Latest news with #ArizonaGameandFishDepartment
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Arizona Man Kills Mountain Lion to Protect Pet Dog from Animal Attack
A man shot and killed a mountain lion after the big cat attacked his dog The dog and its owner were out for a walk at night in Buckeye, Arizona, when the mountain lion aggressively approached them The dog sustained no serious injuries in the encounter with the wild animalA man and his dog are safe after a dangerous encounter with a mountain lion. On May 25, around 10 p.m., in Buckeye — about 30 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona — the man was walking his dog in a residential area called Verrado when a mountain lion approached the pair and attacked them, the Arizona Game and Fish Department told PEOPLE in a statement. The "brief altercation" did not result in serious injuries for the canine, with the man successfully "kicking the lion off his dog," the department's statement read. Yet, the altercation didn't deter the predator, because the mountain lion doubled back, per the statement, following the man and dog as they returned home. The mountain lion approached the duo again, but this time, the man fatally shot the big cat. The killing was an act of self-defense, the statement read. The state's wildlife management agency picked up and transported the dead mountain lion without further incident. Mountain lion and human encounters are rare, but the spread of urban and suburban sprawl is leading to increased run-ins as the big cats lose their natural habitat. The University of Arizona estimated that roughly 2,500 to 3,000 wild mountain lions are living in the state. "If you encounter a lion, do not run. Face the lion and slowly back away, leaving an escape route, " the university said in a statement, per The Island Packet. "You should also try to appear larger by raising your arms over your head. You may also throw rocks and sticks as long as you can avoid crouching down." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Another dog owner recently went to extreme lengths to protect her pup. Kim Spencer of Tampa, Florida, was on an evening walk with her dog Kona when an alligator emerged from a lake nearby with its sights set on the pet. While the alligator got Kona's head in its jaws, Spencer mobilized and jumped on the back of the gator, effectively wrangling the reptile. "I stopped thinking and just dove on it, jumped on it and straddled it, as lady-like as that is, and was trying to pry its jaws open," she said. Kona survived the attack thanks to Spencer, leaving the altercation with several deep bite wounds that required stitches. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mexican gray wolf Asha gives birth to litter of pups
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Asha, a Mexican gray wolf caught wandering around New Mexico in 2023, gave birth to her first litter in mid-May, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced. Asha (wolf F2754) and her mate (wolf M1966) welcomed five Mexican wolf pups. She came to fame as a wandering wolf, making multiple trips outside the Mexican wolf recovery area. Asha was captured and paired with her mate at the Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility in New Mexico in December 2023 — a decision that some environmentalists disagreed with, saying it would have been better for the wolves to roam. 'Asha' the Mexican grey wolf featured in children's book The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said there are plans in place to release the full pack onto private land in New Mexico this summer. The announcement of Asha's litter came just days before the Arizona Game and Fish Department reported that the Mexican wolf fostering efforts for 2025 wrapped up. A total of 17 wolf pups were placed into wild dens across New Mexico and Arizona, six of which were fostered into a single den in Arizona and 11 into three different dens in New Mexico. 'The fostering program is achieving these goals faster than was predicted, with 21 of the 22 required fosters having reached breeding age,' Clay Crowder, assistant director with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said in part in a news release. 'Also of note from the foster program is that we now have at least 13 fosters having produced 31 litters, all of which are important to contributing to the genetic health of the wild population. With these successes, we are approaching the criteria to begin evaluating potential downlisting of Mexican wolves.' The Mexican wolf is listed as endangered, and efforts to grow the population have been ongoing since 1998 in the two southwestern states. A 2024 population survey revealed a minimum of 286 Mexican wolves were distributed across New Mexico and Arizona. Fostering Mexican wolf pups from captivity into the wild helps manage the genetic diversity of the wild population and allows the pups to learn how to live successfully in the wild from an experienced pack, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Since 2016, a total of 146 fostered pups have been introduced into wild dens The goal for 2025 was to place a larger number of pups into dens in Arizona, which was relatively successful, with twice as many pups going to Arizona compared to last year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said in the news release. Conservationists worry Mexican grey wolves could be threatened by cuts to recovery programs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and the Saving Animals From Extinction program collaborated on the fostering effort. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man out walking dog kills mountain lion in Buckeye neighborhood
A Buckeye man recently shot and killed a mountain lion after it attacked him and his dog on an evening walk in a residential area, according to officials with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The incident occurred in Verrado, a community near Skyline Regional Park. Officials said the man, whom they declined to identify, was walking his dog around 10 p.m. on May 25 when a mountain lion approached him and began attacking. Officials said the man engaged in "a brief altercation" with the wild animal, successfully "kicking the lion off of his dog." But it continued to follow them as they began walking back toward their home. When the mountain lion attempted to approach again, the man shot and killed it. Officials said the animal was slain in self-defense. State wildlife managers picked up the carcass, and no citations were issued. The man's dog was not severely injured, officials said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man kills mountain lion after it attacks dog in Buckeye neighborhood
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Unusual-looking rattlesnake found in Arizona backyard: 'This is a first'
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – An Arizona homeowner's discovery of a rattlesnake exhibiting an unusual color pattern left some snake experts rather amazed. The western diamondback rattlesnake was uncovered in the backyard of a Scottsdale home on Friday. Rattlesnake Solutions, a pest control service, posted the colorful photos on Facebook, stating that a pattern mutation may be the reason for the odd appearance. "In the many thousands of diamondbacks we've seen over the years, this is a first," a business spokesperson wrote in the post. The snake's tail stands out compared to the rest of its body as the base of the tail is bright white with black spots. According to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the typical pattern of a western diamondback rattlesnake is outlined in white and black, and the tail has alternating black and white banding. The Arizona Game and Fish Department says that Arizona has more rattlesnake species than any other state. The pest service remarks that the area where the snake was found is not a hybridization zone, ruling out any possibilities of breeding with other snakes. According to the NDOW, the western diamondback rattlesnake is a venomous species that uses its venom to subdue its prey. "We want people to know that there is a higher than average chance that they might encounter a rattlesnake when they are out recreating," said Thomas Jones, amphibians and reptiles program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Alligator Made Famous In 'Happy Gilmore' Dies At More Than 80 Years Old If bitten, suggests restricting movement to the affected area. If bitten by a rattlesnake, copperhead, or cottonmouth, keep the affected area at heart level. If bitten by a coral snake, cobra, or exotic snake, keep the affected area below heart level to reduce the flow of article source: Unusual-looking rattlesnake found in Arizona backyard: 'This is a first'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Legislators approve stunning wildlife bridge project unlike anything seen in the US: 'It's a data-driven approach'
Many of America's highways have existed for thousands of years, but rather than cars traveling them, they were migration routes for keystone species. Fortunately, legislators in Arizona have preserved one particular migration route in Arizona with a "wildlife bridge," according to Environment America. Since the 1950s, the U.S. highway system has crisscrossed important areas of travel for animals, resulting in anywhere between 1 million and 2 million vehicle collisions with large animals yearly, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Associate Casey Miller reported that "elk, deer, black bears, and even mountain lions also need to move through the landscape — and right now, they've only got one option: cross the road." Between 2018 and 2023, the area was the site of 58% of wildlife crashes on a 50-mile stretch of Arizona highway. The Arizona Game and Fish Department proved the concentration of wildlife activity, per the Environment America report. They used GPS collars to pinpoint migratory routes. "It's a data-driven approach that mirrors successful efforts in other states," Miller reported. The wildlife bridge is scheduled to be finished in 2026 and will be covered in vegetation. Tall fences will guide animals toward the crossing. Bridges like this have been introduced across the globe, helping save lives and even protect mammals on the brink of extinction. Lives will be saved with fewer car accidents, and keystone species (species that, if removed, would cause major disruptions to the ecosystem) will be preserved when they can maintain normal migratory routes. This can prevent the food chain from getting out of balance, which has real, tangible consequences for the public. Without keystone species to work as ecosystem engineers, invasive fish, mammals, insects, and plant life can run amok. Wildlife crossings are a priority for road safety across the U.S., and many states are also working to build them for the safety of humans and wildlife. This wildlife bridge will cost $15.8 million, and the projects across the U.S. are federally funded as part of the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Would you live in a city where every road was underground? Sign me up Depends on how it looks Only if you paid me No freaking way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Miller wrote: "While roads may get busier, they are also getting smarter — and more wildlife-friendly. "Elk, deer, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, black bears, and Arizonans can now rest easier with safe passageways over the I-17 freeway." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
