July, 2007 - Wildlife Management Pro

83 cats, 2 Dogs, and 3 Iguanas Found in Stinky Home

83 cats, 2 Dogs, and 3 Iguanas Found in Stinky

Authorities found 83 cats, three dogs and two iguanas inside a Ben Lomond home reeking with the stench of urine and feces. “Imagine 83 cats living in a house with no litter boxes for two years, and you get the general idea,” said Todd Stosuy, supervising field ranger for the Santa Cruz County Animal Services Authority. It was one of the county’s largest-ever animal hoarding cases, Animal Services spokeswoman Tricia Geisreiter said. Continue reading 83 cats, 2 Dogs, and 3 Iguanas Found in Stinky Home

German Zoo Sells Animals as Food

A mayor in eastern Germany, believe it or not, has filed charges against workers at his local zoo for shooting animals and selling them as meat. A spokeswoman for the mayor’s office said deer were among the animals killed and sold by workers at Erfurt Zoo without permission over a number of years. “The case is now with the state prosecutors,” said the spokeswoman, declining to give further details. Continue reading German Zoo Sells Animals as Food

Information on Hantavirus

Hantavirus is carried by certain species of rats and mice and the illness is rare. Infected rodents shed the virus in their urine, droppings and saliva. The virus can be transmitted to people when infected rat or mouse urine, saliva, droppings or nesting materials are stirred up, temporarily aerosolizing the virus, which can be breathed in by humans. Continue reading Information on Hantavirus

Man Arrested After Drive-By on a Zebra

Man Arrested for Drive-By on a Zebra

Drive-by shootings still happen in our society, but they aren’t just limited to the “rough” areas of our urban cities. Yesterday, an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting of a zebra named Zambi. But don’t worry, it wasn’t a hate crime, as the animal was both black and white. Continue reading Man Arrested After Drive-By on a Zebra

Lenker Bluebird Box Instructions

Lenker Bluebird Box

Instructions for the Lenker Bluebird Box:

1. Cut all boards to lengths indicated and acquire all required hardware.

2. With two 1 5/8′ screws fasten the front to the left side. Keep the top of the side 1/4″ below the top of the front, (important for proper cross-ventilation).

3. With two 1 5/8″ screws fasten the back to the side keeping the side 2 3/4″ from the top of the back, (important for proper cross-ventilation).

4. Place the bottom between the front, back, and side 1/4″ up from the bottom edge of the box: with one 1 5/8″ screw fasten the front to the bottom; with one 1 5/8″ screw, fasten the left side to the bottom; and, with one 1 5/8″ screw fasten the back to the bottom.

5. Place the right side, angled side to the top, between the front and back leaving 1/4″ space below the top of the front and the top edge of the side, for ventilation. Make a mark about 1″ down from the top of the front. Using a square, make a mark, exactly the same height, on the back edge. This is the height where the nail or screw will be placed to make the hinge for the door. Nail in the first nail through the front and into the middle of the right edge of the side board. Next nail the second nail through the back into the right side, again into the middle of the edge. The side will open for monitoring the nestbox from this hinged opening.

6. With two 1 5/8″ screws fasten the top to the back keeping the roof 1/4″ above the side for ventilation. Fasten two 1 5/8″ screws through the roof into the top edge of the front.

7. With a drill bit larger diameter then a #6cc nail ( or other nail to be used as the door lock) drill at a 45 degree angle downward through the front and into the door side. The door lock will be placed in this hole to secure the side and to allow easy monitoring access by removing the nail, the angled hole is required to ensure the nail does not come out on its own.

8. Make small kerfs cut with a saw or deep scratches wit a nail on the inside of the front, below the hole, in order to make a ladder, which will make it easier for the baby birds to climb to the hole to get out (fledge).

9. Set your box out and get ready for bluebird nesting season!

Instructions for Basic Bluebird Boxes

Mountain Lion Sightings Cause Park Closures

San Antonio parks and recreation officials recently decided to close three city parks and wilderness areas on the city’s northwest side off I-10, citing public safety concerns amid TV news reports about a series of reported mountain lion sightings. Several department Wildlife Division employees investigated the reports this past week, interviewing witnesses and visiting the three parks and also Leon Creek river drainages under I-10, but TPWD found no physical evidence of a lion. Continue reading Mountain Lion Sightings Cause Park Closures

Louisiana Finally Bans Cockfights

They knew it was coming, but the “fun” was bound to end sometime. The only state where breeders can still legally pit fighting roosters against each other in bloody battles to the death has officially banned cockfighting starting next summer. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed the ban today, ending years of dispute among inbred legislators, the cockfighting industry and the animal rights groups that consider the fights barbaric. Continue reading Louisiana Finally Bans Cockfights