Wild Animal News

Beavers (Castor canadensis) are on what might be a “short list” of animals conservationists want to see returned to former haunts. This is because the industrious rodents transform landscapes in many beneficial ways. A California beaver family is leading the way in Golden State recovery efforts.

According to Governor Gavin Newsom the release of the seven-member California beaver family is an important step in protecting wildlife and habitat.

The release was handled by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

The CDFW is as enthusiastic as the governor.

“Beavers help retain water on the landscape, which increases groundwater recharge, improves summer baseflows, extends seasonal flows and increases fuel moisture during wildfire season, effectively creating green belts that can serve as wildfire buffers or breaks and provide refugia for wildlife,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham, who joined the historic beaver release. “We look forward to duplicating these efforts on the Tule River Reservation in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains this spring.” Bonham was quoted in a CDFW news release.

The release follows a recent upgrade in beaver status in California. The engineers have been declared a “keystone species” recognizing their ecological importance.

However, beavers are engineers and their construction can impact property. CDFW has published tips on living with beavers to help reduce conflict.

Beaver have been severely impacted world wide, for their fur, meat and castoreum. Castoreum has been used as a food additive and for increasing honey production. Today, it is most commonly found as an ingredient in certain perfumes. After generations of hunting a number of countries are seeking to bring the beaver back. 

The British Isles are one region seeking to reintroduce beavers. In fact, some enthusiasts may be releasing beavers ahead of any official program. “Anthony,” a beaver spotted in Wales, may be the first wild beaver in that region in 400 years. The British government is seeking to reintroduce wild beavers. The return of the California beaver family to wild waters shows the state is engaged in beaver reintroduction as well.

Colorado has finally taken the plunge and begun reintroducing wolves to the state. The five wolves released recently are expected to carve out territory and bring the animals back to the areas from which they were driven. The first animals have been joined by another five, according to news reports.

If their enemies permit. Colorado reintroduction was heavily opposed.  Reintroduction of Canis lupus is a hot button issues worldwide. In the last 50 years the predators have gone from general condemnation to a strong level of acceptance. But that acceptance is not universal. It appears that city dwellers are more likely to be favorable to returning the wolf. People who live close to them, or depend on livestock for a living, are far less favorable.

With good reason. These big canines do kill and eat livestock. France

estimates 15,000 head per year. Statistics in the United States are hotly debated. However, two wolves in Idaho terrified a flock of sheep. The animals ran in panic and died in a stampede. 143 died in one strike.

Defenders say the actual percentage loss from the wolf is small. Opponents say the damage in not evenly distributed. For smaller ranchers a few dead animals can be a disaster. And what of the sheep rancher who lost 143 in one blow?

There often are repayment options available for ranchers, but death by wolf can be hard to prove. Getting repaid is often not a speedy process. Colorado has a plan to offer loss repayment. Time will tell whether that helps the plan succeed.

Meanwhile, wolves have been poisoned in Oregon as wolf hatred continues. Colorado Parks and Recreation (CPW) has posted a webpage on the introduction. CPW promises to monitor the animals closely and assess the impact of the introduction. The re-introduction was narrowly authorized by Colorado voters. The release of the five wolves came just ahead of the Dec. 31, deadline. Ultimately, the plan calls for the release of up to 50 wolves in a several year period.

Tigers and housecats share about 95 percent of their DNA. So the tiny cat curled on your couch remains a fierce predator. Another new study proves the point. It claims that roaming housecats kill billions of creatures a year. Housecat rampage is real and apparently obligate.

Housecats, after all are impressive predtors. Tehey have keen senses and are very strong for their compact size. Your tabby Can jump, climb and swim (although many don’t). They are also fast, agile and skilled at ambush. They are near-perfect predators.

According to the Daily Mail the numbers cats kill are staggering, allegedly up to 12 billion creatures a year. But don’t spill your coffee as there are some qualifiers.

First, 12 billion is the very high end of the estimate. Lower figures are about one quarter of that figure.

Second, of all the feline species Felis cattus has the widest prey base. They eat many kinds of insects, fish, birds, rats, mice, voles, shrews, snakes and other small creatures. Some say they have witnessed small cats exhibiting stalking behavior on animals as large as deer. Good luck, Sylvester. Cat owners know the familiar chatter. Cats behind a window seeing something tasty outside chatter in what might be frustration. Many of the small creatures eaten, including many birds, are less desirable to humans. Do we really want more rats? Are we missing much if we are short a billion or so shrews, voles, mice and sparrows?

Third, the solution is easy. Maintain your pets indoors. Indoor cats live much longer and happier lives. Statistics suggest a roaming cat probably lives an average of two years. A well cared for domestic indoor cat may live ten times that long.

International Cat Day.

Of course cats are hugely popular with many people, otherwise there would be no International Cat Day.

Nevertheless, house cats are an invasive species in much of the world. They return to a wild or semi-wild state quite easily and do cause problems with native wildlife. Australia has a huge problem with invasive feral domestic cats. The continent is home to many small and essentially helpless species. About 5 million feral cats could drive them to extinction. Australia has declared war on feral cats.

Polish scientists are also concerned about the slaughter of birds by feral cats.

No one is calling for an end to the cat/human bond. It is a beneficial one. But cats do better indoors and cause far less damage. The housecat rampage can be controlled.

Bobcats, wolves and cougars were driven from Ohio in the 19th Century but Ohio bobcats appear to be making a return to parts of the state.

According to MSN at least one family of Ohio bobcats is being tracked by biologists as they try to make a return to an old home. According to WDTN Dayton the cats have been seen off-and-on since the 1960’s. But the numbers seem to be increasing.

Ohio bobcats were driven out by hunting and changing land use which eliminated favored denning areas. But it appears that they adaptable felines have found a way to use alternate denning locales. They seem to be expanding their range the state into once bobcat-free areas.

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are one of the four members of the lynx family. The others are Canada lnyx (Lynx canadensis), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). They are not considered at risk for extinction. Bobcats are listed as least concern by the IUCN. The cats are roughly twice the size of housecats. The stub-tailed predators have a wide prey base. Although it is based on rabbits and rodents it can include insects and sometimes even deer, especially fawns.

That is not to say the cats do not face challenges. In the Santa Monica Mountains the National Park Service (NPS) estimates there are about 400 of the cats. They face death from traffic and from mange due to pesticide use.

Although the cats can and do eat snakes they are apparently not a good match for Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus). It is estimated the bobcat population in the Florida Everglades is down 87.5 percent primarily due to python predation. At least one bobcat was seen feasting on python eggs, so they do sometimes turn the tables.

As a species the numbers are uncertain but some estimates place the number wild bobcats in the United States at around one million. The Iberian lynx is the most severely threatened but intense rescue efforts may be saving them.

Spiders are commonplace all over the world. So, apparently, are sea spiders. A recently discovered sea spider haven off Scotland’s coast is bringing attention to the eight-legged relatives of our familiar web-spinners.

According to the BBC the spiders have been found in or near  the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area, which lies west of the Shetland Islands. They were found at a depth of 1,000 meters, over 3,200 feet.

Sea spiders belong to the family Pycnogonida, land spiders are arachnids and crabs and lobsters are crusatceans. Spiders and sea spiders are more closely related to each other than to crustaceans. The three do have a very distant ancestor in common.

According to Britannica they do have things in common with land spiders, except silk.

“Most pycnogonids have four pairs of long legs attached to four trunk segments. The body size ranges from 3 millimetres (1/8 inch) in tropical shallow-water species to 50 centimetres (20 inches) in deepwater species. The mouth, a triangular opening at the end of an elaborate suctorial appendage (proboscis), is often longer and larger than the body. Adult pycnogonids either suck the juices from soft-bodied invertebrates or browse on hydroids (phylum Cnidaria) and bryozoans. The four simple eyes are often lacking in the deepwater species. The digestive and reproductive systems have branches that go to the legs.”

Scientists are frequently making amazing discoveries in the deep seas. In addition to the sea spider haven these include a gigantic ice fish hatchery and a massive “fountain of life” in the Weddell Sea.

Some months ago we reported on the growing fear that super pigs from Canada were beginning to cross the border into the United States. That advent would only increase the problems caused by wild pigs in much of the United States,

Super pigs from Canada are given that name because they are the escaped products of cross- breeding. They have heightened abilities and are harder to track and kill.

According to The Conversation the problem is getting worse.

The website quoted Marcus Lashley an associate professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida.

“The wild pigs in Canada are unique because they were originally crossbred by humans to be larger and more cold-hardy than their feral cousins to the south. This suite of traits has earned them the name “super pigs” for good reason. Adults can reach weights exceeding 500 pounds, which is twice the size of the largest wild pigs sampled across many U.S. sites in a 2022 study.” Links in original.

Wild pigs are very destructive and they are currently present in as many as 35 of the United States. They will eat almost anything. Since they eat about 90 percent plant material their damage to crops, forests, parks and gardens is extreme. But Lashley said there is a worse aspect:

“However, they likely do their most severe damage through predation. Wild pigs kill and eat rodents, deer, birds, snakes, frogs, lizards and salamanders. This probably best explains why colleagues and I found in one study that forest patches with wild pigs had 26% fewer mammal and bird species than similar forest patches without pigs.

This decrease in diversity was similar to that found with other invasive predators. And our findings are consistent with a global analysis showing that invasive mammalian predators that have no natural predators themselves – especially generalist foragers like wild pigs – cause by far the most extinctions.” (links in original.)

Feral pigs are a disaster from Texas to Italy and the problem is only growing worse. Pigs are smart omnivores, very fertile and highly destructive. Pigs can even carry and spread disease. At least nine diseases can be transmitted to humans, including hepatitis and E.coli poisoning, Italy is facing a crisis after pigs tested positive for disease. African Swine Fever is one of the biggest threats, According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA says:

“African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly swine disease that can affect both farm-raised and feral (wild) pigs. ASF doesn’t infect people, but it is readily passed from one pig to another by direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected pig. The practice of feeding uncooked food waste (that has not been appropriately heat treated) to pigs can also result in transmission of the virus if the food waste being fed to pigs contains contaminated pork products.” Link in original.

African swine fever is one of many diseases’ pigs can carry. It has not arrived in the United States so far. If it spreads from feral to domesticated swine it has the potential to cause disaster to the pork industry.

Texas is one state already suffering from pig damage.

The search for our ultimate ancestor has been ongoing for centuries. New fossil research now suggests the earliest human ancestor has been found. It is not perhaps the most glamourous creature. After all it had no anus so it seems to have eaten and defecated out of the same orifice. It lived about 540 million years ago.

It was tiny, living between grains of sand in the seabed, but it evolved into fish and then into mammals and then humans, scientists now believe.

According to GistFest Professor Simon Conway Morris of Cambridge University said

Its identification followed the discovery of its microfossils in the Shaanxi province of Central China. The saccorhytus still remains arguably the most monumental finding in the quest for human origin, according to the professor.

“To the naked eye, the fossils we studied look like tiny black grains, but under the microscope the level of detail was jaw-dropping.”

 

Scientists believe that the saccorhytus is the most elementary example of a category of animals called “Deuterostomes.” Deuterostomes are the common ancestors of a wide range of animals, including the group of animals with backbones. 

“We think that as an early deuterostome this may represent the primitive beginnings of a very diverse range of species, including ourselves,” said Professor Morris. “All deuterostomes had a common ancestor, and we think that is what we are looking at here,” the Professor said.

According to Britannica:

Deuterostomia, (Greek: “second mouth”), group of animals—including those of the phyla Echinodermata (e.g., starfish, sea urchins), Chordata (e.g., sea squirts, lancelets, and vertebrates), Chaetognatha (e.g., arrowworms), and Brachiopoda (e.g., lamp shells)—classified together on the basis of embryological development and by molecular criteria. During development the mouth of deuterostomes develops from an opening into the embryonic gut other than the blastopore, which develops into the anus. The coelom (a fluid-filled body cavity lined with mesoderm) develops from buds off the embryonic gut. A number of deuterostomes have distinctive larval forms. The Deuterostomia constitute one of two divisions of the coelomates (animals having a coelom). Compare Protostomia..” Links in original.

The discovery of possibly the earliest human ancestor does not settle the question of the origins of life. Some believe that life originated beyond Earth and arrived with an asteroid. Believers in Panspermia think the octopus is a space alien.

Wildlife Learning Center (WLC) has joined the new anti-trafficking organization designed to streamline the response to the rescue of captured smuggled animals. In its year-end news letter WLC Director David Riherd said WLC has already attempted to save one smuggled animal, although the effort failed.

“WLC has already helped authorities by housing a young animal that was illegally smuggled into the United States. This unfortunate animal needed around the clock tube feeding and consultations with our veterinarian multiple times a day. Sadly, the animal was already in the advanced stages of an illness, among other serious ailments, and did not survive. It was such a heartbreaking end for an innocent animal that did not deserve to be smuggled into this country and treated so poorly by people who lack any compassion for animals,” Riherd said. (Boldface in original letter.)

“Our purpose is to help animals in need so it was without hesitation that we applied, and have been accepted to, the newly created Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network, a first-of-its-kind program in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help illegally trafficked animals.The purpose of the Network is to create a coalition of reputable and trusted animal care facilities to provide immediate medical care and housing for wildlife smuggled through U.S. ports of entry,” Riherd continued.

Among the animals rescued this year ae:

“Sur” a young bobcat (Lynx rufus). The young cat was injured by a car and treated by Pacific Wildlife Care Riherd said. WLC staff and volunteers brought him the 200 miles to WLC. He was not considered a candidate for release into the wild.

“Sur has adjusted remarkably well and thoroughly trusts his caregivers, never acting aggressively. His calm temperament was a bit of a surprise because unlike the many illegal pets we care for that are habituated with people, this bobcat was born in the wild and for him to be so comfortable with us was a little unexpected.”

According to Riherd pygmy hedehogs (Atelerix albiventris) are popular illegal pets and WLC often gets them when they are confiscated. This year two were surrendered to WLC by pet owners who no longer could or would maintain them. Similarly, a pet owner surrendered a red tegu lizard (Tupinambis rufescens). It is a popular animal in the pet trade. Although legal to own in California these lizards require specialized care, Riherd said. The lizard was fed an improper diet which has been corrected.

WLC also took in five rabbits, an injured raven and a hamster that was rescued from the jaws of a playful dog.

WLC also participates in Species Survival Plans. WLC welcomed the birth of two porcupines who have since been transferred to larger zoos. Porcupines are under population threat. Species Survival Plans help to bolster zoo populations to prevent extinction and provide for re-introduction into the wild.

The efforts are expensive, up to $3,000 a day for the roughly 100 animals at WLC. Riherd thanked the June Irene Chiltern Healey Foundation for donating $20,000 toward a backup generator. A generator will provide needed backup to ensure the safety of the animals if power goes off. Healey foundation is located in the Pacific Palisades and makes a limited number of donations annually.

“Admission sales, gift shop sales, animal experiences, tours, and other interactive programs help raise funds, but WLC is dependent on donations to close the gap between earned income and expenses. We know you have lots of worthy organizations to support, and we greatly appreciate your commitment to WLC. In addition to the costs of housing more animals, we always need a helping hand, so if you are able, please consider making a year-end gift to Wildlife learning Foundation,” Riherd asked.

Wildlife Learning Center continues to recover from the financial hardships imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year the center was able to buy a portable ultrasound machine. That purchase resulted from a fund raiser facilitated by DocWalks4Animals. Unfortunately, not all rescue efforts succeed as the story of Dash illustrates.

When we think about hibernation we usually associate it with bears. Bears curl up during the worst of the winter and place themselves on hold until spring.But other animals hibernate, too. Arctic ground squirrels hibernation skills may hold lessons for humans to improve their health.

According to PBS Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryi) may be able to teach us a thing or two about mental health in adverse circumstances.

PBS said:

“Here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers are trying to understand the biological mechanisms that allow squirrels to withstand such extreme conditions and bounce back completely healthy. They found that when the squirrels hibernate, they cycle in and out of a deep sleep called torpor.”

The torpid states allows the squirrels to survive with a 32 degree body temperature. Their hearts beat about five times a minute and they breathe about once a minute. But they periodically cycle out of this torpor in order to complete biological processes they need to survive.

When winter ends they wake up with no damage and quite healthy. Clearly, this adaptation has evolved to help the squirrels survive the harsh climate.

Studying Arctic ground squirrels is hoped to provide answers to help people survive brain injury. It is well known that low temperature prevents brain damage. But can humans find a way to cycle in and out of very low temperature?

Squirrels have a mixed reputation among humans. Some see them as adorable animal friends, others see a harmful nuisance. Michigan recently added four types of squirrels to the nuisance list. That means no permit or other permission is needed to kill them. It would be ironic if an animal people think so little of holds secrets that may help humans with brain illness such as stroke.

Although they have been in the Pacific Northwest since the 1950’s barred owls are not native. In fact they are considered a big enough nuisance that a federal agency is planning a barred owl slaughter. Up to 500,000 of the birds are to be shot by hunters recruited for the task. Although the number is large it will be spread over 30 years.

The plan is still in the public comment phase until the beginning of next year. It would entail killing up to 50,000 of the owls a year.

It is not a capricious decision on the part of United States Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) Since the barred owl (Strix varius) moved west in the 1950’s it has helped drive the spotted owl (Strix occientalis) nearer to regional extinction. The barred owls are bigger, more aggressive and they eat a wider variety of food. When they arrive the spotted owls start to disappear. Barred owls interefere with spotted owl nesting, the FWS says.,

The numbers are stark. The population estimate for barred owls is over 3 million while the estimate for the spotted owl is about 15,000.

Moreover, the FWS has a legal responsibility to protect the spotted owl as it is becoming endangered. In addition, the number of owls hunted will not reduce the global population of barred owls by more than one percent. NWS says.

Will the hunt work? Apparently so. The NWS has experimented with smaller scale hunts and the results have had a positive impact on the spotted owl population. Spotted owls primarily eat mice and other birds. They usually lay two eggs. They weigh about 1.3 pounds.

By contrast barred owls can be up to one-third larger and lay about one more egg per clutch. They are aggressive, as noted, and eat anything from insects and small animals to insects, fish and earthworms.

If the barred owl slaughter plan goes through as envisioned, hunters will be recruited and set numbers of owls removed. Owls can travel quite a distance. Recently, an Arctic owl was spotted in California before apparently heading home.