In The Woods: The Blog for Carl Sams & Jean Stoick » Wildlife

Dakota the great horned owl receives floods of fan mail

Kirt Manecke — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:08:04 +0000

Dakota the owl.

I wondered how Dakota the great horned owl, missing recently after being stolen from the Wildlife in Need Center in Wisconsin, was faring after being rescued. Happily, Dakota is doing well.

All the fan mail from his young supporters is very nice to see! View some of Dakota’s get well cards.

Dakota the Owl back home! Found after missing 3 weeks Dakota the owl, missing for three weeks after being stolen...
Update on Dakota the owl A quick update on Dakota the owl (click image above...
Dakota the Owl update: Still missing but spotted south of Hunter’s Lake Here’s an update on Dakota, the missing great horned owl...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Snowy owls flock to Michigan

Kirt Manecke — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:57:39 +0000

Snowy owl photo by Carl R. Sams II.

Snowy owls are flocking to Michigan! I have not seen one yet on my hikes on local state lands, but according to this article, “Snowy owls flock to Michigan in unusual numbers“, in the Detroit Free Press, they are flying further south for food. Their home is the Arctic tundra. The full article is here.

According to the article, by early December, there were 60 sightings in 10 lower Michigan counties and 34 in the Upper Peninsula, according to bird experts who track sightings. Snowy owls eat voles, mice and rabbits, and are often seen on the ground or perched on poles resting or scanning the ground for food.

People should keep their distance from the birds and be careful not to disturb them, said Karen Cleveland, a bird biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources. If you spook them, they will use up energy which will weaken these magnificent birds. Snowy owls are federally protected.

Enjoy them if you are lucky enough to see a snowy owl, but please keep your distance and leave them alone.

Black bear sightings confirmed in Washtenaw County, Michigan I’m very surprised to learn that a young black bear has...
Peacocks in Michigan? Grand Rapids neighbor files lawsuit Did you know there are peacocks in Michigan? When we...
Barn owl rescue: A sweet story! This is a very sweet barn owl rescue story from...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Orphaned bear cubs released in Sierra National Forest

Kirt Manecke — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:12:30 +0000

Two orphaned bear cubs were released in the Sierra National Forest by the California Department of Fish and Game. Hikers found the 6-month cubs last summer after their mother was illegally killed by a poacher.

Enjoy the short video below about the release of these two cute bear cubs.

Video Link
“Bears Released In The Sierra: Mother Shot By Poacher”

We wish these two bear cubs a happy life!

Bear Cub House opens: Rescued bear cubs enjoy first outing The new bear Cub House is open at the Animals Asia...
Baby bear cubs playing Below is the most adorable video of baby bear cubs...
The Bear Whisperer, Steve Searles, is back! Steve Searles is The Bear Whisperer and he is back...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

60 Minutes Presents: Into the Wild

Kirt Manecke — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:14 +0000

“60 Minutes Presents: Into the Wild” is a wonderful program. In a special hour devoted to the natural world, Scott Pelley visits Kenya to witness the great wildebeest migration; then, Bob Simon listens to the secret language of elephants; lastly, Lara Logan visits with Jane Goodall in the forests of Tanzania.

If you love nature and wildlife, you won’t want to miss this terrific program below!

Video Link
60 Minutes Presents: Into the Wild

Which segment did you like best?

Share “60 Minutes Presents: Into the Wild” with your friends on your Facebook wall, by e-mail and more by clicking on the “Share/Save” button below.

Update: Carl and Jean at Wild Birds Unlimited, Marquette Here’s an update in the short video below from Carl...
Visit Call of the Wild in Gaylord, MI The Call of the Wild in Gaylord, Michigan is one...
Carl and Jean sign new book at Wild Birds Unlimited in Marquette, MI this Saturday Below is our press release announcing Carl and Jean’s book signing...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bear snaring proposed for Alaska: Former governor calls it a “train wreck”

Kirt Manecke — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:40:54 +0000

Grizzly bear photo courtesy United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The use of snares to kill bears is a “train wreck” of wildlife management policy, former Alaska governor Tony Knowles said as he announced he was joining biologists in opposing the expansion of such methods, according to the article “Ex-Alaska governor Knowles, former biologists to oppose snaring of bears to help moose numbers“.

The former governor said he planned to testify today against proposals to expand the use of snares to kill bears so that more moose would be available to hunters.

“This is nuts where we’re going. This is a real train wreck that’s going to happen in terms of our wildlife management policies. That’s why I wanted to get involved in it,” the former governor said in the article.

I personally feel that snaring is a very cruel and thoughtless idea.

Learn More
Learn more in the articles, “Alaska’s newest wildlife experiment: Snaring and shooting brown bears“, and “Ex-governor opposes Alaska bear snares“.

Orphaned Alaska sea otter gets anniversary celebration An orphaned Alaska sea otter named Tazo was honored at...
Bear rescue video: Inside the Moon Bear Rescue Center If you love bears like I do you’ll enjoy this...
The Bear Whisperer, Steve Searles, is back! Steve Searles is The Bear Whisperer and he is back...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bear Cub House opens: Rescued bear cubs enjoy first outing

Kirt Manecke — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:12:38 +0000

The new bear Cub House is open at the Animals Asia Moon Bear Rescue Center in Vietnam. The bear cubs, all rescued from smugglers, explore the great outdoors for the first time in the short video below!

Video Link
Cub House opens in Vietnam

Torn from their mothers at a very young age, these four cubs have never known the joy of running on grass, climbing, or foraging outdoors, until now. Learn more on Animals Asias’ Web page, Cub House opening.

Baby bear cubs playing Below is the most adorable video of baby bear cubs...
End bear farming: Watch Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell next Monday Ending bear farming has been a topic many of you...
The Bear Whisperer, Steve Searles, is back! Steve Searles is The Bear Whisperer and he is back...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Habitat loss hurts wildlife as farmers’ participation in CRP drops

Kirt Manecke — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:52:31 +0000

Photo by Carl R. Sams II.

Habitat loss occuring in the northern plains as farmers return land to production is hurting wildlife according to the article, “Habitat loss as farmers return land to production hurts wildlife, hunting in northern Plains“.

Land once enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is shifting back to farming, according to the article.

According to the USDA’s website, the Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners (and in effect, pays them to not farm their land in order to benefit wildlife and the environment). Participants enroll in CRP contracts for 10 to 15 years

According to the article, since its creation in 1985, it has boosted populations of ducks, ring-necked pheasants, prairie chickens, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and other wildlife by providing areas where they can feed and reproduce. But the fees paid to landowners haven’t kept pace with increases in crop prices. Learn more.

Conservation of forest and wildlife resources program in Oregon: Some landowners abusing it The conservation of forest and wildlife resources are important to...
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge expansion off the table Credit: USFWS I’m saddened to learn that the U. S....
Wildlife Collision Prevention Program At the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program website you can learn...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Whitetail deer facts

Kirt Manecke — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:55:11 +0000

This image is on the cover of our award winning children's picture book, Lost in the Woods. Click image to learn more or purchase print.

As whitetail deer are featured in our children’s books and movies, I thought you’d enjoy some interesting whitetail deer facts.

Do you know that whitetail deer use speed and agility to outrun predators, sprinting up to 30 miles per hour and leaping as high as 10 feet, according to National Geographic?

“White-tailed” refers to the white underside of the deer’s tail, which it displays and wags when it senses danger.

Learn more whitetail deer facts.

What do you know about whitetail deer? Please comment and let us know.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Update on Dakota the missing Owl

Kirt Manecke — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:59:02 +0000

Here’s an update for you on Dakota, the missing owl from Wisconsin, in the short video below.

Video Link
Search for Dakota the owl moves into day ten

Ten days have passed since Dakota the great-horned owl was snatched from its cage at the Oconomowoc Wildlife in Need Center, and until now, Dakota has never had to survive in the wild. Center staff are still trying to bait Dakota, but say that it’s possible Dakota’s natural instincts are starting to kick in, according to the article “Search for Dakota the owl moves into day ten“.

There has been a wonderful outpouring of support from the community and beyond, which is heartwarming to see. The last time they heard Dakota’s call was on Saturday, according to the article.

Keep up to date on Dakota by visiting the Wildlife In Need Center’s Facebook page and the Wisconsin Wildlife Neighbors blog.

Please Spread the Word
Please share this article with anyone you know in Wisconsin by clicking the “Share/Save” button below to help spread the word and rescue Dakota!

Dakota the Owl update: Still missing but spotted south of Hunter’s Lake Here’s an update on Dakota, the missing great horned owl...
Missing owl: 2 arrested in Wisconsin but Dakota the owl still missing Two people are in custody in the investigation into a...
Barn owl rescue: A sweet story! This is a very sweet barn owl rescue story from...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Red headed woodpecker facts: Did you know they store food in bark?

Kirt Manecke — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:39:55 +0000

Red headed woodpecker storing corn in bark of tree. Photo by Carl R. Sams II.

Do you know that red headed woodpeckers store food in the bark of trees? The red headed woodpecker, one of the birds featured in our new book Tea with Lady Sapphire: Sharing the Love of Birds, is a quite interesting bird that seeks out dead or dying trees and stumps for nesting sites.

The red headed woodpecker is the only woodpecker known to cover stored food with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under bark, in fence posts, and under roof shingles, according to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds.

Here’s an interesting fact: The Red-headed Woodpecker benefited from Dutch elm disease as the dead trees provided nest sites for the woodpeckers, according to the The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds. Listen to the sounds of a red headed woodpecker.

Learn more about red headed woodpeckers.

Pileated woodpecker photos: Woodpecker rehabilitated after colliding with window As our new book, Tea with Lady Sapphire: Sharing the...
Two-headed snake discovered in TN “I’ve been doing this for 13 years and been in...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.