The Outdoor Pressroom

Homeless Calif. man jailed for eating protected steelhead

Victor Manuel Silva, 23, a California transient convicted of illegally taking and possessing wildlife, was sentenced to 10 days in jail Wednesday for catching and cooking a federally protected steelhead trout from San Luis Obispo Creek. "Each fish really counts," said Game Warden Teri Hickey. "We are talking about a species that is so critical that some subspecies are in danger of going extinct." In the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

60-ton house moved across frozen Minn. lake

It was considerably larger (and heavier) than the Minnesota ice-fishing shanties appearing on many state lakes this time of year. That explains why it was with some trepidation that workers moved an 1880's-era, 60-ton, two story house across frozen White Bear Lake this week. And, in the end, it came off without a hitch. Video, photos and story at The Mnpls Star-Tribune.

Pork choppers: TX bill authorizes aerial hog hunting

Legislation being considered by Texas lawmakers that legalizes the airborne hunting of a destructive feral hog population in the Lone Star State would allow landowners to lease hunting rights to those seeking to hunt pigs from above the same way they now lease deer-hunting privileges. In the Dallas Morning News.

Wisc. DNR: 'combine bear' was illegally shot

Investigators with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources say the massive, 700-pound black bear reportedly hit and killed by a farmer's combine on Nov. 26 was actually shot illegally and was already dead when it was impacted by the farm machinery. Officials say the suspected bear shooter admitted to shooting the bear after being interviewed by conservation wardens from North Dakota and Minnesota. The Eau Clair Leader-Telegram.

Google Maps van hits deer, records sequence

Photos of a Google "Street View" van's accident involving a deer on a rural New York state roadway have been removed from the Google Maps Web site after several blogs posted links showing the deer/vehicular encounter. One shot shows a spotted fawn loping beside the Google car before it's seen down on the pavement. Another shows the deer lying on the side of the road as the car moves away. See the photo sequence and Google's official explanation.

Doody duty: cop rescues retriever from sewage tank

A Kalama, Wash. police officer performed an unusual (and smelly) rescue this week after a water-loving chocolate Lab from the city's shelter decided to leap into the municipal sewage treatment plant's "digester" tank. As the dog struggled in the brine, Officer Jeff Skeie reached in and hauled it to safety, getting covered with “bio-solids” in the process. “The officer did his duty in someone else’s doody,” observed Police Chief Bruce Hall. The Kalama Daily News.

Dear John: Blasted fast-food commode to receive last rites

Remember the story about the man whose .40 cal. handgun accidentally discharged in a Utah fast-food restaurant's bathroom stall, demolishing the commode? In a decidedly tongue-in-cheek affair, the Centerville Carl's Jr. will hold a funeral for the toilet tomorrow, and employees will hand out complimentary bottles of Kaboom® Bowl Blaster, because "it was the toilet's favorite." A corporate marketing exec writes on the company's Facebook page: "Our thoughts go out to the surviving men's room urinal and porcelain sink." The Salt Lake Tribune.

Beretta: Largest military handgun contract since WWII

Beretta USA Corp. has announced its receipt of a U.S. Army contract valued at $220 million to provide up to 450,000 Beretta Model 92FS 9mm pistols to U.S. military customers, including a first delivery order for 20,000 pistols intended for the Iraqi military. The company reports that all guns will be built by US workers in Maryland. Beretta press release.

With new data, Wisconsin raises bear quota by 55%

Based on new scientific data indicating that nearly three times the number of black bears live in the state than previously estimated, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board voted unanimously Wednesday to increase the bear kill quota by 55 percent--to 4,585--and the number of hunting permits by 57 percent, to 7,310. The Capital Times.

Hot wings: Owl knocks out power to 3 Iowa TV stations

How do you like your Hooters wings? Extra hot? A spokesman for Alliant Energy says an owl that landed on a power pole in Linn County, Iowa Tuesday was responsible for knocking out the electrical service to about 1,200 of its customers—including three Cedar Rapids TV stations. "There wasn't much left of the owl, unfortunately," said Alliant's Ryan Stensland.

Glitch delays Chicago carp barrier activation (again)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will delay activation of an electric barrier intended to prevent invasive Asian carp from accessing Lake Michigan through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal until sometime in March. Engineers preparing for a Jan. 31 activation discovered corroded cooling pipes on the $9 million unit, a system that has never seen full operation since its completion in 2006. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Idaho needy get trout, without consumption warning

First, the needy folks in N. Dakota and Minnesota had thousands of pounds of ground venison removed from their food bank shelves after questionable decisions were made about potential health concerns linked to alleged lead bullet fragments in the meat. Now, an Idaho food bank is being informed that it should have issued consumption-frequency advisories about naturally occurring mercury possibly contained in the 4,700 pounds of trout and whitefish it distributed to needy persons in the region last year. Via AP.

PA poachers will pay more

The Pennsylvania Game Commission Board yesterday unanimously approved a measure establishing replacement costs for wildlife taken unlawfully in the state. Under the new guidelines, a judge may also assess a $5,000 replacement cost for an elk with a minimum Boone & Crockett green score of 200 points or a deer with a minimum green score of 115. In The Times Leader.

Gator drags Florida man into lake

Authorities in Lake Worth, Fla. say a man hired to clean John Prince Memorial Park suffered severe injuries to his hand when an 8-foot alligator lunged from Lake Osborne and pulled him into the water Tuesday. A  Florida Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman said the attack on Raymundo Velasco was the state's first for 2009. The Sun Sentinel.

Turkeys go postal, attack Mass. mail carrier

A Massachusetts post office has suspended regular delivery to some homes after a mail carrier was harassed and chased by a group of aggressive wild turkeys on Jan. 15. "Some of the neighbors said their dogs have been attacked, but mostly it's just been our postal truck," said Rockport PO Delivery Manager Tim Russell. "They chase the truck down the street—two males in particular—it's just unbelievable." The Gloucester Daily Times.