A Charlotte homeowners association issued an alert Friday after a bear visited its wooded neighborhood near Mallard Creek Greenway.
“All neighbors, be aware,” the Wellington HOA in northeast Charlotte warned in an email.
The Charlotte Observer obtained a copy of the email, which included what the HOA said was a photo of a bear in woods near a homeowner’s outdoor deck.
Where the bear was spotted
The bear appears to be a young male black bear.
A neighbor spotted the bear near Saxonbury Way, and another resident reported the bear near Garden Grove Lane in the subdivision, according to the HOA.
“911 was called, to notify in interest of public safety etc.,” the HOA said in the email.
The HOA mentioned no reports of the bear being a nuisance. That’s about the only time a state Wildlife officer would respond, N.C. Wildlife Resources Officer Sampson Parker has said.
On Saturday, Parker said he “would be fairly confident” the bear was the same one that people reported swimming across Lake Norman last month.
Those sightings were about 15 miles west of Friday’s report in northeast Charlotte, a hop, skip and jump in bear travel terms.
The Lake Norman bear was likely the black bearspotted in western Mecklenburg a couple of weeks later, Parker previously told the Observer.
“Unfortunately, it’s sticking around,” Parker said Saturday. “I’ve never known one to stay this long,” and he’s stumped as to why.
Most young male bears seen in the region over the decades were merely passing through this time of year, he said.
Young male bears search for territories to claim that are far more vast and isolated than the Charlotte area, he said. They typically end up at the coast or in the mountains.
Parker said that unlike grizzlies and other brown bears, black bears are not likely to attack humans. The bears run away when they pick up a person’s scent, he said.
“They look big and bad, but they’re not known to be aggressive animals,” he said.
Keeping bears from your yard
Leaving trash out overnight can attract bears to your yard, and so can feed left in bird feeders, wildlife experts say. So don’t do it.
Also be sure to clean your grill, and avoid leaving candles and anything else with a scent outside or near open windows, Bearicuda.com advises.
Stay still if you see a bear before the animal spots you, BearWise advises.
Admire the bear, then walk quietly away, according to the site.
If a bear sees you, never run, BearWise urges. Instead, “back away slowly in the opposite direction and wait for the bear to leave,” according to the site.
Keep your dog leashed during walks, according to BearWise.
This story was originally published June 15, 2024, 2:49 PM.
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Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Residents of Mar Vista are certain that they are being watched.
And Jennifer Bedolla knows who it is: the pack of coyotes that she often catches lounging in her yard and who leave the carcasses of neighborhood pets around her home.
In previous years, the occasional coyote would pass through the area at dusk. But this year is different as the pack grows bolder, with coyotes trailing after people as they walk their dogs and lunging at pets and children.
“They’ve become more and more aggressive,” Bedolla said. “They’re just not afraid of humans. They’re just right on your back, running into you and not running away.”
The official response from the city of Los Angeles is that residents can clear brush from around their homes, bang pots and pans to scare away coyotes and overall coexist with the wild animals, according to an information campaign directed at the neighborhood.
Frustrated residents in the community just west of Culver City think L.A. officials do not appreciate their situation.
The usual methods don’t work for them, they say. Animal experts advise anyone who comes across a coyote to wave their arms, shout and make themselves appear as big as possible, but these coyotes are not skittish around their human neighbors.
Every day, among the hillsides the coyote yips and cries grow into a wild cacophony.
Bedolla said a coyote lunged at her 11-year-old son while he played soccer in his backyard as several other coyotes watched. She often carries her 9-year-old Maltese-poodle mix, Zola, when they go out for their weekly walk, because the coyotes seem to have claimed the neighborhood as their territory.
A number of pet dogs and cats have gone missing.
“I’ve cleaned so many neighborhood pets from my yard,” she said. “Just piles of fur and carcasses.”
Jennifer Bedolla stands on a top tier patio in her backyard, which has been inundated with very brazen coyotes in Mar Vista. Bedolla spotted 16 coyotes in her backyard recently.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
As hunters, coyotes are opportunists, experts say, their diet consisting of vermin, birds and, in suburban areas, human trash. They’re attracted to the scent of food on a person’s clothing and over the years have learned to live in close proximity to people.
For some residents, it’s a little too close for comfort.
But figuring out how they might get some relief — and who might help them — isn’t that easy.
One resident turned to the L.A. County agricultural commissioner’s Weights and Measures Bureau for help after a frightening encounter.
At around 11 p.m. on March 29, a person walking their dog in Mar Vista encountered a group of coyotes, said Chief Deputy Maximiliano Regis of the bureau.
“The coyote sort of stopped, looked at [the person] and then made some sort of screaming or yelp sounds,” Regis said.
The dog barked back, and the resident ran away, convinced they were about to be attacked. The person called Weights and Measures to investigate, and in early April an inspector found a mother coyote and four to five pups living in a nearby den.
The mother coyote was likely taking her pups out to hunt, Regis said. But the den is in Los Angeles city limits, and it’s up to the city to determine what to do next, according to Regis.
Los Angeles Animal Services coordinates with various agencies on wildlife within the city limits, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The city says the state agency manages the coyote population, but a spokesperson for Fish and Wildlife said the agency does not manage coyotes but provides information to local jurisdictions and the public on coyotes.
Coyotes at Jennifer Bedolla’s home in Mar Vista. One expert says the coyotes’ behavior is linked to pupping season.
(Jennifer Bedolla)
“Wildlife officers will respond to attacks,” the Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said, “but it is up to local agencies to deal with coyotes in their communities.”
L.A. Animal Services did not respond to follow-up questions about the city’s response to the coyote population. But in a statement, the agency said it hosted an online community meeting with the office of City Councilmember Traci Park as well as Fish and Wildlife to educate residents about “deterrents and property maintenance.”
The agency also hosts its own monthly information sessions about “how to safely coexist with wildlife, as well as ways for people to keep their pets safe,” according to a statement from L.A. Animal Services.
In Mar Vista, there’s a feeling that that type of safety is out of reach.
Resident Jeanelle Arias said a coyote snapped at her 14-year-old dog, Blaine, a toy breed, in their backyard. The coyote scampered away after Arias’ other dog, 7-year-old Bart, barked and gave chase. But the coyote didn’t run away, according to Arias. It hopped on top of a planter to watch what would happen next.
“If it wasn’t for Bart, Blaine would have been attacked,” Arias said. “There have been so many pets that have disappeared.”
On June 4, a coyote trailed closely behind a man as he walked his dog around the neighborhood, according to footage captured on a Ring camera video.
Neighbors said the man eventually spotted the coyote and yelled to scare away his stalker.
Shelley Beringhele has lived in Mar Vista for the last 10 years, but her family has been in the neighborhood since her grandfather Val Ramos built his home in 1963.
Coyotes were never a concern for the community, Beringhele said, but now shadow humans and pets.
“I find it disturbing how bold the coyotes have become and how little the city is willing to do about the situation,” Beringhele said.
But Rebecca Dmytryk, co-owner with Humane Wildlife Control, sounded a hopeful note. She said the coyotes’ behavior is tied to pupping season. Coyotes want to convey to other canines in the neighborhood that they have pups and are territorial.
“They want to make sure that dogs understand, ‘Do not come over here, because our pups are close by,’” Dmytryk said.
Despite the animal carcasses, Dmytryk doesn’t believe that coyotes are hunting neighborhood dogs but looking at them as intruders.
The coyote pupping season stretches for a few months, from when coyotes give birth to when the pups become juveniles and leave their parents. The coyote activity should die down by autumn, Dmytryk said.
Mar Vista is not unique, Dmytryk said. Other parts of Southern California are also enduring the pupping season, including sections of South Central Los Angeles and Woodland Hills, where she recently responded to one call to get coyotes out of a crawl space under a home.
Dmytryk said she’d been contacted by one concerned Mar Vista resident and her business uses humane means of hazing coyotes. She provided the resident with information about how they can protect their home, similar to the advice provided by the city. Her methods include humane traps.
California does not allow coyote traps within 150 yards of a residence without written consent, but that has not stopped some cities. Torrance contracted a trapper in an effort to manage its coyote population, which includes killing coyotes. The result was a state investigation over possible violation of the trapping law.
Although Dmytryk advocates for humane measures, she does agree that the city of Los Angeles should take a more proactive approach to tracking coyotes and investigate why they’re active in one area. Residents in Mar Vista agree, although some say they’re unsure what that would involve. They just know that they are fed up.
Mar Vista resident Shari Dunn, on a recent night, picked up a neighbor who had just encountered a coyote as she was walking her husky puppy. The neighbor screamed and became distraught over the encounter.
“I drove her home, and she was bawling,” Dunn said. “The woman had just gotten home from work and was walking her dog. I guess you can’t do that anymore.”
After decades of efforts to restore populations of bald eagles and ospreys, New Jersey wildlife officials are proposing to take both birds of prey off the state’s endangered species list.
Once critically threatened in large parts of the United States, populations of both species have recovered significantly thanks to conservation programs. In the 1970s and early 1980s, New Jersey had just one surviving pair of bald eagles. The state now has documented a record 267 nesting pairs, including 255 that laid eggs.
Ospreys, also known as fish hawks, live mainly along New Jersey’s coast and get their food from the state’s creeks, marshes and bays. Last year, state wildlife experts documented a record 800 occupied osprey nests, up from a low of about 50 in the early 1970s.
Both species were decimated by habitat loss and the use of pesticides like DDT, which polluted waterways and food sources during and after World War II. Reproductive problems caused by DDT led to bald eagles and ospreys laying eggs that had shells too thin to withstand incubation. The insecticide used to control mosquitos was federally banned in 1972.
In the early 1980s, New Jersey began a bald eagle reintroduction program that involved relocating pairs from Canada and fostering them in habitats where they had once been abundant. Populations saw major gains over the last 15 years, particularly in areas around the Delaware Bay. Nesting pairs have more than doubled since reaching 119 in 2012.
“The recovery of these species from near extirpation during the 1980s in New Jersey is a dramatic example of what is possible when regulations, science, and public commitment come together for a common purpose,” said David Golden, assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish & Wildlife division.
New Jersey currently lists bald eagles as endangered in the state during their breeding season and threatened during the non-breeding season. Ospreys are currently listed as threatened in New Jersey. Under the proposed rule change, bald eagles’ status would be changed to a species of special concern. Ospreys would be classified as stable.
NJDEP will accept public comments on the proposed rule change until Aug. 2.
Bald eagles were removed from the federal list of endangered species in 2007, but they remain federally protected from hunters under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In Pennsylvania, which has had success with similar restoration efforts, bald eagles were removed from the state’s endangered and threatened species lists in 2014.
Increased populations of both species have contributed to more frequent sightings in the region, including encounters with injured birds. In Ocean City, a bald eagle that appeared to be stunned was rescued on a residential block in March and taken to a Delaware wildlife refuge to be rehabilitated. And in February outside Harrisburg, a Pennsylvania state trooper rescued a bald eagle that had been injured after it was struck by a car.
On the Atlantic City Expressway, the Golden Nugget casino opted to keep an outdated billboard advertisement up two summers ago when it was discovered a family of ospreys had made a home on the structure.
“Many people have worked for years and decades to bring these species back from the brink, including biologists, volunteers, and all those who protect and steward habitat for rare wildlife,” said Kathy Clark, chief of the state’s endangered and nongame species program. “This is an achievement for all those who work on behalf of the natural ecosystems of New Jersey.”
People Who Join the Movement to Protect Wild Florida Receive Discount Pricing on Moultrie Mobile’s Innovative Cellular Trail Cameras That Capture Hidden Wildlife
TAMPA, Fla., May 29, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– People can sometimes forget how nature touches their daily lives. That’s why Live Wildly and Moultrie Mobile have joined forces to bring people closer to the great outdoors and help them connect with the natural world around them.
Through the new partnership, every person who signs up to become a member of Live Wildly’s “Join the Movement” campaign will receive a discount on Moultrie Mobile’s trail cameras. These cellular cameras will automatically connect to the strongest cell signal in the area and they work on any of the major cell providers in the U.S. When an animal walks past the camera, it takes a photo or video and uploads it for viewing on the Moultrie Mobile app from a smartphone or computer.
“Moultrie Mobile connects people with wildlife and wild places,” says Daniel Wilson, Moultrie Mobile’s General Manager. “You can view crystal-clear images and video, day or night, of wildlife in your backyard or another state — anytime, anywhere.” Moultrie Mobile makes the most user-friendly cellular trail cameras available, and backs them up with a two-year warranty and a U.S.-based customer service team that is available by phone, email or chat seven days a week. Moultrie Mobile also has a complete library of how-to and troubleshooting articles on its website and similar how-to videos on its YouTube channel, too.
“Join the Movement” members also will have the opportunity to directly contribute to conservation science across Florida by sharing the data they collect from the cameras with Live Wildly Foundation and other conservation partners, including the fStop Foundation and the Archbold Biological Station’s Corridor Observatory.
“Nature is all around us — even in our backyards,” said Live Wildly’s CEO Lisa Shipley. “Moultrie Mobile’s trail cameras give us the opportunity to get closer to nature and understand the role it plays in our daily lives.”
Live Wildly’s “Join the Movement” campaign asks members to take a pledge to support the conservation of Florida’s natural lands and waters. For every new member who joins, Live Wildly donates a dollar to conservation action, starting with the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which stretches 18 million acres from the Panhandle to the Everglades. The Wildlife Corridor is home to many of Florida’s 131 imperiled species and contributes $30 billion annually to the state’s economy through recreation, agriculture, and other industries. But only about half of the Corridor is protected. Live Wildly is working with partners to protect all of the Wildlife Corridor to keep lands and waters connected, healthy, and productive for both people and nature.
“From the rivers we fish to the forests we hike to the beaches we adore, nature sustains us,” said Shipley. “If we take care of nature, it will take care of us.”
“Wild places are extremely important to Moultrie Mobile,” says Wilson. “We are committed to partnering with conservation organizations like Live Wildly and others to protect these important natural treasures.”
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Moultrie Mobile is the leader in cellular trail camera innovation, building products used by hunters, property owners, and others for real-time remote monitoring. Moultrie Mobile is a business unit of PRADCO Outdoor Brands. PRADCO’s hunting brands include Whitetail Institute, Texas Hunter, Summit, Knight & Hale, and Code Blue. PRADCO Fishing manufactures and markets products for freshwater and saltwater anglers under 20+ brands, including Rebel, YUM, Booyah, War Eagle Custom Lures, Lindy, and Bomber.
Live Wildly applies an entrepreneurial approach to the conservation of Florida’s natural resources and wildlife while seeking to balance smart growth, a robust economy, and connected resilient landscapes. Through the creation of diverse coalitions, fostering collaboration, and empowering stakeholders to advance conservation efforts, Live Wildly strives to achieve a harmonious and sustainable future where economic prosperity coexists with a thriving and resilient ecological landscape.
Neighbors of the Los Padres trail in Ventura County were convinced they’d spotted a baby mountain lion on their security cameras this month.
But it was not a small cougar. It was a big house cat, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials told The Times on Tuesday.
The McGee family of Thousand Oaks told KTLA they’d spotted a cougar cub on their property after reviewing security footage from motion-activated cameras. Other neighbors were fearful for their pets, the news channel reported.
But Tim Daly, public information officer for Fish and Wildlife’s South Coast and Inland Desert regions, said the agency investigated the claim and found that the animal in question was in fact a large domestic cat.
“One of our biologists saw the story after it appeared and made sure this morning the rest of us were aware,” he said.
The McGees did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It’s not the first time California residents have mistaken a tame tabby for a ferocious wildcat.
In March, the South San Francisco Police Department posted Ring camera footage of a purported mountain lion to its Facebook page, following reports that the animal was prowling a residential neighborhood.
An update from the department clarified that the animal was in fact a domestic cat. One resident replied to the post with a picture of the pussycat asleep on a wicker chair between two smiling children.
Environmental activists have opened a new front in their long-running fight against a company that pipes water from the San Bernardino Mountains and bottles it for sale as Arrowhead brand bottled water.
In a petition to the state, several environmental groups and local activists called for an investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, arguing that the company BlueTriton Brands is harming wildlife habitat and species by extracting water that would otherwise flow in Strawberry Creek.
Those who oppose the taking of water from San Bernardino National Forest want the state agency to assess the environmental effects and uphold protections under state law, said Rachel Doughty, a lawyer for the environmental nonprofit Story of Stuff Project.
“They’ve dewatered the creek,” Doughty said.
If the company weren’t siphoning water in its network of pipes, she said, Strawberry Creek “would be habitat for endangered species, it would be providing a downstream water supply, it would support fish, and it can’t do any of those things without water.”
The coalition of environmental groups and activists said in their May 13 petition that the state agency should demand the company apply for an authorization — called a streambed alteration agreement — for its pipes and other infrastructure, and should examine whether the ongoing diversion of water violates state environmental laws.
The groups said the company’s taking of water has “caused the extirpation of native species and the destruction of riparian habitat — clearcut harm to the public trust.” They urged the state to “take all appropriate enforcement action.”
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Activists who have been trying to shut down the company’s bottled water pipeline made their appeal to the wildlife agency eight months after the State Water Resources Control Board voted to order the company to halt its “unauthorized diversions” of water from springs in the San Bernardino Mountains.
State officials determined the company has been unlawfully diverting water without valid water rights. But BlueTriton Brands sued to challenge that decision in Fresno County Superior Court, arguing the process was rife with problems and that the company is entitled to the water.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the agency has received the petition and is evaluating it.
BlueTriton Brands responded to the petition in an email.
“Responsible and proactive water stewardship is central to everything we do. We’re proud of the work we’ve done and continue to do in Strawberry Canyon, studying, reporting, and managing our operations to help protect the land and natural resources,” the company said. “We will continue to operate in compliance with all state and federal laws.”
The company also said it will “partner with people in our communities, governments, policy makers, businesses, and consumers to sustainably protect and shape our shared future.”
But Steve Loe, a retired biologist who previously worked for the San Bernardino National Forest, said the state should require the company to stop taking water from the creek and the ecosystem.
“The stream has been completely dried up by BlueTriton, and BlueTriton needs to put some water back in the stream to meet state and federal requirements,” Loe said. “Restoring water back to Strawberry Creek will make a huge difference in the watershed for all of the plant and animal species.”
Restoring water to the habitat would help endangered bird species such as the southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell’s vireo, he said, as well as other species including the mountain yellow-legged frog and southern rubber boa.
He said a flowing creek could also support the return of native fish species, such as Santa Ana speckled dace.
In the petition, Loe and others cited historical records describing the springs and the creek nearly a century ago, including field notes and reports from W.P. Rowe, an engineer who surveyed the watershed starting in 1929.
Rowe wrote that Strawberry Creek flowed on the south slope of the San Bernardino Mountains from a “source at a group of springs” and flowed in a canyon filled with “alder, sycamore, dogwood and cedar trees together with ferns and thimble berry bushes.”
Loe said the records show that before the water was tapped for bottling, the stream was flowing and supported a thriving riparian habitat, which is now largely dry.
“It’s public water,” Loe said. “And the public has a right to push for its protection.”
“I want water back in the creek this summer,” he said.
In the decision that is being argued in court, the state water board ordered the company to stop taking water for bottling from most of its water-collection tunnels and boreholes in the mountains north of San Bernardino.
Records show about 158 acre-feet, or 51 million gallons, flowed through the company’s network of pipes in 2022.
The system of 4-inch steel pipes collects water that flows from various sites on the steep mountainside above the creek.
The pipeline runs to a roadside tank, and some of the water is hauled away on trucks to be bottled and sold as Arrowhead 100% Mountain Spring Water.
Local activists have campaigned for years calling for state and federal authorities to shut down the bottled water pipeline. Controversy over the use of water from the national forest erupted after a 2015 investigation by the Desert Sun revealed that the U.S. Forest Service was allowing Nestlé to continue siphoning water using a permit that listed 1988 as the expiration date.
The Forest Service subsequently began a review of Nestlé’s permit, and in 2018 granted a new permit for up to five years. The revelations about Nestlé piping water out of the national forest sparked an outpouring of opposition and prompted several complaints to California regulators questioning the company’s water rights claims, which led to the state’s investigation.
BlueTriton Brands took over the bottled water business in 2021 when Nestlé’s North American bottled water division was purchased by private-equity firm One Rock Capital Partners and investment firm Metropoulos & Co.
BlueTriton and prior owners of the business have for years had a federal “special-use” permit allowing them to use the pipeline and other water infrastructure in the San Bernardino National Forest.
The Forest Service has been charging an annual permit fee, currently $2,500 per year. There has been no fee for using the water.
BlueTriton’s 2018 permit expired in August, and the company has submitted an application to renew the permit, which Forest Service officials are reviewing, said Gustavo Bahena, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino National Forest.
“Because Blue Triton had a timely request for renewal of the permit, the current permit remains in effect… until the Forest renders a decision on their new request,” Bahena said in an email.
Other groups that are petitioning the state include Save Our Forest Assn., Center for Biological Diversity, the local chapter of the Sierra Club, Southern California Native Freshwater Fauna Working Group and the Tri-County Conservation League.
Amanda Frye, an activist who has taken a leading role in the campaign, said she thinks the Forest Service is failing to uphold its responsibility to manage public land and resources.
“We still have a dry creek,” Frye said.
“Something’s got to change,” she said. “We have the right to have these resources protected.”
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A mischievous bear has been causing trouble in one particular Monrovia neighborhood and it’s become so infamous that it’s been nicknamed after the treat it was spotted rummaging for.
Community members on North Canyon Crest Drive have been keeping an eye out for “Oreo” the bear, who was seen breaking into a home and was even caught inside a car all in search of his namesake.
Video captured by one neighbor showed the critter raid a resident’s car after it was full of groceries. The bear is then seen walking away but then returning for a bag of Oreo cookies that fell a few feet away.
“Lately, he’s been too comfortable with us,” said Vine Khoury, who lives in the area. “He got to open a neighbor’s car and got the groceries out. Got a box of Oreos and that’s where his name came from.”
Khoury has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years and said it isn’t uncommon to spot wildlife in the area. She said this one in particular, however, is smarter than the average bear.
“One of the neighbors was walking her dog and saw the window broken screen down and the window was open,” Khoury recalled. “She called police thinking someone got in. Another neighbor found video of the bear breaking in.”
Last summer, this same bear found its way into Khoury’s garage and satisfied its sweet tooth. The wild animal was captured on camera helping itself to the refrigerator and taking out a box that contained a chocolate cake.
“We are OK with them around, it’s just this one that got too comfortable opening screens and getting inside the house and pushing windows,” she said.
To prevent bears, or any wildlife in general, from getting into humans’ spaces, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends locking garbage cans and keeping yards clear of overgrown plants. It also recommends keeping a watchful eye on your precious pets for their safety.
Meanwhile, neighbors on North Canyon Crest Drive said they are keeping their eye out for Oreo and its behavior.
“I don’t want them to hurt or kill the bear,” Khoury said. “I would hate that, but at the same time, maybe relocate him.”
Neighbors said Oreo has not shown any signs of aggression, just cravings. Due to its lack of aggression, they have not made any official reports to wildlife officials. Residents said that may change if the bear continues getting too comfortable around humans.
Dustin Mulvaney, SJSU environmental studies professor, stands at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thurssday, May 2, 2024. Mulvaney believes California has far more than enough alternative space, including parking lots, contaminated land and other areas, that there’s no need for massive solar arrays in pristine areas such as the Mojave Desert. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Turn on your toaster, bulldoze a Joshua tree. Flip a light switch, feed an endangered tortoise to a badger.
Solar power, widely seen as humanity’s best hope for avoiding catastrophic climate change, can carry a heavy environmental cost, depending on where panels and transmission lines are built.
Some of that infrastructure — providing electricity to millions of Californians — is going into places it should not, says San Jose State University environmental studies professor and sustainable energy expert, Dustin Mulvaney. Killing plants and animals, of course, is not a goal for solar developers, but the collateral damage has sparked bitter debate over where panels and lines belong.
California has done a good job of protecting its public lands while facilitating solar development, Mulvaney says. But many residents are powering their homes with electricity from Nevada, where pristine natural areas are taking an increasingly hard hit, and from private, California projects in important animal and plant habitats, he says.
Several “aggregators” — community-based alternatives to utility giants that are often marketed as “clean” — have contracts for power from a Southern California project that would see 4,000 Joshua trees leveled, he says. Other projects feeding aggregators bring significant loss of wildlife habitat.
Mulvaney believes sacrificing nature for solar is unnecessary. California could meet its electricity needs by putting solar panels on just a tenth of its contaminated sites, old mines, unusable former farmlands, parking lots and other disturbed areas, he says. “We need to be building out our electricity transmission infrastructure toward those sites,” Mulvaney says. The more solar close to major urban areas, the better, he adds. Every home and Amazon warehouse presents another rooftop-solar opportunity, he says.
This news organization sat down with Mulvaney recently to discuss solar power. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Describe the controversy over where to put solar generation facilities? A: Most big solar farms are not controversial. They get controversial when they go onto landscapes that are of significance, either ecological significance or cultural significance — sometimes there are important cultural resources for tribes.
Q: Do we have need for both rooftop solar and utility-scale solar? A: We should have more rooftop, but we’re going to need more utility scale based on the way our grid is built.
Q: Why do we have solar developments and proposals for pristine areas, when already-altered land is available? A: Transmission lines are why we see projects where they are. Back in the ’60s we built transmission lines to connect to coal-fired power plants in the western United States. As those coal-fired power plants are turning off, those transmission lines suddenly have power availability. The (planned new) Greenlink transmission line which is going to connect Las Vegas and Reno goes through a Native American site and through a bunch of sensitive ecosystems. And we’re already seeing applications for solar farms along that transmission corridor. That’s going to be power that goes to California, probably. Nevada has fewer protections for its public lands.
Q: What roles do the big utilities like PG&E and Southern California Edison play in where solar farms go up? A: The community choice aggregators are playing a bigger role than the utilities in determining these development patterns now. The community choice aggregators are doing much of the (power) purchasing. For the Yellow Pine solar farm on the Nevada border (to produce electricity for Silicon Valley Clean Energy and Central Coast Community Energy), lots of desert tortoises had to be removed from that site. Forty-something of those tortoises were eaten by badgers right away.
Q: Could we meet our electricity needs without big solar farms? A: There’s nothing theoretically prohibiting rooftop solar and batteries from powering a community. Do you have enough sun? We get those back to back to back to back cyclones in the winter. Sometimes the cloud cover’s all the way across the Central Valley. Do you have enough batteries? The battery storage probably makes that prohibitively expensive at this stage. It would require rethinking how we move power around.
Q: What do we stand to lose by putting big solar farms in the wilderness? A: All sorts of species, old-growth barrel cactus, desert tortoise, kit fox. The desert tortoise just last week was up-listed by the California Department of Fish and Game to be endangered. That species has lost 90% of its population since 1980. Bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope are impacted by solar farms because their habitat gets fragmented by them. Their populations get more isolated, they have inbreeding.
Q: Could we meet all our needs without putting solar on undisturbed wilderness? A: There’s a great study. You can avoid important lands to conservation and it would only increase the cost of power by 3%, based on their estimates.
Q: Where are some places where you could put reasonable amounts of solar generation to help avoid bringing power in from the desert or Nevada? A: On the western side of the Central Valley a lot of those soils are contaminated with selenium. That would be an area where you could have less impact. That’s where you could put pretty big utility scale projects that would be really close to the Bay Area, and above the bottleneck — California has a (power line capacity) bottleneck for the power, around Los Banos. We have to build more renewables above the bottleneck in northern California to help the Bay Area.
Q: What about Southern California? A: You have a lot of renewables in Southern California already. Southern California just needs more rooftop solar on their warehouses and things like that.
Q: What should Californians know about disputes over the solar power they are increasingly consuming? A: This is a very solvable problem. You can get a lot of benefits out of projects if you … start thinking about these projects as multi-functional: growing food and solar on the same landscape. Aquaculture underneath some floating solar. Apiaries — people are bringing honeybees into solar farms. This is a pretty neat technology that could be used to solve multiple problems at once. Now we’re thinking about climate change, so we don’t think about land. We need to be really thinking about holistic solutions.
Name: Dustin Mulvaney Occupation: environmental studies professor at San Jose State University Education: PhD in environmental studies, UC Santa Cruz; master’s in environmental policy studies and bachelor’s in chemical engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology Born and raised: New Jersey City of residence: Santa Cruz Age: 48 Family: married, two children
Five things to know about Dustin Mulvaney:
Likes to walk his dog Wilder
Proposed to his wife on a bike ride in Wilder Ranch State Park
I’ve studied conservation biology for the last four years in the middle of Charlotte, on a university campus shared with thousands of birds and animals. Learning more about their lives was one of my goals in this last semester before I leave these tiny classmates behind.
Environmental organizations describe how, after a big moment during the beginning of the pandemic, birding continues to surge in popularity among millennial 30- and 40-somethings. What I discovered during a month-long, garden-variety experiment explains why watching birds and wildlife continues as a simple, joyful activity for more than a third of adult Americans.
Six motion-triggered wildlife cameras
As the spring equinox approached on March 19, I acquired six wildlife cameras from our biology department and placed them in locations around four academic buildings at Queens University of Charlotte. They were strapped to small trees near the building foundations, only a couple of inches above the ground.
My educated guess was that these locations would capture movement along what biologists call a habitat corridor or what one professor calls the “squirrel highway.”
Biologist Finian Curran captured a photo of a squirrel as part of an urban wildlife photography experiment at Queens University. Finian Curran
If you weighed less than a pound and shared an environment populated by creatures between five and 200 times your size, several of which would like to eat you, where would you hang out? The margins between building foundations and bushes provide mostly quiet pathways, access to food sources, shelter from weather and cover from predators such as hawks and owls.
As it turns out, I was right, and my motion-triggered cameras shot 4,600 images, a little less than half of which displayed wildlife. They captured raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, stray cats, pet dogs and two humans playing what looked like hide-and-seek. Among bird species, the cameras spotted brown thrashers, northern cardinals (male), dark-eyed juncos, mourning doves, bluejays, Carolina wrens and many American robins.
Biologist Finian Curran captured a photo of a male Northern cardinal as part of an urban wildlife photography experiment at Queens University. Finian Curran
This is clearly not an exotic list nor an exhaustive academic study. If you live or work in Mecklenburg County, you’ll easily spot all of these and many more. I was surprised and disappointed not to have photographed any images of chipmunks because I frequently spot them on campus. Although we often see hawks and owls, I didn’t capture any because these paths were low and hidden.
Animal and bird behavior at night
But what I discovered provided a joyful reminder of Thoreau’s Walden, and it reinforces why I want to do environmental field research as a career.
Raccoons are nocturnal; our cameras captured them only in the wee hours between midnight and 4 a.m. They have excellent hearing and night vision, and they patrol the wildlife corridor. Our infrared cameras showed their keen eyes wide open.
Squirrels are especially tame on university campuses. They didn’t provide much news, but they have a hammy knack for photobombing our cameras.
Biologist Finian Curran captured a photo of a squirrel as part of an urban wildlife photography experiment at Queens University. Finian Curran
Songbirds are mostly diurnal, so their images were captured during the day, with a few extending into early evening. I use a bird identification app called Merlin Bird ID, developed by the ornithology lab at Cornell University. Bluejays are among my favorites, although I don’t spot them as much as I would like in Charlotte.
I captured two bluejay images at around noon on a Monday and a Friday. This bluejay appeared to be gathering twigs and materials to build a nest. Based on information from Cornell, I assume it was a male. Although both sexes look about the same, males tend to gather materials, and females construct the material into nests.
Biologist Finian Curran captured a photo of a bluejay as part of an urban wildlife photography experiment at Queens University. Finian Curran
Of my sample of 4,600 wildlife images, 70 displayed wildlife clearly. Most of these images were captured by a single camera at the corner of an academic building on the edge of the campus. All our cameras were operating properly, so my theory is that this location is popular because it’s less frequented by human foot traffic and because it’s close to sources of food and water.
Future environmental experiments
I am excited about how artificial intelligence-based archival and identification programs will support experiments in the future. AI programs will log times, dates, and species identification and correlate patterns and behaviors across a topographic landscape of wildlife cameras.
My graduation ceremony was Saturday, May 4, and I look forward to a career in the outdoors. On your visits to university and high school campuses in this season of graduations, take a moment to thank the tiny creatures who cohabitate with us. I appreciate their unsung contributions to my education.
Finian Curran is a 2024 graduate of Queens University of Charlotte, which provides the news service in support of local community news.
SAN FRANCISCO — Rescuers were searching Wednesday for a gray whale last spotted off Northern California’s coast with its tail entangled in a massive gill net.
The 30-foot (9-meter) whale was spotted Tuesday near San Francisco swimming north as part of gray whales’ annual migration from Mexico to Alaska. It was dragging the net with two bright red buoys that rescuers attached to it on March 22, when the animal was first spotted off Laguna Beach in Southern California.
In this aerial photo provided by Tony Corso Images, a 30-foot-long gray whale with its tail entangled in a massive gill net is seen off the coast of Pacifica, Calif., Tuesday, April 9, 2024. A team with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries is working on a rescue effort Wednesday with the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. (Tony Corso Images via AP)
Justin Viezbicke, coordinator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ California marine mammal stranding response, said the rescue team pulled up behind the animal on Tuesday but could not cut the net because it became aggressive.
“The team went out there yesterday and made some attempts but as the team approached, the animal became very reactive,” Viezbicke said.
NOAA’s team, which is working on the rescue effort with the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, was searching Wednesday for the whale north of San Francisco.
Kathi George, director of cetacean conservation biology at the Marine Mammal Center, said a rescue crew in Southern California couldn’t disentangle the whale last month but the team was able to attach a satellite tag to the net to track it and two buoys to make it easier to spot the animal. But the tracker is no longer attached, she said.
George said that if the rescue team spots the whale on Wednesday they will attempt to cut the net or at least attach another satellite tag.
“Our goal is to retrieve the gear that’s on the whale, so we can learn more about the entanglement and how it happened so, we could use that to inform risk reduction efforts,” she said.
Every spring, Gray whales migrate 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) from birthing waters off Baja California, Mexico to feeding grounds in the Arctic.
The Southwest flight, originally bound for Houston, returned safely to Denver after damage to the jet’s engine area.
Denver International Airport, July 19, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
A Southwest Airlines jet returned to Denver Sunday morning after the engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Boeing 737 landed safely, and the passengers headed to Houston were being put onto another aircraft, Southwest Airlines said in a statement.
“We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft,” the statement reads.
It’s the second mishap this week for the airline, with a flight from Texas canceled Thursday after a report of an engine fire. The Lubbock, Texas, fire department confirmed online a fire in one of the two engines that needed extinguishing.
The FAA is investigating both incidents.
Both planes were Boeing 737-800s, an older model than the 737 Max.
HAMBURG, N.Y. — A New York man is battling to get his alligator back after conservation officers confiscated the reptile, which he claims is harmless and has been a part of his family for over 30 years. Tony Cavallaro faced officers at his Buffalo suburb residence last week, who came with a warrant to take his alligator named Albert, a 12-foot (3.6-meter), 750-pound (340-kilogram) creature. They sedated Albert, secured his mouth, and transported him in a van.
The Department of Environmental Conservation cited the expiration of Cavallaro’s license to keep Albert in 2021. Furthermore, Cavallaro’s interactions with the alligator, including allowing others to touch and swim with Albert, violated regulations regarding the ownership of animals deemed dangerous.
Screenshot from Instagram / cavallaro966
Cavallaro, 64, disagrees with this characterization. He insists that Albert, who has been raised in captivity since he was two months old and bought at an Ohio reptile show, has never been aggressive towards humans or pets. He reminisced about times when Albert and his dog would snuggle together.
Describing Albert as an “emotional support animal,” Cavallaro has invested $120,000 in a home extension tailored to the alligator’s needs, featuring a heated pond, tropical plants, and a bar. Since the seizure, he finds the space devoid of its main attraction.
Cavallaro’s fight to reclaim Albert has garnered widespread support, evidenced by a petition with over 120,000 signatures and social media campaigns. A friend even composed a song titled “Oh Albert, please come home” to support the cause.
Despite his personal bond with Albert, Cavallaro admits to letting visitors interact closely with the alligator, emphasizing Albert’s gentle nature, even with his elderly mother.
The issue arose from a failure to renew his license after changes in the laws governing the possession of dangerous animals in 2020. Cavallaro attempted to renew his license but found the regulations unclear and believes his previous compliance should be grandfathered in.
Cavallaro’s passion for reptiles is long-standing, with a history of owning various species. He refutes claims by the DEC about Albert’s health problems, asserting the alligator’s well-being and disputing any vision or spinal issues.
The DEC has placed Albert with a licensed caretaker temporarily, not disclosing the location, while plans for his permanent care are made. The case highlights the complexities of owning exotic pets in the U.S., where abandoned alligators in public spaces occasionally surface, raising concerns about their welfare and public safety.
WASHINGTON — When a total solar eclipse transforms day into night, will tortoises start acting romantic? Will giraffes gallop? Will apes sing odd notes?
Researchers will be standing by to observe how animals’ routines at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas are disrupted when skies dim on April 8. They previously detected other strange animal behaviors in 2017 at a South Carolina zoo that was in the path of total darkness.
“To our astonishment, most of the animals did surprising things,” said Adam Hartstone-Rose, a North Carolina State University researcher who led the observations published in the journal Animals.
While there are many individual sightings of critters behaving bizarrely during historic eclipses, only in recent years have scientists started to rigorously study the altered behaviors of wild, domestic and zoo animals.
Seven years ago, Galapagos tortoises at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina, “that generally do absolutely nothing all day … during the peak of the eclipse, they all started breeding,” said Hartstone-Rose. The cause of the behavior is still unclear.
A mated pair of Siamangs, gibbons that usually call to each other in the morning, sang unusual tunes during the afternoon eclipse. A few male giraffes began to gallop in “apparent anxiety.” The flamingos huddled around their juveniles.
Researchers say that many animals display behaviors connected with an early dusk.
In April, Hartstone-Rose’s team plans to study similar species in Texas to see if the behaviors they witnessed before in South Carolina point to larger patterns.
Several other zoos along the path are also inviting visitors to help track animals, including zoos in Little Rock, Arkansas; Toledo, Ohio; and Indianapolis.
This year’s full solar eclipse in North America crisscrosses a different route than in 2017 and occurs in a different season, giving researchers and citizen scientists opportunities to observe new habits.
“It’s really high stakes. We have a really short period to observe them and we can’t repeat the experiment,” said Jennifer Tsuruda, a University of Tennessee entomologist who observed honeybee colonies during the 2017 eclipse.
The honeybees that Tsuruda studied decreased foraging during the eclipse, as they usually would at night, except for those from the hungriest hives.
“During a solar eclipse, there’s a conflict between their internal rhythms and external environment,” said University of Alberta’s Olav Rueppell, adding that bees rely on polarized light from the sun to navigate.
Nate Bickford, an animal researcher at Oregon Institute of Technology, said that “solar eclipses actually mimic short, fast-moving storms,” when skies darken and many animals take shelter.
After the 2017 eclipse, he analyzed data from tracking devices previously placed on wild species to study habitat use. Flying bald eagles change the speed and direction they’re moving during an eclipse, he said. So do feral horses, “probably taking cover, responding to the possibility of a storm out on the open plains.”
The last full U.S. solar eclipse to span coast to coast happened in late summer, in August. The upcoming eclipse in April gives researchers an opportunity to ask new questions including about potential impacts on spring migration.
Most songbird species migrate at night. “When there are night-like conditions during the eclipse, will birds think it’s time to migrate and take flight?” said Andrew Farnsworth of Cornell University.
His team plans to test this by analyzing weather radar data – which also detects the presence of flying birds, bats and insects – to see if more birds take wing during the eclipse.
As for indoor pets, they may react as much to what their owners are doing – whether they’re excited or nonchalant about the eclipse – as to any changes in the sky, said University of Arkansas animal researcher Raffaela Lesch.
“Dogs and cats pay a lot of attention to us, in addition to their internal clocks,” she said.
Zoos are fairly transparent with what’s going on. If anything egregious ever happens like – I don’t know – say a child jumps into an enclosure and a gorilla gets murdered, we’re definitely going to hear about it on the news.
But what about the stuff that goes unnoticed? It doesn’t take much for your imagination to go to some pretty wild places. So we’ve collected real stories from REAL zookeepers, sharing some secrets from behind the enclosures.
While the allure of owning a less conventional animal is undeniable, it’s important to understand the legal framework that governs which animals you can legally welcome into your home.
In the Empire State, the legal parameters set for owning exotic animals vary significantly between the state and the city limits of New York City.
The state has clear prohibitions on what is referred to as the “Big Five,” ensuring the safety of both potential owners and the animals themselves.
Not all regulations are as cut and dry, with certain classifications allowing for unique and surprising exceptions to the rule.
Key Takeaways
New York State allows certain exotic pets, including hyenas and fennec foxes, with specific exceptions for NYC due to stricter regulations.
Owning an exotic animal in NY often requires obtaining permits and licenses, with annual renewal necessary to ensure legality.
NY has clear prohibitions against the “Big Five” (big cats, wild canids, bears, venomous/large reptiles, primates) to ensure public and animal safety.
Exotic pets in NY State may require substantial space and secure enclosures to mimic natural habitats and prevent escape.
Many exotic pets have specific dietary and environmental needs, emphasizing the importance of expert care and proper nutrition.
Certain exotic animals, like capybaras and ferrets, thrive in social environments and may need companions to prevent loneliness.
While some exotic pets can be trained and may form bonds with their owners, others retain wild instincts, making interaction more challenging.
Avoid The Big Five
In several regions, owning certain animals outside of sanctioned conservation efforts or regulated institutions is prohibited.
Prohibited Animals:
Large Felines: Including all forms of lions, tigers, and other big cats.
Wild Canines: Wolves, coyotes, and their kin are off-limits.
Bear Species: All bear variations, regardless of size.
Venomous/Large Reptiles: This category covers crocodiles and large snake species.
Primate Family: Ownership of chimps, various monkeys, and lemurs is not permitted.
In contrast, you can have domestic cats and large domestic dog breeds, such as Bernese Mountain Dogs and Mastiffs, in New York State and City. Remember, New York City landlords may have rules about large breed dogs in their properties.
Allowed Ones In New York City
Among permissible pets in New York City, several small and benign animals can be kept legally. These include:
Turtles (non-snapping) that are less than 4 inches
Domesticated rodents such as gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rabbits
A variety of birds: from parakeets and parrots to finches and canaries, along with pigeons
Limited species of small reptiles, specifically leopard geckos, anoles, and bearded dragons
Additionally, you may maintain honeybees within the city, provided you register any hives with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
13 Exotic Animals Permissible in NY State
Animal Name
Permit Required
Porcupines
Yes
Ferrets
Yes
Hedgehogs
Yes
Coatimundi (Coatis)
Yes
Binturong/Asian Bearcat
Yes
Axolotl
Yes
Fennec Foxes
Yes
Kinkajous
Yes
Wallabies/Kangaroos
Yes
Hyenas
Yes
Sloths
No
Capybaras
Yes
1. Hedgehogs: Spiky Insect Lovers
The African pygmy hedgehog stands out as the most popular exotic hedgehog breed that is legal to keep as a pet according to Birdsexoticsvet. Unlike rodents, they share a closer genetic link to shrews and moles.
Known for their gentle nature, hedgehogs seldom resort to biting. Instead, they typically curl up into a ball, raising their spines defensively when threatened. Building a bond based on trust and comfort allows owners to safely handle and stroke their pets.
To ensure a balanced diet, hedgehogs need a mix of insects and vitamin supplements. While insects provide a good protein source, they lack certain vital nutrients. Exotic animal specialists recommend a variety of vitamin powders to enhance the nutritional value of commercially available insects, ensuring the pet’s well-being.
For housing, a modest-sized terrarium equipped with guinea pig bedding or a fleece lining is suitable. The enclosure should also contain small toys and an exercise wheel to stimulate the hedgehog’s physical activity. Regular maintenance, including daily spot cleaning and weekly thorough cleaning, is crucial for a healthy living environment.
Hedgehogs have an innate ability to metabolize toxins effectively, a trait developed from consuming a diet that includes beetles, wasps, and occasionally venomous snakes in the wild. However, this remarkable capability does not imply that pet hedgehogs should be fed harmful insects or reptiles.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 8-21 ounces
Lifespan: 3-4 years
Care Level: Easy
Diet: Insectivore
Trainable: No
2. Coatis: Curious Climbers
Coatis, charming creatures resembling raccoons, inhabit the canyons and hills of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. These exotic animals are among the few that can be house-trained for litter box use and leash walks, provided they are properly acclimated and trained. However, their long claws pose a risk of accidental injury to their owners, urging caution during interactions.
As omnivores, coatis have a diet that includes both plant and animal matter. In captivity, a balanced diet consisting of insects, lean meats, and vegetables is essential for their health. While fruits can serve as a nutritious snack, their high sugar content necessitates moderation in feeding. Owners must also diligently secure garbage cans and food sources, as coatis will exploit their keen sense of smell to scavenge for food whenever possible.
Coatis have an aversion to confinement in small spaces or cages, preferring the freedom to explore their environment. It’s beneficial to allow them free range within the home, dedicating a specific area for sleeping, resting, and using their litter box.
Reflecting their arboreal lifestyle in the wild, providing an environment with ample climbing opportunities is crucial for their well-being, enabling them to engage in natural behaviors and stay active.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 7-14 pounds
Lifespan: 14 years
Care Level: Medium-Difficult
Diet: Omnivores
Trainable: Yes
3. Porcupines: Spiky Companions
In New York, it is legal to own various porcupine species, including the African-crested porcupine, prehensile-tailed porcupine, and the Palawan porcupine accoridn to World Animal Foundation.
These large rodents are relatively easy to monitor and pose a minimal risk of causing harm if they were to escape. Once domesticated, porcupines are not capable of surviving independently in the wild due to their reliance on humans.
For their well-being, porcupines require spacious environments. Habitats that provide both indoor and outdoor access are ideal, enabling them to search for food across extensive yards and seek shelter indoors at night to protect against predators. Climbing opportunities are essential for these animals, as high structures can help prevent them from getting into mischief.
A healthy diet for porcupines includes a variety of foods such as evergreen needles, bark, berries, seeds, grass, roots, vegetables, and hay. While fruits make a good treat, they should be offered in moderation due to their high sugar content.
Since porcupines are rodents, their teeth grow continuously. To maintain dental health, they need access to wooden chews or durable toys that can assist in wearing down their teeth.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 20 pounds
Lifespan: 18-30 years
Care Level: Medium – Difficult
Diet: Herbivore
Trainable: Possible
4. Axolotls: Underwater Marvels
Axolotls are uniquely captivating pets, yet owning one is a rarity due to their critical endangered status. These aquatic salamanders are native exclusively to the still-water habitats of Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in Mexico. Their skin is highly sensitive to pollutants, and they are particularly susceptible to illness from temperature fluctuations or an inappropriate diet.
For their care, axolotls need an aquatic environment ranging from 10 to 20 gallons, ideally without the company of other species, except for axolotls of a similar size according to Reptile Knowladge. It’s crucial to equip their tank with a secure lid to thwart any escape attempts, as they are known to recognize openings at the top of their enclosure.
The tank’s substrate should consist of aquarium sand or large pebbles that pose no risk of ingestion, preventing potential digestive blockages. The habitat must include a filtration system and a thermometer to maintain water temperatures within the low to mid-60s Fahrenheit (about 15 to 20 degrees Celsius).
In terms of diet, axolotls are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming nightcrawlers, bloodworms, and frozen shrimp. Given their tendency to eat anything that fits in their mouths, it’s vital to offer food items that are safe and suitable for their consumption.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 2-8 ounces
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Care Level: Easy
Diet: Worms
Trainable: No
5. Ferrets: Mischievous Bundle of Joy
Ferrets, charming creatures belonging to the weasel family, are obligate carnivores, necessitating a diet exclusively of meat to remain healthy. In their natural habitat, ferrets consume every part of their prey for sustenance as highlighted in Oxbow Animal Health. Pet owners often recommend providing a “franken meat,” which consists of various animal organs, to mimic this natural diet.
These energetic animals are capable of being litter-trained and can learn to respond to certain commands. Ferrets are playful and cunning, forming strong bonds with their human companions. They enjoy cuddling, gentle play, and daily interaction. It’s important to house ferrets in spacious enclosures that offer a secure environment for sleeping and attending to their needs when humans are away. Without supervision, ferrets might chew on wires or objects, posing risks to themselves and the household.
Ferrets have a tendency to hoard small items, often taking and hiding belongings. Missing items are frequently found in the ferret’s hiding spot. reported by BeChewy.
For optimal well-being, ferrets thrive when paired with a fellow ferret or littermate for companionship, as they are highly social animals that crave interaction. While they can get along with cats and dogs under certain conditions, caution is advised. In the wild, feral cats may prey on ferrets, and domestic interactions should be monitored unless the animals have been raised together to ensure harmony and prevent potential aggression.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 1.1-4.4 pounds
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Care Level: Easy to Medium
Diet: Hypercarnivore
Trainable: Yes
6. Capybaras: Giant Rodent Friends
Capybaras, renowned for being the largest rodents globally, offer a unique pet ownership experience due to their gentle nature and sociable dispositions. Although they are wild animals, capybaras have a calm demeanor that makes them relatively manageable pets, akin to caring for a pig, earning them the nickname “water hogs.”
These sizable rodents require extensive space for grazing and roaming, making a spacious backyard equipped with a pool and plenty of high-quality hay an ideal setting for their well-being. A diet enriched with vitamins, as recommended by an exotic animal veterinarian or a capybara breeder, is essential for their health and longevity.
Capybaras are known for their capacity to form strong bonds with their owners, displaying levels of affection similar to guinea pigs. They thrive on social interaction, meaning the more time an owner spends engaging with them, the happier they will be.
To prevent loneliness and depression, which capybaras can suffer from if isolated, owners should consider the possibility of keeping two capybaras together.
Like their rodent counterparts, capybaras also require an array of sturdy chew toys to help maintain their dental health by naturally trimming their teeth, ensuring they remain both healthy and content.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 77-150 pounds
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Care Level: Medium
Diet: Herbivore
Trainable: Yes
7. Kinkajous: Tropical Rainforest Dwellers
Kinkajous, unique creatures that resemble a fusion of a raccoon and a monkey, are known for their challenging temperament, often exhibiting anxiety and aggression during specific times of the year. Despite their potential for domestication, there are frequent incidents of kinkajous biting their owners or caregivers.
Naturally arboreal, kinkajous spend most of their life in the treetops and are nocturnal, becoming most active when typical households are at rest. To accommodate their natural habits, pet owners should provide an environment rich with sturdy branches and hammocks to support their nocturnal activities, including sleeping and playing.
Their vocal nature can also disrupt sleep, making them a challenging pet for those needing uninterrupted rest.
Diet-wise, kinkajous require a mixture of lean meats and vegetables, with fruits serving as an occasional treat. This diet helps mimic their natural feeding habits while ensuring they receive the necessary nutrients.
For those considering adopting a kinkajou, it is advisable to do so when the animal is young. Early adoption facilitates bonding and may ease the acclimation process to a domestic setting. Conversely, adopting an older kinkajou may present challenges in adjustment and increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviors, such as biting and scratching.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 10 pounds
Lifespan: 20-25 years
Care Level: Difficult
Diet: Omnivores
Trainable: Possible
8 and 9. Wallaby and Kangaroo: Marsupial Mates
Wallabies and kangaroos, both members of the Macropod family, which translates to “large foot,” are renowned for their distinctive large feet that enable them to move swiftly across the Australian outback. These characteristics necessitate special considerations for those wishing to keep them as pets.
To ensure the well-being of both the animals and their owners, it’s advisable to provide wallabies and kangaroos with both indoor and outdoor living spaces. Given their need for extensive space to exercise and their powerful long tails, which can inadvertently cause damage indoors, these animals are best suited to homes with access to several acres of land. A substantial fence is also crucial to prevent them from wandering off.
Lifespan: Wallaby: 11-14 years, Kangaroo: 8-25 years
Care Level: Medium (both)
Diet: Herbivores
Trainable: Wallabies: Possible, Kangaroos: No
10. Hyenas: Laughing Carnivores
Hyenas, surprisingly, are legally permissible pets in New York State, with the exception of New York City, where specific regulations implicitly prohibit their ownership. This legality stems from hyenas not being classified as big cats or wild canids (dogs) but rather belonging to the group Feliformia, which falls outside the scope of certain state laws targeting the ownership of wild or exotic animals.
While the idea of owning a hyena may seem intriguing, the practical realities are far less glamorous. Hyena cubs, which might resemble medium-sized dogs in size and behavior, can develop bonds of affection and friendliness with their caregivers. However, as they mature, their innate wild instincts become more pronounced, leading to potential aggression, including bites or attacks.
Hyenas are opportunistic feeders in their natural habitats, consuming a wide array of foods from fresh meat and carrion to vegetables, birds, insects, rodents, and lizards.
For those considering a hyena as a pet, young cubs may be manageable indoors with a diet comprising meats, vegetables, and occasional fruits as treats according to Academia.edu. Nonetheless, adult hyenas require significantly more space and should ideally have access to both indoor and outdoor environments to accommodate their complex needs and behaviors.
Permit Required: Yes
Weight: 90-140 pounds
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Care Level: Difficult
Diet: Anything
Trainable: No
12. Sloths: Slow-Moving Tree Lovers
The two-toed sloth stands as the sole species of sloth that individuals can legally own as a pet within the United States. While certain states have restrictions or outright bans on sloth ownership, New York State permits residents to keep sloths without needing a specific permit.
Known for their exceedingly slow pace, two-toed sloths are not equipped to survive independently in North America, presenting minimal risk to the environment or human safety due to their inability to consume local vegetation or display aggression towards humans.
Despite their harmlessness, two-toed sloths are not particularly engaging pets. They display little interest in affection or social interaction, either with other sloths or humans.
Originating from the jungles of Central and South America, two-toed sloths require a living environment that closely mirrors their natural habitat to flourish in captivity. This involves creating a space with ample sturdy trees and branches to accommodate their climbing habits, maintaining hot and humid conditions throughout the year, and providing a diet comprised solely of leaves found in their indigenous regions.
Highlighting the potential longevity of these creatures in captivity, a Linne two-toed sloth named Paula reached the notable age of 50 years old, showcasing the significant commitment required in caring for a sloth as a pet.
Permit Required: No
Weight: 9-17 pounds
Lifespan: 20-30 years
Care Level: Medium
Diet: Herbivore
Trainable: No
13. Fennec Foxes: Desert Dwellers
Owning a fox is a unique aspiration for many, particularly due to their resemblance to dogs, featuring pointed muzzles and fluffy tails. Among fox species, the Fennec fox stands out as an ideal blend between a fox and a small dog, captivating those interested in exotic pets.
Adapted for desert life, Fennec foxes require extensive space to satisfy their need for exploration. They are sensitive to cold, struggling with temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, necessitating indoor housing during colder months or a specially heated enclosure to maintain a warm environment.
Known for their high energy levels and vocal nature, these foxes need ample room to engage in natural behaviors such as running, jumping, and digging, which are vital for their well-being.
Training Fennec foxes brings varied opinions. Some owners report success in litter box training and teaching basic commands through consistent care and positive reinforcement. However, others argue that the innate wild instincts of Fennec foxes limit their trainability.
Requirements for Exotic Animal Ownership in NY State
To legally own an exotic animal in New York, you’re required to obtain the necessary permits and licenses. These documents are essential and ensure that you’re aware and capable of the responsibility entailed in exotic pet ownership.
Permit Application: Engage with state-approved animal breeders or shelters who can guide you through the permit process.
Annual Renewal: Your exotic animal license must be renewed every year, an easy and affordable task.
Failure to possess proper documentation can lead to strict penalties, including fines and confiscation of your exotic pet by authorities. Such animals are then placed in sanctuaries or other secure facilities. Always verify your status to keep your exotic pet legally.
Exotic Pet Policies: State vs. City
In New York State, you may have the opportunity to own various exotic pets due to more lenient regulations, especially if you possess adequate space for their habitat. Ny landowners can maintain larger animals, such as kangaroos, as they have the required room to accommodate their natural behaviors and exercise needs, reducing the risk of incidents.
Conversely, in New York City, the rules are much stricter. The high population density amplifies the potential for issues if an exotic pet were to escape, leading to disruptions or even injuries. Owning the same species such as kangaroos in the city could lead to considerable challenges, like traffic disruptions or safety concernsfor both the animal and city dwellers.
Key Differences:
Space: Sufficient enclosures are more feasible in NY State.
Population Density: The risk of an escaped animal causing disruption is higher in NYC.
Safety: Potential harm to the public or the animal itself factors into NYC’s strict regulations.
FAQ
Can I own a raccoon in New York?
No, owning a raccoon as a pet is illegal in New York. State regulations prohibit the possession of wild animals, including raccoons, due to concerns over rabies and other health risks.
Can I own an owl in New York?
Owning an owl as a pet in New York is not permitted for the general public. Owls are protected under federal laws and require special permits, usually granted for educational or rehabilitation purposes, not for private ownership.
Can I own a skunk in New York?
No, it is illegal to own a skunk as a pet in New York. Skunks are considered wild animals and pose health risks, including rabies, making them unsuitable for domestication.
Can I own a fox in New York?
Owning a fox as a pet in New York requires a special license, and even then, it’s heavily regulated. Foxes are considered wild animals, and their ownership is typically restricted to educational or conservation purposes.
Are capybaras friendly?
Capybaras are known for their docile and social nature. They can be friendly when properly socialized and cared for, often forming strong bonds with their human caregivers. However, they require a lot of space and companionship to thrive.
Can I own a pet duck in New York?
Yes, you can own a pet duck in New York. However, certain municipalities may have specific regulations regarding the ownership of ducks, especially in urban areas. It’s important to check local ordinances before acquiring a duck as a pet.
Do capybara bites hurt?
Capybaras have strong teeth designed for grazing on grass and plants. While they are generally docile, a bite from a capybara could be painful due to the force and size of their teeth, especially if they feel threatened or scared.
What is the safest animal on earth?
The term “safest” can vary depending on context, but domesticated animals like dogs and cats are often considered safe due to their long history of human interaction and predictability. Other small, domesticated animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs also pose minimal risk to humans.
What is the most chill animal?
Sloths are often cited as the most chill animal due to their slow-moving nature and relaxed lifestyle in the treetops of tropical rainforests. They spend most of their time hanging from branches, eating leaves, and sleeping.
Final Words
Embarking on exotic pet ownership in New York requires understanding local laws and securing the right permits, but the effort rewards you with a unique companion. Whether it’s caring for a hedgehog, bonding with a fennec fox, or observing the gentle nature of a capybara, these experiences enrich your life in unexpected ways.
By adhering to New York’s guidelines, you ensure a safe and nurturing environment for your exotic pet, opening up a world of unique interactions and mutual respect. Welcome to a fulfilling journey with some of the most intriguing animals.
Disclaimer
All information presented in this text is based on our own perspectives and experiences. The content is provided for informational purposes only and is a reflection of the personal views of the authors. It should not be taken as professional advice, nor should it be used as a basis for making significant decisions without consulting a qualified expert. We do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of the information provided and shall not be held responsible for any inaccuracy, omissions, or inaccuracies. We highly recommend consulting with a qualified expert in the relevant field for personalized guidance or advice specific to your situation
It can be hard enough for skiers and snowboarders in Colorado to avoid trees, other downhillers, poles, mystery bumps and mashed-potato snow — without also having to worry about running into a moose. But that’s not always possible, as several recent social media videos have shown.
Since the 2023-24 ski season began, there have been at least three major viral moose sightings at Winter Park, one at Steamboat and one at Breckenridge. But that doesn’t include other sightings, and there have been several, that didn’t make it onto Instagram, YouTube, Facebook or TikTok.
Still, representatives of these resorts say the encounters aren’t rising in number.
“I am not aware of any recent moose sightings or encounters at the resort for Breck or Keystone this season,” said Sara Lococo, a spokesperson for Keystone and Breckenridge. “Since we do share the mountains with a variety of local wildlife, including moose, it is always possible that they are around though. It is important for our communities and our visitors to remember that, be aware of their surroundings, and to respect and give space to local wildlife if/when encountered. In the event of a sighting or encounter, we encourage guests to call and report this to ski patrol.”
Maren Franciosi, of Steamboat, said: “Steamboat Resort shares the land with many native species including moose. It is common to see wildlife on the resort and we do frequently see moose during operating hours. We work closely with the USFS and CPW, our ski patrol will close/detour ski trails if needed for moose activity and to limit interactions with guests. It does not seem more than usual this year. We have had some sightings in our new terrain, which was expected.”
Jen Miller, of Winter Park, said: “Feels like normal moose activity. We have several sightings every winter season … Winter Park has had several confirmed moose sightings on its slopes during the past few weeks. Moose call Winter Park home, and they occasionally wander onto open ski trails. We remind guests that moose are wild animals, and guests should keep their distance. If necessary, Winter Park ski patrol will close trails and lifts to help protect both the animals and people.”
Newswise — A Colorado State University experiment spanning more than two decades has found that removal of apex predators from an ecosystem can create lasting changes that are not reversed after they return – at least, not for a very long time.
The study, funded by the National Science Foundation and published in Ecological Monographs, challenges the commonly held belief that the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park restored an ecosystem degraded by their absence.
Researchers in CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources examined the effects of three apex predators – carnivores at the top of the food chain not preyed on by other animals – in Yellowstone. Depleted populations of cougars and grizzly bears naturally recovered about the same time wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995. The absence of these predators for nearly a century transformed the food web and landscape.
Yellowstone’s northern range shifted from willow and aspen stands along small streams with beaver activity to grasslands due to intensive browsing by elk. The widespread changes stabilized into an alternative ecological state that resisted returning to previous conditions once the carnivores were restored, according to authors of the study, Tom Hobbs and David Cooper.
This designed experiment conducted in Yellowstone is the longest of its kind and adds to evidence supporting the theory that degradation of ecosystems may not be reversed when harmful stressors are mitigated.
“When you disturb ecosystems by changing the makeup of a food web, it can lead to lasting changes that are not quickly fixed,” said Hobbs, lead author and professor emeritus with the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. “We can’t rule out the possibility that the ecosystem will be restored over the next 40 years as a result of the return of apex predators. All we can be sure of is what’s observable now — the ecosystem has not responded dramatically to the restored food web.”
Though not a quick and easy solution, Hobbs said, restoration of apex predators produces healthier ecosystems in the long run.
“The conservation message is don’t lose them in the first place,” Hobbs said. “Keep the food web intact, because there’s not a quick fix for losing top predators from ecosystems.”
Can Colorado learn from Yellowstone?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife introduced five wolves to the state Dec. 18 with plans to bring in more in coming years. Wolves were eradicated in the state by the mid-1940s, but Colorado voters approved their restoration by a narrow margin in 2020.
This study may hold lessons about how restoring apex predators affects the ecosystem, but Hobbs said that the environmental degradation resulting from Yellowstone’s policy not to cull elk was never replicated in Colorado.
“Unlike Yellowstone, Colorado’s landscapes have not experienced widespread excessive grazing or browsing from elk,” Hobbs said. “The state has done a good job of managing elk populations using hunting.”
Hobbs and Cooper said there are many good reasons to restore wolves; just don’t expect them to cause immediate ecosystem improvements.
“Our work supports the fact that wolves are important components of ecosystems,” said Cooper, a research scientist emeritus in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. “They will have some ecosystem benefits by reducing some large herbivore populations. Over the next hundred years, they’ll have a greater role in regulating some of the ecological processes that we’ve been studying.”
What do willows have to do with wolves?
Wolves and cougars were wiped out in Yellowstone by the early 1920s. Without apex predators or human hunters to control their population, elk fed on the willows along small streams in Yellowstone’s northern range, depleting beavers’ food supply and building materials and causing them to abandon the streams in favor of more suitable areas.
Historically, beavers and willows relied on each other to thrive. Flooding caused by beaver dams created favorable soil moisture conditions for willows, and willows provided food and dam-building materials for beavers. Without beaver-engineered flooding, small streams in the northern range cut deeper into the landscape, disconnecting roots of willows from groundwater. Willows never recovered their former height and density.
Following the reintroduction of wolves to the park in 1995, as cougar and grizzly populations were rebounding on their own, the elk population dropped from both predation and hunting by humans along park borders.
However, overall browsing of woody food sources has not declined proportionally. As the number of elk has decreased, bison herds have increased. Yellowstone’s carnivores typically don’t prey on bison because their large size makes them dangerous.
Long-term experiment
In 2001, CSU ecologists began an experiment to gauge whether the Yellowstone ecosystem would recover due to the restoration of apex predators. They established four study areas in the park’s northern range, fenced off eight plots to prevent browsing and constructed simulated beaver dams in some fenced and non-fenced plots to raise the water table. They also left control areas unaltered. In 2009, they added 21 more control plots to ensure the results of their experiment were representative of the landscape.
If predators regulated the elk population, preventing them from cutting down willows, the landscape would hypothetically return to its previous state. Instead, the willows remained short on control plots, while the fenced sites with simulated dams showed dramatic recovery.
Willows grew more than three times taller in the fenced, dammed areas than in the control plots, indicating the importance of groundwater access in addition to mitigation of browsing.
By manipulating one factor at a time – browsing and hydrology – at many sites for a long time, the researchers were able to show that carnivores were not causing landscape restoration.
“We learned from the science that it was way more complicated,” Cooper said.
“Our result is well supported by ecological theory and empirical results from all over the world,” Hobbs added. “Disturbing food webs can cause persistent changes in ecosystems.”
Research in Yellowstone is common, but this study was rare in its manipulation of the landscape and its duration. Hobbs and Cooper worked closely with park management and biologists, including Yellowstone National Park Senior Wildlife Biologist Daniel Stahler, to answer questions relevant to the park’s needs and share results to help guide park policy.
“This research contributes greatly to our understanding of Yellowstone by teasing out the degree to which complex links in a food web affect ecosystems under native species recovery,” Stahler said. “Importantly, it is among few published studies to date on the Yellowstone ecosystem that highlight that not just wolves, but multiple predator species together have contributed to changes in elk abundance. This point has ramifications for how we evaluate how complex ecosystems respond to carnivore presence and absence.”
He continued, “This long-term research conducted by the CSU team also highlights the value of national parks in helping us understand ecological processes, in order to better protect ecosystems. We should not only cherish our national parks because they protect, preserve and allow people to enjoy nature, but because they provide a place where well-designed science can elevate our understanding of its complexity.”
Evolutionary biologists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have combined PET scans of modern pigeons along with studies of dinosaur fossils to help answer an enduring question in biology: How did the brains of birds evolve to enable them to fly?
The answer, they say, appears to be an adaptive increase in the size of the cerebellum in some fossil vertebrates. The cerebellum is a brain region responsible for movement and motor control.
Scientists have long thought that the cerebellum should be important in bird flight, but they lacked direct evidence. To pinpoint its value, the new research combined modern PET scan imaging data of ordinary pigeons with the fossil record, examining brain regions of birds during flight and braincases of ancient dinosaurs.
“Powered flight among vertebrates is a rare event in evolutionary history,” says Amy Balanoff, Ph.D., assistant professor of functional anatomy and evolution at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and first author on the published research.
In fact, Balanoff says, just three groups of vertebrates, or animals with a backbone, evolved to fly: extinct pterosaurs, the terrors of the sky during the Mesozoic period, which ended over 65 million years ago, bats and birds.
The three species are not closely related on the evolutionary tree, and the key factors or factor that enabled flight in all three have remained unclear.
Besides the outward physical adaptations for flight, such as long upper limbs, certain kinds of feathers, a streamlined body and other features, Balanoff and her colleagues designed research to find features that created a flight-ready brain.
To do so, she worked with biomedical engineers at Stony Brook University in New York to compare the brain activity of modern pigeons before and after flight.
The researchers performed positron emission tomography, or PET, imaging scans, the same technology commonly used on humans, to compare activity in 26 regions of the brain when the bird was at rest and immediately after it flew for 10 minutes from one perch to another. They scanned eight birds on different days.
PET scans use a compound similar to glucose that can be tracked to where it’s most absorbed by brain cells, indicating increased use of energy and thus activity. The tracker degrades and gets excreted from the body within a day or two.
Of the 26 regions, one area — the cerebellum — had statistically significant increases in activity levels between resting and flying in all eight birds. Overall, the level of activity increase in the cerebellum differed by more than two standard statistical deviations, compared with other areas of the brain.
The researchers also detected increased brain activity in the so-called optic flow pathways, a network of brain cells that connect the retina in the eye to the cerebellum. These pathways process movement across the visual field.
Balanoff says their findings of activity increase in the cerebellum and optic flow pathways weren’t necessarily surprising, since the areas have been hypothesized to play a role in flight.
What was new in their research was linking the cerebellum findings of flight-enabled brains in modern birds to the fossil record that showed how the brains of birdlike dinosaurs began to develop brain conditions for powered flight.
To do so, Balanoff used a digitized database of endocasts, or molds of the internal space of dinosaur skulls, which when filled, resemble the brain.
Balanoff identified and traced a sizable increase in cerebellum volume to some of the earliest species of maniraptoran dinosaurs, which preceded the first appearances of powered flight among ancient bird relatives, including Archaeopteryx, a winged dinosaur.
Balanoff and her team also found evidence in the endocasts of an increase in tissue folding in the cerebellum of early maniraptorans, an indication of increasing brain complexity.
The researchers cautioned that these are early findings, and brain activity changes during powered flight could also occur during other behaviors, such as gliding. They also note that their tests involved straightforward flying, without obstacles and with an easy flightpath, and other brain regions may be more active during complex flight maneuvers.
The research team plans next to pinpoint precise areas in the cerebellum that enable a flight-ready brain and the neural connections between these structures.
Scientific theories for why the brain gets bigger throughout evolutionary history include the need to traverse new and different landscapes, setting the stage for flight and other locomotive styles, says Gabriel Bever, Ph.D., associate professor of functional anatomy and evolution at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
“At Johns Hopkins, the biomedical community has a wide-ranging set of tools and technology to help us understand evolutionary history and link our findings to fundamental research on how the brain works,” he adds.
In addition to Balanoff and Bever, other authors of the study are Elizabeth Ferrer of the American Museum of Natural History and Samuel Merritt University; Lemise Saleh and Paul Vaska of Stony Brook University; Paul Gignac of the American Museum of Natural History and University of Arizona, M. Eugenia Gold of the American Museum of Natural History and Suffolk University; Jesús Marugán-Lobón of the Autonomous University of Madrid; Mark Norell of the American Museum of Natural History; David Ouellette of Weill Cornell Medical College; Michael Salerno of the University of Pennsylvania; Akinobu Watanabe of the American Museum of Natural History, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Natural History Museum of London; and Shouyi Wei of the New York Proton Center.
Funding for the research was provided by the National Science Foundation.
Newswise — A ‘fitness check’ of regulations in five countries meant to protect animals during transportation, has deemed that they all fall short of fully protecting animals during transport. Findings from this interdisciplinary work involving animal welfare scientists and a law lecturer which compared animal transport rules designed to protect the billions of livestock that are transported on lengthy journeys in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, EU (including UK) and US, highlights serious failures.
The study, published in Royal Society Open Science today [Wednesday 24 January], and involving researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Essex and British Columbia (Canada), is the first comprehensive fitness check of live animal transportation regulations in five English-speaking Western countries to assess whether the regulatory framework for a policy sector is fit for purpose.
Live animal transport, which affects most farm animals at some point during their lifetime, is a stressful experience whereby animals are often subjected to long transport times during which they are prevented from drinking, eating and resting. For example, in Canada some animals can be transported for 36 hours without feed, water and rest.
Researchers investigated four major risk factors associated with live animal transportation – fitness for transport, journey duration, climatic conditions and space allowances – and explored how regulations were structured to prevent animal welfare issues.
Results from this research showed that all countries could improve and draw key future directions for new policies. For instance, no countries adopt maximum journey duration for all animals, meaning that animals can sometimes be transported for days. Not all countries mandate regular rest stops for long journeys but those that do often mandate rest stop times that are too short to allow meaningful recovery. Updating the transport regulations using the most recent science would be an important step towards improved animal welfare during transport, bringing the livestock industries more in line with societal values.
The team also considered recent and proposed changes to the regulations. These included reviewed changes that have been announced but not yet been translated into legislation or different options that are being considered. For instance, last month (December 2023), a Bill including a ban on the export of livestock for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain (i.e., England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland) was introduced in Parliament but may only target a minority of animals being exported.
Dr Ben Lecorps, study co-author and Animal Welfare Lecturer in the Bristol Veterinary School, said: “Our findings indicate that regulations are often insufficient or too vague to ensure they are fit for purpose. All studied countries fall short in guaranteeing adequate protection to livestock during transport. Whilst this does not mean that all animals transported will experience serious harms, major risk factors such as excessively long journeys, or journeys during hot weather, are not being addressed to a satisfactory level.”
Dr Eugénie Duval, study co-author and Lecturer in Law at the Essex Law School, added: “Even if they do not necessarily reflect the latest scientific evidence, some regulations are more specific than others. If we were to take the best from each regulatory framework (e.g. fitness for transport in Canada; providing species-specific thresholds for the temperature inside vehicles in the EU) and apply some of the propositions made by some countries (e.g. a ban of export outside the EU borders: proposition of some EU Member States), the ensuing regulations would be a major step closer to safeguarding animal welfare during transportation.”
The study was funded by a grant awarded to ED and MvK by the Humane Slaughter Association and the Hans Sigrist Research Prize awarded to MvK by the Hans Sigrist Stiftung Foundation.
Paper
‘Are regulations addressing farm animal welfare issues during live transportation fit for purpose? A multi-country jurisdictional check’ by Eugénie Duval, Benjamin Lecorps, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk in Royal Society Open Science [open access]
Wildlife-friendly gardening is a simple yet impactful way to bring nature closer to home. This isn’t just about having a pretty garden; it’s about helping the environment right on your doorstep. Whether you have a big garden or just a small space, you can make a difference.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to get started with wildlife gardening, from picking the right plants to wildlife pond design, and how to tackle any challenges that come up. Get ready to turn your garden into a thriving natural haven!
Getting started with wildlife gardening
Wildlife gardening is a method of gardening that aims to support and enhance local biodiversity. It involves creating an environment that is hospitable to a variety of wildlife such as birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals. The benefits to the environment include promoting ecological balance and helping conservation efforts.
Essential elements of a wildlife garden
Diverse plant life: Diversity is key. Incorporating a range of native plants not only adds aesthetic value, but also provides a rich source of nectar, pollen, and seeds, catering to different wildlife needs. Think about including flowering plants for pollinators, shrubs for nesting birds, and trees for shelter, which are essential for a healthy ecosystem.
Water source: A simple bird bath or a small pond can be a lifeline for wildlife. Water features serve as drinking spots, bathing areas, and, in the case of ponds, breeding grounds for amphibians and insects. For those interested in creating a pond,Ponds by Michael Wheat specialises in designing natural, eco-friendly water features that not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also support a rich biodiversity.
Natural food sources: Beyond just plants, consider natural food sources like berry-bearing trees and bushes. These are particularly valuable in winter when food is scarce.
Shelter and breeding spots: From bird boxes to log piles, providing various shelters can make a significant difference. These spaces offer crucial breeding spots and refuge from predators.
Safe and chemical-free environment: Ensure your garden is a safe haven by avoiding pesticides and chemicals that can be harmful to wildlife. Embrace organic gardening practices to maintain the health and safety of your garden’s visitors.
Choosing the right location
Assess your space: Start by assessing the potential of your current space. Even a small balcony can fit a variety of potted plants or a mini water feature.
Understand sunlight and shade: The amount of sunlight and shade your garden receives will influence what plants will thrive. For instance, a shaded area might be perfect for ferns and mosses, attracting a different set of creatures compared to sunnier spots.
Work with the environment, not against it: Embrace your garden’s natural features. If you have a naturally damp area, consider plants that thrive in wet conditions. Working with your garden’s individual characteristics supports local ecosystems more effectively.
Create layers of habitat: Think vertically. Different wildlife species inhabit different layers of the environment. By creating layers – ground cover, understory, canopy – you offer habitats for a variety of creatures.
Consider accessibility: Ensure your wildlife garden is easily accessible for maintenance and enjoyment, but also safe from common disturbances like pets or heavy foot traffic.
Challenges and solutions in wildlife-friendly gardening
Unwanted visitors
Challenge: Wildlife gardening may sometimes attract less desirable visitors like rodents or larger mammals that can disrupt your garden’s harmony.
Solution: Adopt humane and eco-friendly methods to deter these animals. For rodents, use natural repellents like peppermint oil. For larger mammals, fencing or specific plants can act as natural barriers. Remember, the goal is coexistence, not exclusion.
Balancing the ecosystem
Challenge: Achieving a balanced ecosystem where no single species dominates can be tricky. Overpopulation of certain species, like aphids, can harm your plants.
Solution: Encourage natural predators like ladybirds or lacewings that keep pest populations in check. Plant diversity also plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance.
Plant damage
Challenge: Wildlife, while welcome, can sometimes damage plants – be it from nesting, feeding, or simply moving through the garden.
Solution: Select robust, native plants that can withstand a bit of wear and tear. Providing alternative food sources, like bird feeders, can also help minimise damage to your plants.
Seasonal adjustments
Challenge: Different seasons bring different challenges, from frozen water sources in winter to overheated habitats in summer.
Solution: Provide insulation for habitats and ensure water sources remain ice-free during winter. In summer, provide shaded areas and plenty of water. Planting seasonal plants ensures year-round food and shelter for various species.
Space constraints
Challenge: Not everyone has the luxury of a large garden, which can limit the scope of wildlife-friendly gardening.
Solution: Use vertical spaces with wall planters, hanging gardens, or climbing plants. Even a window box can attract a range of insects and birds if planted thoughtfully.
Final thoughts
Wildlife-friendly gardening, like any form of gardening, is a learning experience. It’s about adapting, experimenting, and growing alongside your garden. By facing these challenges with sustainable solutions, you not only contribute to a healthier ecosystem, but also gain a deeper understanding and connection with the natural world. Remember, every small action counts in the world of conservation and ecological balance.
