The Outdoor Pressroom

Whirling disease parasite found at Arizona's Lees Ferry

The Arizona Game and Fish Department advises that the parasite known to cause whirling disease in trout has been confirmed at the renowned Lees Ferry fishery within Glen Canyon "Although the parasite has been confirmed in fish samples from Lees Ferry, to date no trout have displayed any disease symptoms such as the classic whirling motion," said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. AGFD.

La-La-Land: SoCal animal advocates protest cougar killing

It should come as no surprise that Southern California animal rights groups have turned the killing of a mountain lion in downtown Santa Monica by authorities into a springboard to further their effort—it's what they do. "We have to coexist," said Jack Carone,  communications director for In Defense of Animals. "A mountain lion doesn't expect to find a city. Trespassing should not be punishable by death." LA Times.

Like father, like son: Snake-handling preacher dies from bite

A West Virginia preacher known for his handling of poisonous snakes has died after being bitten by a timber rattlesnake he was using during an outdoor religious service on Memorial Day. The Charleston Daily Mail reports that as a teenager, Mark Randall "Mack" Wolford, now 44, witnessed his father—also a snake-handling minister—die from a snakebite.

Colorado woman trampled by cow elk

A 60-year-old Estes Park, Colo. woman received injuries when she was trampled by a cow elk accompanied by a calf while walking near her apartment complex Tuesday. Residents were reminded to keep their distance from elk as calving season is underway. KMGH Denver.

Fashion meets customized DNA: Stingray skin sneakers

The Fashionista website claims this story will make the folks at PETA foam at the mouth. Normally, we'd say that's a good thing. But we're not sure what to think about Rayfish Footwear's new shoe designs made with the shagreen (skins) of genetically engineered stingrays. Customers can create their own design on an online template offering 29 skin patterns that will grow on stingrays using customized DNA. Prices start at $1,800.

Deer hoofs-in to Wisconsin manicure shop

The manager of Nails Only in Oshkosh, Wisc. may want to review her open door, walk-ins welcome policy after an injured and bleeding whitetail deer strolled into the busy shop yesterday, tried to leap through a window, and then sat on the floor until it was removed by authorities with Wisconsin DNR and the Oskosh PD. The Northwestern.

Minnesota angler found with 443 panfish over limit

A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer investigating Chien Van Tran, 39, on Pelican Lake in Wright County April 4 found 134 sunfish and 19 crappies on his boat, and more in a freezer in his home, for a total of 413 sunfish and 30 crappies over the legal limit. Tran faces a maximum $3,000 fine, a year in jail, $2,015 in restitution, plus the loss of his fishing privileges for three years. Elk River Star-News and MDNR.

Cats add an unnatural, lethal dimension to the outdoors

A provocative treatise from Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette outdoors writer Mark Blazis about the staggering toll that roaming, outdoors cats have on songbirds. Minimally, Blazis notes, feral and domestic cats annually kill 100 million to 300 million birds in the US, with some estimates closer to 1 billion. We especially appreciate Clay Thompson's analogy, that house cats are an invasive species, like kudzu, except that kudzu doesn't murder millions of songbirds.

Pennsylvania group says fight for Sunday hunting not over

Despite the failure of a measure to establish Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania to move out of committee, a grassroots coalition of hunters says it plans to take its fight to the state's highest court no later than July. "We seek to re-establish hunting as a constitutional right and abolish the Sunday hunting ban at the same time," said Kathy Davis of  Hunters United for Sunday Hunting. Bob Frye in the Tribune-Review.

Wounded vet gets a special hand from Florida tarpon angler

It was a weekend of ups and downs for angler Jack Wiseman, who took part in the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series at Boca Grande (Fla.) Pass as one of eight Wounded Warrior participants. Wiseman was fighting a tarpon Saturday morning when his prosthetic arm broke and was dragged away with the rod and reel. Another angler later hooked the same fish, with the rod—and Wiseman's hand—still attached. WINK News.

Black bears in Missouri? More than you may think!

Biologists from the Missouri Department of Conservation are into their third year of a comprehensive Black Bear Project, using trailcams and snare traps to count bruins and accumulate data. In two years, 108 bears have been collared, weighed, measured and recorded. How many more bruins call The Show Me State home? Kansas City Star.

Mountain lions responsible for Montana wolf deaths

A gray wolf found dead in Montana's Bitterroot Valley last week was the second this year—a the fourth since 2011—to be killed by mountain lions, according to state Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists. "I haven't heard of it happening anywhere else," said FWP's Liz Bradley. We wonder where the hypocrites from Defenders of Wlildlife, who rake in millions by misleading the public about the plight of wolves, will stand on this one. Anti-lion? Great Falls Tribune.

Was privy bear victim scared sh**less? 'It was already gone!'

A recovering Gordon Shurvell, the Canadian 65-year-old who survived a black bear attack as he took care of business in a remote Ontario camp's outhouse last week, was asked by reporters if the attack scared the "you know what" out of him. "It was already gone! I'd already done my business," he added. "All the defense I had is a...piece of [toilet] paper." Next time he uses the camp's facilities, Shurvell says he'll "put up with the stench and shut the door." CBC News.

Lawmakers move to name bison 'national mammal'

The National Bison Legacy Act was introduced in the Senate this week by lawmakers from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Rhode Island. The largely symbolic measure would provide no added protections for an estimated 20,000 wild bison, but would declare it America's "national mammal." AP.

Pair responsible for 2011 SoCal wildfire get prison time

One of two men who started a fire that scorched 22 square miles of mountainous  back-country between Warner Springs and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California last summer was sentenced Wednesday to six years in state prison. Jesse James Durbin pleaded guilty to an arson charge, as did co-defendant Jeremy Joseph Ortiz, who was sentenced earlier this month to a six-year term. North County Times.