Rocker Huey Lewis baits ducks to stop hunting near his Montana property

Musician Huey Lewis is in the news. He and several of his Montana neighbors have installed duck feeding stations along a waterway near their properties to effectively stop waterfowl hunting in the area, the Associated Press reports.

At issue is the Mitchell Slough, which the Montana Supreme Court ruled a public waterway, subjecting it to the state's stream access laws. Those who live along the 15-mile tributary to the Bitterroot River contend that it is a man-made feature and not subject to the public access regulations.

Lewis said that he and other area residents -- who include investor Charles Schwab -- began placing feeders along the slough about two months ago, contending that the waterway is too close to homes for safe hunting.

"I'm feeding ducks all over the place -- many of my neighbors are," Lewis said. "The reason is, the Supreme Court decision has changed everything here, and now we have public access. And most of us believe the Mitchell is unsuitable for duck hunting."

It is not legal to hunt waterfowl in an area that has bait stations for birds.

Hunter bags two deer with one bullet

Many hunters are notable conservationists, and one recently found an unexpected way to conserve bullets.

Prairie du Sac, Wis., resident TJ Hauge was hunting on opening day of the state's nine-day gun deer season. Settled into his tree stand when a buck came into his sights, TJ took careful aim and squeezed off a shot. Bull's-eye -- the buck dropped in its tracks -- and so did the unseen one standing directly behind it.

"Between the adrenaline and the rather strange outcome, my mind had a little trouble grasping what had just transpired," TJ told Outposts. "I spent the next 25 minutes with a big, uncontrollable smile and occasionally laughing to myself in disbelief of what had happened."

TJ immediately text-messaged the other members of his hunting party, "two bucks, one bullet."

Montana's inaugural wolf-hunting season closes; it's deemed a success

Montana's inaugural wolf-hunting season came to an end this week and has been deemed a success by state wildlife officials.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks called for the season to close half an hour after sunset on Monday after receiving word that the statewide quota of 75 was nearly reached.

"We hit 72 of the 75 wolf quota with two weeks left before the season was originally planned to close on Nov. 29," FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim told the Billings Gazette.

A total of 15,600 wolf hunting licenses were sold, generating $325,859 for the state license fund.

"It was a successful season. We learned a bunch, and we'll learn more as we evaluate it," Aasheim said. "We know where wolves where taken by county. We know sex. We know age. We'll know the days hunted. It's a pretty sound information base."

One thing that will be studied further is the sustainability of the hunt.

Is scientist taking great white shark research too far?

Were you able to watch the National Geographic special, "White Shark Expedition," on Monday night -- and if so, what do you think of the methods utilized by researcher Michael Domeier at remote Guadalupe Island off Baja California?

If you live in the Bay Area, you might also have viewed an ABC News program that was spawned by an incident involving Domeier's team using the same methods at the Farallon Islands off San Francisco. The program featured experts who were critical of the methods, which involve using a team of anglers and a large baited hook attached to a line with buoys.

(There's also a film crew, hence the National Geographic special and related episodes to air next summer.)

The hooked shark struggles until it's completely worn out. It's then lifted onto a platform, where a sophisticated tracking tag is bolted into its dorsal fin. A large hose is used to flush water through the shark's gills, so it can breathe throughout a process that can take 20 minutes.

The sharks usually are hooked in the corner of the mouth -- because of the 24-inch circle hook's design --but in at least one case at the Farallon Islands a shark had to be set free with part of the hook lodged deep in its throat.

The specialized tags have a life span of up to six years, providing real-time data and pinpointing precise locations of migrating sharks. They're important, Domeier says, for researchers seeking a clearer picture of these mysterious predators' life history.

Angler's capture of 4,600-pound great white shark part of research effort off Baja

"Expedition Great White" airs tonight at 9 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel, and if the accompanying photo is an indication, the footage ought to be spectacular.

The location is Guadalupe Island, 160 miles west of Baja California, a truly spectacular destination and one of the world's largest seasonal gathering places for adult great white sharks. That's where researcher Michael Domeier has been studying the apex predators, and using satellite tags to determine their migration patterns and other habits.

And it's where TV fishing personality Chris Fischer got to play the role of angler -- and literally come face to face with a 4,600-pound white shark -- during a monumental capture aboard his 126-foot mothership, named Ocean.

"Like in the movie 'Jaws,' the first  time we saw a shark come in and eat the bait and then take off and drag the buoys under and across the water it was a life-changing moment as an angler," Fischer said. "The experience of capturing and releasing giant great white sharks is nothing similar to an angling experience of capturing large pelagic fish. There's a sense of  history, a sense of awe, humility and humbleness."

Domeier is a legitimate researcher, but some might question the methods: hooking and hoisting incredibly large sharks from the water -- even if for only brief periods and if great care is utilized -- for tagging, measuring and DNA sampling.

Domeier, however, assures that great care is utilized and that "this is a show about real science ... not science created for TV, which is so often the case."

Tonight's episode is part of a longer series that will air next summer and undoubtedly will shed significant light on the lifestyle of one of the world's most notorious and mysterious predators.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Crew member Jody Whitworth lifts the snout of a great white shark as Capt. Brett McBride removes hydration hose that keeps the predator alive while it's on deck. Credit: National Geographic Channel / Chris Ross

Hunter's concrete lawn ornament kills deer

Avid elk hunters Mark and Carol Brye unwittingly came up with a new weapon for deer hunting when their concrete lawn ornament killed a whitetail buck last week.

No, it wasn't the Roaming Gnome, but a 640-pound, life-like concrete elk statue given to the Viroqua, Wis., residents as a Christmas gift by their children.

The LaCrosse Tribune reports that Mark awoke one morning to see the statue on its side. He didn't immediately realize that a 180-pound buck lay dead in his yard.

It appears that the deer saw the statue as a rival male in its territory and began sparring with it. The buck apparently went in for a head butt and shattered its skull, staggered for about 20 feet and fell dead.

"I could tell that the buck poked the statue a couple of times by the chipped paint on it," Mark said.

He claimed the animal with Vernon County conservation wardens using one of his deer tags. The buck was butchered and is in the freezer.

And the concrete elk? "The statue is OK, but the antlers broke off when it tipped over," added Mark. He is considering putting the deer horns on the statue, as a remembrance of the odd but true tale.

Meanwhile, the lawn art remains on its side, awaiting reinforcements to help lift it back into place. "I can't tip it back up until I get a whole bunch of guys to help me," said Mark.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Silhouetted white-tailed deer. Credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

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Eastern Sierra hikers asked to keep eyes peeled for Karma, the red-tailed hawk

Hikers, birders and other visitors to the Eastern Sierra are encouraged to be on the lookout for Karma, an adult male red-tailed hawk that for the past two-plus years had resided at the Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care facility in Bishop.

The majestic raptor was believed to have been kept illegally as a pet before it was abandoned in the wild. It could not fly when it was discovered floundering and suffering from heat prostration and brought to the center, which cares for injured and abandoned critters.

But Karma learned to fly at the facility and was regularly driven afield for brief falconry-type flights. He always returned to his handlers, but last Thursday in the Keough Hot Springs area west of Highway 395, he dipped behind an outcropping and disappeared.

Cindy Kamler, who runs the facility, told Outposts that people have been scouring a two-square-mile area but have not spotted the bird, which is wearing black leather bracelets on both legs and might be trailing a short orange cord. 

It's feared that Karma will be unable to fend for himself or find his own food, but Kamler is hopeful and cites a few instances where the bird captured and killed sparrows that had entered its enclosure.

Interestingly, it had recently begun communicating with wild hawks during its flights, notably a juvenile red-tailed hawk that was present during Karma's last controlled flight. Could Karma simply have answered the call of the wild and sought freedom?

Kamler concedes it's a doubtful scenario, since the bird had been raised in captivity. "It'd be unique," Kamler says, "but not impossible."

Anyone who spots the hawk is urged to call the center at (760) 872-1487.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Karma the red-tailed hawk courtesy of Chris Morrison

Florida python trapper faces charges for staging snake capture

A Florida man is facing criminal charges for staging the capture of a 14-foot Burmese python.

Justin Matthews, of Bradenton, Fla., was arrested this week following a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation into a July incident.

Matthews, a professional nuisance animal trapper, called media to his neighborhood to witness the capture of a large Burmese python from a drainage pipe. Turns out, Matthews put the snake there in the first place and staged the whole event.

Matthews apparently purchased the reptile a month before from a licensed reptile dealer and released it to set up its capture to "bring attention to a growing problem of irresponsible pet ownership," according to an FWC news release.

His releasing of the reptile is a big no-no in Florida, which is having a huge problem with the invasive species and even held a state-sanctioned hunting program in an effort to eradicate the non-native pythons.

Coyote that attacked musician Taylor Mitchell tests negative for rabies

Preliminary tests done on one of the coyotes that attacked and killed folk singer Taylor Mitchell last week showed no signs of rabies in the animal.

Mitchell was hiking alone at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, when she was savagely attacked by two coyotes.

The 19-year-old Toronto resident was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition. She died the following day.

The coyote tested was killed by park officials and is believed to have been one of the two that had bitten Mitchell. Its carcass was sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island to try to determine why the animals attacked.

Sadly, it may never be known why the coyotes attacked Mitchell, nor what individuals should do if confronted by the animals. The Parks Canada website describes the eastern coyote as a species that has interbred with wolves, which may give some insight as to the predatory behavior exhibited rather than the shy nature usually seen in coyotes.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Taylor Mitchell. Credit: city of Toronto

Related:

Coyote attack on musician Taylor Mitchell puts critters in new perspective

Musician Taylor Mitchell dies after coyote attack while hiking

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Monterey Bay Aquarium tags, releases its great white shark

A female great white shark that had lived in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Outer Bay exhibit since August was tagged and released today.

The young predator, which was captured off Malibu, was set free offshore beyond the southern edge of Monterey Bay. She measured 5 feet, 5 inches, and weighed 100 pounds.

It's the fifth white shark successfully released after a stay at the facility, where the sharks are intended to provide visitors with a better understanding of the apex predators and inspire support for shark conservation.

She was released because she had begun to exhibit aggressive behavior toward other sharks in the 1-million-gallon tank.

"I’ve always said that these animals will tell us when it’s time to put them back to the ocean. Now was clearly the time,” said Randy Hamilton, vice president of husbandry for the aquarium. “Her health is excellent, and we learned a lot while she was with us. Based on past experience, we have every expectation that she’ll do well after release.”

Tracking tags will enable scientists to monitor the shark's movements and habits. Previously, two of the released sharks traveled beyond Baja California's tip. The other two ventured to the Santa Barbara area.

The aquarium, with its research partners, also is part of a Juvenile White Shark Program, which involves tagging and tracking of sharks that utilize California and Mexico waters as nurseries. Real-time data and published research can be found on the Tagging of Pacific Predators website.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Great white shark is released after two months of captivity in Monterey Bay Aquarium. Credit: © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder

Florida python hunt ends with 37 of the invasive reptiles being killed

It has to be an unsettling situation for parents of small children and owners of small pets in South Florida, where thousands of Burmese pythons are slithering amok.

A state-sanctioned pilot hunting program aimed at determining location and formulating an eradication plan ended Saturday with 37 of the invasive reptiles being killed. 

"This was more about finding where they are and seeing if we can contain their expansion,'' Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told the Miami Herald.

The constrictors can measure 18 feet long and weigh 160 pounds, and wildlife officials say they could number in the tens of thousands in the South Florida region -- mostly in the Everglades.

Snake owners who released pythons when they became too large to manage are believed largely responsible for this troubling phenomenon. The snakes, which are reproducing in the wild, have become a threat to native wildlife.

The wildlife commission is collecting data from the snakes killed so far and will expand the hunting program next year. Meanwhile, licensed hunters after other species can continue to kill pythons in designated areas, including parts of the Everglades around Big Cypress National Preserve.

Cougar hunt to open in Colorado area that has been off-limits since 2004

An area of western Colorado that has been off-limits to mountain lion hunting since 2004 will open for a limited season beginning in mid-November.

The hunting season on a portion of the Uncompahgre Plateau will open Nov. 16 and run through Jan. 31, unless the quota of eight cougars is reached before then.

Hunters must obtain a special permit, as well as a regular mountain lion license, to hunt the area. The free permits are available beginning today at the Colorado Division of Wildlife office in Montrose and are valid for 14 days, with unlimited replacement if a hunter does not bag an animal within the 14-day period.

As in other areas of Colorado, hunters must report within 48 hours if they kill a mountain lion and must show the carcass to a state wildlife agent within five days. They also must check daily to see if the research area is still open for hunting by calling (888) 940-5466.

The state Division of Wildlife closed the area in order to conduct research on mountain lion population dynamics. The study will continue through 2014 and is being done to help shape management policy for the big cats.

"The study is designed so that the [Department of Wildlife] can examine the lion management structure and biological assumptions used for managing lions with sport hunting throughout Colorado," Ken Logan, a project researcher with the department, said in a news release.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A mountain lion in a Colorado snow storm. Credit: Kevin Russell / Colorado Division of Wildlife

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White pelicans arrive to help liven things up at Bolsa Chica wetlands

American white pelicans have begun to arrive at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, helping to usher in the winter birding season at the vast wetlands adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway and Bolsa Chica State Beach.

I counted five Saturday afternoon, including the three in the top image, and heard many more have since landed. The large, unwieldy and sometimes comical birds spend their summers in the northern U.S. and Canada. Many winter in Southern California.

As for brown pelicans, they're always around and often amusing. If you have a camera and are patient, you'll be rewarded with exceptional photo opportunities from the footbridge, just steps from the parking lot. 

Most but not all of these dive-bombing birds are adept at catching fish.

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use an electronic call when duck hunting?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: This is my first year waterfowl hunting and while I am a pretty decent shot when I can get the birds to come in, I am a terrible caller! I can’t seem to get them to respond. I’ve found some electronic callers online that look pretty good and don’t cost too much money. I’d like to try them, but since everyone I’ve hunted with this year uses only the traditional calls, I wonder if these electronic calls are just new or if they might not be legal to use. What’s the answer? (Jake P.)

Answer: I’m afraid you’re going to have to just pucker up and keep practicing with the regular old duck calls found in most sporting goods stores. Electronic or mechanically operated calling or sound reproducing devices are prohibited when taking migratory game birds (CCR, Title 14, Section 507[c]).

To improve your technique, you might want to check out the many demo videos or “how to” techniques published online. The Ducks Unlimited website, for example, is loaded with lots of tips, videos and suggestions. Also, watch for duck calling seminars coming up in your area, such as through Wilderness Unlimited or other hunt clubs and sporting goods stores.

Q: I would like to photograph big bucks and know the best times would be during the rut periods. Can you tell me when the rut starts and stops in zones D-3 through D-5? (Bob W.)

Musician Taylor Mitchell dies after coyote attack while hiking

A young folk musician had her life cut tragically short, dying from injuries sustained after being attacked by two coyotes while hiking.

Taylor Mitchell, 19, was hiking alone in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, on Tuesday when the attack occurred.

Mitchell, of Toronto, was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition and died Wednesday morning.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that another hiker heard her screams and called emergency services. Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers arrived at the scene and shot one of the coyotes, though both animals escaped.

Park officials later killed one of the coyotes believed to have bitten Mitchell. Its body was sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island for pathological tests to try to determine why the animals attacked.

"If Mitchell ran from the coyotes or panicked, it may have triggered a predatory response in the animals," said Simon Gadbois, an animal behavior specialist at Canada's Dalhousie University.

Wild turkey hunting clinic scheduled Nov. 7, a week before fall turkey season starts

A wild turkey hunting clinic will be held Nov. 7  from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve in San Diego County.

Co-sponsored by the Department of Fish and Game and the National Wild Turkey Federation San Diego chapter, the timing of the clinic is opportune -- the fall wild turkey hunting season opens Nov. 14 and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Topics to be covered include wild turkey habits and habitats, hunting regulations, proper types of firearms and ammunition, hunter safety, responsibilities and ethics and game care and cooking.

The cost to attend is $40. Children 16 and younger accompanied by a paid parent or guardian will be admitted free.

Participants can print a registration form online or call (916) 358-4356 to request a form via mail. Once registered, attendees will receive a map to the facility and a list of items to bring.

This is the final advanced hunting clinic being offered by the DFG this year.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A flock of wild turkeys gather at Olompali State Park in Marin County. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Montana's wolf hunt takes center stage with opening of general season

A story on Montana's wolf hunt that appeared in Sunday's Los Angeles Times provides colorful insight into wolf behavior and the controversy swirling around that state's first-ever hunt, especially as it pertains to wolves that utilize Yellowstone National Park.

It makes specific reference to Wolf 527, which was killed earlier this month by a hunter on Buffalo Plateau north of Yellowstone during a backcountry hunt that coincided with deer and elk hunts. Wolf 527, an amazingly cunning animal, was one of Yellowstone's famous wolves. She was of the Cottonwood Creek pack; the killing of four wolves from that pack fueled the controversy and caused Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials to rethink its strategy.

That special backcountry hunt was closed before the zone quota was reached, but hunting of wolves in general is deemed necessary by state wildlife officials as a tool of management. There are about 500 wolves in Montana and an overall quota of 75 has been established. The statewide hunt began Sunday.

Animal rights groups have so far been unsuccessful in efforts to halt the hunts in Montana and Idaho and have the predators placed back on the endangered species list.

If that were to happen, allowing wolf populations to further increase, there probably would be more interaction between wolves and ranchers and their cattle and livestock.

Kim Murphy's L.A. Times story cited the August slaughter by wolves of 122 purebred sheep on a ranch in Dillon, Mont., 180 miles northwest of Yellowstone.  That seemed an example of wolves killing for pleasure rather than need.

Wolves also are believed at least partly responsible for the decline of elk in the region. So while it's sad to read about the passing of legendary Wolf 527 -- and perhaps that specific hunt was a bad idea because it occurred in the remote backcountry -- wildlife officials seem justified in allowing limited hunting of wolves.

Many will argue this point, but you won't find a Montana rancher among them.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A tranquilized wolf is fitted with a radio collar as part of an effort to track the recovery of the endangered gray wolves that were reintroduced into Yellowstone in 1995. Credit: Daniel Stahler / National Park Service

Fish and Game Q&A: Can we shoot waterfowl at one pond if there's a feeding station at a neighboring pond?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: We own a duck club with two ponds on the property. Members shoot waterfowl over one pond while the other has a floating corn feeder for wood ducks on it. We want to keep shooting the club pond during the season but also want to keep the feeding station out on the other pond for the wood ducks during this time. The regulations say baiting for migratory birds is prohibited and that it is illegal to “hunt over” bait. What is the minimum distance required to be maintained between the feeding station and our shooting pond before feeding is considered baiting? Thanks in advance. (Stacy M.)

Answer: Waterfowl and migratory bird regulations are set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While there are no minimum distance requirements specified in the regulations, it’s clear that you may not keep the floating corn feeder on another pond if it in any way influences waterfowl to come into shooting range for hunting. Even if the feeder is just intended to be for wood ducks, anything that can be determined to be bait that influences waterfowl of any species to come in within range for the purposes of hunting them could be considered bait and is illegal.

This principle applies even if the feeding station or baiting is on a neighbor’s property. While hunters may not have control over what a neighbor is doing, they do have control over hunting on their own property or hunt club. Hunters may not shoot any birds that come into range if those birds are being influenced to come in for bait, even if on another’s property. In addition, all feed or bait must be removed 10 days prior to hunting over it, and the responsibility to know it is all gone is upon the person hunting over its influence.

Q: When boiling a lobster, or otherwise prepping it for cooking, is there a humane way to kill the critter without inflicting unnecessary pain on the live lobster? I’ve tried inserting a knife on the triangle above the eyes where I expect the brain is, but am not sure this really dispatches it as there’s still lots of movement afterward. Thanks for any help! (John S.)

Wolf hunts in Idaho, Montana still stirring up controversy

The wolf hunt in Idaho is proceeding with remarkable hunter success in some of the state's 12 hunting zones, and in Montana, where limited hunting is underway, the general season opens Sunday.

Hunting wolves in both states, made possible after the removal of the predators from the endangered species list last spring, is controversial, and animal rights groups are trying to stop the hunts.

The latest campaign was launched by Defenders of Wildlife, which is asking for donations to pay for an ad to be placed in New York's Times Square through Dec. 15. "Hundreds more wolves will be targeted in the coming weeks and months, threatening the very recovery of these amazing animals," the group states on its website. The group also is urging people to sign an online petition that will be sent to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, "urging him to withdraw his flawed delisting rule that prematurely removed vital protections for wolves in the northern Rockies region--before a lasting wolf recovery slips from our grasp."

Sportsmen's groups, meanwhile, are backing state wildlife agencies claiming that wolf numbers in the northern Rockies have increased to the point where the animals need to be managed, via controlled hunting, to minimize interaction with ranchers and threats to livestock.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, in an action alert sent to members, cited a recent study by Montana State University that links the reintroduction of wolves into Rocky Mountains to a decline in elk numbers in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

The study, published in July, found that wolves have caused elk in the region to change their foraging habits to such an extent that herds are producing fewer calves. All elk are losing weight in the winter and the presence of wolves, the study claims, causes elk to browse more on woody shrubs or low tree branches in safer forested areas rather than grazing on grass in open meadows where they're more vulnerable to wolf predation.

Through Wednesday in Idaho, which has a statewide quota of 220, 73 wolves had been killed, one of them  by an alleged poacher. In Montana, which has a quota of 75, 12 wolves have been harvested during special back-country hunts.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of gray wolves courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

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Bear hunter is mauled by his prey

A hunter out with a group of six men and their dogs was mauled by a black bear they had wounded.

Orval Sanders, of Oroville was hunting in Tahoe National Forest on Monday when his group treed three bears.

Mark Lucero, Department of Fish and Game spokesman, told the Appeal-Democrat that one of the bears came down from the tree after being shot and attacked the 83-year-old Sanders.

"The bear came out of the tree and grabbed the guy," Lucero said. "He tried to protect himself by raising both arms in front of him and the bear slashed and bit both arms."

Another member of the hunting party shot the animal, killing it.

Sanders suffered a crushed left wrist as well as injuries to his left arm and shoulder and was taken by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where he underwent surgery on his wrist.

None of his hunting companions accompanied Sanders to the hospital and apparently resumed the hunt, according to Lucero.

Officials plan to test the bear for rabies.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A road sign acknowledges the presence of bears. Credit: Eric Gay / Associated Press

Montana's wolves surprisingly vulnerable during inaugural hunt

Wolves may be wily and among the more intelligent wild critters, but hunters are not experiencing much trouble finding and killing them in Montana's remote Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

The state's inaugural and highly controversial wolf hunt began Sept. 15 in four small districts in which deer and elk hunts also are in progress. The statewide hunt begins Oct. 25.

In the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, which is along  the northern border of Yellowstone National Park, nine wolves have already been killed. The state set a quota of 12 in this area.

Carolyn Sime, wolf program coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife  & Parks, told the Billings Gazette: "We didn't think wolves would be that vulnerable to firearms harvest. The uncertainty is why we went with the low quota."

The agency, which has a separate web page to keep tabs on the number of kills, did not expect the quota to be reached before the statewide season opens, but that's now likely. The statewide quota is 75 wolves.

Montana's wolf population at the end of 2008 was believed to number 500. More than 10,500 wolf hunting licenses have been issued.

Environmental groups, meanwhile, are still trying via lawsuit to have the the cagey predators placed back under endangered species act protection, which would bring an end to hunts believed by the state to be a valuable means of wildlife management.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of gray wolf courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Volunteer docents sought for upcoming migration of Pacific gray whales

The recent change of weather is a reminder that fall is here and winter is not far off. That means it won't be long before Pacific gray whales begin their southbound migration.

For those who'd like to become more closely involved with the migration and help others enjoy the whale-watching experience, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro is holding its first orientation meeting for docents Tuesday from 7-9 p.m.

Volunteer docents meet every Tuesday for classes, lectures and other training in a casual, friendly atmosphere. During the first meeting program director Larry Fukuhara will give the orientation while Bernardo Alps, president of the American Cetacean Society's Los Angeles Chapter, will share a PowerPoint presentation on whale watching during the last six months.

Alps' presentation will include killer whales in Monterey Bay, lunge feeding humpback and blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel, the wayward juvenile gray whale that paused for a while in Marina del Rey and a Guadalupe fur seal at Cabrillo Beach.

Everyone is welcome but prospective docents must be college-age or older. The aquarium is located at 3720 Stephen M. White Dr. in San Pedro. For details call (310) 548-8397 or email cabrillowhalewatch@gmail.com.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A Pacific gray whale breaks the surface off San Simeon in this file photo. Credit: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

Snowy egrets can save the day for budding photographers at Bolsa Chica wetlands

Terns, gulls, pelicans, herons, egrets, hawks, ospreys, grebes, sandpipers and many other types of birds are on glorious display these days at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.

Also prevalent are hikers, dog walkers, joggers, bikers and, most of all, birders and bird photographers: big-time photographers with tripods and bazooka lenses, budding wannabes, casual shooters and folks with pocket cameras who most times are unable to get close enough to their subjects to fill a frame.

I fall into the casual-shooter category and cite the accompanying images as evidence. They were captured over the weekend during a 90-minute lap around the sprawling wetlands across the highway from Huntington State Beach in Orange County. A sampling from my field notes:

-- Snowy egrets abound. They're one of the easiest large birds to photograph, far more active and less shy than the much larger great egret, which is an ambush hunter that stands perfectly still, its long neck outstretched, and strikes snakelike at passing prey.

-- A particular snowy egret is shuffling through a shallow mudflat with webbed feet, trying to stir up a morsel. These downy-white birds with long black legs and yellow feet will do this for hours with little or no success, but I've arrived just as the bird plucks a shrimp or some other small critter (see above photo). Time to move on.

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

A 175-pound adult female black bear was shot to death Tuesday afternoon by a 58-year-old visitor to Lake Mary near the Eastern Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes.

Steve Searles, wildlife manager for Mammoth Lakes, described the shooting as "unprovoked," according to a report on the Sierra Wave website.

The California Department of Fish and Gam is investigating the case. The department's Lt. Marty Markham said this morning in an interview that the man and his companion were frightened away from a spot on the lake's shore by an approaching bear. Another person helped "haze" the bear away.

The couple returned to the site and the bear returned. The woman tried to "haze" the bear away. The man retrieved a large-caliber handgun from his vehicle and shot the bear once in the head.

Markham said the investigation should be complete within a week, and could not say whether charges will be brought against the man, whom Markham would describe only as a 58-year-old from San Bernardino County.

Don Barrett, who runs Lake Mary Marina & Store, did not witness the shooting but was at the lake and heard the shot. Barrett, in an interview, said he heard that the bear was aggressive and standing on its hind legs approaching the couple when it was shot with a .44-caliber pistol.

Barrett said bears have learned to frighten anglers from their fishing spots, then steal their stringers of fish.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A bear near South Lake Tahoe, Calif., last year. Credit: Associated Press

Trapping, like hunting or fishing, is a way of life for some people

I've always been curious about people and their pastimes, whether it's hiking, fishing, hunting, climbing or bird-watching.

I've never given trapping much thought, until picking up the premier issue of Turkey Country magazine and reading a story on Jill Easton Spencer, who last year was named Arkansas Trapper of the Year.

The woman is clearly passionate about the outdoors and does not care how she might be perceived by others. She has learned to read signs and to anticipate what routes various critters will use around her home in Calico Rock, Ark.

She uses mostly small traps and says of the appeal: "When you're trapping you're an apex predator and that's pretty exciting. You become part of the animal's world and you become part of nature."

Jill and her husband, Jim, sell their fur and she proudly wears fur. She explains that trapping, like hunting, improves the ecosystem. "For example, the raccoon population is exploding in this country, and trappers help keep the numbers in check. Raccoons devour more eggs and female ducks in a year than hunters kill in five years."

Of those who might not understand trappers or hunters, she implies they've lost touch with reality. "Kids have no clue that food comes from anywhere but a hamburger package at McDonald's or a plastic container from the grocery store. Trapping puts you in a reality you can't get anywhere else."

Turkey Country invites readers to check out Jill's recipe for baked 'coon. Thanks, but no thanks.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A coyote appears from low fog on a hillside near grazing livestock in San Luis Obispo County in this 2001 photo. Credit: Associated Press

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use masking and/or attractant scents when deer hunting?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I am looking for clarification on the use of scents while deer hunting here in California. Is it legal for me to use products that are applied to my clothing to mask human odors? Is it legal to use scents that spray into the air such as doe urine scents or other scents that might lead a buck to the area I’m hunting? I understand I cannot use any type of bait such as edible products but would like clarification before the season opener for rifle hunting. Thank you. (Mike K.)

Answer: Yes, you can use all of these scent attractants. Baiting is the offering of feed attractants that will lure, entice or attract animals to a certain location or cause them to alter their behavior, thus giving hunters the advantage over the animal.

Q: I want to try some ocean bowfishing but cannot find the regulations applicable to the sport. What do I need to know? Thanks. (B. Carter, San Clemente)

Wisconsin authorities visit Facebook to find evidence of illegal deer hunting

Shining deer, or placing a light on them at night and shooting them, is one of the most cowardly forms of hunting, er, poaching.

It's illegal for a glaringly obvious reason: Deer freeze in spotlights or car headlights and, thus, are extremely vulnerable and can be shot at close range.

Fortunately for authorities, poachers of wildlife aren't known for their smarts. Case in point: Adam M. Frame, 25, and Dustin J. Porter, 24, of Sullivan, Wis., have landed in hot water after Frame allegedly posted a video of deer-shining exploits on Facebook.

Authorities with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel it was its first-ever arrest based on a Facebook video.

Frame reportedly stated in the criminal complaint that he and Porter were driving to Sullivan from a tavern when they spotted deer. Frame added that Porter said he wanted to go home, get his rifle, and use it to shoot deer.

Frame later posted this message on Facebook: "I just posted a video from us hunting at 4 a.m. drunk in a subdivision with my headlight lighting it up."

Frame and Porter were charged in April with one misdemeanor count each of shining, and being party to a crime for the 2007 incident. Frame, as part of a plea agreement, pleaded guilty last month to shining while in possession of a firearm. His fine amounts to a slap on the wrist, however: $354.

The case against Porter is pending.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana to continue (for now) despite fierce opposition

Another chapter of the saga involving wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana -- the first hunts since the animals were removed from the endangered species list in those states last April -- appears to have closed with a federal judge ruling the controversial hunts can continue. The ruling was made Tuesday evening in Montana.

After the delisting, Idaho authorized a harvest quota of 220 wolves for its inaugural season. Montana authorized a per-season quota of 75 wolves.

Idaho's season opened last week despite fierce opposition. Montana's hunt is scheduled to begin next week. On Tuesday evening, a Montana federal court denied a preliminary injunction requested by Defenders of Wildlife and other plaintiffs that had sued to halt the hunts and challenge the delisting.

Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife, posted this statement Sept. 1: "The heavy-handed wolf hunt beginning today in Idaho, together with the hunt planned to begin September 15th in Montana, puts the recovery of the Northern Rockies population of wolves at risk and demonstrates precisely the kind of irresponsible state management that should have precluded taking the wolf off the endangered species list at this point in time."

Safari Club International is among groups defending the wolf delisting in Idaho and Montana, while supporting hunts as critical tools of species management. SCI President Larry Rudolph said Wednesday in a news release:

“SCI continues to lead the way for the hunting community in efforts to keep the recovered wolves of the Rocky Mountains where they belong – off the endangered species list. The states can and will effectively manage the wolf, as demonstrated by their establishing reasonable and well-regulated wolf hunts."

The fight is far from over, however, as the judge's ruling is only temporary and there are many more chapters before this story ends. Please stay tuned.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of gray wolf courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Related: Idaho wolf hunter harassed and compared to Michael Vick

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Possible great white shark attack off Carlsbad no cause for alarm

Reports of a possible attack by a juvenile white shark on a swimmer off Carlsbad have surfaced on the Internet but should not be cause for alarm.

The incident occurred last Tuesday afternoon off Terramar Beach. Bethany Edmund was swimming about 300 feet from shore in the surfing lineup, trying to shoot photos. A large fish jumped, and moments later she felt a sharp pain in her right foot and thought she had kicked the reef.

"About 30 seconds later I felt the same sharp pain and, this time, I began to swim away from the area," Edmund said in a report posted on the Shark Research Committee website. "About a minute later while I was swimming from the area I was hit on the upper right thigh and propelled about one foot out of the water. This is when I realized what was happening and began to bodysurf toward shore.

"The first wave I caught I felt something in the area of my calf pulling me back and down under water. ... I ignored what had just occurred and caught another wave to the beach. This time I felt the same sharp pain in my left calf, but this time I was dragged under water and shaken for 4-5 seconds. During this struggle I accidentally kicked the shark and it released me."

There was no profuse bleeding, only small puncture wounds. Area beaches were not closed. Ralph Collier of the Shark Research Committee used these bite marks to determine it was a white shark measuring 5 to 6 feet. 

It should be pointed out that juvenile white sharks do utilize Southern California waters in the summer, sharing the same environment with thousands of swimmers and surfers. They feed primarily on small fish and rays, and when they get bigger they migrate out of the region and begin preying on seals and sea lions.

There is an ongoing tagging program involving juvenile white sharks in Southland waters. The Monterey Bay Aquarium staff recently captured a 5-foot white shark off Malibu and has the predator on exhibit.

Attacks such as this are extremely rare, and experts will cite that a far greater danger, statistically, lies on the freeways and roads leading to the beach.

Adult great white sharks do not frequent Southern California coastal waters, but they are occasional visitors. This became sadly evident in April 2008, when a 66-year-old swimmer was fatally attacked off Solana Beach.

But that too was a very rare event. 

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Great white shark prowls the waters near Guadalupe Island off Baja California. Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times

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Monterey Bay Aquarium lands another great white shark

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has obtained another great white shark -- its fifth since 2004 -- and like the others, it will be a popular attraction throughout the duration of her stay.

It's a female measuring only 5 feet 3 and weighing just 80 pounds, but she boasts the classic great white look and manner.

She was obtained off Malibu with the help of a spotter plane and commercial purse seiners and it's hoped those who visit the aquarium to view the shark will come away with a greater appreciation for the embattled species.

The four previous white sharks, which were viewed by an estimated 2 million people, were tagged and released after stays of various length. Scientists tracked them as part of an ongoing monitoring project that also involves other white sharks that were tagged and released without spending time in captivity.

The last captive shark was released from the aquarium after only 11 days and tracked to the Channel Islands area. The previous shark, released after a five-month stay, was followed for an extended period as it swam to and past Cabo San Lucas, then up  into the Sea of Cortez off Baja California, where it remained for weeks before its tag life expired.

I chronicled that journey in an L.A. Times story. Scientists say data from the tagged sharks are providing insight into a species whose travels and habits are still largely a mystery. The Tagging of Pacific Predators program, spearheaded largely by Barbara Block of Stanford University, is helping to clear up some of those mysteries.

It's not clear how long the shark will remain at the aquarium; it could be weeks or months, depending on how well she adapts to her surroundings in the million-gallon Outer Bay exhibit. So if you'd like to check her out in person, sooner is probably better.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A white shark gets used to its new surroundings in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's million-gallon Outer Bay exhibit. Credit: Randy Wilder / Monterey Bay Aquarium

Yosemite bears appear smarter than the average camper

The accompanying video is making the Internet rounds and though it's amusing -- after some shaky moments at the beginning -- it shows why campers and even day-hikers need to keep their food properly stored to prevent bears from becoming hopelessly habituated.

Sadly, though, when bears become used to humans and what they bring into the park, it becomes harmful for the bears. At least 18 bears have been hit by automobiles this year. Bear incidents in parking lots, campgrounds and in the wilderness number 300-plus. Bears that lose all fear of humans often have to be killed.

Visitors are allowed to store food in their vehicles only during daylight hours, if the food is out of sight and the windows are closed. And this means all potential food, even canned food and drinks, and many other items, including cosmetics and even lip balm.

Otherwise, food lockers must be used and they're available at Curry Village and most trailhead parking areas. Bear canisters are required of all overnight hikers. Day hikers are encouraged to keep food within arm's reach and asked not to leave food unattended.

As for the video, it might have been staged. But the message is clear.

-- Pete Thomas

Glacier National Park grizzly deaths

Two grizzlies at Montana's Glacier National Park were killed by park officials last week — one, unfortunately, unintentionally.

Glacier National Park issued a press release today clarifying that the death of a male grizzly bear cub on Aug. 17 was attributed to a tranquilizer dart injection it received at the time its 17-year-old mother was being "humanely dispatched" (National Park-speak for "killed") for becoming too habituated to humans. A second cub, a female, was captured and will be transferred to the Bronx Zoo. Shown below is park officials transferring the cub to a larger trap.

The mother and yearling cubs had repeatedly been seen this summer hanging around the backcountry campground at Oldman Lake in the park's Two Medicine region, and their removal came after two separate incidents in which they approached humans "in a non-defensive situation," said the Park Service.

The mother bear had a number of run-ins with humans dating back to 2004, and the Park Service repeatedly used noise, Karelian Bear Dogs and other non-lethal methods to keep her away from humans. The park service began tracking her about five days before she was killed.

Alabama gator hunters bag a big-un on opening night

Caution to viewers: Video footage shows graphic gun blast to the head of a wild alligator.

News item: Matt Thornton of Mobile, Ala., and five hunting partners bag a 13-foot, 5-inch, 701-pound alligator to claim the Alabama state record on the first night of gator season on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. (Here's the story and video link in the Mobile Press-Register.)

Reaction: Someone, or some folks, will be wearing some shiny new gator boots soon.

Second reaction: Alligator hunting is increasingly popular in the South, as a means of sport and pest control, and you can tell by watching the video that hunters enjoy venturing into the swamp by night in search of the mother of all gators.

But being from California, where there are no swamps or gators but there is a strong and growing population of animal lovers, I can't help but wonder how these types of hunts would go over if, somehow, the Golden State became overrun with the toothy reptiles. My guess is that there would be hefty opposition to people using treble hooks to snare so large an animal, before dispatching with a close-range blast to the head.

Final statement: This is not a condemnation. I'm pro-hunting in most cases. I'd just never seen anything quite like this, is all.

-- Pete Thomas

Video courtesy of the Mobile Press-Register

Deer hunters who can read blood trail have better chance at recovery

Deer season is at hand, and hunting magazines are loaded with features and tips for those who'll be heading afield in pursuit of the country's most popular big-game animal.

I found an interesting piece in the September issue of Outdoor Life, which might help hunters recover their quarry after it has been hit.

(A hunter's greatest heartbreak -- much worse than not being able to find something to shoot -- is having the trail go cold and failing to recover the wounded animal. And deer can be highly elusive after being shot.)

There are the obvious tips: Note where the animal was hit, what the animal did immediately after it was hit, and which way it went. Outdoor Life refers to these as the three Ws.

But novice hunters might not be aware that they can determine a great deal by the color of blood. Light pink, frothy blood splotches, for example, implies the deer has been struck in the lungs or a major artery. In both cases the deer probably won't travel far, so hunters can embark on a quick recovery mission.

If the blood is darker but still reasonably bright red, it implies a muscle or liver strike. Outdoor Life states that this sign is trackable only for a few hundred yards and suggests hunters employ a careful, methodical reading rather than chasing after their prey.

Volunteers pick apples Monday at Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park visitors might want to lend a hand on Monday picking apples in the Yosemite Valley orchards.

The annual volunteer event, at Curry Village Apple Orchard from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Lamon's Apple Orchard near Valley Stables from 2 to 5 p.m., is intended to reduce temptation for bears to enter the area and, by extension, prevent human encounters with the animals.

Removing the apples encourages bears to return to their natural food sources in the park. Yosemite has had a significant decrease in bear incidents since the apple-picking program began more than a decade ago.

There will also be National Park Service rangers and biologists on hand to discuss Yosemite bears and answer questions.

All ages are welcome to participate, though volunteers younger than 18 need to have an agreement form (also available on-site) signed by a parent or legal guardian and those 14 and younger need to have an adult present.

Volunteers should plan on bringing their own drinking water and snacks as well as a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. More information is available on the event flier or by calling (209) 379-1850.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Volunteers gather apples at Yosemite National Park. Credit: U.S. National Park Service

Woman killed by bear she had been feeding

A woman who had been warned about the perils of feeding bears was killed by one of the animals.

Donna Munson, a resident of Ouray County, Colo., was found dead outside of her home last week, her body mauled and partially eaten.

According to Joel Burk, Ouray County Sheriff's investigator, Munson died of multiple traumas. The wounds were consistent with being attacked by a bear.

A bear shot and killed near the woman's home is believed to be the one that attacked her. Though a necropsy showed that the mammal appeared to have been feeding on a human based on its stomach contents, the results are still inconclusive pending results of a DNA test.

"We don't know for sure, but we feel it was one of the bears who regularly came to her residence," Burk said in a Grand Junction Sentinel article.

Munson had been warned repeatedly that it is illegal and dangerous to feed bears, but continued to do so.

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I hunt with arrows that have an electronic tracking device attached?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: Archery season is starting and before we go out I would like to know if it's legal to use an electronic tracking device that attaches to an arrow. The tracking device separates from the arrow as the arrow contacts the target animal and then enables the hunter to better follow the wounded animal. Thanks for any help. (Jared T., Red Bluff)

Answer: No. There is a regulation that restricts the use of computerized or telemetry types of devices to track big-game mammals, so this device is not legal to use in California at this time. According to Section 251 of the Fish and Game Code (FGC):

“No person shall pursue, drive, herd, or take any bird or mammal from any type of motor-driven air or land vehicles, motorboat, airboat, sailboat, or snowmobile. Additionally, no person shall use any motorized, hot-air, or unpowered aircraft or other device capable of flight or any earth orbiting imaging device to locate or assist in locating big game mammals beginning 48 hours before and continuing until 48 hours after any big game hunting season in the same area. No person shall use at any time or place, without Department approval, any computer, telemetry device or other equipment to locate a big game mammal to which a tracking device is attached.“  

Question: Our club would like to hold a halibut derby in San Francisco Bay and we need information on permits. When and where are they needed and what are the requirements? Do we need a permit for a halibut derby in the Bay or are permits only needed for bass fishing? (Mark S.)

Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use a spear to kill nuisance wild rabbits?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I live in an association complex in San Clemente. The cottontail rabbit population has exploded and the rabbits are doing a lot of damage to lawns and vegetation. The association said they can do nothing because the rabbits are protected. What can be legally done by the association or me? Can I take them by spear? Thank you. (Gary A., San Clemente)

Answer: Because you are within city limits your best alternative will be to put up some type of exclusionary fencing to prevent further damage. Associate wildlife biologist Randy Botta suggests that a fence of two-foot-high chicken wire with the bottom buried a few inches in the soil should be sufficient to exclude rabbits from an area. Mesh size should be one inch or smaller.

To protect trees or landscape plants, construct a barrier around the plants in the form of a cylinder made of plastic tubing or 1/4-inch wire hardware cloth that extends higher than a rabbit's reach and stands far enough away from the trunk in such a way that rabbits cannot eat through the mesh. Mesh size from 1/2 to 3/4 inch can be used but hardware cloth will best guarantee protection.

Taste and odor repellents may also be used but are most effective when dealing with small numbers of rabbits and at the first sign of damage. These repellents usually have to be reapplied at regular intervals, especially following rains. In some cases, habitat manipulation to remove their living and hiding places may be effective but this may require official approvals and authorization from your association. 

Hikers, campers, anglers this weekend are cautioned to be bear aware

Southern California hikers, campers and anglers will flock to local mountains and the Sierra Nevada during the first holiday weekend of summer. They ought to know that bears are no longer hibernating and many are hungry. So here are some tips for those bound for the forests and streams:

--Do not intentionally feed bears and do not leave garbage strewn about.

--Enjoy your favorite pastime in groups (this should not be a problem on the busy weekend).

--Keep the kids in sight at all times, and keep pets on a leash.

--Try not to get caught between a female bear and her cubs.

--If you encounter a bear and it does not see you, stay calm and continue facing it while slowly backing away. True, this is easier said than done.

--If a bear does spot you or strolls into your camp, yell and make other loud noises and bang pots or pans together. Black bears do not like confusing unfamiliar noises.

--Do not run from a bear unless it's dangerously close. Running can trigger an attack response and no human can outrun a bear. 

--If a bear attacks fight back with whatever means you can muster. This doesn't work against larger and far more powerful grizzlies, but there are no grizzlies in California.

Lastly, do not let any of this spoil your mood or prevent you from visiting the woods. Your chances of seeing a bear might be fair, but your chances of getting injured by one are extremely slim. Happy Fourth and stay safe!

--Pete Thomas

Photo: A black bear hunts for fish along Taylor Creek near South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Credit: Associated Press

Brown trout devours 14-inch rainbow trout at Hot Creek Ranch

The following tall-but-true tale about a rainbow-eating brown trout at Hot Creek Ranch near Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra is shared by Ken Lindsay of Fisherman's Spot in Van Nuys:

Lindsay's report: "While waiting for the hatch to start, I was prospecting the run above the upper bridge and noticed something unusual in the pool below the bridge. It looked like two silvery orbs in the shallow section of the pool. I edged closer and realized that it was a huge 30-inch brown trout with a 14-inch rainbow in his jaws.

"The silvery underbelly of the rainbow was what had attracted my attention. I was able to get a little closer and get a couple of pics and a short video before he moved off into the deeper part of the pool where I could not see him through the camera lens. I could however see with my polarized glasses as the brown occasionally shook the rainbow and waited until it died. He then spat it out, took it head first in his mouth and swallowed it whole."

The video clip is not premier quality but here it is:

-- Pete Thomas

Caves closed in effort to stop spread of deadly bat fungus

Thousands of caves in national forests are being closed to visitors in an effort to halt the spread of white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus which is decimating bat colonies and for which there is yet no cure.

An emergency closure order was issued last week by the U.S. Forest Service for caves in 20 Eastern states, reports the Associated Press. A second order covering the Forest Service's 13-state Southern region should be issued later this month. The sites will be closed for up to a year.

Researchers are uncertain if the fungus is being spread by bats or by cavers, so they hope the closures will give them time to determine how it is transmitted.

"We don't have the answers at this point," stated Dennis Krusac, U.S. Forest Service biologist. "If we have answers in a year or sooner, we can open them back up."

Spelunking groups are taking the news in stride.

"For a period of a year, most people can deal with that," Northeastern Cave Conservancy board member Peter Haberland said.

Humpback whales amaze Maui submarine tour group

A group of sightseers on an underwater tour off the coast of Maui received a surprise when a group of humpback whales surrounded the submarine they were in.

The tour by Atlantis Adventures on Maui usually features lots of colorful fish, so to have the whales circling the submarine offered the ultimate adventure.

The whales appeared to be courting a female that stayed near the sub. The encounter lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which time the sub held its depth, not wanting to risk possible damage from bumping one of the mammals.

Below is a video clip of the close encounter.

The folks on board certainly got the experience of a lifetime, and something worth writing about on postcards.

-- Kelly Burgess

Rattlesnakes, and fresh rattlesnake stories, come out of the woodwork

An item I posted about my encounter last week with a rattlesnake received only four comments from others who have seen rattlers this hiking season, but I've also received e-mails and phone calls.

Karin Klein, an L.A. Times colleague, e-mailed to say that she and her daughter were hiking in Coal Canyon within Chino Hills State Park when they encountered a rattlesnake lying under a bush alongside the trail. "Unfortunately, my 11-year-old daughter was with me AND I didn't bring a walking stick AND this was a weird snake," she wrote.

Klein explained that the snake coiled and made small striking motions but would not slither away and continued rattling. She and her daughter, who was behind her, backed away in opposite directions. When Klein asked her daughter to walk toward her, the snake resumed rattling, preventing her from uniting with her mother.

"This happened like five times over," Klein wrote. "I had to get her over to my side of the snake for us to leave the park. Eventually, I had her walk in a loop off-trail, on the opposite side from the snake, stepping very carefully in case there were more snakes in the brush."

Grizzly bears in Yellowstone not experiencing the best of times

There's a troubling trend within Yellowstone National Park: Too many grizzly bears are dying or being killed by hunters, and the animals are being forced to expand range in search of food.

You may recall that Yellowstone's 600 grizzlies were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Last year, 71 grizzlies died. Of those, 48 were shot by hunters, including at least 20 that were killed by hunters acting in self-defense.

Biologists say the Yellowstone grizzly population remains strong, but they're concerned because beetles in the high country are killing whitebark pine trees, which drop seeds that bears use as a dietary staple. Plus, there are concerns global warming will lead to even fewer whitebark pines.

With a traditional food source harder to come by, some believe, the bears will become grumpier, and danger to humans will increase. "The prospect is that every year is going to be a bad food year because of what's happening to whitebark," Doug Honnold, an attorney for Earthjustice, told the Associated Press.

Earthjustice has sued the federal government in an attempt to have Yellowstone's grizzlies placed back on the endangered species list.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A grizzly at Yellowstone National Park. Credit: James Peaco / Associated Press

Aerial hunting bill moves towards approval in Oklahoma

Hunters in Oklahoma may soon be allowed to hunt feral hogs from helicopters.

The state senate overwhelmingly approved a bill, 37-9, that authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to issue aerial hunting permits to holders of commercial big game licenses. Those opposed to the measure cited concerns for safety.

The wild swine targeted have increased in numbers in recent years and are causing extensive damage to crops and other property.

The bill now returns to the House, where final approval is expected.

A similar bill introduced in the Texas Legislature, and previously written about in Outposts, is still in session.

Photo: A feral pig runs across desert scrub. Credit: Eric Gay / Associated Press

Turkey hunters: Be aware of each other before you shoot

California's spring turkey season is underway and the Department of Fish and Game is hoping hunters in this state will do their part to keep from shooting one another.

"California turkey hunters have a good safety record," said Rob Allen, assistant chief of enforcement for the DFG. "First and foremost, identifying the target is essential. Hunters should always know what is behind their target before firing."

Nationally, shooting-related turkey-hunting accidents average about 2.95 per year per 100,000 participants. That's impressive considering the average was 8.1 in 1991.

Advice to live by, courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation: "Never shoot unless you're absolutely sure of your target; when another hunter approaches, do not move. Shout in a loud, clear voice; never trying to stalk a gobbling turkey because you might stalk up on another hunter or disrupt another hunter's hunt while they are calling and working a gobbler.

"When carrying a turkey decoy keep it totally covered; place your back against a tree trunk, stump or rock when calling; do not wear any white, red, black and blue on your hunting outfit. These are the `target' colors of a gobbler's head and body; when calling, select a spot that is in open timber rather than thick brush--wearing camouflage clothing and eliminating movement is more critical to success than hiding in heavy cover; stick with hen calls. If you imitate the sound of a gobbling turkey, you could call in other hunters."

Safe hunting everyone

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A wild Rio Grande turkey takes to the air. Credit: Associated Press

Wild ferrets gaining a foothold in Arizona

The black-footed ferret population reintroduced to the wild in Arizona seems to be settling in nicely.

Recent counts by volunteers and Arizona Game and Fish Department personnel turned up 33 ferrets, with 24 of those  wild-born and never previously trapped. 

While this doesn't sound like much to get enthused about, it is when you consider that at one time the worldwide population for this animal was only 18, and that they were twice believed extinct.

"I'm excited about the numbers," said Jeff Pebworth, a Game and Fish Department wildlife program manager. "You think about this one spotlighting effort and compare it to where the ferrets once were and you can't help but be pleased."

Spotlighting is a procedure involving the use of high-powered lights to locate and identify the ferrets, as the nocturnal animals emerald-green eyes reflect in the night.

The next survey will be in October, and volunteers are welcome and appreciated.

"Volunteers have played a critical role in the reintroduction process since Day 1," Pebworth said. "Without their dedication, I'm not sure we'd have as good an understanding of where we stand in this reintroduction effort."

One of North America's most endangered mammals, it sounds as if black-footed ferrets are making themselves at home on the range.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department

Cougar study: Facing down predators not the safest measure, after all

How would you respond if you encountered a mountain lion? That's a question I ponder whenever I venture alone into the wilderness.

Traditional wisdom, preached time and again by so-called animal experts and the California Department of Fish and Game, is to stand your ground, make yourself appear larger, yell and throw rocks or other items at the predator. That's because if you run, you might prompt the beast to attack.

Now there's a group of scientists who challenge traditional wisdom. A UC Davis study suggests a polar opposite survival strategy is the safest: Run like the dickens.

"Even though we found evidence that pumas will indeed chase, and capture, people who run, we also found that people who stand still are possibly more endangered,"  said Richard Coss, a UC Davis psychology professor and the study's lead author.

"Immobility may be interpreted by the mountain lion as a sign that you are vulnerable prey, either because you are unaware of its presence, or because you are disabled and not capable of escaping."

Killing of mountain lion cub by Santa Paula police ruled unjustified

Nearly two months ago, a mountain lion cub (no, not the one above) strayed into a Santa Paula neighborhood. Police deemed the junior predator an imminent threat to public safety, so they shot to kill.

This week an outside review panel ruled the officers' actions were not justified and that they'd even acted beyond police guidelines.

Said Larry Nichols, a weapons and tactics specialist with the Burbank Police Department, who wrote the review: "The actions taken by the officers [were] not appropriate and outside of the department policy. No person was placed in immediate jeopardy."

They did not require a panel to reach that conclusion. The cub weighed a mere 15 pounds. It's a wonder they could even hit the defenseless critter. 

Police Chief Steve MacKinnon, who asked for the review and presented the results to the City Council this week, said that since the shooting, officers have been trained in less lethal techniques (beanbag guns). Here's a proper technique: Pick up the phone and dial the Department of Fish and Game, which has specialists trained in these matters.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Mountain lion cub born in the Santa Monica Mountains in 2004. Credit: National Park Service

Endangered right whale population may have grown

Marine biologists are cautiously optimistic that the North Atlantic right whale population has increased for the second consecutive season.

Aerial and on-the-water surveys sighted almost 200 of the endangered mammals, including 39 mothers with calves. This is an increase from the 150 noted during last year's survey.

Conducted by conservation partners including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,  Wildlife Trust and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the results are a hopeful indication of continued population growth for the whales.

Each winter, the whales migrate to waters off the coast of Florida and Georgia, where the females give birth.

Unfortunately, this season also set another record, with the number of right whales documented as being entangled in commercial fishing gear up to an all-time high of five. Only four of those whales were successfully freed from the potentially life-threatening lines.

There are only about 400 North Atlantic right whales in existence. Entanglement in commercial fishing gear and ship collisions are the most common human causes of serious injury and death for these animals.

Here's hoping that the numbers don't lie and that conservation efforts are helping this magnificent creature come back from the brink of extinction.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / NOAA