The (New) Outdoor Pressroom

Using revolver as backscratcher, man shoots self

Jorge Espinal, 44, was drinking beer and playing poker around 3 a.m. Sunday at his Ft. Worth, TX home when he used a revolver of an unknown caliber to scratch his back and accidentally shot himself, police said. “He told officers he had an itch on his back and grabbed the first thing he could get a hold of which was a revolver,” said Fort Worth police Lt. Kenneth Dean. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at an area hospital. In The Dallas Morning News.

Mangy coyote killed after stalking Calif. toddler

Authorities captured and euthanized a mange-infested coyote a day after the animal was seen stalking a toddler in a Redlands, Calif. neighborhood. The incident follows several coyote attacks on California children in recent weeks, with four in Chino Hills and one in Lake Arrowhead. Last week, a coyote entered a Temecula home and was standing over a sleeping child before a nanny threw household objects at the animal and it ran away. The AP reports.

Wyoming wolf kill since delisting at 16

Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials say 16 wolves have been legally killed since the animals were removed from ESA protection. The 16 killed since late March include four wolves shot by the U.S. Agriculture Department after they were seen preying on cattle. Jackson Hole Daily News.

Ex Ohio wildlife officer pleads guilty in dove-baiting case

In an agreement with prosecutors, a former Ohio wildlife officer assigned to Miami County pleaded guilty yesterday to tampering with records and falsification in a dove-field baiting case. Sentencing for Jason M. Snyder, 35, of Tipp City is scheduled for June 23. The Dayton Daily News reports.

Pheasant hunting adds $219M to S. Dakota economy

In 2007, more than 180,000 pheasant hunters spent $219 million in South Dakota, taking in excess of 2 million birds. According to SD Game, Fish and Parks, about 78,000 residents and 103,000 nonresidents hunted during the season. In the Argus Leader.

Pair cited for bound gator in pickup

A teenager and 20-year-old companion were cited for misdemeanor possession of an alligator when authorities in Port St. Lucie, Fla. found a 7-foot gator bound with rope and tape in their pickup bed yesterday. Apparently, youthful indiscretion--and alcohol--contributed to their actions. In The Palm Beach Post.

Arizona experiencing surge in wildlife rabies cases

Across Arizona there have been a higher-than-normal 54 cases of rabies reported in 2008. As of late April, 19 people and 64 domestic animals were exposed to animals with confirmed cases of rabies, including attacks by six animals on nine people. AP reports.

CDOW: On second thought, don't freeze frogs

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has reversed a public statement appearing in a recent press release recommending that unwanted exotic frogs, fish and salamanders should be euthanized by placing them in freezers as an alternative to releasing them into the environment. Responding to the press release, the American Veterinarian Medical Association announced it does not consider freezing reptiles and amphibians to be humane, prompting the agency to apologize for "suggesting an inappropriate method of euthanasia."

Florida swimmer injured by diving pelican

A pelican diving for a fish slammed into a woman swimming near Treasure Island, Fla. Thursday. Debbie Shoemaker, 50, required 25 stitches in her cheek. "She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time because pelicans clearly do not attack," said Anita Pinder, director of Sanibel Island's Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. In The Tampa Tribune.

Grand event: Cabela's opens on L.L. Bean's home turf

In Scarborough, Maine, it's the biggest event of the year, possibly surpassing the town's 350th anniversary celebration this summer. Extra security has been hired. Hotels are booked full. Police will direct traffic. Overflow parking and shuttles will be made available. What is it? It's the grand opening of a new Cabela's mega-store, located just down the road from the flagship L.L. Bean, which has stood as the town's chief retailer--and attraction--for generations. AP reports.

Sheep-killing cougar caught on video

After losing several of his sheep to a unknown person or predator, Carson, Nevada rancher Jack Foerschler placed night-vision video cameras in his barn. What he captured were some spectacular images of a mountain lion attacking his flock. In one scene, the cougar leaps effortlessly over the six-foot fence, soon returning with a lamb in its mouth. A federal ADC trapper subsequently caught the big cat. The Nevada Appeal has the incredible video footage and story.

Wild turkey, beer truck collide

When mixing Wild Turkey and beer--beware. The driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with beer was injured seriously Saturday morning near Pensacola, Fla. when a turkey flew into his windshield, resulting in a Blacktop Boilermaker, so to speak. Crews from the state Department of Transportation removed the spilled beer. The status or condition of the turkey was unknown. In the NW Florida Daily News.

Legendary Dixon Lake bass goes belly-up

The Escondido, California largemouth bass that made angler Mac Weakley an overnight fishing celebrity two years ago is no longer. The legendary Dixon Lake bass, identified by its telltale spot, was found dead Friday. At the time of its demise, the fish weighed 19 pounds, a far cry from the 25 pounds, one ounce when caught and released by Weakley in the spring of 2006. An angler discovered the fish--which apparently died after spawning--floating in the weeds and gave it to a boat dock attendant. In the San Diego Union Tribune, and AP.

Raccoon kissing leads to rabies treatment for 16

At least 16 people from Hilton Head, SC who kissed and held an adopted baby raccoon are being treated after the animal tested positive for rabies. “There was a lot of affectionate handling, kissing it and feeding it," said Clair Boatwright of the Dept of Health and Environmental Control. "Part of that is it was three weeks old, and they inserted fingers into the raccoon’s mouth. Saliva is one way that rabies spreads.” In The Island Packet.

Swiss government plans catch-and-release fishing ban

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) is alerting its members to animal welfare legislation approved by the Bundesrat--the Swiss Federal Parliament--that includes the provision: "it is not permitted to go fishing with the 'intention' to release the fish." The legislation states that fish caught should be killed immediately following capture, with a sharp blow to the head from a blunt instrument.

Swamped: Texas carry permit requests up 39%

The Texas Department of Public Safety is struggling to keep up the with demand for concealed handgun carry licenses, which have spiked nearly 40 percent in the past year. As a result of high demand, the agency is taking a month longer than the 60 days allowed by law to process original applications and 80 days longer on renewals, which are supposed to be handled within 45 days. In The Houston Chronicle.

Darting, ordeal proves fatal to Calif. freeway cougar

A mountain lion seen near a wall by the busy 210 freeway Wednesday and subsequently tranquilized by California Department of Fish and Game officials died in transport. "There is a loss factor. In this case the mountain lion did not make it through the capture," said a Fish and Game spokesman. Reported in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Florida angler catches, releases bag of coke, pot

Responding to a call from a southwest Florida angler who hooked a plastic bag containing what appeared to be illegal drugs, Bay County Sheriff’s deputies found marijuana and cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,500. According to the Southwest Florida Daily News, the sheriff's department has documented the case as a "found property" incident, which means the owner of the drugs should stop by and claim their property. Stranger things have happened.

Judge rejects bid to delay wolf lawsuit

A federal judge in Montana has rejected a request by Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to delay a lawsuit filed by animal rights groups that seeks to return the gray wolf to the endangered species list. Reported by AP.

Deer takes room-to-room romp through PA home

Carl and Dena Wendel are thankful the deer that romped around their unoccupied home Monday evening did no serious damage, despite spending about 15 minutes inside. "Other than making a mess, we were really lucky," Dena said. "We have a huge 125-gallon fish tank when you first walk in the door. He ran right past that. Thank God." In the Indiana (PA) Gazette.

Alberta hunter faces charges in grizzly shooting

An Alberta hunter who claims he shot a grizzly bear in self-defense has been charged with unlawful hunting, unlawful wildlife possesion, unlawful discharge of a firearm, failing to ensure a firearm in a wildland provincial park is unloaded and fully encased and unlawfully destroying a bear. Each charge carries a fine of up to $100,000. In The Vancouver Sun.

Treed black bear killed near NJ school

New Jersey wildlife officials reportedly euthanized a black bear yesterday after it climbed a tree near Dennis O'Brien Elementary School in Rockaway Township and remained there for more than six hours. AP

SoCal coyote attack on toddler marks third this week

For the third time in the past five days, a coyote has posed a threat to a small child in Southern California. In the latest incident, a Lake Arrowhead woman said a coyote grabbed her 2-year-old by the head and tried to drag her out of the family's yard before she intervened and chased the animal away. AP reports.