Latest news with #TennesseeWildlifeResourcesAgency
Axios
14-07-2025
- General
- Axios
Birds in Tennessee and nationwide are vanishing — fast
One of Tennessee's state birds, the northern bobwhite quail, is in serious decline, and a new report suggests many other bird species are facing similar threats. Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the overall health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble. If habitats can't support birdlife, there could be problems for other wildlife — or even humans. Zoom in: The northern bobwhite quail, Tennessee's game bird, was once abundant statewide. But a 2020 report found that the in-state population had declined more than 5% per year since 1966. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency attributes the declines to a loss of farmland and other areas suitable for the ground-dwelling birds. The state launched a "quail team" in 2017 to develop a plan to rebuild the bobwhite population. Efforts to restore a robust and self-sustaining quail population are ongoing. The big picture: It's not just the quail. Researchers tracked species nationwide and found declines almost everywhere — even among birds once thought resilient, like waterfowl. Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns, per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. State of play: Dozens of bird species in Tennessee are vulnerable because of population declines. Forests have become quieter as several populations nosedived. For instance, golden-winged warblers have become relatively scarce in Tennessee and are listed as a species "In Need of Management." The Bachman's sparrow has all but disappeared from the state. Between the lines: Urban sprawl is a factor in many cases. As new development encroaches on small family farms and wild areas, many once-common birds have become harder to find. The intrigue: The State of Birds report notes that most forests in the Southeast are on private land, meaning that "voluntary and incentive-based programs" are essential to conservation.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Crews scale back search for swimmer who went missing in a Knoxville quarry
The Knoxville Fire Department has scaled back its search for the swimmer who went missing June 14 at Augusta Quarry in Fort Dickerson Park. KFD transitioned the operation from a search to a recovery mission after five days. For over 80 hours, crews from KFD, the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Blount County Rescue Squad coordinated their efforts, KFD spokesman Mark Wilbanks said. Teams used advanced underwater remotely operated vehicles, boats, sonar technology and shoreline sweeps to find the missing person. Knoxville police officers investigated the incident as well. 'We remain dedicated to doing everything we can to bring resolution to this situation,' Wilbanks said in a news release. Team are working to determine their next steps. The search began around 9 p.m. June 14, after the Knoxville Fire Department received reports of a swimmer who went underwater and did not resurface. The quarry was closed at the time for major upgrades, and KFD reminded anyone tempted to swim that it is "illegal and dangerous." The quarry is scheduled to open with a new pier and bathrooms at the end of the month. The Augusta Quarry is made up of two deep pits with a shallower saddle connecting them. It is especially deep, making it challenging for even expert divers to search. To reach the bottom of Augusta Quarry, a diver needs technical training with a breathing gas called trimix, a mixture of oxygen, helium and nitrogen. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Crews scale back search for swimmer who disappeared in Knoxville quarry
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Body of missing boater from Knoxville recovered from Douglas Lake
The body of a Knoxville man was recovered June 10, two days after he went missing while boating on Douglas Lake. Search and recovery teams found the body of David Simanca Molina, 22, at a depth of approximately 81 feet in the Muddy Creek area of Douglas Lake, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said in a news release. Witnesses said Molina was not wearing a personal flotation device when he entered the water from a pontoon boat around 1:30 p.m. June 8 and did not resurface. His death marks the 11th boating fatality in Tennessee this year, according to the release. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville man's body recovered from Douglas Lake
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pet zebra captured after 8 days on the loose in Rutherford County
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The pet zebra that escaped captivity in Rutherford County has been captured after a search lasting more than a week. According to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, the zebra, affectionately nicknamed 'Ed,' was caught in Christiana near the Buchanan Estates subdivision Sunday morning. The zebra was airlifted by helicopter and lowered into an animal trailer to await its return to its owners. PREVIOUS: Zebra on the loose causes a ruckus in Rutherford County Officials said the rescue was a combined effort involving the RSCO, Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. According to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, the zebra's owner first brought it home May 30 and reported it missing on the morning of Saturday, May 31. The zebra was spotted by bystanders on Epps Mill Road before making its way to Interstate 24, where deputies closed several lanes of traffic May 31. PREVIOUS: Pet zebra runs around Rutherford County, wreaks havoc on I-24 The zebra then escaped into a wooded area off I-24, between Joe B. Jackson Parkway and the Epps Mill Road exit, and was not seen for several days. Prior to the rescue operation, Ed was spotted on Friday, June 6 in a field near Ridgewood Drive in Christiana. RSCO announced that deputies saw the missing zebra through a drone camera and were working with a veterinarian to safely rescue the animal. State, local groups and businesses turn runaway zebra into a meme The animal's escape turned it into quite the local celebrity, with people around Middle Tennessee creating a barrage of memes of 'zebra sightings' at various local businesses and events. No additional information was immediately available about what is next for Ed. 📲 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.📧 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.💻 for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities searching Percy Priest Lake after reported drowning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A search effort is underway at Percy Priest Lake after several minors notified Nashville law enforcement about a potential drowning Saturday evening. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, officers were flagged down on Saturday, June 7 by three juveniles at the Anderson Rec Area who said they saw someone who appeared to be drowning. The group reported seeing hands come out of the water before they no longer resurfaced. Crews attempt to rescue person from Cumberland River Authorities said the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has three boats searching the water. A police helicopter has also been called in to help. The MNPD told News 2 that nobody has been reported missing at the location and there are no other witnesses besides the minors. | READ MORE | No additional details have been released about this situation. 📲 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.📧 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.💻 for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
