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Tag: Deer

  • Video: Deer Sets Off Burglar Alarm in a New York Bank

    new video loaded: Deer Sets Off Burglar Alarm in a New York Bank

    Police officers on Long Island responded to an alarm at a bank to find that the culprit was a deer that had crashed through a window.

    By Axel Boada

    January 23, 2026

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    Axel Boada

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  • Michigan Deer Have Officially Crossed the Line: Homes, Libraries, Banks, and Now Basements

    If you live in Michigan, you already know this to be true:
    Deer are no longer afraid of us.

    Roads, backyards, parking lots — those are beginner levels. Over the past few years, Michigan deer have been steadily leveling up, moving from “nuisance wildlife” into something closer to unpaid roommates with hooves.

    And the latest incident may be the most unsettling yet.

    A Deer Recently Broke Into a Michigan Home — and Refused to Leave

    According to reports, a deer somehow got inside a home in Walker, Michigan and decided the basement was a perfectly acceptable place to live.

    The homeowners tried to get it out. That didn’t work.

    They eventually called police, who discovered the deer had no interest in relocating. It stayed put for more than two full days, effectively squatting in the basement until officers were able to guide it outside using a broom and a catch pole.

    The deer was unharmed and calmly walked back into the wild — presumably to tell its friends how central heating works.

    This Was Not an Isolated Incident

    As strange as this sounds, it fits a growing pattern. Michigan deer have been pushing boundaries for years, and the list of incidents is long enough that it no longer feels random.

    Here are just a few highlights.

    A Deer Broke Into the University of Michigan Law Library

    In late 2023, a buck crashed through a window into the University of Michigan Law Library.

    Not a dorm.
    Not a cafeteria.
    A law library.

    There were no reports of the deer studying case law, but the message was clear: no building is off limits.

    A Store Visit That Turned Into a Family Affair

    In St. Clair Shores, a deer wandered into a local store. Employees managed the situation, and eventually the deer left.

    Later, it came back — this time with its entire family.

    This was less a wildlife incident and more a scouting mission.

    Deer Home Invasions Are Becoming Normal

    There have been multiple cases across Michigan of deer breaking into homes, running through hallways, crashing into furniture, and eventually finding their way back outside.

    Windows are no longer viewed as barriers. They’re viewed as suggestions.

    The Pumpkin Bucket Incident(s)

    In 2022, a deer in Bloomfield Hills was spotted with a trick-or-treat bucket stuck on its head. In 2023, a similar scene played out in Lansing.

    These weren’t isolated accidents. These were deer interacting with human objects — and losing.

    A Deer Tried to Use a Bank in Flint

    Several years ago in downtown Flint, a deer reportedly saw its reflection in a bank window and charged.

    Whether it thought it was a rival or simply wanted to make a withdrawal remains unclear, but the result was the same: shattered glass and a reminder that reflections are dangerous.

    Why Are Michigan Deer Acting Like This?

    The short answer: they’re comfortable.

    Deer have adapted quickly to suburban and urban environments. They associate people with food, shelter, warmth, and safety from predators. Fields disappear. Winters get harsher. Homes stay warm.

    If a deer finds an open door, window, or weak point — it doesn’t see a house.
    It sees an opportunity.

    The Walker basement deer didn’t panic. It didn’t bolt. It stayed. That’s the part that makes this story different.

    This Is Why Michigan Leads the Nation in Deer Collisions

    Michigan consistently ranks near the top when it comes to deer-vehicle crashes. The same comfort that lets deer wander into basements also puts them in roads, parking lots, and intersections.

    They no longer behave like animals avoiding danger. They behave like neighbors who assume you’ll stop.

    Are Michigan Deer Getting Smarter — or Just Bolder?

    Deer are excellent observers. They learn traffic patterns. They recognize safe zones. They understand that humans rarely pose immediate threats.

    And once fear is gone, curiosity fills the gap.

    That’s how you end up with a deer in a law library. Or a basement. Or a bank.

    The New Michigan DNR Reality

    For years, deer stories were funny. A deer in a yard. A deer on a golf course. A deer staring at you from the woods.

    Michigan’s deer population hasn’t just adapted to us — it’s integrated.

    And as the new year begins, the trend appears to be continuing.

    Because if there’s shelter…
    and possibly food…
    Michigan deer will find it.

    Jim O’Brien

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  • Lawsuit challenges the approval of an exploratory drilling program in Alaska

    JUNEAU, Alaska — Conservation groups and an Iñupiat-aligned group sued Thursday to overturn the recent approval of an exploratory drilling program in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, saying it was improperly analyzed by the federal government and could harm caribou and important habitat areas.

    The U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved a one-year program proposed by ConocoPhillips Alaska last month that included seismic surveys aimed at helping identify oil and gas reserves and plans to drill four exploration wells. Activities would occur near existing ConocoPhillips Alaska developments, including the large Willow oil project, the lawsuit states.

    The complaint, filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, the Center for Biological Diversity and The Wilderness Society, says the process around the company’s application and its subsequent approval lacked transparency and was rushed. A final decision was issued days after a limited public comment period ended, it says.

    The Bureau of Land Management “has pushed this project through without proper analysis or process and without considering the significant flaws in the measures it relies on to justify its approval of the exploration program,” the lawsuit states.

    It names as defendants the Bureau of Land Management and its parent agency, the Department of the Interior, along with top officials including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

    Interior Department spokesperson Alyse Sharpe said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

    Dennis Nuss, a spokesperson for ConocoPhillips Alaska, said in an email that the company is confident in the “robustness” of its plan and permits and looks forward to completing its work within the limited winter exploration season.

    There has been longstanding debate over how much of the petroleum reserve — which covers an area roughly the size of Indiana — should be open for development. President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to roll back limits on drilling and protections enacted during the Biden administration, and a law passed this year calls for the first lease sales in the reserve since 2019.

    The push has been cheered by the state’s Republican congressional delegation and governor, but it raised concerns among environmentalists who caution against the continued embrace of new oil production in the face of climate change. The reserve is home to Teshekpuk Lake, the largest lake in Alaska’s arctic region and third-largest in the state.

    Nauri Simmonds, executive director of Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, said the proposed exploration program is “not only an assault on caribou and tundra — it is another chapter in the enfoldment of our people into systems designed to fracture us from within.”

    “Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic stands against this approval because our future depends on protecting our homelands, our unity, and our right to live free from the harms of industrial expansion,” Simmonds said in a statement.

    The group describes itself online as “an organization of Iñupiat Peoples and community members that believe in a balanced Earth for future generations.”

    There are differing views among Alaska Natives, however, over further oil development in places like the petroleum reserve. A group representing many North Slope leaders, Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, has supported efforts to drill there.

    The lawsuit says work under the proposed program could begin “any day” and last until April or May.

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  • Authorities Search For Clackamas County Deer Poachers – KXL

    File photo of deer in Oregon wilderness. MGN image.

    CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR – The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for your help in finding the poacher or poachers responsible for illegally killing four deer.  All four were butchered and, for some reason, the meat was dumped and left to rot off South Elwood Road outside the town of Colton in Clackamas County.

    On Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, a caller reported finding a large amount of deer meat and front and rear deer quarters thrown into the bushes along South Elwood Road, just east of South Benzinger Road in Colton.  A trooper with Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife responded and confirmed the report.  The trooper believes the deer had been butchered elsewhere and brought to the area where the body parts were thrown into dense vegetation on Port Blakely Tree Farm property.  It is believed that three of the deer were killed with archery equipment.

    The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying those involved in the unlawful take of four deer. Courtesy OSP Fish and Wildlife Division.

    The remains were likely dumped in the area between Friday, October 31st, 2025, and Sunday, November 2nd, 2025.

    Anyone with any information is asked to call the Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone, or email [email protected]. Please reference case number #SP25-457045

    More about:

    Tim Lantz

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  • 10 Plant Partnerships That Will Triple Your Harvest (Gardeners Shocked!) –

    I learned that one simple gardening trick can boost harvests quickly while cutting pest numbers almost in half. The trick is companion planting: nature’s way of helping plants work better together.

    After many seasons of trial and error, this method turned my weak veggie beds into a healthy, busy garden in no time.

    No need to stress about fancy layouts. These 10 plant partners work well with little effort. Ready to match plants the easy way? Let’s go.

    Plant Partners That Work Wonders

    1. Tomatoes & Basil: A Reliable Match

    This pair isn’t just delicious on the plate. Basil’s strong smell helps keep away pests like aphids and hornworms that usually bother tomatoes.

    Growing them together can even make tomatoes taste better. (Seriously. My tomatoes tasted so much better once I planted basil beside them.)

    2. Carrots & Onions: A Simple Defense

    Carrot flies can wipe out a crop fast, but onions help block them. In return, carrots help loosen the soil for onion bulbs. They just work well together.

    3. Corn & Beans: The Old “Three Sisters” Duo

    This old planting method makes sense. Beans add nitrogen to the soil, which corn needs. The corn stalks give the beans something to climb. It’s a natural setup that works smoothly.

    4. Cucumbers & Nasturtiums: The Decoy

    Nasturtiums act like bait, pulling pests like aphids and beetles away from cucumbers. They also have pretty flowers that you can eat with a pepper-like taste.

    5. Peppers & Marigolds: Root Protectors

    A common mistake is planting peppers without help. Marigold roots release compounds that chase away nematodes that damage pepper roots.

    Some studies show that marigolds can reduce nematode populations by up to 90%. Their blooms look nice, too.

    6. Lettuce & Radishes: Soil Helpers

    Radishes break up compacted soil, allowing lettuce roots to grow deeper. This makes lettuce stronger on hot and dry days. Radishes also grow fast, so you get an early harvest while waiting for your lettuce.

    7. Squash & Borage: Bee Magnets

    Squash needs more bees, and borage attracts them. These bright blue flowers pull in loads of pollinators and help keep pests away from squash. Knowing this pairing gives you better fruit.

    8. Potatoes & Horseradish: A Surprise Team

    This pair sounds odd, but it works. Horseradish contains natural compounds that help keep potatoes strong and beetles away. Plant horseradish at the corners of the potato bed for protection.

    9. Strawberries & Thyme: Berry Guards

    Slugs love strawberries, but thyme helps stop them with its strong scent. Thyme also acts as ground cover, keeping berries off the soil and reducing fungal problems. Simple and smart.

    10. Cabbage & Dill: Friendly Bug Attractors

    Dill doesn’t chase pests. Instead, it brings in helpful insects like ladybugs and lacewings that eat cabbage worms. It’s like having tiny guards watching over your cabbages.

    Why Companion Planting Works

    Companion planting is more than old advice. It’s backed by how plants interact. They use scents and root signals to communicate with one another. The results can be big:

    • Less pest damage, fewer sprays
    • Better pollination
    • Grow more in small spaces
    • Better soil use
    • Shade where needed

    When you match plants well, everything grows better together.

    How To Start

    Try just two or three partner groups this season. Watch how plant health, pest problems, and harvest amounts change.

    Remember: it’s not just about putting plants next to each other. It’s about letting them support each other. Keep them close but not crowded; about 12–18 inches apart works for most pairs.

    With the right partners, your garden becomes a group that works together instead of single plants growing alone. That’s the goal for most of us anyway.

    Gary Antosh

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  • Vehicle collisions with wildlife spike 16% in Colorado after fall time change

    LITTLETON – For deer,  the fall time change Sunday morning means trouble: a 16% spike in collisions with vehicles over the following week, despite years of safety campaigns and the construction of 75 special crossings along highways.

    Drivers in Colorado collided with at least 54,189 wild animals over the past 15 years, according to newly compiled Colorado Department of Transportation records. That’s far fewer than in many other states, such as Michigan, where vehicle-life collisions often number more than 50,000 in one year.

    The carnage — especially this time of year — increasingly occurs where animals face the most people along the heavily populated Front Range, beyond the mountainous western half of the state that holds much of the remaining prime habitat, state records show.

    State leaders and wildlife advocates gathered on Thursday near one of the crossings along the high-speed C-470 beltway in southwest metro Denver to launch a safety campaign.

    “We’ve made wildlife crossings a priority in our rural areas, and also increasingly in urban areas,” CDOT Director Shoshana Lew said. “We cannot put underpasses and overpasses everywhere. Particularly at this time of year, we urge everyone to be careful of wildlife.”

    Lew credited the crossings with containing collision numbers that could be much higher in Colorado, given the traffic and the prevalence of deer and other wild animals. Most of the state’s highway construction projects, such as the work on Interstate 25 north of Colorado Springs that includes a large wildlife bridge, will factor in wildlife safety needs, Lew said.

    The risk of collisions spikes this time of year due to deer and elk migrating to lower elevations, bringing more animals across highways. The end of daylight saving time also plays a role as more drivers navigate roads during the relatively low-visibility hours before and after sunset, when deer often move about.

    In Colorado, the 54,189 vehicle-animal collisions that CDOT recorded from 2010 through 2024 caused the deaths of 48 vehicle occupants and more than 5,000 injuries. The animals breakdown: 82% deer, 11% elk, 2% bears.

    Ten counties where vehicles hit the most animals during that period included five along the Front Range — Douglas, Jefferson, El Paso, Larimer, and Pueblo — with a combined total of 12,791 collisions, state records show. That compares with 11,068 in the other five counties in western Colorado — La Plata, Montezuma, Garfield, Moffat, and Chaffee.

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  • Caught on cam: Deer burst into Fuquay-Varina home

    Gavin Edwards got a crashing introduction to one of his neighbors Wednesday when a deer crashed through the storm door of his Fuquay-Varina home. 

    Edwards, who moved to the Tar Heel state from Los Angeles in 2022, said “This is so North Carolina.”

    His doorbell camera captured the break-in. 

    “The stag came first,” he said. “In one head butt … shattered my storm door and busted in the front door. The doe jumped over his shoulder and ran inside.”

    Edwards, who works from home, was just waking up when he heard the crash. 

    “It sounded like somebody basically dumped all the plates and dishes in my kitchen on the floor. It was a huge crash,” he said.

    A deer shattered the glass of a storm door in Fuquay-Varina

    Edwards came eye to eye with the animal in his living room. “It was really tall,” he said. “The deer came in, went through the kitchen, walked through the living room, stared me down and then bolted out the front door.”

    No one was injured, and Edwards’ landlord was able to quickly repair the damage. “I’ve got a really good management company,” he said. “He actually had the door jamb repaired by the end of the day, so we’re able to close our front door. 

    A broken door jamb where a deer head butted his way through a Fuquay-Varina front door.

    “The storm door is pretty much toast, so we’ll probably wait another week before we get that replaced.”

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  • Maine wardens rescue moose trapped for hours in abandoned well

    PEMBROKE, Maine — A bull moose that fell into an abandoned well in Maine was pulled to safety during an elaborate five hour rescue.

    The operation happened Wednesday after Cole Brown, whose family owned the forested land in northern Maine, spotted a pair of antlers. He heard a noise and initially thought it was turkeys but, upon, closer inspect, realized it was something a lot bigger.

    “He walks over and, through the thick alders and bushes, he saw the antlers, just the antlers peeking out,” said Delaney Gardner, Brown’s stepsister who videotaped the rescue. “He knew that an animal of the size, he was going to need some back up just in case it was, you know, injured or just stuck there.”

    The family alerted the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. They sent a biologist who sedated the moose and then wardens put straps on the animal. Using an excavator provided by the family, they gingerly lifted the moose out of the 9-foot deep well.

    “Once the sedation wore off, the moose took off running, no worse for wear other than perhaps his bruised ego,” the agency said on its Facebook page.

    Gardner said the successful rescue left her with a mix of “relief and happiness.”

    “This is a majestic giant animal in such a precarious situation,” she said. “So to be able to see everyone come together in all these different ways that they needed to was absolutely incredible. And then seeing it work out was just so satisfying and heartwarming.”

    Gardner said the family didn’t know the well — which is likely decades old — was on their 100 acres of land until the moose fell into it. Since then, they have capped the well and are considering their options, including digging it out and utilizing it since it there may a water source nearby.

    “For now it’s covered and no more animals or people will be falling into it,” she said.

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  • WATCH: Police officer saves deer stuck in soccer net in Annapolis – WTOP News

    WATCH: Police officer saves deer stuck in soccer net in Annapolis – WTOP News

    A police officer saved a deer after it became stuck in a soccer net at a park in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday morning.

    A police officer saved a deer after it became stuck in a soccer net at a park in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday morning.

    Anne Arundel County police said Corporal Sears received a call around 8:30 a.m. for a report of an injured deer at Peninsula Park.

    When Sears arrived, he saw the deer in distress with its antlers stuck in the soccer net.

    Sears used shears to cut off the netting and freed the deer within a few minutes. The deer wasn’t injured in the ordeal and was released to safety.

    The rescue was caught on Sears’ body camera. Anne Arundel County police said the interaction demonstrated “the professionalism and dedication of our officers in handling wildlife-related incidents.”

    Watch the video below:

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    Police officer saves deer stuck in soccer net in Annapolis

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Tadiwos Abedje

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  • Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut

    Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut

    My dinner today, it was delicious.

    Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut. My dinner today, it was delicious. Hirschpfeffer is essentially deer meat that's been soaked in a marinade of

    Hirschpfeffer is essentially deer meat that’s been soaked in a marinade of red wine, vinegar, vegetables and spices to make it tender and less gamey. That same marinade is then used for the sauce, which is thickened with butter, flour and a bit of cocoa.

    Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut. My dinner today, it was delicious. Hirschpfeffer is essentially deer meat that's been soaked in a marinade of

    Red cabbage, cooked in vine, broth and vinegar.

    Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut. My dinner today, it was delicious. Hirschpfeffer is essentially deer meat that's been soaked in a marinade of

    Chestnuts with caramel sauce.

    Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut. My dinner today, it was delicious. Hirschpfeffer is essentially deer meat that's been soaked in a marinade of

    Spätzle, best described as German pasta.

    Hirschpfeffer with Spätzle, Marroni and Rotkraut. My dinner today, it was delicious. Hirschpfeffer is essentially deer meat that's been soaked in a marinade of

    All together, a delicious dinner for fall season.

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  • Tiny South American deer debuts at New York City zoo

    Tiny South American deer debuts at New York City zoo

    NEW YORK (AP) — A tiny South American deer that will weigh only as much as a watermelon when fully grown is making its debut at the Queens Zoo in New York City.

    The southern pudu fawn weighed just 2 pounds (just under 1 kilo) when it was born June 21, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs New York City’s zoos, said in a news release Thursday. It is expected to weigh 15 to 20 pounds (7 to 9 kilograms) in adulthood.

    The southern pudu, one of the world’s smallest deer species, is listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is native to Chile and Argentina, where its population is decreasing because of factors including development and invasive species.

    The Queens Zoo breeds southern pudus in collaboration with other zoos in an effort to maintain genetically diverse populations, the conservation society said. Eight pudu fawns have been born there since 2005.

    The newborn fawn will share a Queens Zoo habitat with its parents. There are two more pudus at the conservation society’s Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn.

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  • Spreading lies about chronic wasting disease in Texas deer is beyond comprehension | Opinion

    Spreading lies about chronic wasting disease in Texas deer is beyond comprehension | Opinion

    OPINION AND COMMENTARY

    Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters.

    White-tailed deer does and fawns were among the 301 animals killed July 25 through 28 at Maple Hill Farms, a captive deer facility in Gilman, Wisconsin where chronic wasting disease was discovered in August, 2021. Does And Fawns Maple Hill Farms July 2022

    What are certain fringe politicians, podcasters, aging rockers and blatant self-promoters thinking?


    Paul A. Smith

    USA Today Network file photo

    Wildlife health

    Thank you for the clear-eyed June 9 commentary, “State must deal with wasting disease threat to Texas deer,” (5C) about the deadly threats posed by chronic wasting disease. The vast majority of Texans concerned with preserving a healthy wild deer herd are fully supportive of the extensive efforts by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to contain and eliminate this awful disease.

    It is beyond comprehension that fringe voices are waging such a virulent campaign against any who take this disease seriously. I can’t help but think that certain politicians, podcasters, aging rockers and blatant self-promoters are harboring their own heads full of damaged prions.

    – Roy Leslie, San Antonio

    Fueling violence

    The Fairmount neighborhood has always been a safe place for the LGBTQ community. Businesses on Magnolia Avenue, Celebration Community Church on Pennsylvania and Westside Unitarian Universalist Church are welcoming to all. As a straight cisgender couple, my husband and I enjoy the area because everyone seems so chill and non-discriminatory.

    Holding an anti-transgender disinformation seminar during Pride Month at the Fire Station Community Center is disrespectful to the community and invites danger to a neighborhood that is one of the few safe spaces in Fort Worth. (June 5, 2A, “Fort Worth OKs anti-LGBTQ ‘ideology’ event at city center”) The groups involved in this event spread incorrect information about gender-affirming care, and their rhetoric fuels violence. The city made a mistake by allowing this event.

    – Amy Ramsey, Fort Worth

    School decisions

    Let’s make sure we all understand the Fort Worth school board’s recent decisions.

    The board commissioned a study, due this year, to better understand declining enrollments and underused facilities. Deciding not to wait for the commissioned report, the board decided to close several schools.

    But because of predictable community reaction, the board reversed that decision. The board will use bond funds to upgrade all middle schools, even though some will be closed in the future.

    It’s rather questionable decision-making for those governing an $800-million-a-year enterprise.

    – William Koehler, Fort Worth

    Texas prisons

    It will take more than the sheriff and Texas Rangers to resolve the overcrowding and inmate death issues in Texas county jails. Prison and jail administrators and corrections officers should be educated in criminology, sociology, correctional law, management, sociology of organizations, minority relations and psychology. This would prepare individuals to lead their organizations, work with at-risk populations, understand social and cultural issues, and apply effective problem-solving strategies. These skills are important because the research suggests that most prison and jail deaths are preventable.

    Without intelligent, competent and inspiring leadership, there is little chance of creating constructive corrections environments and operations. It is time to re-address the training and educational requirements for prison and jail administrators, and corrections officers.

    – Leslie J. Smith, Grapevine

    Phones rob kids

    Thank you, Brian Byrd, for addressing school phone bans in your June 4 commentary, “To help ‘anxious generation,’ start with school phone bans.” (12A) It saddens me to see young people and adults with their heads staring at their smartphones, fingers flying. I am certainly guilty of this at times, but the cost to our children’s development is incalculable.

    Our phones are an exciting source of information. So is a good book. Our phones are an escape from reality. So is a walk in the woods. This is definitely a problem that needs our attention.

    – Lindy Hudson, Fort Worth

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  • Teenage boy falls 30 feet into abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail

    Teenage boy falls 30 feet into abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail

    Officials are rescuing a teenage boy who fell 30 feet into an abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department.

    The teenager fell into the silo, which is a concrete cylinder sunk into the ground, around 3:30 a.m. Sunday near 82000 East County Road 22 in Deer Trail, according to the sheriff. The boy’s friends, a group of teenagers, followed him into the silo after he fell, officials say.

    Julianna O'Clair

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  • Nevada’s first big-game moose hunt will be tiny as unusual southern expansion defies climate change

    Nevada’s first big-game moose hunt will be tiny as unusual southern expansion defies climate change

    RENO, Nev. — In what will be a tiny big-game hunt for some of the largest animals in North America, Nevada is planning its first-ever moose hunting season this fall.

    Wildlife managers say explosive growth in Nevada moose numbers over the past five years, increasing to a population of more than 100, justifies the handful of harvests planned.

    Scientists say the experiment of sorts should also provide a real-time peek at how the complexities of climate change affect wildlife, and why these majestic — some say goofy-looking — mammals the size of a horse have unexpectedly expanded their range into warmer territory.

    “Moose are newcomers to North America,” said Cody McKee, a Nevada Department of Wildlife specialist.

    The last deer species to cross the Bering Sea land bridge into Alaska and Canada, McKee said the movement of moose into the Lower 48 has occurred almost exclusively in the past 150 years.

    “Their post-glacial range expansion isn’t really complete,” McKee said. “And that’s what we’re currently seeing in Nevada right now, is those moose are moving into the state and finding suitable habitat.”

    Only a few Nevada moose, perhaps just one, will be killed across an area larger than Massachusetts and New Jersey combined. But state officials expect thousands of applications for the handful of hunting tags, and it’s already controversial.

    “Why a moose hunt at all?” Stephanie Myers of Las Vegas asked at a recent wildlife commission meeting. “We want to see moose, view moose. Not kill moose.”

    The first moose was spotted in Nevada in the 1950s, not long before the dim-witted cartoon character “Bullwinkle” made his television debut. Only a handful of sightings followed for decades, but started increasing about 10 years ago.

    By 2018, officials estimated there were 30 to 50, all in Nevada’s northeast corner. But the population has more than doubled and experts believe there’s enough habitat to sustain about 200, a level that could be reached in three years.

    Bryan Bird, Defenders of Wildlife’s Southwest program director, is among the skeptics who suspect it’s a short-lived phenomenon.

    “I believe the moose story is one of `ghost’ habitat or `ghost’ range expansion. By that I mean, these animals are expanding into habitat that may not be suitable in 50 years due to climate change,” Bird said.

    Government biologists admit they don’t fully understand why the moose have moved so far south, where seasonal conditions are warmer and drier than they traditionally prefer.

    “It seems to be opposite of where we would expect to see moose expansion given their ecology,” said Marcus Blum, a Texas A&M University researcher hired to help assess future movement. He analyzed aerial surveys, individual sightings and habitat to project growth trends.

    Six feet (1.8 meters) tall at the shoulder and up to 1,000 pounds (453.5 kilograms), moose live in riparian areas where they munch on berry bushes and aspen leaves along the edges of mountain forests native to the northern half of Nevada.

    They usually avoid places where temperatures regularly exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius).

    The Nevada study documented moose spending nearly half their time in areas where that “thermal threshold” was exceeded about 150 days a year, while climate change models suggest the threshold will be surpassed by another 14 days annually by 2050, Blum said.

    To be clear, the valleys beneath the snow-capped winter mountain ranges with moose are 500 miles (805 kilometers) from the Las Vegas Strip in the desert many people picture as Nevada.

    Researchers have more questions than answers about why moose continue to expand their range into Nevada where extended drought has taken a toll on other wildlife, McKee said.

    “There’s a lot of speculation and questions about why they are here, given concerns about the changing environment and how it’s probably getting warmer and dryer,” McKee said. “Why is it that our extensive drought cycles haven’t seemed to be affecting the moose population?”

    Populations along the U.S.-Canada border have oscillated for more than a century. Several states, from Idaho to Minnesota and Maine, have dramatically reduced hunting quotas at times to allow populations to recover.

    Alaska is home to the vast majority of U.S. moose, upwards of 200,000, with about 7,000 harvests annually. Maine has nearly 70,000, which is five times more than any other Lower 48 state, and issued 4,100 permits last year. Neighboring New Hampshire offered only 35 for 3,000-plus moose and Idaho issued about 500 for its 10,000 to 12,000.

    No moose were observed in Washington state before the 1960s but its growing population now exceeds 5,000. The state issued three hunting permits in 1977 and now tops 100 annually.

    Nevada’s research suggests its population could sustain more harvests than planned, McKee said, but “conservative is the name of the game here.”

    Aerial surveys are now backed by radio-tracking collars biologists have fitted on four bull moose and nine cows since 2020. In some spots, males significantly outnumber females. Removing a bull or two might improve herd dynamics, he said.

    The exact number of permits will be determined in the coming weeks, but McKee anticipates no more than three. Only Nevadans can apply for the inaugural hunt, which will help guide decisions about future endeavors.

    Successful hunters must present the skull and antlers for state inspection within five days. That will give scientists more insight into herd health, body conditions, disease and parasites.

    Bill Nolan of Sparks, who first hunted ducks at age 12, says he intends to apply for a chance he describes as “slim and none” to draw a moose tag.

    “For hunters, it would be like hitting the lottery,” he said.

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  • 5-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey kills and guts a moose that got entangled with his dog team

    5-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey kills and guts a moose that got entangled with his dog team

    ANCHORAGEW, Alaska — A veteran musher had to kill a moose after it injured his dog shortly after the start of this year’s Iditarod, race officials said Monday.

    Dallas Seavey informed the officials with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Monday morning that he was forced to shoot the moose with a handgun in self-defense.

    This came “after the moose became entangled with the dogs and the musher,” a statement from the race said.

    Seavey, who is tied for the most Iditarod wins ever at five, said he urged officials to get the moose off the trail.

    “It fell on my sled, it was sprawled on the trail,” Seavey told an Iditarod Insider television crew. “I gutted it the best I could, but it was ugly.”

    Seavey, who turned 37 years old on Monday, is not the first musher to have to kill a moose during an Iditarod. In 1985, the late Susan Butcher was leading the race when she used her axe and a parka to fend off a moose, but it killed two of her dogs and injured 13 others. Another musher came along and killed the moose.

    Butcher had to quit that race but went on to win four Iditarods. She died from leukemia in 2006 at the age of 51.

    This year’s race started Sunday afternoon in Willow, about 75 miles (121 kilometers) north of Anchorage. Seavey encountered the moose just before 2 a.m. Monday, 14 miles (22 kilometers) outside the race checkpoint in Swenta, en route to the next checkpoint 50 miles (80 kilometers) away in Finger Lake.

    Seavey arrived in Finger Lake later Monday, where he dropped a dog that was injured in the moose encounter. The dog was flown to Anchorage, where it was being evaluated by a veterinarian.

    Alaska State Troopers were informed of the dead moose, and race officials said every effort was being made to salvage the meat.

    Race rules state that if a big game animal like a moose, caribou or buffalo is killed in defense of life or property, the musher must gut the animal and report it to race officials at the next checkpoint. Mushers who follow must help gut the animal when possible, the rules states.

    New race marshal Warren Palfrey said he would continue to gather information about the encounter as it pertains to the rules, according to the Iditarod statement.

    Musher Paige Drobny confirmed to race officials the moose was dead and in the middle of the trial when she arrived in Finger Lake on Monday.

    “Yeah, like my team went up and over it, like it’s that ‘in the middle of the trail,’” she said.

    Seavey wasn’t the first musher to encounter a moose along that stretch of the race.

    Race leader Jessie Holmes, who is a cast member of the National Geographic reality TV show about life in rural Alaska called“Life Below Zero,” had his encounter between those two checkpoints, but it’s not clear if it was the same moose.

    “I had to punch a moose in the nose out there,” he told a camera crew, but didn’t offer other details.

    The 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) race across Alaska will end sometime next week when the winning musher comes off the Bering Sea ice and crosses under the burled arch finish line in Nome.

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  • Man to plead guilty to helping kill 3,600 eagles, other birds and selling feathers

    Man to plead guilty to helping kill 3,600 eagles, other birds and selling feathers

    A Washington state man accused of helping kill more than 3,000 birds — including eagles on a Montana Indian reservation — then illegally selling their feathers intends to plead guilty to illegal wildlife trafficking and other criminal charges, court documents show.

    Prosecutors have alleged Travis John Branson and others killed about 3,600 birds during a yearslong “killing spree” on the Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere. Feathers from eagles and other birds are highly prized among many Native American tribes for use in sacred ceremonies and during pow-wows.

    Branson of Cusick, Washington, will plead guilty under an agreement with prosecutors to reduced charges including conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts of unlawful trafficking of eagles.

    A second suspect, Simon Paul of St. Ignatius, Montana, remains at large after an arrest warrant was issued when he failed to show up for an initial court appearance in early January. Paul could not be reached for comment and his attorney, Dwight Schulte, declined comment.

    The defendants allegedly sold eagle parts on a black market that has been a long-running problem for U.S. wildlife officials. Illegal shootings are a leading cause of golden eagle deaths, according to a recent government study.

    Immature golden eagle feathers are especially valued among tribes, and a tail set from one of the birds can sell for several hundred dollars apiece, according to details disclosed during a separate trafficking case in South Dakota last year in which a Montana man was sentenced to three years in prison.

    A grand jury in December indicted the two men on 15 federal charges. They worked with others — who haven’t been named by authorities — to hunt and kill the birds and on at least one occasion used a dead deer to lure in an eagle that was killed, according to the indictment.

    Federal officials have not said how many eagles were killed nor what other kinds of birds were involved in the scheme that they say began in 2015 and continued until 2021. The indictment included details on only 13 eagles and eagle parts that were sold.

    Branson did not immediately respond to a message left at a phone number that’s listed for him. His attorney, Assistant Federal Defender Andrew Nelson, declined to comment on the plea agreement.

    Text messages obtained by investigators showed Branson and others telling buyers he was “on a killing spree” to collect more eagle tail feathers for future sales, according to the indictment. Prosecutors described Paul as a “shooter” and “shipper” for Branson.

    Bald eagles are the national symbol of the United States, and both bald and golden eagles are widely considered sacred by American Indians. U.S. law prohibits anyone without a permit from killing, wounding or disturbing eagles or taking any parts such as nests or eggs. Even taking feathers found in the wild can be a crime.

    Federally recognized tribes can apply for permits with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take a bald or golden eagle for religious purposes, and enrolled tribal members can apply for eagle feathers and other parts from the National Eagle Repository. But there’s a lengthy backlog of requests that eagle researchers say is driving the black market for eagle parts.

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  • Florida man faces torture charge over hitting deer for TikTok clip: Sheriff

    Florida man faces torture charge over hitting deer for TikTok clip: Sheriff

    A Florida man is facing animal torment and torture charges after he recorded a video of himself hitting a deer with his SUV and then shared the clip on social media, the local sheriff’s office said.

    Clay Neil Kinney, 27, of Geneva, Florida, is facing one felony count of animal torture and five misdemeanor counts of animal torment after he allegedly recorded a video of himself intentionally running over a deer and posting the footage on TikTok, according to the arrest report and online court documents. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of driving while his license was suspended or revoked, court records show.

    The video clip, which Kinney allegedly shared to the social media platform TikTok, showed the suspect attempting to run over multiple deer before hitting one, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). The condition of the deer allegedly hit by Kinney was unknown at the time of publication. While it is unclear when the incident occurred and when the video was first shared on TikTok, Kinney was arrested on December 28, Seminole County court records show.

    A stock photo of white-tailed deer. Clay Neil Kinney, 27, of Florida, is facing five counts of animal torment, one count of animal torture, and one count of a moving traffic violation after he allegedly recorded video of himself intentionally running over a deer and posting the footage on TikTok, according to the local sheriff’s office.
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    Newsweek reached out via email on Sunday night to the SCSO for comment and an update on the case. Court records did not list an attorney for Kinney who could speak on his behalf at the time of publication.

    On December 28, an SCSO detective was patrolling the area of Lake Harney Road in Geneva as part of an investigation into Kinney’s TikTok video when he was spotted driving a blue 2000 Chevy Tahoe along Harney Heights Road.

    After being pulled over, Kinney allegedly admitted that he was driving without a license, telling the detective that his license had been suspended, according to the arrest report.

    The SCSO detective then questioned Kinney about the TikTok video where the 27-year-old allegedly “intentionally used his vehicle to drive over deer,” the report states, adding that the suspect was then advised of his Miranda rights and he “admitted post-Miranda to intentionally running over the deer with the vehicle he was driving.”

    The arrest report states that the video, which appeared to have been removed from the platform as of Sunday, shows Kinney attempting to run over five deer in total but was only able to hit one deer with his SUV, the report alleges.

    Kinney was arrested for cruelty to animals “for intentionally inflicting, unnecessary pain and suffering” to an animal by striking the animal with his vehicle, as well as “tormenting” deer by chasing them down with his vehicle with the intent of running them over.

    He’s due in court on January 30, 2024, records show.