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Wildlife Conservation

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Big Cat Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Mauled To Death Big Cat Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Mauled To Death
Big Cat Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Mauled To Death A big cat trainer and former associate of "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic was killed by a tiger during a performance. Ryan Easley died at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 20, the southeastern Oklahoma facility said in a Facebook post. He ran ShowMe Tigers and had worked with animals from Joe Exotic and Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. Easley was performing "an act with the tiger when something went wrong, resulting in him being attacked," Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park told KXII 12 News. Deputies said Easley wasn't breathing when they arrived. Growler Pines said Easley's dea…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus
Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus Two students skinned and butchered a legally hunted black bear in a campus dorm kitchen at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, prompting outcry but no charges. On Thursday, Sept. 11, university and state officials confirmed the hunt and the on-campus processing but said no laws were broken. NBC News reported the pair killed the 120-pound black bear over the weekend and brought the carcass into a residence hall to process it on Saturday, Sept. 6.  The students held valid New York State hunting licenses, a Cornell spokesperson said, adding that a police report was filed after a comp…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
VIDEO: Shark Shows Up At NJ Beach Club During Hurricane Erin — And Won't Leave: Report VIDEO: Shark Shows Up At NJ Beach Club During Hurricane Erin — And Won't Leave: Report
Video: Shark Shows Up At NJ Beach Club During Hurricane Erin — And Won't Leave: Report A small sand shark swam up to the outdoor host stand at Bird & Betty’s in Beach Haven late Thursday night, Aug. 21, after flooding from the storm pushed it out of the bay, NJ Advance Media reported. “Fish are friends… but not usually our customers,” the club joked in an Instagram post, adding that Beach Haven police “had to save the local wildlife tonight instead of verifying ID.”  Video shows an officer scooping up the shark and carrying it back to the water. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bird and Betty’s (@birdandbet…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Rare Manatee Sighting Off Northeast Coast Is First Time In A Decade Rare Manatee Sighting Off Northeast Coast Is First Time In A Decade
Rare Manatee Sighting Off Northeast Coast Is First Time In A Decade A rare sighting of a manatee off Cape Cod has locals buzzing, marking the first time the gentle sea creature has been spotted off the Massachusetts coast since 2016. The manatee was first seen in Popponesset Bay off Mashpee on July 26, then again on July 29 in Mattapoisett. In Mattapoisett, the manatee briefly got stranded on tidal flats, but quick-thinking locals helped it back into the water, ensuring its safety, according to the Cape Cod Times.  Manatees, known for their large size and gentle nature, usually live in warmer waters like those off Florida and the Gulf Coast, according …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Hit-Run Driver Who Mowed Down 7 Geese Sought By Cops In NJ, Sparking Outrage Online Hit-Run Driver Who Mowed Down 7 Geese Sought By Cops In NJ, Sparking Outrage Online
Hit-Run Driver Who Mowed Down 7 Geese Sought By Cops In NJ, Sparking Outrage Online Police in New Jersey are searching for the driver who struck and killed seven geese crossing a road on Monday, July 14, sparking outrage from residents and animal advocates across social media. Officers responded to the Devoe Lake area of Spotswood (Middlesex County) around 6:45 p.m. and found the geese dead in the roadway, Spotswood police said. The vehicle had already fled the scene, police said. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to determine whether the act was intentional or accidental, according to authorities. Geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, an…

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by Sam Barron
News
Virginia Hunter Gets 1 Day In Prison For Poisoning Bald Eagle, Beating Hawk: Feds Virginia Hunter Gets 1 Day In Prison For Poisoning Bald Eagle, Beating Hawk: Feds
Virginia Hunter Gets 1 Day In Prison For Poisoning Bald Eagle, Beating Hawk: Feds A Virginia man who admitted to poisoning a bald eagle and brutally bludgeoning a trapped hawk with a pole was sentenced to just one day in prison, according to court records. William Custis Smith, of Accomack County, confessed to federal agents that he used illegal pole traps and a banned insecticide to kill birds of prey that flew onto his Hallwood property — including a juvenile bald eagle, the nation’s symbol. The shocking discovery began in early 2023, when wildlife officials received an anonymous tip about a suspicious trap set up near a waterfowl impoundment, officials said. When age…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Vandals Break Into Virginia Zoo, Trash Exhibits, Terrify Animals With Joyride (VIDEO) Vandals Break Into Virginia Zoo, Trash Exhibits, Terrify Animals With Joyride (VIDEO)
Vandals Break Into Virginia Zoo, Trash Exhibits, Terrify Animals With Joyride (Video) A pack of late-night vandals broke into a Northern Virginia zoo, damaged animal enclosures, and took work vehicles for a joyride — all while terrifying the animals, officials said. The chaos unfolded overnight on Tuesday, April 15, at the NOVA Wild Zoo, a popular family destination in Fairfax County. According to zoo management, several people forced their way into the park, caused damage to multiple exhibits, and even got into the capybara enclosure. The intruders then took work vehicles and rode recklessly through the property. Staff returned to find the aftermath — broken fencing, trash…

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by Zak Failla
News
First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported
First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported Authorities have confirmed the first human death in the United States caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1.  The announcement was made by the Louisiana Department of Health on Monday, Jan. 6.  Earlier Report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US The patient, a man over 65 with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized before succumbing to the illness after exposure to a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. The Louisiana Department of Health said it has conducted a public health investigation and found no additional cases or …

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
'People's Choice:' Baby Hippo That Took Social Media By Storm Gets Name After Heated Vote 'People's Choice:' Baby Hippo That Took Social Media By Storm Gets Name After Heated Vote
'People's Choice:' Baby Hippo That Took Social Media By Storm Gets Name After Heated Vote What's in a name?  After a spirited global contest, the people have spoken: Richmond Metro Zoo’s baby pygmy hippo now has a fitting moniker. Poppy. The newborn entered the world on Monday, Dec. 9, and has quickly captivated local residents and animal lovers alike, taking off on social media after being transferred to the zoo family on Christmas Eve. Hippo hooray and Merry Christmas Eve! We’re thrilled to welcome a precious baby pygmy hippo to the zoo family - just in... Posted by Metro Richmond Zoo on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 More than 116,000 votes from 165 countries narr…

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by Zak Failla
News
Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Euthanasia Of 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Shark Sighting Reported Off Popular Maryland Beach (VIDEO) Shark Sighting Reported Off Popular Maryland Beach (VIDEO)
Shark Sighting Reported Off Popular Maryland Beach (Video) A shark sighting was reported at Beverly Beach in Anne Arundel County, though the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is still working to develop details about the creature a week later. According to the Maryland DNR, shark sightings around this time of year are not uncommon in Chesapeake Bay, and there have been 41 species confirmed and document in the waters by the organization. The sharks typically travel off the Atlantic Coast, but sometimes take a trip to the Bay and its tributaries.  Look out for fins in the water🦈 There was a shark sighting in Beverly Beach in Anne Aru…

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by Zak Failla