Latest news with #DavidCrockett
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Resident stunned as trail cameras capture images of elusive creature prowling backyard: 'Like hitting the lottery'
Bobcats are the most common wildcats in America, yet they're also rarely seen by anyone outside of a zoo. As home security technology continues to become more prevalent, however, that's beginning to change. Ring camera doorbells, home security cameras, and cellular or Wi-Fi trail cameras are doing what humans struggle with — spotting bobcats. "It's like hitting the lottery," said David Crockett, Animal Control Officer in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, according to Itemlive. It was a trail camera that captured an image of the elusive wildcat in a Lynnfield resident Steve Fantone's backyard, an extremely rare find despite the bobcat's extensive range, which spans the southern provinces of Canada, through all 48 contiguous states, and into Mexico. "It was similar in size to a small or medium-sized dog," Fantone said. "Bobcats have always been here because it's a habitat that has things for them to eat, like mice and birds and I have some video showing one stalking a rabbit. This is what makes trail cameras so important in several ways, well beyond just spotting evasive bobcats. They offer a noninvasive method for scientists to study animals, their behavior, patterns, long-term data collection, and habitat use. We've long known that human presence affects animal behavior, as a study published in the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens shows. From a conservationist perspective, trail cameras are powerful tools of discovery, contributing to population monitoring, demographics, abundance, density, human encroachment, diseases, invasive species, anti-poaching, and general evidence collection. The information gathered from a single trail camera is enormously helpful in these efforts. Now, imagine several of them strategically spread out across a geographic area. These smart measures, coupled with ever-advancing technologies, help preserve these animals, ensuring their longevity, health, and rehabilitation when necessary. Animals exist on countless interconnected food chains, from primary producers to primary and secondary consumers, and so on. Remove one species from the equation, and it potentially mimics the game of Jenga, with everything crashing down in chaos. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Pollinators, plants, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, etc., each impacting the next in positive or negative ways. A trail camera can record this information without meddling with the cycles. The bobcat is a primary example of this. Human intervention, if only to observe from a quiet, camouflaged viewpoint, creates a disturbance that elusive, solitary animals can detect. It's difficult to spot a bobcat in person for a reason. "Real wildlife is happening all around us. We've pushed them out of their environment," Crockett continued. Wildlife persists, and ultimately, conservation efforts will continue to strive for healthier and more diverse ecosystems. 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.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thursday Preps: Crockett softball and Indians baseball claim district championships
Washington Co. TN — Even though teams had locked in a spot in the upcoming regional tournament, who would be declared district champions was decided in Thursday night softball and soccer title games. In Jonesborough, top seed David Crockett needed to beat Unicoi County twice in the Class 3-A playoffs to win, and they did just that behind the pitching and hitting from Madelyn Dulaney as the Lady Pioneers won the championship with scores of 6-0 and 4-2. Advertisement On the pitch at the Steve Spurrier field, neighboring rivals Dobyns-Bennett and Science Hill could not decide the game in regular time they had to go to penalty kicks, and the Indians would prevail and win 0-0 (4-3). D-B will host Jefferson County in the regional semifinals, while Science Hill travels to Sevier County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Survey opens for future of David Crockett Birthplace State Park
GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tennessee State Parks officials are asking the public to help shape the future of the David Crockett Birthplace State Park. 'We want Tennesseans to tell us what they would like to see in the rebirth of David Crockett Birthplace, a beloved state park that holds many memories of the beautiful Tennessee outdoors and is a treasured historical site,' Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner of Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said in a news release. 'We need visitor feedback on how to best honor the legacy of David Crockett and the park that bears his name.' The online survey will help inform park leadership on the future of the park. According to the release, a master plan for the park has started and the survey is a key step in the process. The survey is open until May 18. The park, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene, has been temporarily closed since September 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
