WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102309

First up today in wildlife news, Sandy Fernee, CEO of Wildlife Victoria, in Australia, has sent along an article about a kangaroo killer who pleaded guilty in court to acts of animal cruelty. Frogs that are in danger from mudslides in Southern California's Angeles National Forest areas that have been burned by the Station Fire are being relocated by wildlife biologists; while trappers in Deadwood, South Dakota, managed to catch a three-month-old cougar cub, the offspring of an adult cougar who was shot earlier this week. More data on deer-auto collisions in Ohio is provided by the next article; followed by an item about the award of a $75,000 grant to Essex County, New Jersey, which will allow that jurisdiction to put up "Deer Deter" systems to keep deer off the roads. Bristol, Connecticut, had another bear visitation this past week; while a black bear sow and two cubs were trapped in a Georgia neighborhood. A large section of Alaska, which encompasses both major polar bear populations, has been proposed as a protected habitat, even though Shell Oil Company was just given drilling rights in the area; but wildlife officials warned parents of elementary school children about a bear near their school in Montana. A detailed log of California Department of Fish and Game's response to a black bear report in Ventura County, California, is provided by the next article. Middlesex County in New Jersey has reported a dozen rabid animals so far this month; Greenbrier County, West Virginia, has seen over three dozen cases of rabies so far this year; and a rabid skunk was found in a New Hampshire community, prompting wildlife officials to warn residents of the danger of rabid wildlife in the area. A rancher in Montana, incensed about what he sees as official malaise in prosecuting predatory wolves on his ranch, has withdrawn 45,000 acres of prime hunting land from the state's inventory in protest; but contrary to popular opinion, wolves in Spain prefer wild game as opposed to domestic animals, according to a new study. A story from Arizona about a duct-taped coyote left to die brings up the issue of animal cruelty in a state where it's legal to hunt coyotes; while the Louise Kreher Forestry Preserve in Auburn, Alabama, will have a program on coyotes this weekend. Officials in Madison Wisconsin feel that a pair of dogs were killed by coyotes; and a meeting in Orange County California laid out the rules of engagement when confronting a coyote. And finally, A National Geographic photo spread includes pictures of an elephant underwater and a coyote found frozen solid standing beside a road!

Kangaroo Killer - update

Saving the Frogs from the Station Fire's Damage

GF&P looking for home for cougar kitten caught in Deadwood

Deer-crash crashes more likely now

County Roads Get Noisy At Night To Deter Deer

Bristol becomes Bear City

Three Bears Trapped in Warner Robins

Polar Bear Habitat Proposed for Alaska

Hellgate Elementary alerts parents of a bear sighting

DFG Issues Bear Kill Report

Rabid animals turn up in Monroe, Old Bridge

Four Cases of Rabies Confirmed in Greenbrier County in October

Police: Watch out for rabid skunk in Derry

Rancher ends public hunting in protest of wolf policies

Iberian Wolves Prefer Wild Roe Deer To Domestic Animals

Forget Tigers, This Weekend is About Coyotes in Auburn

The case of the duct taped coyote – Does anyone care about coyote abuse?

Coyotes suspected in deaths of two dogs

What should you do if you see a coyote?

An Underwater Elephant And A Coyote Frozen Solid

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102209

Pete Thomas of the Los Angeles Times provides our first wildlife article today about the continuing controversy over wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana; but a wolf preserve in Florida is having a 'Howl-O-Ween' fund-raising event to help open up more acreage for their preserve. A predatory hunter shot a rare albino coyote in Montana; and a letter to the editor of a Central California paper vents anger over a brazen coyote prowling their neighborhood. Radio tracking of two coyote packs in Rhode Island has provided some interesting new insights into urban coyotes, leading to adoption of a Coyote Coexistence and Management Plan there. One of two cougars spotted in Deadwood, South Dakota, has been killed, and a trap set for the other; and residents of Santa Rosa, California, have obtained a depredation permit and engaged the services of a tracker to hunt down a cougar that has been killing animals in the community. A South Dakota rancher blamed a predator, perhaps a cougar, for spooking his cattle, resulting in the death of nine of them on an interstate; but a deer hunter in Utah became the hunted when a cougar, evidently protecting nearby cubs, surprised him. A motorcyclist in Missouri suffered moderate injuries after collision with a deer in the road; and another biker from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, has been hospitalized after colliding with a deer in the road. Drivers in Missouri are once again being warned to slow down near areas frequented by deer as rutting season continues. A deer cull is being considered in a part of North Carolina that is being overrun by the ungulates; but a deer visited the lobby of a hotel in China, even pausing to get a drink at a water display. Wildlife officials in Reno, Nevada, are offering a reward for information on who has been poaching deer and antelope in the area. A falconer in Massachusetts was able to save a red-tailed hawk that had been shot; while the hunt is on for the owner of a hawk that barged into a chicken coop in Cheshire, UK. A bald eagle that was injured in a storm was released back into the wild in Delaware, as the next two articles show. Onlookers in Kyrgyzstan were stunned when an ice-skating bear killed the Russian circus director; and Alaska has filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that the polar bear should not have federal protection. A wayward raccoon got across some power lines in Wenatchee, Washington, depriving nearly 3,000 customers of power; even as health officials in Allentown, Pennsylvania, were warning residents of a rabid skunk that was destroyed there. A caravan park in Western Australia is coming up with ways to save their peppermint trees while simultaneously providing a food source for their endangered western ringtail possum population. And finally, police in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, suburb had an aggressive iguana to deal with who really didn't want to get sacked (but then, who does?)

Wolf hunts in Idaho, Montana still stirring up controversy

Howl with the wolves at weekend event

Hunter stalks, shoots albino coyote

Letters: Coyote kills another pet in Monte Sereno

Local scientist proposes ‘coyote coexistence’ animal feeding ordinance

Mountain lion killed in Deadwood city limits

Community Hunts Mountain Lion That Killed Pets

Wayward Cows Cause Chaos On Interstate

Syracuse deer hunter survives shocking encounter with angry mountain lion

Hannibal man hurt in collision with deer

Motorcycle Hits Deer

Active deer threat to drivers, patrol warns

As deer multiply, culling concerns rise

Deer hangs out in hotel lobby

Reward offered for info about Reno-area deer, antelope killings

Injured hawk let back into the wild in Hopkinton

Keep a hawk eye out for bird of prey’s owner

Bruised eagle takes flight

Photo gallery: Bald eagle release at Ingrams Pond

Ice-skating bear kills Russian circus director

Alaska Files Lawsuit Challenging Federal Polar Bear Protections

Power outage affects 2,800 customers

Rabid skunk found on Crest Avenue in Allentown

Caravan plan to save peppermint possums

East Vandergrift tangles with ornery iguana

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102109

We lead off wildlife news today with a passel of possum stories: an Australian psychologist commented on a story about three boys torturing an opossum, opining that this could indicate a proclivity towards a life of crime; the presence of a possum habitat in Western Australia could change plans for a new hospital in the area; and a writer from Virginia offers sage advice on being kind to our marsupial friends - otherwise it could cost you a job! A new report from the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment argues that a proposed kangaroo cull in Australia's Capital Territory will increase the bushfire danger and reduce biological diversity. A children's gym in North Carolina had an unexpected guest crash through the window! Even the automobile club is getting into the act, warning motorists in the mid-Atlantic states about deer hazards this time of year; while the Florida Highway Patrol is blaming a deer in the road for a three car pile up which resulted in at least one fatality; followed by some statistics on deer-auto collisions in North Carolina, along with a few driving tips. A Minnesota Park will be closed for a deer hunt; but as deer and elk hunters begin reporting their results, Idaho Fish and Game officials indicate that the wolf population is having an impact on the elk population and behavior. A Cooper hawk that had gotten trapped in a power substation in Pennsylvania was successfully removed, then taken to a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center for evaluation. One of the hazards of hunting is underscored by an article from Minnesota in which a pheasant hunter was accidentally shot in the chest by someone who was aiming at a raccoon quarreling with the dogs. Protection for polar bear habitat is one step closer to reality as a New York Times article shows; and a pair of polar bears currently residing in Germany will be moved to France. A black bear spotted near a Florida school prompted cautions from wildlife officials to students and staff at the school. And finally, homeowners need to beware of using smoke bombs to evict raccoons under mobile homes, as a resident of Indiana and local firefighters found out the hard way!

Animal cruelty linked to disorder

Possum habitat 'no setback' for new hospital

Times are tough, but don't take it out on the marsupials

Roo cull 'will increase city's bushfire risk'

Deer Smashes Through Window Into Children's Gym

AAA issues driver safety tips for deer mating season

Deer Blamed for Area Traffic Fatality

Deer, drivers on collision course

St. Paul park to close for deer hunt

Elk and deer hunts open with success, frustration

Cooper Hawk gets stuck inside substation

Man Shot In The Chest While Hunting In Jackson County

White House Clears Habitat Protections for Polar Bear

Polar bear Flocke to move to France

Bear sighted near St. Marks school

Ind. woman trying to smoke out raccoon sets home on fire

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102009

Camilla Fox of Project Coyote discusses coyotes in Marin County, California, in our first wildlife news item today; while a resident of West Seattle reported a coyote in the area. A retrospective on a celebrated wolf biologist who died in a plane crash at Denali National Park is up next. A photojournalist from Alabama provides us with the story of an elderly woman who feeds a pair of raptors at her place; followed by some amazing video footage shot by a BBC video crew in Finland that proves beyond a doubt that gold eagles do hunt reindeer! Kansas wildlife officials have confirmed a cougar sighting, only the second one in over 100 years in that state; but the mayor of a town in New Zealand is requesting a ban on a possum poison that will soon be deployed in his jurisdiction. A little history lesson from Ohio questions the value of deer in modern society; while a New Jersey tuxedo shop had an unexpected window crasher! A deer reportedly went through the windshield of a vehicle in Indiana this morning, causing a bit of a backup on the highway; and with 10,000 deer-auto collisions each year, Scottish authorities are warning motorists to watch for deer during the rutting season. Tabulating over 3,000 deer-auto collisions in Mississippi in 2008, wildlife officials are cautioning motorists to be "deer aware"; but wildlife officials in New Jersey are hopeful that a series of reflectors will help keep deer off the road. Due to a hard winter in 2008, hunters in Minnesota will find fewer deer this year; while the trial of an Ohio resident who illegally shipped dear out-of-state has ended, but no date has yet been set for sentencing. Granite Bay, California, had a visit from a trio of ursine neighbors; even as wildlife officials are cautioning residents of Florida near bear areas not to feed the animals, lest they become a problem. A Canadian polar bear residing in a Scottish zoo will finally be moving to some more spacious digs this week; but raccoons in Reno, Nevada, are living up to their "bandit" appearance, as residents complain about the increasingly aggressive critters. And finally, a story from Massachusetts shows that it is possible to actually build a better mousetrap!

Marin Voice: The coyotes in our midst

West Seattle wildlife: Coyote sighting in Gatewood

Stubbornness was Haber's best and worst quality

Hawk over my shoulder

Eagles filmed hunting reindeer

Mountain lion sighting in Trego Co.

Kaikoura mayor wants 1080 ban

What’s a deer worth?

MILLVILLE: Deer crashes through window at tuxedo shop

Deer causes crash on I-69

Drivers warned to watch for deer

MDOT: Watch out for deer on roads

Honk if you See a Deer in Headlights

State deer herd at manageable level

Kimbolton man guilty of shipping deer

Bear And Two Cubs Spotted In Granite Bay Tree

Stay Safe, Keep Bears Wild

Mercedes the Canadian polar bear to get new Scottish Highlands hideaway

Reno residents say raccoons incidents worsening

Animal control company uses robots

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101909

In our first wildlife story today, groves of trees in Mexico where Monarch butterflies overwinter that have been threatened by illegal logging, are now threatened by another insect: pine-boring beetles! Texas raptor enthusiasts are in their glory as migrating hawks soar through southern skies; but the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Victoria, Australia, is on the lookout for a possum killer who could be severely punished financially for killing these protected animals. A writer from Arizona takes a whimsical look at raccoon removal in that state; while residents of Ocala, Florida, have been warned of a rabid raccoon in the area. A Connecticut man who shot a bear that was raiding his bird feeder is now suing to justify his actions; but a quintet of moon bears is being moved into senior housing in China. An abundance of bears in North Carolina has prompted officials to attempt to reduce encounters between people and bruins. A cougar was spotted near an elementary school in British Columbia, Canada; while a number of reports of cougars in Minnesota have been made recently. Wyoming is considering putting a ban on antler collection due to the impact on herds of elk and deer. A Motorcyclist was killed in Michigan when he collided with a deer in the road; and a deer and motorist collided in Pennsylvania as well. Connecticut homeowners denied a deer to a bow hunter after it had died on their back porch; and as job losses increase in parts of the US, deer hunters are increasing their activity simply to put food on the table. A coyote in the road caused an auto accident in Washington state; while Massachusetts is beginning their annual coyote hunt, as the next two stories show. Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering the most generous compensation for livestock killed by wolves in the western US. And finally, art imitates life in Scotland, with a play about the reintroduction of wolves into that country.

Mexico fells trees to save butterfly reserve

Annual migration of hawks can be a spectacular sight

Possum killer lurks in Keysborough

Journey into the shadowy world of raccoon removal

Rabies alert issued for NE 175th Street near NE 25th Avenue

Conn. man suing over shooting of bear

Five Aged Bears Moved to Chengdu for a Better Senior Life

Bear population booms, aim is to lessen encounters

Cougar sighting reported in Saanich

Cougar sightings leave questions unanswered

Antler frenzy leads to possible ban

Man Killed In Motorcycle Collision With Deer

Deer smashes through vehicle on Route 512 near Wind Gap

Couple to hunter: 'Leave without your dead deer'

In trying times, hunters go after deer to put food on the table

Coyote blamed for car crash south of Lake Quinault

Hunting season put coyotes in the crosshairs

State Opens War On Coyotes

Wash. offers payments for wolf kills of livestock

Wolves debate turned into a play

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101709

First up in wildlife news today, a black bear found a comfy perch inside a beer cooler in a Wisconsin market (that is, until wildlife officers tranquilized it and returned it to the wild!) A black bear was reported in a Massachusetts community on Friday; while in British Columbia, the hunters became the hunted as a grizzly bear decided to have two men for an evening meal! A black bear was struck and killed by a car in Vermont on Friday, one of two reported accidents along the same stretch of highway. An article from Florida points out that raccoon attacks will become more commonplace as their habitat disappears; but a raccoon that was believed to be rabid was caught by authorities outside of the library at University of Richmond in Virginia. The difficult issue of keeping deer herd's numbers down is explored in an article from the New York Times; followed by another article from that same paper about the issue of feeding deer in the wild. Wildlife officials in Nebraska are asking hunters for help with reducing the deer herd in a state park; while residents of a Boulder, Colorado, neighborhood are complaining about deer hunters endangering them by shooting from the road with high-powered rifles. Motorists in Minnesota are cautioned to be wary of deer on the road this time of year; followed by a story about cougars in Missouri. Two articles express outrage at the wolf hunt in Montana; followed by one about a lifelike coyote decoy designed to scare off geese on a school athletic field in Illinois that has actually caused residents to report it to wildlife authorities in the area! Coyotes in Durham, North Carolina, are the topic of the next article; while police in a southern Ohio town are warning residents to keep an eye on their pets after the death of one due to a coyote. And finally, we've all probably heard of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride", but we conclude today with a story about a wily coyote's wild ride!

Bear Run! Black bear chills in Wis. beer cooler

Black Bear Lumbering Through Tewksbury

Bear attacks two sleeping B.C. men

Black bear killed in Vermont car crash

More raccoons, less habitat increase risk of rare attacks

Raccoon captured in front of the library

Culls Expand as the Deer Chomp Away

White-Tails in Love

Neb. commission seeks deer hunters for state park

Boulder-area residents protest deer hunting

Motorcyclists and other motorists, be ready for deer on the road

There's Nothing So Rare as a Cougar in Missouri

Save the wolves before it's too late

I am so pissed off right now

Lindenhurst coyote decoy scares off geese, prompts reports of 'sightings'

Coyotes on the howl in Durham

Coyotes in Newark

A wild car ride for a wily coyote

WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101609

Camilla Fox of Project Coyote sent along our first wildlife news item today that announces the introduction of new legislation that bans the use of traps on fur-bearing animals in national wildlife refuges in the US; followed by a letter to the editor of an Alberta, Canada, newspaper that defends coyotes with some statistics of attacks on people by deer and dogs. A resident of suburban Chicago is in trouble after shooting a neighbor's husky, thinking it was a coyote attacking some cats. US government officials are attempting to limit polar bear hunting to reduce the loss in their numbers from causes other than the shrinking sea ice; while wildlife officials in Aspen, Colorado, reflect on a very busy year with bears. A dog owner in New Jersey is waiting pensively through the 45 day incubation period after his dogs were exposed to a rabid raccoon; followed by a look at deer-auto collision statistics in Illinois. Rumors of a cougar in an Ohio state park are circulating among visitors; and a Central California community in which a multitude of cougar reports have been filed is on edge. After the clothes of a boy lost on a Colorado hiking trail four years ago were found, authorities believe he was probably killed by a wild animal, possibly a cougar. A man who shot a skunk in Elmhurst, Illinois, has brought that city's skunk issue to a head. We conclude today with two stories about a wolf biologist who was killed in an air crash in Alaska.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey Introduces Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act of 2009

Coyotes don’t mean any harm

Man shoots dog he thought was a coyote - Update

US seeks tougher protections for polar bear

DOW attacks bear problem

Rabies advisory issued for Monroe after infected raccoon found

Car/deer accidents decline here

Possible Mountain Lion Sightings In Local State Park

Mountain lion problem isn't going away

Lost Colorado boy likely killed by animal

Man cited after shooting skunk

Denali Wolf Biologist Dies in Plane Crash

Haber Devoted His Life to Studying and Saving Alaska's Wolves