community news - [ Wildlife ]

Animal Control Officers Respond To Home
MACOMB TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A deer was trapped after taking a swim in a Macomb Township pool on Tuesday morning, Local 4 reported.

The deer apparently jumped over a 4½-foot high fence to get into the in ground pool in the back yard of Lucy Dedene's home. more...

Slideshow: See Deer's Escape From Swimming Pool
Video: See Deer Pool Rescue

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Police say three lions rescued a 12-year-old girl kidnapped by men who wanted to force her into marriage, chasing off her abductors and guarding her until police and relatives tracked her down in a remote corner of Ethiopia.

The men had held the girl for seven days, repeatedly beating her, before the lions chased them away and guarded her for half a day before her family and police found her, Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo said Tuesday by telephone from the provincial capital of Bita Genet, some 560 kilometers (348 miles) west of the capital, Addis Ababa.

"They stood guard until we found her and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest," Wondimu said, adding he did not know whether the lions were male or female. read more...

DAVIS, Calif. -- The animal research department at the University of California, Davis, is under fire after seven monkeys were killed over the weekend.

The university said the deaths were caused by a problem with a heating and air conditioning system. They said the system got stuck on heat, and that before anybody realized something was wrong, most of the monkeys were already dead.

UC Davis officials said the monkeys' deaths have saddened the entire research staff. The director of the UC Davis Primate Center, Dallas Hyde, said the monkeys were left unattended overnight inside a temporary housing facility on campus.

Officials said the temperatures inside the room reached 115 degrees. The monkeys' water ran out, and seven of the eight that were in the room died of dehydration.

"I'm heartbroken over this, that we lost these animals. But it's not just their death; it's the way they suffered while they died," Hyde said. more...

Wildlife Officials Find Black Bear Passed Out Drunk

BAKER LAKE, Wash. -- When state Fish and Wildlife agents recently found a black bear passed out on the lawn of Baker Lake Resort, there were some clues scattered nearby -- dozens of empty cans of Rainier Beer.

The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth to puncture the cans. And not just any cans.

"He drank the Rainier and wouldn't drink the Busch beer," said Lisa Broxson, bookkeeper at the campground and cabins resort east of Mount Baker.

Find out how they used more beer to catch him...

JERUSALEM -- A young monkey at an Israeli zoo has started walking on her hind legs only -- aping humans -- after a near death experience, the zoo's veterinarian said Wednesday.

Natasha, a 5-year-old black macaque at the Safari Park near Tel Aviv, began walking exclusively on her hind legs after a stomach ailment nearly killed her, zookeepers said.

Monkeys usually alternate between upright movement and walking on all fours. A picture in the Maariv daily on Wednesday showed Natasha standing ramrod straight like a human. The picture was labeled humorously, "The Missing Link?"

Two weeks ago, Natasha and three other monkeys were diagnosed with severe stomach flu. At the zoo clinic, she slipped into critical condition, said Igal Horowitz, the veterinarian. more...

JOPPA, Md. -- There may be more than one mystery animal running around Maryland -- there are pictures from a sighting in Harford County.

At the Mathis family's rural home in Joppa, they're used to animals, but not this kind.

"I looked out the window and I saw something drinking out of the water trough," said Lisa Mathis. "It looked like something out of Lord of The Rings."

"I'm from New Jersey so I immediately thought it was the Jersey Devil," said Jon Mathis. "In New Jersey folklore, it's a wild beast -- sort of like the abominable snowman."

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3558739/detail.html

A Dutch zoo has given a shy young moose assertiveness training to help him fit in with the herd.

Emmen Zoo recently bought Kenwood the moose from a zoo in Toronto, reports De Telegraaf.

But when he was put in the mooses' enclosure he was immediately bullied by a female called Winya.

"She's a real bitch," said biologist Agaath Kooi. "She ran after Kenwood and kicked and bit him wherever she could. And although Kenwood is much bigger than her, he let it all happen."

PHOENIX -- The heat-induced shimmer of Arizona's pavement is fooling the brown pelican population.

State officials report more than 30 of the endangered birds have crashed into paved surfaces that they've mistaken for lakes and creeks.

The state's Department of Game and Fish says the injured birds have been found from Yuma to Phoenix over the past two weeks. The pelicans are being treated for dehydration and malnutrition.

Experts believe the birds are heading to Arizona to look for fish because of a food shortage along the West Coast. more from WDIV Channel 4...

Thousands of geese in Highland Township are being deported to a new home in Iowa.

Residents have reportedly complained about the droppings and the noise the birds make.

Some municipalities have used trained dogs to chase geese out of parks, while others have turned to goose roundups to get rid of the birds. more from WDIV Channel 4...

A recent accident reminds us to keep a colse eye on our pets near partially frozen lakes...

Deborah Jeffers was walking her dogs near Sylvan Glen Lake in Troy this weekend when one ran onto the ices and fell through.

Jeffers ran to the rescue of her dog, yet she fell through as well. Neighbors tried to rescue her, but in the end police were called and eventually dragged her to safety.

Jeffers is recovering from hypothermia and her dogs are safe and sound. More on this story from WDIV Channel 4...

The tradition was originally started by a businessman in 1989 who believed that monkeys were accredited to his family's good fortune.

A total of 4,400 pounds of fruit were offered to over 300 local monkeys.

More from Ananova...

Constrained in small concrete cages, bears in Japan's Bear Parks are left hungry and exposed most of the day and are encouraged to fight by tourists that throw food at them.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals and ALIVE, a Japanese animal welfare group have been investigating the situation for over 12 years.

more from Ananova...

Following up from a Helping Houses article on Snowflake, the world's only captive albino gorilla...

Snowflake has been suffering from skin cancer for since 2001. His caretakers made the painful decision to have him euthanized.  

Snowflake lived a very fruitful life at the zoo. He lived well beyond 40 years old; most gorillas only live to be about 25. He was the main attraction at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.

more from WDIV Channel 4

The Oklahoma Nature Conservancy has launched a campaign to make people aware of the benefits of the Big-Eared Ozark Bat, an endangered species.

Facts:

Like Tequila or Margaritas? The Big-Eared Ozark Bat is the only creature that can successfully pollinate the Agave plant, the source of tequila.

Hate those Biting Bugs? This species of bat eats 160 pounds of insects per night.

Eew! Bats Get Stuck in Your Hair! Not true, this is a Hollywood myth.

The Nature Conservancy is taking the Halloween opportunity to let everyone know that bats are not the neck biting vampires that some perceive them to be. They are an important part of the ecosystem.

A rail inspector became a hero after temperatures dropped in Helena Montana enough to stick three mountain lion cubs to the train tracks as they crossed.

One cub was on its back, another was stuck by the tail and the third was attached by his paw. The cubs kept licking the tracks which made the problem worse.

Rail inspector Pat O'Rourke found the cubs and tried to free them with warm coffee. When that didn't work he called in the warden who brought hot water. The cubs were freed and made it to their frantic mother on a nearby ridge.

read on from WDIV Channel 4...

Editor's Note: This article is extremely disturbing. Please be advised.

Japanese fishermen have previously been successful in concealing the brutal massacre of dolphins near their shores.

That was until Animal Activists camped out on cliffs for weeks to catch the slaughter on tape.

Because the fishermen lure the dolphins into shore side coves, they are not protected under international regulations. Japan is one of the few fishing nations that still support the killing of whales and dolphins. more...

Canada's Nootka Sound has a guest that has worn out his welcome.

The 4 year old orca named "Luna" has been in the inlet for a little over 2 years, and since then has caused some damage. He enjoys cozying up to boats. Recently, Luna was observed "bouncing" a sea plane.

The U.S. federal government has pledged $100,000 to help move Luna.

More from WDIV Channel 4...

Mamma and Baby...how cute!

The last sighting of the Almiqui was in 1999, until now. A Cuban farmer made the discovery and named him "Alejendrito".

This nocturnal insect-eating animal will be held in captivity for two days and then released back to where he was found.

more about Alejendrito...

"Snowflake", the world's only albino gorilla, has only a few months to live. He was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2001: the disease has since progressed rapidly.

The very thing that makes him unique is what has made him ill. "Being albino, he's very sensitive to the sun. Though we've tried our best to protect him this is an incurable, progressive disease, and it will follow its natural course" said Bacelona Zoo's chief veterinarian, Jesus Fernandez.

more about Snowflake from Anaova...

Keepers at a safari park are giving a sick rhino mud treatments by hand as it is too ill to roll around on its own.

Staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling, said the White Rhino's skin has "improved immensely" since since her first all-over mud pack three months ago.

Park manager Gary Gilmour said Alice was enjoying the attention. He said: "She has arthritis and and she can't get a good roll in the mud so we decided to give her a bit of beauty treatment.

more from Ananova...
 

What looks like science fiction is actually true...

Attendance has increased 50% at an Argentinean zoo after a polar bear had a strange reaction to his medication.

Vets say his fur will change back to white about a month after his dermatitis medications wear off.

thanks to Ananova...

A rare albino squirrel has had a lucky escape after being knocked from its nest by a football.

Staff at London Wildcare Centre in Wallington, Surrey, say the animal would probably have been picked off by a predator because of his distinctive colour had he not been spotted by a passer-by.

Experts say the five-week-old squirrel, named Persil by staff at the centre, beat odds of 100,000 to one to be born completely albino.

more from Ananova...