ATTENTION---IMPORTANT----
FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ADOPT AND PURCHASE A HORSE OR BURRO---TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 12:10 PM
Subject: WIldhorse Burropower shared a link on your Wall.
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WONDERFUL NEWS. PLEASE PASS ON. YAY FOR PETA AND ALL THEIR OUTRAGEOUSNESS Subject: UPDATE: Ringling Faces Biggest USDA Fine in Circus History! Date: Monday, November 28, 2011, 3:31 PM
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Coyotes,Wolves,Cougars..forever! |
Posted: 21 Nov 2011 09:05 PM PST Bobcat population edges up in southeast Iowa, DNR saysBobcat sightings can be reported to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by calling Ron Andres at (641) 357-3517 or at the DNR Web site at www.iowadnr.gov. Sighting reports, including those captured by hunters' motion sensor cameras, help the DNR monitor the bobcat population by region. MUSCATINE, Iowa — The bobcat population in southeastern Iowa is growing slightly every year, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, or DNR.Ron Andrews, a furbearer research biologist with the DNR, said bobcats have maintained a notable increase in population across the southern portion of the state since 1977, when they were listed as an endangered species.But by 2001, the trend was reversing and the Natural Resource Commission downlisted the bobcat from endangered to threatened.By 2003, DNR staff tallied sightings, road kills and incidental captures of bobcats statewide, finding the animals to be common in southern Iowa.Legal seasons have been established for harvesting bobcats in Iowa's two southernmost tiers of counties. There is no bobcat trapping season in Muscatine County.Poaching a bobcat is a simple misdemeanor, said Tom Campbell, a conservation officer for the Iowa DNR in Muscatine County. He has never charged — or heard of — someone with poaching bobcats in the county.According to bowhunter surveys taken over the past four years, Andrews said, no bobcats were reported in the first two years of the surveys in a 10-county area that includes Muscatine County.That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that there were no bobcats in the region at that time, he said.In 2008, the third year of the surveys, there were 100 sightings per 1,000 hunting hours recorded. After 10 years, Andrews said, the survey will be more reliable in terms of telling the story of how the bobcat population is spreading from northern Missouri and southern Iowa.The DNR estimates that there are 1,500-2,000 bobcats statewide.Andrews said the habitat in Iowa, including the increase of grasslands and brush-filled reserves created by conservation programs, will allow continued growth."There is an increase ever so small into northeast Iowa. There is no reason to think that in 10 years there won't be sizeable numbers unless there is some disease, such as distemper, which is common in felines, that wipes out the population."There was a time when Iowans, especially farmers, would kill bobcats before the animals could kill their chickens, hogs or young calves. Today, the threat to farm animals is significantly less because of hog and chicken confinements, Andrews said.The modern-day biologist recognizes there is a role for predators and hopes to see the number of bobcats increase, he added. And if you have heard the rumor that the DNR released bobcats into the wild to control the deer population, you are not alone. But don't believe the buzz, Andrews said."That is completely unfounded," he said, adding that bobcats usually hunt for smaller animals as their meals."It's not very often that a bobcat would take down a full-grown deer, but not impossible," he added.Small domestic animals such as dogs or cats may be a different story, he said, and that is one thing the Christiansons said concerns their neighbors.Other government agencies suggest you not panic if you see a bobcat since they rarely attack people. When they do, they usually have rabies.Bobcats may be attracted to yards with abundant wildlife, small pets, shade or water. Small pets need to be protected from bobcats and other predators in an enclosed area.Experts suggest that people should not spread seed that attracts other wildlife and that they not feed bobcats.If you see a bobcat, enjoy the view, said Campbell, who has never seen one alive in the wild but added that he recently picked one up that had been killed by a vehicle on U.S. 61 north of Muscatine near Sweetland Road.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa furtrapping season well underwayIowa furharvesters reported 114 bobcats harvested as of Nov. 15, 10 days into the season.Once the quotas are reached, trappers may keep any otter or bobcat captured within the 48-hour grace period. Otters and bobcats accidentally captured after the grace period and bobcats captured in an area of the state closed to bobcat harvesting must be turned over to the DNR without penalty.The bobcat season is open in the southern three tiers of counties, plus Guthrie, Harrison, Monona and Woodbury counties. The open zone quota is 350 bobcats plus any that are trapped by midnight of the following day after the quota is reached. The season limit is one bobcat per licensed furharvester, regardless if it was hunted or trapped. Visit http://coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com |
Posted: 21 Nov 2011 09:07 PM PST Arizona hunter spots rare U.S.-Mexico borderlands jaguarPHOENIX, Arizona (Reuters) - An Arizona hunter has made a rare confirmed sighting of a wild jaguar close to the Mexico border in southeastern Arizona, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said on Monday. Visit http://coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com |
Posted: 21 Nov 2011 09:11 PM PST Florida PanthersTed Williams Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finish the job started by Florida Forever over 10 years ago. Protect lands needed by the Florida panther by acquiring all of "Panther Glades" now! Submit comments by email here: EvergladesHeadwatersProposal@fws.gov Dear Friends, Until Friday, November 25th, 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is accepting comments on a plan to expand the National Wildlife Refuge System in south Florida. The proposed "Headwaters of the Everglades National Wildlife Refuge" would protect 150,000 acres of still to be identified ranch lands north of Lake Okeechobee at a price tag of 700 million dollars. The patchwork quilt of properties created would include 50,000 acres purchased outright while a conservation easement would be placed on 100,000 additional acres to prevent development. Cattle ranching would continue on 2/3 of the new refuge. Although an occasional male panther finds his way to this area, females are not as adventurous. With no breeding opportunities, the males seldom stick around. The entire proposal can be found here: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-lMeNDd0GgIexw%407008627... While South Florida Wildlands Association (SFWA) certainly supports the idea of protecting habitat which could someday be turned into more of the suburban sprawl for which our region has become famous, we believe there is a better and more strategic way to spend at least some of massive amounts of money the American people are being asked to invest. Last May, readers of the occasional emails sent out on this list were shocked to learn that Florida Power and Light (FPL) was considering the purchase of approximately 3000 acres of primary Florida panther habitat in the Big Cypress basin on a piece of land known as "McDaniel's Ranch". The property would be home to the "Hendry Next Generation Clean Energy Center" – the largest fossil fuel plant in the country. Article below describes the project: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-yMiRe6u/l6hCs%407008628... On hearing this news, many immediately responded with an email to Lew Hay, CEO of Florida Power and Light, pleading with the company to consider the panther in its site selection and to seek land elsewhere. The letter below contains the company's response: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-q1OvAzd8PaJIQ%407008629... Unfortunately, our efforts were unsuccessful. In spite of mountains of evidence showing that this land is of the highest important for the critically endangered Florida panther and numerous other plant and animal species which share its habitat (e.g. wood storks, crested caracara, black bears, wild turkey, eastern indigo snakes, fox squirrels), FPL ultimately decided to spend 40 million dollars to purchase this property – while giving the previous owner, Eddie Garcia, a 25 million dollar profit on the 15 million dollars he invested in 2005. Vacant land prices in a state with some of the highest foreclosure rates in the country have hardly moved upwards since 2005. We have to assume that the enormous price FPL was willing to pay for this property reflected the rezoning Mr. Garcia successfully accomplished through the Hendry County Commission - converting (so far only on paper) a completely rural piece of south Florida into one of the largest industrial projects in the country. See photo of FPL's "West County Energy Center", a virtual twin of the proposed Hendry County plant, to get an idea of what the Clean Energy Center will look like: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-AdZLjoSkZfheQ%407008630... See also a map of collared male panthers in the vicinity of the proposed power plant from a recent Florida panther annual report produced by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-NgJCk6M4DWaDI%407008631... Green areas on the map represent the network of already acquired public lands which would surround this monster sized project – the Big Cypress National Preserve to the south; Holeyland and Rotenberger Wildlife Management Areas and Storm Water Treatment Areas 3, 4, 5 and 6 to the east; the Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area and the Okaloacoochee State Forest to the north and west. In addition to direct loss of habitat, a plant of this size would also dramatically increase traffic and open up the entire area to sprawl, road building, and habitat fragmentation. While SFWA is willing to expend its limited resources aggressively fighting this project as it winds its way through the vast and complex state and federal permitting process (e.g. South Florida Water Management District, Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), there is another solution which would benefit all parties concerned - including the panther. In 2001, the Florida Forever program was established by the state legislature in order to protect dwindling wildlife habitat statewide. As stated in the Florida Forever Act of 1999: "The continued alteration and development of Florida's natural areas to accommodate the state's rapidly growing population have contributed to the degradation of water resources, the fragmentation and destruction of wildlife habitats, the loss of outdoor recreation space, and the diminishment of wetlands, forests, and public beaches." The purpose of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to: "administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans." The marriage between state, federal, and private interests which would be accomplished by incorporating Panther Glades (including the newly acquired FPL property) into the new Headwaters of the Everglades National Wildlife Refuge could not be better. Panther Glades has already been extensively studied for its wildlife and habitat importance. It is also a key part of the northern watershed of Big Cypress National Preserve which provides fresh, clean water to much of Everglades National Park and other public lands further south. As of May of this year, Panther Glades was ranked highest in importance of all Florida Forever "Critical Natural Lands Projects" in south Florida. In the state's current fiscal conditions, however, Florida Forever has received zero dollars in funding from the Florida legislature. See complete report on the Panther Glades property here: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-YuR7V3eF2rcwU%407008632... Your support for this simple request will help move this issue forward. It could even be the catalyst which drives FPL and the USFWS to hammer out a deal. With only about 100 panthers left in south Florida on habitat which continues to shrink all the time, this is an opportunity we do not want to miss. Please send an email to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before the November 25th deadline and ask them to take whatever steps are necessary to include the complete "Panther Glades" property in their new refuge. EvergladesHeadwatersProposal@fws.gov In addition to sending in comments to the service (most important), donations are also very helpful to our ongoing efforts to protect south Florida's wildlife. Of late, we have taken on some particularly tough challenges. Please consider even a small donation this holiday season. South Florida Wildlands Association is a 501c3 organization registered with the Florida Division of Corporations since March of 2010. More information on how to donate below: http://m1e.net/c?112198231-5SX14FtJOyvFA%407008633... Best regards and a very happy Thanksgiving to you and your families, Matt Schwartz Executive Director South Florida Wildlands Association P.O. Box 30211 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33303 954-634-7173 |
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please pass this on. thanks. ense of Animals <takeaction@idausa.org> wrote:
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