Desert Wildlife

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Desert Wildlife

Postby wildrose » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:24 am

Revised desert tortoise recovery plan released
Some people say that government is evil and often it is, but at other times it's a necessary evil. Protecting wildlife is one of the things that government should be involved in and so projects like this have my full support!
:sunshine:
Urbanization, off-highway vehicle use, utility corridors, poor grazing management, mining and military activities were primary reasons for the decline in Mojave desert tortoise populations. Disease, particularly an upper respiratory tract disease and fires festered by invasive plant species are other factors, while global climate change and drought are long-term considerations, officials said.

LINK: http://pvtimes.com/news/revised-desert-tortoise-recovery-plan-released/
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby panamint_patty » Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:46 am

Research shows crows comparable to humans when it comes to waiting
Interesting study. It sounds like the birds are smarter (at least in some ways) than might be expected!
The researchers, led by Dr. Valerie Dufour from the Universite de Strasbourg, began their study by training 12 birds to exchange tokens for food. They gave each bird a piece of food. Keeping their giving hand closed, they showed the birds the reward in their other hand. After a waiting period, the researchers opened their giving hand again. The birds then received the reward if they gave back the initial piece of food.

LINK: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-09-crows-humans.html
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby wildrose » Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:27 am

Watch out for migrating deer
This is more of a concern in Owens Valley than in the RC and Trona area, but for those traveling it might be relevant!
:sunshine:
When weather turns cold, deer start to migrate. That can mean tragic highway collisions. Caltrans sent out a reminder to watch out for the deer and other animals as they go on the move this fall.

LINK: http://www.sierrawave.net/8375/watch-out-for-migrating-deer/
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby wildrose » Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:32 am

Burro Problem in Beatty
It's surprising that we don't have more burros visiting our town! I see them in the general area, but not too many in town!
Beatty’s perennial burro dilemma dominated the town advisory board’s Sept. 28 meeting. “A few citizens came to me and had concerns over the burros,” said Chairman Teresa Sullivan, who had asked to have the matter on the agenda. Resident Harry Friend was the first audience member to comment, saying, “I’d like to speak for Beatty’s burros.” He said that the current group of burros that is hanging around town are “accustomed to people and to traffic, and they know how to behave.” Friend contended that if these burros were rounded up, they would soon be replaced by other wild burros, and that this would make the situation more dangerous.

LINK: http://pvtimes.com/news/beatty-board-bandies-about-burro-banishment/
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby pcslim » Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:36 am

Roving armadillos could be heading for the Washington area, biologists say
Not likely they'll be migrating to this area anytime soon, but who knows?!! :conf003:
Armadillos in D.C.? It may sound absurd, but new reports show that the leathery, armored mammal from Texas is on the move and could soon take up residence in the Washington area. Climate change is the culprit, reports the Daily Climate Web site, citing biologists’ claims that the armadillo’s northward expansion can be attributed to a warming atmosphere. The Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina adds that the armadillo’s lack of natural predators and Americans’ reluctance to hunt and eat them are also contributing factors.

LINK: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-buzz/post/roving-armadillos-could-be-heading-for-the-washington-area-biologists-say/2011/10/05/gIQAJMU8ML_blog.html
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby wildrose » Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:42 am

Deadly Bat Disease Caused by Fungus
This is not a good thing, but Mother Nature is gonna do what Mother Nature is gonna do! Unless of course humans can intervene and fix the problem! Although our batting average may be pretty low, every once in a while humans actually do something positive to help nature.
:sunshine:
Bat populations, which provide valuable insect control for the agricultural industry, are declining at an alarming rate due to a disease known as white-nose syndrome. In the Northeast, hibernating bat counts have declined by approximately 80 percent. What is causing this disease? And how is it spread? It’s as ominous as its name implies. The fungus Geomyces destructans has been definitively identified as the cause of the deadly white-nose syndrome in bats, according to newly published research by USGS scientists and partners.

LINK: http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/deadly-bat-disease-caused-by-fungus/
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby MRGREEN » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:14 pm

Saving desert tortoises is a costly hurdle for solar projects
The total budget for this solar project is $2.2 billion. Money spent on protecting the tortoise is only $56 million. That's less than three percent of the total budget. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!
Long before construction began, BrightSource was warned that the site was thick with tortoises, more so than any of the other dozen solar farms planned for that part of the Mojave. But BrightSource wanted the site because it is ideal for generating solar power. So the company negotiated with state and federal agencies to hash out meticulously detailed protocols for collecting and relocating tortoises, also agreeing to monitor them for five years after they were moved.

LINK: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-tortoise-20120304,0,6145488.story
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Re: Desert Wildlife

Postby BallaratBob » Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:41 am

Ridgecrest Turtle and Tortoise Club seeking foster homes for desert tortoises
Tortoises probably aren't the most exciting pets, but they are kind of neat! :thumb:
Yates and the club will be at the Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival April 14 and 15 and at the April 19 Earth Day events at Cerro Coso Community College. Live turtles and tortoises will be at the event but Yates said it takes up to a week for adoptive families to welcome the animals home. Once someone shows interest, Yates guides them through the paperwork and approval process. Yates said it is free and simple, but she must go visit the person wishing to adopt’s yard area to ensure the animals are properly housed. “I make sure it’s a good area for them to live,” Yates said. “They don’t need a lot of space.”

LINK: http://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/x586052450/Ridgecrest-Turtle-and-Tortoise-Club-seeking-foster-homes-for-desert-tortoises
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