Keeping tabs on your dog with GPS

How do you know when a dog is a geek? When he's wearing the latest in doggy hi-tech bling, a GPS locater. Times staff writer David Colker reports:

The satellite-linked devices, which have found their way to cars, big rigs, boats and even bicycles, are now available for the canine set.

Two companies are making collar-attached models that send a warning if a dog leaves its designated area. The gizmos then gives the animal's location, allowing you to find it without driving endlessly around the neighborhood, shouting its name.

In theory, it's a cool idea. In practice, neither of the devices -- Pocketfinder or Zoombak -- is quite ready for puppy prime time. And both are rather expensive because of monthly fees. But as anyone who has lost a dog can tell you, it's an intriguing use of digital tech.

Colker takes a look at the Pocketfinder and the Zoombak in today's Business section.

Orangutan tries to flee L.A. Zoo

Bruno, a 29-year-old orangutan at the Los Angeles Zoo, tried to escape from his enclosure Saturday but was stopped in his tracks -- after about 3,000 visitors were herded toward the exit.

Times staff writer Jean-Paul Renaud reports:

After punching a hole through the mesh that surrounds his habitat, Bruno made his move at about 3:50 p.m. But instead of heading for freedom, he ended up in a holding area behind the cage, where a handler soon noticed him.

Bruno never made it into the zoo's public area, but his attempt prompted officials to ask the park's visitors to head toward the front of the zoo. Keepers quickly approached Bruno, one of the zoo's six orangutans, and sedated him.

"He was calm and responded well to the staff," said Gina Dart, promotions coordinator for the zoo. "He was never aggressive."

Bruno's taste of freedom lasted 20 minutes. None of the zoo's other orangutans has ever tried anything similar, said director John R. Lewis.

"He's a trendsetter," Lewis said.

A much more serious incident at the San Francisco Zoo in December left one teenager dead and two more injured when a tiger escaped from its enclosure. Tatiana, a Siberian tiger, was shot and killed as she roamed the park.

Wildlife society lists 12 animals most in danger of extinction

Fox News reports that the Wildlife Conservation Society has released a list of the "Rarest of the Rare," a dozen animals most in danger of extinction.

The eclectic list includes birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Some are well known, such as the northern right whale and Sumatran rhino, while others are more obscure, including Abbot's booby, an ocean-going bird that only nests on Christmas Island.

Others on the list include the addax, the angel shark and the golden arrow poison frog.

--Alice Short

Photo: Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times

Spotted owl recovery plan released

The Associated Press reports that the Bush administration has released a final recovery plan for the northern spotted owl that officials say could lead to recovery of the threatened bird in 30 years.

The plan outlines a series of 34 steps to halt the owl's decline, reduce threats and return a stable owl population in Washington, Oregon and California.

The recovery plan identifies the primary threats as habitat loss due to logging and catastrophic wildfires. Competition from the barred owl, a related species, is also a factor.

Critics said the report was an improvement over a draft plan last year. But they say it doesn't do enough to restrict logging old-growth forests where the bird lives.

The northern spotted owl is protected as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Ostrich rancher kills coyote

From the Associated Press:

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — An ostrich rancher from the Victorville area says he shot a coyote after it killed 22 of his birds.

Doug Osborne, who has been ranching in the Victor Valley since 1994, says he decided to kill the coyote after San Bernardino County sent two of its best trappers to catch the animal but they were unsuccessful.

Osborne shot the canine Tuesday night. With each bird valued at about $1,000, Osborne says the coyote did more than $20,000 in damage. The coyote killed the ostriches by biting their heads off.

To save lizards, feral cats are to be removed from state park

For decades a colony of feral cats has lived at the San Elijo Campground in Cardiff on the coast of northern San Diego County. But now Brian Ketterer, sector superintendent for the California State Park system, has said the cats have to go--lest they disrupt the lizards and birds that are native California species.

The lizards -- California legless and orange-throated whiptail -- are listed as of "special concern" to conservationists. Patti Mosel, a leader in a San Diego group called the Feral Cat Coalition, is appealing the decision to Ketterer’s bosses and also to California First Lady Maria Shriver. Mosel has cared for the San Elijo cats for a dozen years. She has relocated more than 50 and continues to feed the remaining dozen. (Two are pictured here.)

Ketterer says he recently discovered a state parks rule banning feral cats. He’s concerned that the cats, even though Mosel feeds them, may begin eating the lizards and birds. "You have a carnivorous feral cat, they’re going to forage," he said.

Mosel says she has found a cat sanctuary in Fresno ready to take the cats. But she is worried that she cannot meet the June 13 deadline to remove the cats because they are too smart to be trapped that quickly. All have been trapped before to be taken away for spaying or neutering before being returned. Mosel and her group have been caring for feral cats since 1992 throughout the county.

"They’re everywhere," she said. "People don’t notice them because the cats are nocturnal and fairly hidden."

-- Tony Perry, in Cardiff

Photo: Patti Mosel, Feral Cat Coalition

L.A. animal events this weekend

Around the Los Angeles area this weekend, animal lovers can head to the local zoo to meet the Berenstain Bears (and a few real ones too), adopt cats and dogs, and help raise funds to save a range of animals, from emus to tortoises in need.

The Los Angeles Zoo is hosting a meet and greet with the cuddly Berenstain Bear characters on Saturday and Sunday. As for real bears, visitors can see the zoo's American black bears eat some special treats at 11 a.m. both days.

Also this weekend, Los Angeles City Animal Services has a handful of mobile pet adoption sites set up in South Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, the West Valley and Moorpark.

On Sunday, dog lovers can head over to the La Brea Tar Pits for the Walk for the Underdog, an hour-long, 2-mile walk that kicks off at 10 a.m. for a daylong celebration of canines with food, adoptions, and a dog/owner contest. Proceeds go toward raising money for the nonprofit efforts by 30 organizations to save dogs. You can bring your own dog, or come alone and find one to adopt there, organizers say.

Also on Sunday, Hope Ranch Animal Rescue will hold its first annual fundraiser in the Malibu countryside to help raise funds to care for  80 animals: sheep, dogs, emus, horses and tortoises, among others. Donations are $25 per person and the event will take place at the Morris Ranch from 2-6 p.m. with jazz, a petting zoo, and a silent auction.

-Francisco Vara-Orta

Photo: Stephen Osman/Los Angeles Times

San Diego Zoo targets global warming

The San Diego Zoo, known for its pioneering work in preservation of endangered species, is throwing its resources and reputation behind the fight against global-warming.

As part of the National Endangered Species Day on Friday, the zoo declared that greenhouse gases are a major threat to wildlife -- not just polar bears,  but other large carnivores, birds, reptiles and even coral reefs. "All ecosystems on the planet are being altered by climate change but perhaps none quite as dramatically as coral reefs," said Stuart Sandin from the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the speakers at the all-day seminar.

In the past, the zoo has worked with international partners to preserve giant pandas, condors, elephants and other species. Now, the zoo will "expand its efforts to implement sustainable alternatives to traditional energy," said Allison Alberts, director of conservation and research at the zoo.

-- Tony Perry

Photo: Ken Boh/Associated Press

Dogs trained to track movements of threatened wildlife

Researchers in Brazil have found a new way to put the nosiness of dogs to good use.  In a program headed by the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, four dogs have been trained to detect animal feces and track the movements of threatened wildlife, according to Conservation International:

In the Cerrado region of Brazil, four dogs trained to detect animal feces by scent are helping researchers monitor rare and threatened wildlife such as jaguar, tapir, giant anteater and maned wolf in and around Emas National Park, a protected area with the largest concentration of threatened species in Brazil.

The researchers analyze feces found by the dogs to learn about where and how the threatened mammals live. Data such as numbers, range, diet, hormonal stress, parasites and even genetic identity contribute to a study of how the mammals use environments inside and outside the park, especially on privately owned lands of the region.

The information helps develop conservation and development strategies that meet the needs of both the animals and local farmers. The dogs are rewarded for their good work with tennis balls to chase and chomp.

The dogs were trained much like their better-known drug-sniffing counterparts, according to Conservation International. When they find feces, researchers mark the location with a GPS device and later map it.

The study, nearing completion, is suggesting that threatened mammals, especially jaguars, don't particularly like venturing out of forested areas near the park, and thus don't leave as much "evidence" behind for the dogs to find.

--Tony Barboza

Photos by Carly Vynne/Courtesy of Conservation International

Was that a cackling goose? Check the rare-bird alert to find out

Each week, birders around Los Angeles County report sightings of rare birds to Audubon Society member Jon Fisher, who then compiles and disseminates the list. Birds won’t necessarily wait around for other birders to see them after an initial spotting. But they are also creatures of habit and can sometimes be found in the same area for days or even months.

In the last week, the following birds were reported to Fisher. More details about the sightings are often posted at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds. From Fisher's report:

     A CACKLING GOOSE continued at the L.A. County Arboretum in Arcadia through May 12.

     An adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was at Hansen Dam on May 10. Look for it on the islands on the main lake. Take the Osborne exit from the 210 Freeway and head southwest. The parking area is on your left and the lake is to the south and down the hill. (That's a little blue heron above right.)

     A probable AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was on the shoreline at the harbor side of Cabrillo Beach on May 14.

     Twenty-seven FRANKLIN'S GULLS were at the Puite Ponds on Edwards AFB on May 14. Remember that a letter of permission is required for entry to the base.

Jump to the next page for more of the report.

-- Sue Horton

Photo: Phil Sandlin/Associated Press