Monthly Archives: June 2023

Wolves are a hot button conservation issue in much of the world. Conservationists are pitted against hunting and livestock interests. In the middle are wildlife officials trying to balance the two. The next Montana wolf hunt quota may be slightly lower as a result. We have discussed wolf love and wolf hatred before. Wildlife expertsContinue reading “Montana Wolf Hunt: Officials Propose Slightly Lower Quota As Number Of Wolves In State Falls Slightly”

As we have noted the Liberty Canyon mountain lion crossing has inspired conservationists. Mountain lion crossings are now being considered in other parts of the state. Similar projects are underway elsewhere in the world. According to the Los Angeles Times conservationists in the Bay Area are raising funds for a pathway similar to Liberty Canyon.Continue reading “Mountain Lion Crossing: Bay Area Conservationists Raising Funds For Freeway Wildlife Overcross”

We have met giant African land snails before. The super-sized snail is one of many invasive species plaguing Florida. State officials have evicted giant African land snails twice. They must not do it a third time, reports say. The snails have been found once again and are now forcing quarantines, according to the NewYork TimesContinue reading “Giant African Land Snails Found In Broward County; Causes Quarantine In Florida Region As Control Efforts Mount”

Scotland’s wildcats are facing extinction and a last-ditch effort is being mounted to avert that fate. Saving Scotland’s wildcats won’t be easy. According to The Guardian the exhaustive effort involves releasing purebred wildcats into secret sites in the Scottish Highlands. The cats must also be monitored and protected if possible. One of the biggest threatsContinue reading “Saving Scotland’s Wildcats: Last-Ditch Effort Features Release Of Pure-Bred Wildcats In Highlands”

P-22 the famous mountain lion of the Santa Monica Mountains was terminally ill when captured and then euthanized. The results of the P-22 necropsy showed the powerful cat was nearly at the end of his rope when recaptured news reports say. The cat had lived in the Santa Monica Mountains for about a dozen years,Continue reading “P-22 Necropsy Shows Famed Cougar Was In Terminal Condition When Captured And Euthanized”

If I am correct most people find seals to be rather benign and cute or amusing. It is easy to forget they are serious predators. Leopard seals are certainly an exception to the cute and benign idea. They are also called sea leopards because they are spotted, swim up to 25 miles per hour andContinue reading “Leopard Seals: Almost Apex Predator of Antarctic Waters”

Orcas, sometimes called Killer Whales, are the ocean’s apex predator. They even kill great white sharks. But will orcas attack blue whales? It was uncertain as the blue whale is still believed to be the largest creature to have ever lived. But scientists have now seen orcas attack in real time. The brutal truth isContinue reading “Orcas Attack Blue Whales; Scientists View Deadly Assault For First Time Ever”

Nature is full of odd and difficult to explain actions. The seeming fact that cotton rats escape the python’s grip may be one of them. Or maybe they don’t, despite the headlines. As we know Burmese python populations have exploded in Florida. Some estimates say they have eaten 90 per cent of the mammals inContinue reading “Cotton Rats Escape The Python’s Grip?; Rodent Population Exploding In Florida Despite Python Invasion”

Nutria does sound like a palatable health drink, but the reality is very different. Nutria are large rodents (rats) that are currently found in 20 of the United States. Efforts are afoot to control them. However, the nutria control window in California appears to be closing. According to the California Department of Fish and WildlifeContinue reading “Invasive Species Alert: Nutria Control Window Closing In California: State Authorities Ask For Help In Eradicating Destructive Rodent”

We have discussed the damage caused by invasive species many times from Australia to Poland to Texas. Florida is hard hit as we recently described an invasion of swamp eels. Hard as it may be to believe Florida’s Burmese python woes may be eclipsed by other invaders. Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) have been a frequentContinue reading “Invasive Species Alert: Florida Burmese Python Woes May Pale As 7 Dangerous Species Could Be Poised To Flood State”