Monday, January 27, 2014

While we are all fighting to keep as much of the interior Rain Forest of South America intact and functioning fully, Brazil's once extensive tropical Atlantic Forest has been chopped to hell and is in danger of having it's Jaguar population blink out.............What once harbored over 3000 Jaguars 15 years ago now has a remnant population of 250....................The Atlantic Forest was once 1.2million square km. of unbroken forest,,,,,,,,,,now down to a measly 29,000 sq. km.........................Agriculture and cattle grazing gone wild is the culprit for this "land rape" despite this region having been declared a UN World Heritage Site back in 1999.................Do we have the will to stop the carnage or will Economic Growth snuff out the iconic Jag?

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Brazil scientists warn on dwindling jaguar population Source: digitaljournal.com The jagu...

I still find it confounding that Nebraska State Biologists such as the one featured in the article below(John Carroll) can defend a Puma hunt with only some 20 CATS existing in the Pine Ridge section of the state...........Mr.Carroll can only keep repeating that it is a "complicated" process managing large carnivores..............He uses the word complicated as it refers to the pressure put on him and his colleagues to keep Pumas from killing livestock................He tells you that they(Pumas) have some place in the ecological circle but then rebuts himself saying that there is not much room for them in his Nebraska because we humans have manipulated the envronment since the plowbusting days of the 19th century.............So interesting that folks like him can actually seem to believe when they say--------“Management(killing) of the species(Pumas) is a benefit to the species.............2 thumbs up for State Senator Ernie Chambers who is seeking to repeal the Puma hunt.................As many of you know, Chambers has introduced a bill to repeal the mountain lion hunt vowing to fight any Game and Parks legislation until they do so............. Chambers quoted the poet William Blake, and said he doesn’t like to see living things killed: “’A robin redbreast in a cage; puts all heaven in a rage"........... "These animals have a place in this universe"...................."I think when you kill these animals for sport or fun or to get trophies, that indicates something very wrong in a society"

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Do we need to hunt mountain lions in Nebraska? By   NET News      http://www.kvnonews.com/2014/01/need-hunt-mountain-lions-nebraska/ Ja...

Some great pictures of the Eastern Coyotes(Coywolves) that are making Eastern Massachusetts their home.............These Coyote pictures give you a real good look at the difference between Eastern Coyotes that have a good 10% Eastern Wolf genes running through their veins.............A very different looking Coyote than those found in the Prairie States--Wolf-like face with a body weighing in at 35-60 pounds versus the largest Western Coyotes that top off at 25 to 30 pounds-------Massachusetts Coywolf(Eastern Coyote) biologist Jon Way(who should have been featured in the recent PBS special, MEET THE COYWOLF) provides further insight on the species in the article below

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Courtesy of: Steve Chicco Coyotes have been spotted in Marion and Mattapoisett. This one was spotted in Marion earlier this month. ...

Will the Polar Vortex that has brought "generational" cold temperatures to the upper Midwest freeze enough ice that will allow one or more wolves to cross from Ontario to Isle Royale so as to "gene"invigorate the remaining 8 Wolves that are not currently reproducing pups?.................Satellite maps show northern Lake Superior socked in with ice.............. On Isle Royale, as late as Thursday, wolf researcher Rolf Peterson of Michigan Tech said by email that he could still see gaps in the ice and it was premature to say a bridge had formed.............. Biologists hope that will happen — the last time ice fully formed was 2008.............. The last time a wolf migrated across the ice was 1997.

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Saturday, January 25, 2014

While so many state biologists would "knee-jerk" that the reason that Mule Deer in Colorado are declining is because the resident Coyotes, Black Bears and Pumas(no Wolves or Griz currently in Colorado) are decimating fawn populations, it is refreshing to hear Brad Weinmeister, a terrestrial biologist in CPW’s Durango office, say that the downward trend is likely attributable to the extended drought, less nutritious range and increasing human development and populations..........“Coyotes don’t drive the mule deer population"............... "When rabbit populations go down, they might take an occasional fawn"............ “Mountain lions have more of an impact, but we found it is not significant"...............Wake up hunters of the USA!!!!!!, It is we(people) who are stressing our habitat and climate to such a degree that all of life is going to take a hit, including the animals that you like to hunt!!!!..........Weinmeister goes on to say--------"The recent expansion in housing developments, gas-and-oil production, recreation trails and roads are threats to mule deer".............. “We’re all guilty of(letting this development go unchecked) "................"The last 10 to 20 years there has been a lot of growth in homes in the country with the new roads, driveways, dogs, horse pastures and traffic". ............"It takes away habitat, and puts stress on the animal"........... "Trails bisecting deer habitat also are harmful, especially in winter, when deer are in a nutrition deficit mode and are trying to conserve energy"............. “Biking in summer habitat does not seem that crucial, but in winter, expending unnecessary energy running from trail users, there is an impact"

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Mule deer population falls in S.W. Colorado To view the contents on DurangoHerald.com, go to: http://www.durangoherald.com/article/201401...