a horse in a Colorado community; but wildlife group in Colorado is asking for financial help from the city after wildlife officials killed the mother bear, leaving two cubs in their care. Residents of Tacoma, Washington, have been advised not to leave doggie doors open during the night after a raccoon snuck in through one and attacked the dog. A rabid raccoon interacted with an unknown number of cats this week, causing a bit of a health scare in a North Carolina community; and the death of a horse in El Paso County, Colorado, underscores the importance of vaccinating not only pets, but also livestock in areas where rabies is present in the wildlife. A cougar has been reported prowling around outside a Central California community, probably driven there by a population boom in the high country; while a cougar spotted by wildlife officials in New Hampshire is believed to be someone's pet who was illegally released into the wild, as related by the next two articles. A cougar was spotted jumping from a tree in a San Mateo County neighborhood this week; but Ohio's Department of Natural Resources is debunking cougar pictures as being fakes. Refinery workers at a Shell facility in Martinez, California, are on edge after several deer carcasses, attributed to either a cougar or coyote, were found on the grounds. An Iowa man who transported deer out of state in 2004 was sentenced for illegal hunting. Coyotes preying on pets in Santa Monica, California, are once again in the news; and the hunt is on for coyotes frequenting Griffith Park in Los Angeles after a man was bitten on the foot by one there earlier this week. Here's something they probably don't teach at the Chicago police academy: how do you get a skunk out of a Mayo jar? And finally, a Florida pool guy managed to rescue an eastern spotted skunk that had fallen into a swimming pool, took it home to help it recover and gave it an appropriate name: stinky!

Paris rooftops abuzz with beekeeping

The Extinction Knot: A Hidden Crisis in Northern Australia

Raw Video: Firefighters Capture Rogue Lizard

Oh deer! Disposing of dead or injured wildlife presents dilemma

Bear mauls 9 people at bus terminal on Gifu mountain

Be 'bear aware' in Mimbres region

Bear mauls horse in metro area

Silt wildlife group seeks funding to care for orphaned bears

Raccoon attacks family dog inside Tacoma home

Rabies alert issued for Flat River Township

Rabid horse dies in El Paso County

Evidence of mountain lion reported in San Benancio Canyon

State official: Mountain lion seen in New Hampshire

Mountain lion sightings? Two reported inside a week, one by Fish and Game staffer

San Mateo Co.: Mountain Lion Spotted near Home in Unincorporated Montara

Mountain lion picture a hoax

Four dead deer raise concerns about predator

Iowa man sentenced for illegal hunting

Coyotes moving further into city

Coyote reportedly attacks man in Griffith Park

Cop tries to free skunk from mayo jar

Catch of the Day - pool skimmer-style

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091809

Homeowners in an Illinois town are concerned over the tepid response by the city to control the skunk population; while the skunk population at DePauw University in Indiana is causing concern for school officials. The controversial plan to hunt deer near the University of Mississippi has been suspended; and two animal control officers from Sioux City, Iowa, managed to rescue a deer trapped in a pipe, but then needed some help themselves after being overcome by fumes and heat. A mule deer that had been kept as a pet in Riverside County, California, has been confiscated by Fish and Game officials, and was an instant hit at their shelter! A little bear on campus caused a big stir at a couple of Virginia schools; but a bear shot near a Washington state high school may have been taken illegally. Wildlife officials in New Jersey will attempt to capture and haze an aggressive black bear before releasing it back into the wild. Wildlife officials in Virginia provided tips to residents about handling animal carcasses that could be rabid. A world-class pianist discusses her music and how wolves figure into it; but an Ontario, Canada, township is reporting an increase in coyote-livestock incidents. A juvenile coyote that had fallen into a sinkhole in Ocala, Florida, was rescued by animal control officers; even as pet owners are on the alert after reports of coyotes in Clearwater. Microsoft employees reported seeing a coyote and a cougar on the Microsoft campus yesterday (no doubt attracted by the abundance of mice at the facility!) Wildlife officials in Minnesota are debating whether a horse's wounds were caused by a cougar or something else; while rumors of cougars in Maine are explored in the next article. A New York chapter of the SPCA has taken a red-tailed hawk found along a busy road under its wing. And finally, a miniature town in Devon, UK, has a winged protector to chase away predatory seagulls!

Skunks concern residents; city says issue is under control

Skunk population brings health, trash concerns

Oxford deer hunt suspended

Iowa animal officers injured in deer rescue

Riverside animal services confiscates mule deer apparently kept as a pet

Bear causes scare for Alleghany County schools

Bear shot near Ocosta High School

DEP to capture aggressive bear

Rabid raccoon confirmed in Varina area

Pianist Grimaud: Wolves are a way into music

Coyote Problem In McNab Braeside

Young coyote rescued from Ocala sinkhole

Caution follows reports of coyotes roaming in two Clearwater neighborhoods

Coyote, Cougar Confusion Near Microsoft Campus

Cougars in the metro?

Kitty, kitty, here?

SPCA cares for hawk found on busy road

Don't mess with the bird: Hawk the slayer protects the citizens of ToyTown

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091709

A compendium of animal encounters by wildlife officials in the Washington, DC, area is provided by our first wildlife article from the Washington Post; and a naturalist's paradise north of Yakima, Washington, is showcased in the next item. An alpaca breeder in Central California lost an estimated $60,000 worth of her animals to a cougar who went into a killing frenzy. A woman from Montréal, Québec, was mauled by a bear, later dying on her way to the hospital; while two Virginia communities have reported rabid raccoons in the vicinity; and a Texas town has reported that a skunk was confirmed to be rabid by health officials. Skunks, like their bigger neighbors bears, are chowing down for their long winter's nap in Illinois; while a Canadian skunk removal expert discusses how he got into the business in Calgary, Alberta; someone who might be retained by the next columnist from Montréal, Québec! A Kentucky dog park has seen coyotes frequenting the area; and coyotes are causing consternation for pet owners in Illinois as well. Texas hunters, providing feeding locations for deer, have found a useful way to prevent feral hogs from devouring the food. A self-avowed deer-hugger reveals their hidden life in a new book; but with the University of Mississippi reporting that deer have done $15,000 worth of damage to vegetation, wildlife officials are sanctioning a limited hunt to reduce the population; and a professional sharpshooter has been brought in to help police officers polish their skills for an upcoming deer hunt at Kansas wildlife park. Debate continues about footprints found in a Chicago suburb that some claim belong to a cougar. Lucky, the box turtle, was back in the news, appearing on the Today Show; and speaking of reptiles, consider visiting Cuban crocodiles on your next environmental junket! And finally, meet Raptorex, a pint-sized version of its more formidable descendant, Tyrannosaurus Rex!

Animal Watch

Desert canyon hosts birds, bighorns, occasional cougar

Mountain lion kills seven alpacas

Montreal woman dies after bear attack

Rabid raccoons in James City, Isle of Wight

Rabies reported near Commerce

Skunks fattening up for winter in Evanston

Mike Moser, skunk buster

I really, really hate skunks. Really

Coyote Sightings In Anderson Township

Beware coyotes don't eat your pet

Fence in food source, control population

New 'Hidden Life' in dogged pursuit of deer

Oxford can kill deer near golf course and airport

Firm hired to train officers for Shawnee Mission deer harvest

Expert: Prints found in Wheaton not likely from cougar

Lucky the injured turtle gets coasters for feet

Cuba hopes green tourism can keep it in the black

Early, smaller version of T. rex discovered

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091609

New Westminster, British Columbia, is having a battle over wildlife living in green spaces within that city, in our first wildlife article today. Wildlife officials in Northern Arizona have been busily vaccinating wildlife, including over 100 skunks, from rabies; but police have reported their second rabid animal in a week, this time it was a skunk; and some residents of Half Moon Bay, California, have reported an increase in skunk sightings on their morning walks. Deer advocates, who were protesting a proposed deer hunting program to cull the herd at a Kansas park, have unveiled an anti-hunting billboard in nearby St. Louis, Missouri; and a trucker in South Dakota was killed when he rolled his rig attempting to avoid deer in the road. A Chicago suburb's residents debate what to do about an overpopulation of deer in their area; but some population control may already be in place as a cougar has been spotted on the outskirts of that metropolis. Arizona's Game and Fish commissioner waded into the debate over what to do about cougars that are impacting the bighorn sheep population in that state. A small black bear gave Canadian runners a fright in the Yukon over the weekend; followed by an update on the bear situation in Colorado. A nature lover from Kansas chronicles his ongoing battle with a mischievous raccoon; and public health officials in Seattle, Washington, warned residents about the danger of raccoon droppings. The seesaw battle over gray wolves in the Great Lakes region of the US has now tipped back in favor of the wolves; but an Op-Ed from Massachusetts argues against using traps on coyotes in the area. Virginia bird-watchers are reporting lots of raptors passing overhead on their way to Central and South America; as are hawk-watchers in New Jersey. And finally, a very interesting BBC documentary provides a window on a hidden world in the Andes, including mountaineering penguins!

Better wildlife protection needed for city

Rabies quarantine ends for Flagstaff-area pets

Police warn residents about rabid skunks

Skunk Population Increasing in El Granada?

Billboard Ups Park's Deer Killing Dilemma

Lemmon man killed when semi rolled to avoid deer

The trouble with too many deer

Second 'possible cougar' sighting in Wheaton

Commissioner suggests "lion free" zones

Black bear disrupts Yellowknife fundraiser

Bears spotted in Colo. foothills, plains towns

Raccoon testing limits of ‘great lover of nature’

Raccoons can leave dangerous droppings

Protections for wolves are officially back in place

YOUR VIEW: Coyotes can be deterred without traps

Annual hawk migration is upon us

The Hawk Watchers of Montclair

Mountaineering Magellanic Penguins

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091509

The video of a very rare daytime gathering of over half a dozen coyotes in a Portland, Oregon, backyard has wildlife experts buzzing; but on a sadder note, Jessica Simpson has added her name to the list of celebrities whose pets have been poached by coyotes. A dog park in Ohio is being frequented by some different canines. A letter to the editor praises an article in yesterday's Salt Lake Tribune about wolves; and as the wolf hunt in Montana begins, residents are divided on the benefits of this activity. Some helpful tips for avoiding deer-auto collisions are offered in the next item; but anti-hunt activists in the UK are protesting a deer hunt that took place on Sir Paul McCartney's property. Hunters from Kentucky who take elk or deer in other states are forbidden from bringing certain parts back to Kentucky due to fears of spreading Chronic Wasting Disease to that state; while residents of Johnston, Iowa, are being advised not to feed deer, a practice which defeats the purpose of deer management. Wildlife officials in Louisiana have been frustrated in their efforts to try to catch a bear that continues to dumpster dive and spook cattle; but a trio of bears were left lounging in a tree in Boulder, Colorado, as wildlife officials decided to wait them out rather than chase them out. A California hiker was saved from a severe bear mauling by his dog; and the photo of a polar bear at a zoo in Tucson, Arizona, has entered the finals in a National Geographic photographic contest. Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch, a volunteer hawk-watching group in Delaware that counts raptors migrating south for the winter, is profiled in the next article. A pair of dogs has been quarantined after mixing it up with a rabid skunk in Virginia. 'Operation Possum Blitz', one New Zealander's attempt to rid her area of possums, is under way. And finally, for those of you who have toyed with making animal sounds from time to time, here's someone who can actually call raccoons (soon to be a competition at the local county fair, no doubt!)

Woman's backyard hosts coyote party

Jessica Simpson's Dog Snatched by Coyote

Coyotes found in Anderson Twp. dog park

Wondrous wolves

Wolves in the crosshairs as hunt starts today

Keeping Safe When Deer Take To The Road

Huntsmen 'filmed on McCartney deer sanctuary'

Kentucky defends against fatal deer, elk disease

Tip: Don't serve dinner to the deer in Johnston

Bear eluding traps in Dularge area

Momma bear and two cubs relax in Boulder backyard tree

Dog Saves Owner From Bear Attack In Calaveras Co.

Former R.I. zoo polar bear stars in national competition

Hawk watcher counts the birds

Skunk in Varina tests positive for rabies

Blitzing the pests out West

Monkeying around paying off

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091409

In wildlife news today, a researcher from Cornell University in New York provides insight into wildlife in that state; followed by wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue, who provides some advice to a homeowner about a tail-less squirrel in California. A Washington couple and their dog had a vicious battle with an aggressive raccoon; but a dog's encounter with a rabid skunk in Ohio had a better outcome for the dog. A skunk crossing an Oklahoma Highway caused a head-on collision between two motorists; and a Missouri motorist missed a deer in the road, but hit the embankment. A US Geological Survey researcher fears that Wisconsin's deer herd, afflicted with Chronic Wasting Disease, could be going the way of deer herds in Colorado and Wyoming; but a letter to the editor of a Central Virginia paper argues for the elimination of a local golf course rather than culling of the deer population that damage the vegetation there. Wisconsin wildlife officials are on the lookout for a cougar spotted in a community last week; and a cougar was seen in a northern Michigan neighborhood as well. The emotional issue of hunting cougars in Arizona is debated in the next article; but there appears to be no debate on the topic in Colorado; while hunters in the borderlands of Minnesota and North Dakota are concerned about fallow fields disappearing. A coyote pup was seen in a Chicago suburb; but problems with coyotes in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, were once again in the news. A professor from the University of Wisconsin discloses why coyotes and bears are invading suburban areas: it was their home first! A former Fish and Game biologist has joined the chorus of critics chastising Alaska's government for their state-sanctioned wolf and bear hunts. An Op-Ed piece from Utah's Salt Lake Tribune blasts the federal decision to reinstate wolf hunting in neighboring states; but a letter to the editor of a Montana paper from a rancher argues quite the opposite. A bear was spotted by residents of a New Jersey community over the weekend; while wildlife officials in Florida are becoming victims of their own success, as an exploding population of black bears is making human-bear interactions more frequent. Wisconsin officials are pursuing a plan to have residents plant trees on their property in order to offset global warming, and thereby help preserve the polar bear population; followed by an article from ABC news that provides tips on how to enjoy bears without bears enjoying you! And finally, for those of you who have always wondered how a grizzly bear learns to swim, our last article answers the question!

Keeping nuisance animals under control

Gary Bogue: A squirrel with no tail and a talking fence -- Wow!

Raccoon attacks Ballard couple, dog

Rabid skunk found in Kirtland

Skunk causes head-on collision in Rogers County

Louisiana driver crashes truck after swerving to miss deer

Rate of fatal deer disease will increase in southern Wisconsin

Letter: Keep The Deer, Get Rid Of Vista Links

DNR, police investigate cougar sighting in Kronenwetter

Cougar in Leelanau County

Shorter cougar-hunting season to be restudied

DOW hosts lion hunting meeting

Conservation reserve acres steadily expiring

Wild Monday: Suburban coyote pup

Dartmouth residents at wits’ end in standoff with coyotes

Curiosities: Why are coyotes, bears moving closer to cities?

Alaska: Wolf, bear hunts increasing moose, caribou

Live and let live

Preserve Montana’s livestock heritage; control wolves

Black bear spotted in Hillsborough

Officials Coping With Growing Bear Sightings

Wis. DNR: Plant a tree, help a polar bear

How to Enjoy Bears Without Becoming Their Prey

Grizzly bear gets swimming lessons in local pool

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091209

Raptor enthusiasts in Texas are in their glory as flocks of hawks, sometimes 500-1,000 in number, soar overhead in their annual fall migration, our first wildlife story today. Wildlife officials in Nevada have determined that a hunter who was after grouse, but ended up bagging a cougar instead, was justified in shooting the animal; and Nebraska's cougar policy is laid out in the next item. A new wildlife biologist in North Dakota has the task of keeping track of that state's cougar population; while an Illinois jogger believes she spotted a cougar in a municipal park about a week ago, although wildlife officials are skeptical due to the lack of cougar sightings in that state. Nebraska deer hunters have been asked to keep an eye out for bovine tuberculosis in deer that they shoot; but due to an overabundance of rain earlier this year, elk and deer may be hard to find in Montana due to scattered numbers amongst ample feed; while in West Texas, they're gearing up for a hunter's bounty of venison for needy families. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute is investigating the deaths of over a dozen deer at a zoo; but deer hunters in Mississippi will be culling the herd to cut down on the destruction of vegetation in communities there. A legally blind woman in Michigan bagged her first bear (with a little help from her boyfriend); while a black bear that came calling in a New Jersey borough last Saturday ended up being returned to the wild. More details on a recent bear attack in Aspen, Colorado, are provided by the next article; and another bear-human encounter in India's Kashmir has resulted in a man being hospitalized. And finally, the U.S. Army is considering a risky maneuver in the California desert: relocating tortoises!

Migrating hawks take flights of fancy

Mountain lion killed by startled hunter

Commission Has Reminders of Mountain Lion Policy

New furbearer biologist joins Game and Fish

Jogger claims to spot cougar in Wheaton park

Deer Hunters Asked to Watch for Signs of TB

Elusive Elk and Deer

West Texas Food Bank to Begin Receiving Deer Meat Donations

14 deer die at Kanpur zoo in one night

Oxford allows bow hunting for pesky deer

Legally blind Mich. hunter gets black bear

Bear caught in downtown Washington Borough

Aspen bear attack came at dinner

One attacked, injured by bear in Kashmir

Army to move forward with tortoise relocation

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091109

First up in wildlife news today, an article reveals a species of eagle that lived in New Zealand centuries ago which may have actually been large enough to prey on infant humans! UC Davis has unveiled a new program, called the California Roadkill Observation System, which will tabulate roadkill within the state of California; and a variety of wildlife encounters from Fairfax, Virginia, are summarized in police dispatches, including bats flying around bedrooms, rabid wildlife, and deer-auto collisions. A retrospective on cougars in Lake County, California, is provided in the next article. A trio of cougar stories come to us from Washington state today: there's been another cougar sighting, however this one is in the Cascades; a writer from Seattle comments on that state's enlightened approach to wild animal control, compared to control of dangerous pets; but a large cougar, who was apparently killing just for fun elsewhere in that state, was killed by wildlife authorities. Wolf hunters in Idaho are finding out that coyotes aren't the only wily canines prowling the open plains. Canadian officials at Vancouver's Stanley Park are advising visitors not to feed raccoons, after a woman was hospitalized due to raccoon bites; while the report of a backyard shooting of a raccoon in Wisconsin may have been part of a larger issue about the open carrying of firearms in that area. A tally of rabid animals found in a New Jersey county so far this year is up next. Deer hunting in the suburbs of Contra Costa County, California, is raising some concerns for public safety; but an anticipated 300,000 hunters will begin culling deer herds across Ohio later this month. Wisconsin is looking to extend their deer hunt due to an overabundance of deer in that state; but deer hunters in Montana are being warned to stay out of dense vegetation frequented by grizzly bears, else the hunters may become the hunted! Aspen bears are in the news again, after one broke into a home and attacked the homeowner; but a study released yesterday in 'Science' magazine discusses the perilous situation of arctic wildlife. And speaking of the arctic, a photo spread from Churchill, Manitoba, the so-called 'polar bear capital of the world', shows Canadian polar bears in their natural element.

Extinct New Zealand eagle may have eaten humans

Wild Neighbors: Dead Skunks and Others: Looking at Roadkill for Science

Animal Watch

Mountain lion numbers have increased

Yet Another Cougar Sighting -- But This One's Closer To The Cascade Mountains

Cougars and pit bulls: How should we handle dangerous animals?

Livestock-killing cougar shot near Quilcene

Wolves Aren’t Making It Easy for Idaho Hunters

Vancouver raccoon attack prompts warnings

Open Carry Controversy in Racine

Stray kitten fifth rabid animal to be found in Monroe this year

Deer Hunting Raises Safety Concerns In Contra Costa

Deer-archery season opens statewide Sept. 26

Wis. board considers deer control options

Bird and bowhunters urged to be bear aware

Bear attacks man in Aspen home

Polar bear, arctic fox, caribou hurt by climate change

In the Polar Bear Capital of the World

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091009

First up today in wildlife news, a potent reminder to never try to outrun a cheetah, especially one from Ohio; but a cougar in the Seattle area couldn't outrun a car and was killed. A story from Oregon about a poodle that was apparently snatched from a backyard by a coyote includes a link to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website on dealing with 'nuisance animals' in the area; while financial woes for a Virginia community have lowered the bounty paid on coyotes. A resident of Idaho is in trouble for poaching a young female wolf. A wildlife biologist in British Columbia, Canada, dismisses claims that grizzly bears will be severely impacted by a decline in the salmon population; but a hunter who illegally shot a huge grizzly last month may find himself endangered if Montana wildlife officials catch up with him! A bear that appeared in a Southern Arizona community caused bit of a stir yesterday; followed by an update on a story from New Jersey yesterday, in which a black bear sparked a number of 911 calls, but New Jersey Fish and Game officials calmed local residents. A county in Maryland plans to deploy rabies vaccine baits for raccoons; while a box turtle from central California, whose front legs were amputated after being mauled in an apparent raccoon attack, has found new motivation with a pair of furniture sliders! Public safety concerns have brought some controversy to a proposed deer hunt in Virginia; and techniques for counting deer, in order to tailor deer management plans more appropriately, are discussed in the next article. Wildlife and pet columnist Gary Bogue provided some advice to homeowners fearful of residents illegally hunting deer in their neighborhood in Central California. There was a spirited debate at a Wisconsin community meeting over a proposed deer hunt within the city; and in a letter to the editor of the Michigan newspaper, a hunter dismisses alternatives to a deer culling project. A motorcyclist in Indiana who collided with a deer had to be hospitalized. We conclude today with a mystery from Boston: what exactly has invaded a gardener's domain?

Ohio cheetah is fastest land mammal, at 36 mph

Cougar hit by car, killed on SR 520

Coyotes Blamed For Gresham Pet Death

Coyote Ordinance Passed

Eagle man cited for poaching female wolf pup

B.C. grizzly bear population not in trouble: expert

Probe continues into illegally shot bear

Bear sighting near eastside school

Black bear sets off 911 calls

County's rabies vaccine project targets raccoons

Turtle whose front legs were amputated gets around with the aid of furniture sliders

Debate Raging over Deer Hunt in Loudoun

Deer counts integral to management plans

Gary Bogue: Dangerous deer hunting going on in Martinez

Archery deer season approved in North Hudson

Letter: Alternatives to proposed deer cull just aren't feasible

Motorcyclist, deer collide on Quince Road

A skunk in the garden (Part I)

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090909

We lead off today with some personal comments from Catherine Pannell Waters, President of the Western Field Ornithologists, on skunks:

I remain a huge fan of Wildlife News of the Day. Thank you for compiling it. About skunks. Many years ago Robert and I lived in Seal Beach, California. When we purchased our first home and moved in with our cat, Miss Kitty, we found we had not only purchased a home but we had purchased a skunk habitat. They were our best house guests ever. They didn't drink, smoke or do unacceptable things with the neighbors' daughters yet they ate every snail and slug in the yard. They lived in the crawl space under the house. Miss Kitty spent nearly every day in the crawl space and would emerge at dinner time with a faint wisp of eau de skunk and an appetite but that was it. For two years the "gang" of us lived happily with each other. We never knew what the cat did under the house and we never asked. We rarely saw the skunks and they never sprayed in our yard. The noisy, pool- party- every- weekend neighbors saw a different side of our house guests who turned loose on the drunken pool parties with fervor. We honestly got used to the scent and ever since have wished that our current neighborhood had a few skunks to teach neighborly manners as well as our former skunk roommates did. No doubt they are rabies carriers, sadly. We kept our cat's vaccinations up to date . It is now over 35 years later and we still fondly remember our house guest skunks with fondness.

In wildlife news, a tame skunk was rescued by RSPCA workers in Wales after it was found wandering through a local community; but a New York community reported a rabid skunk, prompting officials to remind residents to secure their trash in order to cut down on skunk incursions. A bevy of red-tailed hawks have taken up residence in a Massachusetts park; and school kids from three Tennessee counties got up-close and personal with various forms of wildlife at a conservation camp. New Zealand is looking to import a new poison to deal with the runaway possum population; but drought conditions in Kenya, Africa, are taking a toll on their iconic elephant herds. A new study published in the British Journal 'Nature' postulates that chronic wasting disease and other maladies may be passed along by the feces of otherwise healthy deer; while poachers and illegal deer hunters beware - posting your exploits on Facebook may land you in a world of hurt! Police in a North Dakota community have been given shoot-to-kill orders in regards to a cougar that has been prowling around the city limits; and a letter to the editor of an Ontario, Canada, newspaper recounts their encounter with a cougar in their backyard. Residents of Stockton, California, have nervously noted coyotes moving into their neighborhood; while a resident of Minnesota reflects on a coyote encounter on a rural road. A coyote apparently made off with a Portland, Oregon, family's dog early one morning; followed by an article about suburban coyotes in Seattle, Washington. The coyote problem in parts of Orange County, California is addressed in an LA Times article in which Wildlife NOTD reader Laura Simon, who is field director of the Humane Society of the United States' Urban Wildlife Program, advocates hazing rather than trapping the animals; and some tips on avoiding coyote visitations are offered in the following article. An Op-Ed from Minnesota tallies up the charges against coyotes in their area by various parties; and coyotes have been making trouble for rural dwellers in Nova Scotia, Canada, as well. A New York Times ethicist decries the hunting of wolves, which has just begun in some Midwestern states. A Florida resident who fed raccoons has been let off the hook by law enforcement after stopping the practice. Residents of a New Jersey community are being warned to watch their children as a bear passes through their area; but there are concerns in British Columbia, Canada, that a salmon shortage may lead to a bear shortage. Due to an abundance of bear food, ursine encounters have been down in the Lake Tahoe area this year, but that may be about to change; while hunters in Ontario, Canada, claim the cancellation of a bear hunt has resulted in more orphaned bear cubs in their community. Wildlife officials in Louisiana are providing pointers for residents to help them avoid messy encounters with black bears as the creatures go into their fall feeding frenzy. Aspen, Colorado, has had an unbearable year with ursine visitors, according to an article from the Associated Press; followed by a few other stories of bear encounters in that state, including one from a firehouse in which a bear was drinking from a toilet! We conclude today with a still life study from New York State: bear in a chair!

RSPCA rescue skunk found wandering in Tredegar

Rabid skunk found in Norwich

Red-tailed hawks swooping through Medford

Conservation camp introduces students to concepts, critters

TRC supports use of alternative possum bait

Kenya's elephants dying amid drought

Healthy deer can spread prion disease through faeces

Facebook video leads to deer shining charges

Mountain lion confirmed near Tioga city limits

Cougar on the prowl in Meaford

Coyotes put some in neighborhood on edge

Dan Conradt: Coyotes are common in state

Family suspects urban coyote in disappearance of pet dog

Suburban coyotes

Hungry coyotes are hunting near homes

Keeping coyotes away

Is there a coyote problem in Yellow Medicine County?

‘An exceptional year for coyotes’

Killing Wolves for Fun

North Fort Myers 'Raccoon Lady' agrees to stop feeding critters

Parents are warned: Beware of the bear

British Columbia Bears Dying From Salmon Shortage, Globe Says

Lake Tahoe bear activity down, but maybe not out

Cancellation of spring bear hunt responsible for nuisances

LDWF aims for bear awareness

Aspen confronts bolder bears looking for food

Bear-ing the brunt

Still Life: Bear in a Chair