National Parks start first round of attacks on Hunting & Fishing

One thing that really pisses me off is when korrectnik's start attacking the rights of fisherman and hunters. Why? Because most often it is people who fish and hunt that respect the land and contribute the most to wildlife, parks and conservation. Many of the wildlife opportunities, trails, park land and children programs are funded on the backs of people who hunt and fish through the use of their licensing fees - yet we are continually portrayed as destroyers of wildlife.

The National Parks Service is advancing the latest attack on hunters & fishermen.

From NRA --

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced its intention to ban traditional ammunition containing lead in all its parks. The move would needlessly push hunters to use more costly bullets made of tungsten, copper, and steel. The restrictions, set to take affect by the end of 2010, were announced without regard to science and without soliciting feedback from sportsmens' groups.

"The NPS announcement demonstrates either complete ignorance or complete arrogance as to the effect that this policy will have on hunters," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "There is no science to support NPS's contention that the use of lead ammunition in hunting is causing environmental contamination, having a negative effect on wildlife, or posing a threat to the health of visitors or park staff. This policy, and the lack of communication in advance with the sportsmen's community, is a deliberate attempt to reduce the number of people who will want to hunt in the 60 parks that are open to hunting. This plays directly into the hands of radical anti-hunting organizations like the Humane Society of the U.S. which is advocating that hunters be banned from using lead ammunition.

"NRA-ILA will continue to be a voice of opposition against this unnecessary action and is committed to protecting the rights of hunters to use the ammo that is best suited for their hunting needs and budget.

To read NRA-ILA's comments regarding the Elk Management Plan and the use of lead ammunition in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, please click here.

This non-scientific proposal will do more harm than good.

Most often, sinkers, lures and ammunition that do not contain lead are called "non-toxic." Which if I were a liberal, I would be screaming this term is offensive to lead sinkers, lures and ammo. The no lead proposal for fishing, will only be a minimal increase in costs to fisherman. For example "non-toxic" sinkers are only a few pennies more. But in this economy, it can be the difference between a person feeding themselves and not eating.

Where the damage to wildlife comes in is with the "non-toxic" requirement for ammunition. The ban on lead (toxic) shot has long been a costly requirement for duck hunting. As an avid duck hunter, barring the last 4 yrs, I can speak from experience on this subject. The concern over the lead shot is that one, it contaminates the water and two, the ducks eat it. The problem with steel shot is it is not as dense as lead and therefore does not carry the energy for an effective kill - which leads to injured animals.

I have seen many ducks & geese shot at with steel shot, get 'winged' and fly off. Many of these injured waterfowl fly off and die a slow death later. The non-toxic shot, combined with hunting license, state & federal waterfowl stamp fees, can be cost prohibitive for many duck hunters, so they must use steel. For those having a hard time understanding the difference between lead shot and steel shot... I can shoot you with steel shot at 60 yards away and it probably wouldn't wven break your skin. On the other hand, if this were done with lead shot - you would probably have the same problem Cheney's hunting partner did.

So taking this 'non-toxic' requirement and placing over Big Game hunting is completely ludicrous. and nothing short of the start of banning hunting. Yes, after a rise of injured, White Tail Deer, Mule Deer, Elk, etc... the next step will be to scream it is inhumane and this will grease up the slippery slope towards a ban on hunting in National Parks. The next step would be a ban in hunting in all public wildlife areas and then private land. And this would be a back door attack on on 2nd Amendment rights. If hunting is banned, then there is no need for 'hunting guns.'

You think the Obama administration would never ban hunting? Don't kid yourself, there are many people out there that feel hunting should be banned completely. Currently, anti-hunting organizations have been contacting members of the NJ Assembly over a pro-hunting bill claiming that hunters comprise a small minority of the population and do not deserve to enjoy the outdoors 7 days a week.

Now how's that for some liberal hypocrisy - because hunters are a minority - they have no rights!

Ohio Hunting Groups spend over $1 Million in Conservation Programs

All too often hunters get a bad rap. Between the anti-gun crowd, PETA, and the gazillion other tree-hugging groups out there - someone always has it in for hunters. Besides being stereotyped by these groups as cretins, knuckle-draggers, and killers, etc... they often send members to disrupt hunting activities. The anti-gun groups - attack our guns, PETA would rather see an animal starve then being taken under legal methods and the tree-huggers want any and all stand of trees/forests off-limits for hunting so they can go hiking or bird watching.

Many hunters (and it is true) will tell you WE are some of the biggest conservationists around and groups like Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever put their money where their mouth is. As a former member of Pheasants Forever, a gun-dog owner ( English Springer Spaniel & English Setter), and an avid upland bird/waterfowl hunter, articles like this make me proud...

From Buckeye Firearms --

For the third consecutive year, Ohio's Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) chapters have surpassed the $1 million mark in expenditures, spending $1,066,731 on the organization's wildlife habitat mission in 2008.

During the year, Ohio chapters completed 949 habitat projects impacting 6,001 acres; planted 18,685 trees and shrubs for winter cover; engaged 1,224 youth in mentor hunts, 487 youth in target shooting, 194 youth in conservation camp and 2,563 youth in other related outdoor events; issued $1,510 in sponsoring educational workshops and offered 18 scholarships for $4,550. Additionally, a 90-acre property in Union County became the second property in the nation donated to PF/QF's Forever Land Trust, and a pilot program in northwest Ohio called the Ohio Upland Habitat Initiative (OUHI) was launched to focus habitat funding in a specific focus area.

Ohio has 36 PF/QF chapters accounting for 6,100 members statewide. Those chapters have spent more than $7.5 million to complete over 15,000 habitat projects. Those projects have benefited 123,000 acres for wildlife.

Combined with the above conservation efforts, many of the wildlife groups offer opportunities and educational programs for children to experience the outdoors and teach them about something other than video games. It is because of groups like these and through their work with ODNR that the wildlife populations in OH all up and down the food chain have soared.

It is because of all this work - I don't think a true value can be put on groups like PF & QF. So if you are a tree-hugger, an anti-gun nut or a PETA member - next time you see a hunter go hug him. If it wasn't for him - you would have less animals to protect and less trees to hug.

Bush signs Great Lakes Water Compact

Residents from the Great Lake States have a reason to cheer. Bush signed the Great Lakes Water Compact which will protect this regions greatest asset...

From USA Today --

Great Lakes water cannot be diverted to thirsty areas elsewhere in the United States and abroad under an agreement approved Friday by President Bush.

Approval of the Great Lakes Compact was the final step in a nearly decade-long quest to strengthen legal protections for the use of water from the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels and the St. Lawrence River. It received bipartisan support and the backing of business and environmental groups and both presidential candidates.

The deal was negotiated by the governors and ratified by legislatures in all eight states — New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Congress recently gave its approval. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec adopted similar policies.

Now we just need to concentrate on stopping invasive species from taking over the lakes.

A new hunting partner for Dick Cheney

People & wildlife make for the best stories.

From Fox News --

Authorities say a Levy County, Fla., man accidentally shot his wife while trying to hit a fox that attacked her.

The couple told deputies they spotted an animal in their yard Friday morning and went outside to see what it was.

The fox bit the woman on the left leg and wouldn't let go, so she told her husband to get a gun.

The man fired a .22-caliber rifle seven times, killing the animal but also hitting his wife in the lower right leg.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Flori-duh man was invited to go hunting with Vice President Cheney!

Existence of Undocumented Tribe Located in Peruvian Amazon is Threatened

An undocumented tribe has recently been located in the Amazon along the border of Peru & Brazil. Photo's have been taken but I do not believe any human contact has yet been made.

Looking at the pictures I would say they are not receptive to make new friends...

From China View --

The photographs of the tribe near the border between Brazil and Peru are rare evidence that such groups exist. A Brazilian official involved in the expedition said many of them are in increasing danger from illegal logging.

"What is happening in this region is a monumental crime against the natural world, the tribes, the fauna and is further testimony to the complete irrationality with which we, the 'civilized' ones, treat the world," Jose Carlos Meirelles was quoted as saying in a statement by the Survival International group.

"The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct," said Stephen Corry, the director of Survival International, which supports tribal people around the world.

Of more than 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, more than half live in either Brazil or Peru, Survival International says. It says all are in grave danger of being forced off their land, killed and ravaged by new diseases. More...

This tribe, as are many of the other undocumented tribes in the Amazon Forest, is in danger of being run off their land. The deforestazation of the Amazon River Basin has been widely documented over the last several decades. Over 232,000 square miles have been destroyed since the 70's.

This deforestazation is a combined result of many different factors, most notably for "pastureland by commercial and speculative interests, misguided government policies, inappropriate World Bank projects, and commercial exploitation of forest resources."

The existence of the above pictured undocumented tribe is being threatened by a French company, Perenco, who acquired the property rights after purchasing U.S. based company - Barrett Resources. Perenco plans on setting up oil exploration facilities on what is claimed to be the largest oil find in Peru for the last 30 years.

From Survival International --

A French company is locked in a legal battle with Amazon Indians over its plans to drill for oil in parts of the jungle inhabited by some of the world’s last uncontacted tribes. A hearing is due on 30 May.

The case has been filed by Peru’s Amazon Indian organisation, AIDESEP. It urges the judge to prohibit Perenco and other companies from working in the region and making contact with uncontacted tribes.

Any form of contact with the tribes could be catastrophic because of their vulnerability to outsiders’ diseases. After first contact, it is common for more than 50% of a tribe to die. Despite this, and despite an international law that recognises the tribes as the rightful owners of their land, Perenco continues to work there. More...

Peruvian officials will most likely allow this exploration and land clearing to continue with the hopes it will help with their economy. I would fully support any oil exploration in ANWR which may cause minimal enviromental impact in contrast to the global impact of the continued destruction of what rain forests that are left.

Where is Al Gore when you need him!

Birds of Prey Soaring in Ohio

This is great news for the wildlife of Ohio. The birds of prey soaring through our skies are rebounding in near record numbers.

Ohio has a record number of eagles and there are six pairs of nesting peregrine falcons at the Bohn Building, Terminal Tower and the Cleveland Clinic. Click here for the Falcon Cam.

Go thank a hunter or a fisherman! Much of the money spent on improving wildlife and the supporting programs is funded from fishing & hunting licenses.

From Dayton Daily News -- (link added)

Wildlife habitat restoration in Ohio is paying off for the state's birds of prey, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday, April 3.

Bald eagles, osprey, and peregrine falcons now are flourishing in many parts of the state and can be designated as threatened — a change from the more perilous designation of endangered, the Ohio Wildlife Council has decided.

The three species will continue to be federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

According to wildlife officials, there were 19 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons in 2007 who successfully hatched and fledged 56 young. That year, 164 eagle pairs produced 194 young. Osprey nests numbered 45 with 80 young hatched. More...

One-Armed Naked Alligator Hunter Arrested Again

The theory that some people should not be allowed to breed continually grows stronger! This just leaves me shaking my head in disbelief....

From MyFox Tampa --

A little over a year ago, he was found naked and high on crack one night in Lake Parker, in the jaws of a 12-foot alligator.

You might think Adrian Apgar would never want to see another one, especially since that one bit off his arm.

...deputies found Apgar naked…again…this time, wading in the alligator-infested waters of Saddle Creek. ... and a gator was about 50 feet away.

"They called for him. He would lower his voice, 'ssshhhhh, tell 'em to be quiet.' He was talking to the alligators. He told them, 'turn out the lights, there is a 30 footer out there,'" Judd said. More....

For another story about an idiot from FL who wasn't so lucky with an alligator click here.

Animated Gator by Feeble Minds

New Marine Life found in Antarctic

Three ships, one each from, Japan, Australia and France, just returned from a two month exploration in the Antarctic.

The ships were part of an international program, Collaborative East Antarctic Marine Census (CEAMARC), in cooperation with Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) to study & take a census of marine life in the Antarctic.

The purpose of this study is to objective is to - study the evolution of life in Antarctic waters to determine how this has influenced the diversity of the present biota, and to use these observations to predict how it might respond to future change.

From Breitbart --

Australian experts taking part in an international program to take a census of marine life in the ocean at the far south of the world collected specimens from up to 6,500 feet beneath the surface, and said many may never have been seen before.

"Not all of the creatures that we found could be identified and it is very likely that some new species will be recorded as a result of these voyages," said Graham Hosie, head of the census project.

Among the bizarre-looking creatures the scientists spotted were tunicates, plankton-eating animals that resemble slender glass structures up to yard tall "standing in fields like poppies," Riddle said.

The specimens were being sent to universities and museums around the world for identification, tissue sampling and DNA studies. More....

Click on the pictures for more links.

Source: © Australian Antarctic Division 2006

Ohio has Record Number of Eagles

In a bit of good news from Ohio - The Bald Eagle is back and kicking butt!

Earlier this year the American Bald Eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List. After nearly being wiped out from the use of DDT pesticides in the 70's the Eagle has made a remarkable come back.

This year a record 649 eagles have been spotted in Ohio - that is big jump over the 554 eagles spotted in 2006.

We can now proudly say - in Ohio the eagle is now, well... soaring like an Eagle.

From the PD --

"They're practically growing exponentially," said Mark Shieldcastle, a biologist with the Division of Wildlife who helps coordinate the count from the Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station in western Ohio. "We now have a healthy population of eagles."

Observers spotted 45 birds in landlocked Trumbull County, ranking it a suprising third highest in the state. Lou Orosz, manager at Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area about an hour east of Cleveland, said the park has five nests.

"This is an area with a tremendous amount of water nearby-- from Mosquito Creek and Shenango reservoirs to the Grand River and several creeks," Orosz said. More....

I Could Not Pass This Post Up! - Monkeys paying for Sex!

Damn! I only thought you just had to brush your teeth and wear clean underwear! Last time I tried to clean ticks off a girl I was dating, she slapped me!

From Fox News--

Mating may be a natural instinct, but monkey business doesn't come free for male macaques who have to "pay" females for their affections, the AFP reported Wednesday.

According to the report, a study of the primates conducted by Michael Gumert of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore found that the male monkeys must first groom the female before she will permit sex. The males use grooming as a form of currency to buy sex from the female, the study found.

Click here to read more of the AFP report at The Raw Story.com

Left to her own desires, a female macaque mates about 1.5 times an hour, but that rate jumps to 3.5 times an hour when the male partner first provided grooming services, the study found.

The results of the study, which followed 50 long-tail macaques for 20 months in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia, will be published in the British journal New Scientist on Saturday, the AFP reported.

3.5 times an hour?!? I should have married a monkey!

Any ladies want their hair brushed?

No Really - Kucinich said something smart!

The UFO seeing, aluminum foil hat wearing, "gay black gang banger", who has declared himself the only true women in the presidential primaries -US Rep. Dennis Kookcinich - may have finally said something smart!

As chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Domestic Policy Subcommittee leading a hearing on the ethics bottled water, Boy Blunder Kookcinich has expressed reservations about the bottled water manufacturers effect on the environment and ground water.

Remembering he is from the Cleveland area and not the planet of Mondorphia, Kookcinich was worried about the potential negative effect these water pirates would and/or could have on Lake Erie....

From the PD --

"Groundwater has largely been regarded as a resource that can be extracted by anyone who owns the land above an aquifer or spring," Kucinich said. "The common law was formulated before modern science understood the connections between groundwater and surface water and before the advent of large-scale mechanized pumping. As a result, it provides little protection for conservation." More....

I can't believe I am saying this - I agree with him! (God help me!)

As much as I am a Wal-Mart shopper - I have a problem allowing a private company to profit on something that can be considered "owned by the public". Under my thinking - as lakes, rivers, etc... being "owned by the public" I look at them as being under the custodial care of the state.

One option worth considering is - If these bottling companies wanted to purchase the "rights" from the state to pump public water for resale at a profit, that may be something to discuss. By selling these rights the state can control the pumping and set yearly limits as needed.

The money from this purchase can then be reinvested back into the water source from which they pumped. Quite possibly this money can be reinvested into protecting the watersheds and aquifers supplying these water sources. For the Great Lake state's this money can be used to combat invasive species, which is a VERY BIG problem!

As I believe Lake Erie is the key to revitalize Cuyahoga County, protecting Lake Erie and all the Great Lakes for that matter, is the important issue.

I will leave the toxin's from the plastic bottles and filling of the land fill issue's for someone else.

Really Taking a "Bite Out of Crime"

Because of some nit-witted criminal and alligator will have to be put to death!

Two suspected car thief's figured they would snatch a nice ride at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming parking lot. One got caught, one ran and well.... he was eaten by, Poncho!

Poncho, named by the employees, is a 9' American alligator!

From WJXT --

....the other robbery suspect tried to elude officer by jumping into a large pond behind the facility, according to a WJXT-TV report.

During the swim, police said, an alligator attacked and killed the man. He was apparently bitten on the head several times.

The victim's body was recovered at the bottom of the pond about a day after the reported break-ins. More....

Poncho the "Crime Gator"who was minding his own business before this bucket head forgot Florida has alligators and alligators live in water, will now be put to death.

A Sad Fish Story: Local Shop Shut Down for Wildlife Violations

The following story is very upsetting to me....

The PD is reporting that a local bait shop, L&D Bait, Tackle & Taxidermy was shut down by a Cuyahoga County wildlife officer for selling mounted fish. It is illegal in Ohio to sell games fish, mounted fish included.

L&D is located on Detroit Rd in Lakewood, just before the Metro Park entrance to the Rocky River. The Rocky River is rated in the "Top 150 places to fish in America".

Owner, Larry "Pete" Petersen, is quite the character and first impressions of him are usually not good. Over the years of going there, I realized it takes awhile for Pete to warm up to you. He strikes me as sort of dry, but being a nice guy.

Walking into the business, which is tucked in neatly with a coffee shop and little cafe, L&D seems out of place for this area. The first clue is a sign saying, PETA - "People Eating Tasty Animals." The second being his pet (caged) yellow Python in the corner and of course we can't forget the turtle walking around the shop either. The turtle has a reflector on his back to keep people from stepping on him.

On the walls Pete has autographed pictures of country music stars ranging from, Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, Lorrie Morgan to name a few, but Pete got in trouble for the other things on his walls.... mounted fish!

All over the walls are mounted fish, mostly Steelhead from the Rocky River. Most are waiting to be picked up by customers but since having a fish mounted is costly and some of these mounts are fish that have been left by customers. Definitely not for a bad job though. I have had several fish mounted by Pete, his quality work was always done in a timely fashion with very reasonable prices.

In the mornings there would usually be a few guys waiting for Pete to open so they could buy thier bait. Being a fly fisherman, I would only stop if I needed split shot, maybe a float, or just to get a fishing report and an inside laugh at Pete with his warm & fuzzy self.

If you landed a big Steelhead, maybe an occasional stray Brown Trout or lost King Salmon (Chinook), you would just take it up the hill, give Pete a $25 deposit in 6-8 weeks your mount was done. Depending on the work done, a mounted fish can cost upwards from $7 - $10 per inch. The average Steelhead in the Rocky River range from 20" - 30" and weigh 5-6 pounds.

Pete is scheduled to be in Lakewood Municipal Court on Dec. 11th to answer these charges. As of now the store is closed and the phone number has been disconnected.

Which leads me to this question.... Is or should it be illegal for a taxidermist to sell fish left by customers?

As I understand it the law is meant more to prevent people (poachers) from catching game fish with the intent to resell for a profit. It is obvious that there was no criminal intent on Pete's part; the man was simply trying to recoup his costs of mounting the fish. If Pete was paying people to catch fish for the intent of mounting and reselling them, then he was wrong. But I do not think that is the case.

I am all for ODNR and Cuyahoga County Wildlife officers being aggressive in handling of all fishing or hunting violations, (like the case in this link), but I believe in Pete's case they went to far!

Great News for Lake Erie

NASA & the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be teaming up to find out the cause of that nasty blue-green algae that forms in Lake Erie around this time of the year.

Thought to be gone for a long time, regular algal blooms and/or Dead Zones have been increasing over the recent years. These blooms are the cause of closed beaches and can be harmful to wildlife.

There are some natural "Dead Zones" that occur through the biological break down of matter, waste, etc. and the absorption of oxygen this naturally occurring process takes. But the increase of these algal blooms is cause for concern as they were regularly seen during the Lake Erie's dead years.

If successful NASA & NOAA is hoping to be able to predict these blooms using some really cool technical equipment flown 10,000 feet below, while boats take reading at the waters surface.

From the PD --

The NASA and NOAA teams will crunch the data from sky and water in coming months, creating computer models that could project when and where the harmful algae might appear in future Septembers. In technical terms, it's algorithms vs. algal blooms.

In time, it could mean a new Lake Erie early warning system -- giving municipal water departments and public beaches ample time to prepare for and treat the arrival of the harmful blue-green blooms late each summer.

"That would be a public service that would come out of the science," said NOAA scientist George Leskevich. More....

Ohio needs to check Damn Dams!

Many cities are working with ODNR, Army Corp of Engineers & the EPA to remove dams on some streams. This is being done to improve wildlife and aquatic conditions downstream and to remove any deteriorated dams.

But that is no consolation to the people who live in places where dams are unable to be removed.

Noting that dam inspections are to be every 5 years, ODNR has stated because of budget cuts and being short staffed, they have been nowhere close to meeting this goal.

They are now averaging about 100 inspections per year. Far short of a sound management practices.

From ONN --

Safety experts said that with all the attention to bridges following last week's collapse in Minnesota, more attention needs to be paid to dams across the state.

The Department of Natural Resources regulates more than 1,600 dams in Ohio. Half of those are considered deficient....

Six of the ten highest risk dams in the state are located in central Ohio, including Hoover and O'Shaughnessy Reservoir Dam in Franklin County. More...

Voracious Jumbo Squid Invade California

Many of you may not be interested in this, but it is my blog and I thinks this is cool!

MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) - Jumbo squid that can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh more than 110 pounds is invading central California waters and preying on local anchovy, hake and other commercial fish populations, according to a study published Tuesday.

Before the 1970s, the giant squid were typically found in the Eastern Pacific, and in coastal waters spanning from Peru to Costa Rica. But as the populations of its natural predators—like large tuna, sharks and swordfish—declined because of fishing, the squids moved northward and started eating different species that thrive in colder waters. More....

Bipartisan support to stop invasive species and ballast water in Great Lakes

From the PD --

A U.S. House committee this week debated The Clean Water Restoration Act - an update of the 1972 Clean Water Act.

Members of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative - including Cleveland and Toledo - on July 12 called on the Canadian and U.S. governments to pass comprehensive invasive species and ballast water control legislation.

Ballast water from ships is cited as the source of dozens of invasive aquatic species continually changing the entire Great Lakes ecosystem.

U.S. senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown and Ohio Rep. Michael Skindell will join state officials and environmentalists Monday morning at Edgewater Park to provide a briefing on their roles in both federal and state proposals to stop destructive exotic species.

The board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency last week voted to support anti-invasive species legislation.

It cannot be stressed enough how IMPORTANT it is to protect one of our states greatest assets!

Bald Eagle Soars Off Endangered Species List

The American Bald Eagle has officially been removed from the Endangered Species List.

When I first posted about this on Jan. 1, 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated this would be done in a couple weeks. Better late than never!

From U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service --

After nearly disappearing from most of the U.S., the bald eagle is now flourishing and no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The nation’s symbol has recovered from an all-time low of 417 nesting pairs in 1963 to an estimated high of 9,789 breeding pairs today, and will be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species.

To ensure that eagles continue to thrive, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work with state wildlife agencies to monitor eagles for at least five years. If it appears that bald eagles again need the protection of the Endangered Species Act, the Service can propose to relist the species. More...

Black bear may be roaming southern Summit County

Not that anyone would be interested..... though unconfirmed, there has been another Black Bear sighting in Ohio. This time it is Summit County, a couple of weeks ago there wa a sighting in Stark & Wayne counties.

Being a sportsman, one cannot be more proud of the work Ohio is doing to improve our wildlife after years of ignoring it.

From the ABJ --

A possible black bear has been spotted roaming southern Summit County over the last week, but the Ohio Division of Wildlife has been unable to confirm the sightings, a spokeswoman said today.

The latest of two reports occurred Thursday in New Franklin. A biologist attempted to locate the bear but didn't see it and could find no tracks, spokeswoman Jamey Graham said.

The animal could have been a large dog, as black bears are small and dogs are sometimes mistaken for a bear at a distance, she said. More....

While there is a possibility it could have been a big dog, or though bigger and more hairy than a bear, it may have been Rosie O'Donnell looking for porrage. But most likely, there is a better than average chance it was a lost male black bear.

After the mommy bear pushes them away, it is common for adolescent male bears to go wandering to look for new territory. The bear probably wandered in from western PA and most likely will return.