WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101509

In the news today, South Dakota researchers have determined that the bulk of the young cougars in the Black Hills are immigrants from other areas; followed by a letter to the editor of a Colorado newspaper that asks why officials had not informed local residents that a cougar has been preying on pets in the area; and a flurry of letters to a Pennsylvania newspaper have people wondering whether there is a cougar haunting the Poconos. Camilla Fox, of Project Coyote, among others, spoke out against Maine's coyote and fox trapping program, pointing out that it endangered the Lynx population; even as experts debate the coyote situation in parts of Minnesota. Residents of Lake Tahoe's Incline Village are petitioning officials to do something about the coyote population; and pet owners in a Connecticut community fear that coyote activity is contributing to an uptick in missing pets in the area. An Ohio State trooper shot and killed a coyote suspected of killing multiple pets; but police in a Michigan community have been thwarted in their efforts to catch a local coyote. A coyote expert is being brought in by Massachusetts community to discuss coexisting with the eastern variant of this canine; while hunters have taken over 50 of the 220 wolves allocated for this year's hunting season in Idaho. A bear was struck and killed by a motorist in California's San Bernardino National Forest; and Colorado wildlife officials provided some useful tips to prevent bears from breaking in to cars (or homes) while looking for food. Wildlife officials in Oregon were able to transport a young black bear back to the wild after it appeared on a gradeschool campus; but Utah Division of Wildlife is advising residents and visitors alike that black bears pose little threat. New Jersey is caught in a dilemma as both conservation and hunting groups protest the fact that that state has still not invoked a bear management policy, despite a 2004 Supreme Court ruling requiring one. A red-tailed hawk died after being severely shocked on power lines in Idaho. A letter to the editor of a New Mexico newspaper complains about the ineffectiveness of local animal control in removing skunks. With 60,000 to 70,000 auto accidents related to collisions with deer and moose, New York State is cautioning motorists about the danger this time of year; while the pros and cons of urban deer hunting are debated in an article from Kansas City, Kansas. A wildlife sanctuary in Mozambique was severely damaged by wildfires. And finally, a firefighter in New South Wales performing controlled burns outside of Sydney got a shock when a pygmy possum stuck its head out of his shirt pocket during lunch!

Researcher: Hills' dominant cougars mostly immigrants

Mountain Lion around Deerfield Park

Pocono readers 'swear' they've seen elusive mountain lion

Groups Seek Halt to Trapping Season to Protect Lynx

Coyote problem? It’s hard to say

Incline Village residents organize coyote petition

Coyote activity is increasing in Weston

Trooper Shoots Coyote In Interstate Median

‘Uncatchable’ coyote thwarts police

Coyote expert to speak on rise in sightings

51 wolves killed so far in Idaho

Bear hit, killed by car

PHOTO: Bear Breaks Into Car...Are You Bear-Proof?

Bear at school captured, released

The bear truth: Utah's black bears pose little danger to humans

Conservation, hunting groups sue N.J. for failing to adopt bear management policy

Death of a red-tailed hawk

Aztec's animal control needs to remove threats

State officials caution drivers to watch out for moose and deer

Pro-Con | Should hunting be used to control deer overpopulation in communities nationwide?

Mozambique: Bush Fires Strike Gorongosa Sanctuary

Possum's safe haven a surprise for firefighter