Latest news with #wildlifeofficials
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dolphin freed from fishing line in Florida's Indian River Lagoon
The Brief A dolphin tangled in fishing line earlier this spring has been spotted swimming freely. Wildlife officials confirm the animal is no longer in distress, though scars remain. The outcome offers rare hope in the ongoing threat of marine debris entanglements. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A dolphin once tangled in fishing line in the Indian River Lagoon is now swimming free, according to wildlife experts, bringing a wave of relief to the community and researchers who had been searching for weeks. What we know A dolphin previously seen critically entangled in fishing line in the Indian River Lagoon has been spotted swimming freely, according to the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. New video evidence confirms the animal is no longer in distress and appears to be healthy, though it bears scars where the fishing line was embedded. What we don't know It remains unclear exactly how the dolphin freed itself. No one witnessed the entanglement being removed, and researchers can only speculate that the fishing gear may have caught on a rock or piling, allowing the animal to struggle free. The backstory The dolphin was first reported in late March by boater Sean Beard in Sikes Creek. His early warning prompted a widespread search by wildlife officials, who scoured nearly 40 miles of waterways looking for the injured animal. Despite their efforts, weeks went by without a confirmed sighting. Big picture view Entanglements in marine debris, such as fishing lines, pose a growing threat to dolphins and other marine life. Successful outcomes like this are rare and offer hope—but they also highlight the importance of public vigilance and rapid reporting. What they're saying Sean Beard ran along a sea wall two weeks ago grabbing some videos when he first saw a struggling dolphin swimming below the wall. "I don't like to see no animal suffer like that," said Sean Beard who's a local fishermen and captured video of the dolphin. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and boater Sean Beard.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Grizzly bear relocated near Yellowstone National Park after attacking cattle
A grizzly bear that Wyoming wildlife officials said was continuously attacking cattle was captured and relocated to a location near Yellowstone National Park last week. According to a press release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the adult male grizzly bear was captured after state wildlife officials consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials said the bear was captured due to "cattle depredation on private land." The Wyoming Game and Fish Department did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's questions regarding the number of cattle damaged by the relocated bear. The release continued, saying that the bear was relocated to the Glade Creek drainage, some 2.5 miles south of Yellowstone National Park. According to wildlife officials, the relocation of these bears is done in order to "minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears." "Game and Fish consults with appropriate agencies to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bear's survival," the release said. Wildlife officials also said that before a bear is relocated, its age, sex and type of conflict are taken into account before choosing its new home. Although not an encounter between a grizzly bear and cattle, incidents between grizzly bears and humans have become more common in Western states. In April, a man shot and killed a female grizzly bear in Montana after state wildlife officials said she charged at him. The man was "shed hunting," or looking for antlers shed by deer, elk and other animals, when he saw the bear on a "brushy hillside," according to a news release issued by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "As he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range," the agency said. "He shot and killed the bear. Fortunately, the man was uninjured." Officials said the incident happened in north-central Montana near Dupuyer, about 70 miles south of the Canadian border. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wildlife officials relocate grizzly bear near Yellowstone
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- The Guardian
Decapitated dolphin found on remote island in North Carolina
Wildlife officials in North Carolina are offering a reward of $20,000 for information about the decapitation of a dolphin on a remote coastal island. The 8ft-long dolphin was initially found, intact, on Lea-Hutaff Island in the state by a member of the public. When staff from the marine mammal stranding team from the University of North Carolina Wilmington arrived a few days later to investigate, they found the animal's head had been removed. 'This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and cause of death,' said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries' office of law enforcement in a statement. It added that an initial health assessment of the dolphin showed the animal was likely carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious disease brucellosis and can be passed on to humans through direct contact. Anyone convicted of mutilating the dolphin could face a fine of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail. Lea-Hutaff Island is a remote and undeveloped barrier island north of the city of Wilmington and is only accessible by boat. The island is a haven for turtles, as well as shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl and marsh birds during their nesting, migration and wintering seasons.
