Saturday, December 22, 2012

An evolving succcess story for the reintroduction of the California Sea Otter, now touching a population of about 3000,,,,,,,,,,,,up from a scant 15 individuals 20 years ago.............And this past week, the Federal Fish & Wildlife Agency lifted the "no swim" zone allowing the "little wolf of the sea" to migrate naturally up and down the coast of Califronia from San Francisco down to the Western coast of Mexico............Previously, the Otters were restricted from roaming south because Fisherman Groups objected to the carnivores competing with them............ Lilian Carswell who works for USFW said it best about the return of the Otters: "the elimination of restrictions on the otters’ expansion is a victory for the natural environment, she said. “There really are real ecosystem benefits when we allow these predators to return".......“It gives a richness and integrity to our natural system.”

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Restriction Lifted, Sea Otters Can Roam Freely Reed Saxon/Associated Press California sea otters in Morro Bay, Calif., in 2010. A new ...
Friday, December 21, 2012

While California has all kinds of fiscal problems, it stands tall in its prudent and thoughtful wildlife management practices.................With some 25-30,000 Black Bears wandering the state, the dept of fish and Game restricts the annual Bear hunt to 1700 bruins or just about 7% of the population...............A spread and multiply philosophy without the vengeance that other western states incorporate into their carnivore hunting seasons................Interesting that california has some of the least number of human/bear/puma conflicts in the region even though Pumas are off limits to hunters and Bears are just minimally targeted................As the Large Carnivore Lab up at Washington State U. has studied and calculated-------human persecuted carnivore populations tend to have many more inexperienced juveniles in their populations,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just the type animals that take risks that bring them into the sphere of human beings,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,with the result usally being an early death for the animal

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2012 Black Bear Hunting Season Closes: More than 1,700 Bears Killed yubanet.com   The California Department of Fish and Game...
Wednesday, December 19, 2012

At present, there are no laws on the books protecting Pumas in Illinois........If the big cats were to somehow migrate successfully from the Dakotas and actually create a breeding population, the wooded reiver valleys would likely be their choice spot to create territories based on thick horizontal cover and the need of deer to come to the river for water(see biologist John Laundre's new book--PHANTOMS OF THE PRAIRIES-- where he describes the riverine habitat as the only habitat on the prairie that was(and is) capable of harboring populations of Pumas)

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People are fascinated with the idea of Illinois cougars By: Steve Rogers; morrisdailyherald.com Over the weekend, a friend of mine h...
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Moose were not part of the Utah pre-columbian fauna.............In fact, there were no Moose found in Utah until the turn of the 20th century.........Just as the Coyote, Opossum, Cardinal and many other indigenous North American species have expanded their ranges due to climate change, land alteration and removal of other species, so has the Moose wandered into Utah from Idaho and Wyoming..............At the southern end of their range, there are about 3000(down from a high of 4000) Moose currently calling Utah home........A new research study will determine population trends in both saturated and newly builiding Moose regions in Utah.......Evaluation of disease parasites that have dampened the Wyoming Moose population will be evaluated as well as overall survival rates of the 4 subspecies found here...........Some conjecture that the smaller subspecies, Shiras, may be better able to withstand climate change than some of the larger subspecies as they likely have better control of regulating their body heat ...........Utah State U. and the Utah Dept of Wildlife will conduct the study during 2013

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Study will track moose in Utah Moose populations are declining across the southern tier of their range, including the states of ...
Monday, December 17, 2012

The most responsible and scientifically correct response and course of action to living successfully with Coyotes is being heard and played out in Gretna, Louisiana..........Councilman Vincent Cox III gets a "tip of the hat" for reacting with prudence to the suggestion made by narurralist Leland Hayes that by not killing Coyotes and letting an exisiting family group continue to live in the city park, that these "residents" will keep other Coyotes from coming into the territory.............Killing the existing Coyotes will only allow multiple breeding pairs into the park,,,,,,,,,,,,which will be split up into smaller territories and result in additional pups and larger populations................Way to go City of Gretna!!!!!---Smart you are!!!!!

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Gretna study: Let coyote group remain in city park by Allen Powell II-theadvocate.com Gretna — A study commissioned by a Gretna ...
Sunday, December 16, 2012

A seemingly responsible Kentucky Bear hunt has just concluded with 11 Bruins killed out of an estimated 300-500 population............Recovering and recolonizing the state since 2002, Bears primarily occupy the eastern portion of Kentucky .........The Kentucky Wildlife agency expects the bear population to expand from the Pine Mountain area northward through the mountainous habitat over the coming decades.

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BLACK BEAR QUOTA ACHIEVED IN KENTUCKY courierjournal.com FRANKFORT, KY. — State wildlife officials are reporting that hunte...

Last years Elk predation study revealed Pumas(and not wolves) as the primary predators of Elk calves in the Bitteroot Mtns in Montana........This has now prompted a new Puma population density study that will be undertaken in 2013 with the likely outcome a call for even more Puma hunting in this region.........What does not seem to have been factored into the original Elk study is the impact of ranching, mining, weather, disease and forage availability on the health and welfare of the Elk..........When does Mark Hebblewhite(a seasoned and professional biologist) bring these factors to the fore..........Like in other parts of the USA and Canada where Carnivores have increased their predation on Moose, Elk, Caribou and Deer, it is often these other factors that enable Pumas, Wolves, Bears and Coyotes to tip the scales against the hoofed browsers.........Once again Stephen Stills quoted: "Isn't ain't about time we learned"???????????????

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Biologists to start extensive mountain lion study in Bitterroot Valley therepublic.com HAMILTON, Montana — Biologists with the University...
Saturday, December 15, 2012

We have two conflicting reports coming out of Ontario regarding the health of the Moose population---An ONTARIO FEDERATION OF ANGLERS AND HUNTERS biologist claims all is well and the Moose population is robust virtually everywhere except in and around Algonquin Park.............Conversely, a 2007 MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES report echos the problems that Moose are having in the Great Lake States---the perfect storm of warming temperatures that lead to debilitating tick infestations,,,,,,,,,,, brainworm disease resulting from increasing deer herds(also increases wolf and bear predation on weakened Moose),,,,,,,,,,,,, droughts that are drying up food sources and heat waves prolonging autumn cooling------ which leads to less Moose mating and subsequent declines in calf recruitment............All have begun to hammer the Moose herd in Ontario...........I hate to be cynical but it always seems that the sportsmens federations find some "off-the-reservation" biologist who is all to happy to be paid well to say: "the animals are thriving, no need for hunting restrictions"-------I find these "slight-of-hand" testimonials to be nauseating and an insult to the general public who might not have their heads into wildlife management issues except when some daily newspaper does not check the utterings of charlatans and prints their "poison" ------ultimately knowingly or unknowingly manipulating the discourse and ultmate management policies instituted by State Wildlife Agencies

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COntario moose herd 'healthy' despite US concerns More southern areas of the province are seeing low rates of moose reproducti...

Minnesota's Moose population has fallen nearly 50% since 2005 with only about 4000 animals roaming the state as of this years aerial survey...............As a result, the Minn. Dept of Ntl Resources has proposed that the Moose be added to the state endangered list of animals...........We have discussed numerous times how warming temperatures and our alteration of the landscape has contributed to a perfect storm of debilitating winter ticks and deer brain disease that has caused the Great Lakes Moose to suffer badly over the past 3 to 7 years.............It remains fascinating that the same combination of debilitating factors has thus far not had the same impact on New England and New York State Moose populations which seem to be expanding southward during this same period of time

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Minnesota endangered species list expanding Minnesota's beleaguered moose would be one of 67 animals added to the state's official...
Friday, December 14, 2012

The "Biting Midge builds up populations as water holes dry up during drought conditions.........The Midge transmits the Epizootic hemorrhaic disease that has claimed the lives of 6000 Deer in Nebraska so far this year..............Just come out and say it midwest newspapers.............The adverse impacts of Global warming are rearing its ugly head, with dire consequences for all living creatures-----deer and man nonwithstanding! ---------PUMAS AND WOLVES WOULD KEEP DEER POPULATIONS MODERATED, THUS NOT ALLOWING DISEASES TO GROW TO EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS-----DISEASE BECOMING MORE DEADLY IN CROWDED POPULATIONS CONTAINING DEER DENSITIES OF 20+ PER SQUARE MILE

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Deer population reeling from disease outbreak- JOURNALSTAR.COM; by Art Hovey PUMAS AND WOLVES WOULD KEEP DEER POPULATIONS MODERATED, T...

Brooks Fahy and his ever active PREDATOR DEFENSE advocacy Group has just released a teriffc new film entitled: "THE IMPERILED AMERICAN WOLF",,,,,,,,,,,,click on the link in the body of the article below to soak in the facts about the journey of Wolves from the Endangered Species list into the crosshairs of State managed hunt and trapping seasons that in some Rocky Mtn States span a full 52 weeks of the year---Great job on this film Brooks!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 14, 2012Contact:  Brooks Fahy Cell phone: 541-520-6003 Email:  brooks@predatordefense.orgPREDATOR DEFEN...

Highway deaths continue to grow for the bottlenecked Florida Puma population with a new annual record of 26 Cats killed in 2012..........There are supposed to be 3 distinct populations of at 240 Pumas in the southeast but the USFW does not have the cajones to make this happen in the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and perhaps the Smokey Mtn Ntl Park,,,,,,,With each of these regions with deer aplenty to support a viable Puma population............As the rock recording artist Stephen Stills once penned on one of his two classic(1972-3) MANASSAS records , "ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME WE LEARNED????????"

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Florida Panther Deaths in 2012 Hit Record High Two Road Fatalities, Days Apart, Raise Toll to 26 ORLANDO, Fla. — The deaths of two en...
Thursday, December 13, 2012

There are a whole lot more Park visitors than there are hunters and the tourist $$ that Wolf sightings bring to locales like Yellowstone and Denali National Parks are in the multiple millions............With the borders around Denali Park a Wolf kill site, Park visitors only witnessed Wolves about 12% of the time this year compared to 45% of the time two years ago in 2010..........The Alaska Board of Game has refused all recent requests to reinstate a buffer zone around the Park that would give the animals a little more breathing room to wander unmolested..........Thankfully National Park Officials are looking to see it they can trump the state law and institute a no-kill zone around the Park

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Wolf Advocates say Lack of Denali Buffer has Economic Consequences kuac.org Fairbanks, AK - The decline of at least...

Historically a common resident of Texas, Black Bears were driven from the state at the turn of the 20th Century............A natural recolonization is taking place with Bears migrating in from Mexico............The Rio Grande and Hill Country is at least a visiting point for Bears who have been driven by drought to wander long distances for food.............Let us hope that a breeding population gets a toehold in the Lone Star State--------Ironic that urbanized NJ and Connecticut can harbor a thriving black bear population and the vast reaches of Texas has been a "no-bears land" up until now

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Black Bears Making a Comeback in Texas  by: Brian Baresch; kut.org Black bears are reappearing in Central and South Texas. Photo court...

THE LARGE CARNIVORE LAB located at WASHINGTON STATE U. will be collaborating with the Washington State Fish & Wildlife folks to teach ranchers how to co-exist with the wolves in their midst..........We hope that this LAB will also be enlisted by Washington State to do a full Wollf/livestock study so as to determine best practices for keeping both Wolves/sheep and cattle alive and well

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More study will mean fewer wolf problems Editorial; capitalpress.com This past summer, the wolves from the Wedge pack repeatedly atta...
Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Why is there a Wolf and Black Bear season in Wisconsin when deer are eating the woods alive?........A 7 to 10% increase in killed deer with 633.000 people buying deer licenses during 2012............."Geez Louise"............I get taking persistantly aggregious carnivores out of the populatation if farmers make best coexistant practices and still end up with livestock depredation............But the kind of intial Wolf hunt that is going on up in the North Woods now is Wolf extermination----not Wolf cohabitation!

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Wisconsin hunters bagged nearly 244,000 deer Todd Richmond;fdreporter.com Zach Schultz of Fond du Lac registered this eig...

Thank you Michael Kellet and Jym St. Pierre of RESTORE for keeping us clued as to the progress on getting a Maine Woods National Park a reality

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EarthTalk A National Park for Maine? Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss ; EMagazine Dear EarthTalk : What's the latest on the proposa...