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Florida woman surprised by bear outside her door, doorbell camera footage shows: ‘I got a surprise’

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 20:06:14 -0400

A Florida woman screamed and ran back inside her door after she came face to face with a black bear outside her home overnight Thursday in an incident that was caught on her Ring video doorbell camera.

Gina Helsel said she was taking her puppy outside her Daytona Beach home around 3 a.m., because the nine-month-old goldendoodle was barking at something outside.

"I thought there were just cats on the porch because there’s always just cats on the porch," Helsel told FOX 35. "So I’m like I’m going to take him and let him bark at the cats, and we can sleep the rest of the night. But I got a surprise. Yogi was out there."

Helsel said she is always watching out for snakes and alligators, but not bears.

"We have a lot of wildlife here. I didn’t expect it to be at my front door," she admitted.

BLACK BEAR SWIMMING AT CROWDED FLORIDA BEACH SHOCKS BEACHGOERS, VIDEO SHOWS

BLACK BEAR SPOTTED IN ORLANDO NEIGHBORHOOD KILLED BY CAR: OFFICIALS

Mike Orlando, a bear program lead manager with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), told FOX 35 that the bear had probably been continually stopping by her house since she moved in five years ago.

He advised keeping trash inside to not attract bears who rummage through cans as fall approaches to bulk up for winter.

"If they can find something that holds their interest — cat food, garbage, birdseed — they're going to stop and they're going to take advantage of that easy meal because those have high calories," he said.

FWC also recommends making noise and flashing porch lights before opening your door at night to avoid meeting a bear.

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"I’ve never been scared like that before," Helsel added. "It was terrifying. All I can remember thinking was ‘I’m glad I’m half asleep because if I were wide awake, I’d probably be having a heart attack at this point.’"

Florida authorities remove 6-foot alligator from Publix grocery store parking lot

Fri, 12 May 2023 18:55:08 -0400

Alligators are just like us. They even go grocery shopping.

A nearly six-foot alligator was removed from the parking lot of a Publix grocery store in Pinellas Park, Florida, Thursday evening.

Someone called police to report the gator was roaming around the parking lot near 49th Street and Park Boulevard, police said in a release.

"We can only speculate that he was on his way to pick up a PubSub," the Pinellas Park Police Department joked in a Facebook post. The post showed photos of the reptile as it was captured and released into a nearby body of water with the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife.

ELDERLY FLORIDA MAN'S LEG BITTEN OFF BY ALLIGATOR, OFFICIALS SAY

Police joked in a press release the alligator was "obeying all traffic laws" as it moved along a sidewalk toward the parking lot near a busy intersection.

"We're happy to report both he and the shoppers are safe!" police added.

Alligator sightings in the Sunshine State aren’t uncommon.

Last week, a 5-foot alligator was found climbing through a stormwater pipe in Oviedo, a town near Orlando.

HUGE ALLIGATOR SWIMMING IN ALABAMA OCEAN SHOCKS BEACH-GOERS: ‘NEVER CHARGED OR HISSED’

"Just another reason not to go wandering down into the Stormwater pipes!" the city said. The gator was seen via a robotic camera that went down into the pipes. The animal eventually disappeared from view.

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Last month, a 72-year-old man had part of his leg bitten off by an alligator in Titusville. In February, an 85-year-old woman was killed by a 10-foot alligator in Fort Pierce while walking near her retirement home.

Yellowstone National Park spots first grizzly bear to emerge from hibernation this year

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:43:21 -0500

The first grizzly bear at Yellowstone National Park to emerge from hibernation in 2023 has been spotted, according to officials.

A biologist observed the 300 to 350-pound bear on Tuesday during a radio telemetry flight. The bear was located near a bison corpse.

The bear was not caught on camera by the biologist, with the National Park Service tweeting an older picture of a grizzly bear on Swan Lake Flat.

Male bears typically emerge from hibernation in early March, while females can wait until April and May. Male bears typically scour the park premises to find bison and elk carcasses to eat.

WYOMING COLLEGE WRESTLERS INJURED DURING BEAR ATTACK, LEFT ‘BLOOD-SOAKED,’ COACH SAYS

Officals warn that bears hunting for food can be more aggressive when they encounter humans.

MA DOG WALKER SURROUNDED BY PACK OF COYOTES NORTH OF BOSTON

"Spring visitors skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in Yellowstone National Park are reminded to carry bear spray and be especially alert for bears near carcasses and areas with early spring green-up." Yellowstone bear management biologist Kerry Gunther said in a statement. "These are the first foods sought out by grizzlies after emerging from hibernations."

Officials also advised that bear spray is an effective deterrent against the carnivorous mammals. To keep visitors safe, areas with high densities of bears or animal carcasses are off-limits.

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Black bears, which can also be found at the Yellowstone National Park, have not been spotted yet this year.

In Yellowstone National Park's 151-year history, only eight people have been fatally mauled by bears.

Decline of endangered whales species slowed but species still losing breeding females too quickly

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 14:23:40 -0400

The decline of an endangered species of whale slowed last year, as it lost about 2% of its population, but scientists warn the animal still faces existential threats and is losing breeding females too fast.

The North Atlantic right whale's population was more than 480 in 2010 and fell by more than 25% over the following decade. The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, a group of scientists, government officials and industry members, said Monday that the population fell to an estimated 340 last year.

That is a decline of eight animals from the previous year, when the population was initially thought to be even fewer. The whales are vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement in commercial fishing gear, and they have suffered from poor reproduction and high mortality in recent years.

GRAPHIC IMAGES: ENDANGERED FIN WHALES SLAUGHTERED IN ICELAND

"The reality is we are still seeing unsustainable levels of human impacts on the species," said Heather Pettis, research scientist in the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life and executive administrator of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. "We're still injuring these animals to a point where it's not just about survival. It's about health, it's about reproduction."

The right whales live off the East Coast and migrate every year from calving grounds off Georgia and Florida to feeding grounds off New England and Canada. They were once abundant but were decimated during the commercial whaling era, when they were hunted for their oil and meat.

The whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act more than 50 years but have been slow to recover. The population was even lower in 1990, when it was 264, Pettis said. One of the biggest challenges facing the right whales today is that the number of female whales that are capable of breeding appears to be falling.

An article that appeared this month in the scientific journal Frontiers in Marine Science reported that the estimated population of female right whales fell from 185 in 2014 to 142 in 2018. The largest decline was seen in breeding females, and only 72 were estimated to be alive at the beginning of 2018, the article said.

The whales appear to be getting smaller, and that is hurting their ability to reproduce, Peter Corkeron, chair of the Kraus Marine Mammal Conservation Program at the Cabot Center and one of the authors of the article.

"The world needs more fat whales," Corkeron said.

ENDANGERED WHALES HAVING A BABY BOOM OFF EAST COAST

The plight of the right whale has emerged as a major issue for commercial fisheries in the U.S., especially the American lobster industry, which is based mostly in Maine. The whales are particularly vulnerable to becoming entangled in the kind of fixed vertical underwater lines used to fish for lobsters and crabs.

The federal government has crafted new restrictions on lobster fishing in an effort to save the right whale, and fishermen have argued that the rules could put them out of business. A group of lobster fishermen sued to stop the rules, and their case is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Warming oceans are also a concern. The whales are aided by a network of protected zones designed to allow them to eat the tiny organisms they feed on without danger of entanglements and collisions. However, warming waters have caused their food to move, and they have followed it into unprotected areas where they are more vulnerable, scientists have said.

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Conservation groups have advocated for vessel speed restrictions and stricter fishing regulations to save the whales.

"These latest population numbers confirm that the species continues to teeter on the verge of functional extinction, and current measures to save it are falling short," said Sarah Sharp, a veterinarian with International Fund for Animal Welfare. "Nevertheless, there is hope on the horizon. Solutions do indeed exist."

Hawaii fisherman catches huge octopus, breaks his own brother's record: report

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 13:53:56 -0400

A fisherman in Hawaii reportedly caught a large octopus and broke a state record that was once held by his brother.

Michael Matsunaga, 69, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, caught a 25-pound octopus on Aug. 31, according to HawaiiNewsNow.

Matsunaga was bottom-fishing at 400 feet when he felt a tug on his line, the station reported.

'GLASS OCTOPUS' SIGHTED BY MARINE SCIENTISTS IN PACIFIC OCEAN

Though he struggled to reel in his line, Matsunaga was finally able to bring the octopus onto his boat.

"I finally got him in the cooler," Matsunaga told HawaiiNewsNow. "And then I had to sit on the cooler because he was kinda of lifting me up."

PENNSYLVANIA MAN FINDS RARE PURPLE PEARL INSIDE A CLAM AT DELAWARE RESTAURANT: REPORT

When he returned to shore, Matsunaga brought the octopus to Hana Pa'a Fishing Co., where it weighed in at 25.95 pounds, according to a Facebook post from the fishing shop.

Matsunaga's catch broke the record for the largest octopus caught in Hawaii, HawaiiNewsNow reported.

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The previous record was held by Matsunaga's brother, Stewart Matsunaga, who caught a 19-pound octopus in 2000, according to HawaiiNewsNow.

Matsunaga told the station he plans to eat the octopus, after boiling it in beer, "one leg at a time."

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Huge 8-foot alligator carries new hatchlings in Oklahoma: video

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:03:06 -0400

A video of an 8-foot alligator carrying its new hatchlings to water was recently shared on Facebook.

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) posted the footage which showed one huge alligator working hard to care for its young.

In a Facebook post, the ODWC explained that the 8-foot alligator had been build a 6-foot nest since July in the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

MASSIVE FLORIDA ALLIGATOR SEEN STRAPPED TO BACK OF SUV

"It guarded the nest through August and then spent 13 hours digging out the 22 hatchlings and moving them to nearby water, one mouthful at a time," the Facebook post said about the alligator.

The ODWC added that researchers have been monitoring the alligator's nest and hatchlings.

TEXAS ALLIGATOR STUNS VIEWERS ON FACEBOOK WITH ITS STEALTHY, SLIPPERY MOVES

In the video, which was included in the Facebook post, the alligator can be seen carrying its hatchlings out of the nest.

Based on the comments, Facebook users seemed to be impressed by the clip.

"Great to see nature doing what it was meant to do," one person wrote.

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Another said: "That's awesome, thanks for showing us! Lots of reptiles give no parental care at all, so it's quite interesting to have one of the largest, 'scariest,' reptiles that there is do so. Was fun to see."

Though American alligators aren't common throughout the entire state of Oklahoma, they are present in the southeast corner of the state, particularly in remote, marshy areas, the ODWC says on its website.

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New online atlas illustrates the inspiring journeys of bird migrations

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:15:43 -0400

A bay-breasted warbler weighs about the same as four pennies, but twice a year makes an extraordinary journey. The tiny songbird flies nearly 4,000 miles between Canada's spruce forests and its wintering grounds in northern South America.

"Migratory birds are these little globetrotters," said Jill Deppe, the senior director of the migratory bird initiative at the National Audubon Society.

A new online atlas of bird migration, published on Thursday, draws from an unprecedented number of scientific and community data sources to illustrate the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas, including the warblers.

AS BALD EAGLE MAKES MIRACULOUS COMEBACK IN US, AUTHOR REVEALS THAT HUMANS 'REDEEMED OURSELVES'

The Bird Migration Explorer mapping tool, available free to the public, is an ongoing collaboration between 11 groups that collect and analyze data on bird movements, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, the U.S. Geological Survey, Georgetown University, Colorado State University, and the National Audubon Society.

For the first time, the site will bring together online data from hundreds of scientific studies that use GPS tags to track bird movements, as well as more than 100 years of bird-banding data collected by USGS, community science observations entered into Cornell's eBird platform, genomic analysis of feathers to pinpoint bird origins, and other data.

"The past twenty years have seen a true renaissance in different technologies to track bird migrations around the world at scales that haven't been possible before," said Peter Marra, a bird migration expert at Georgetown University who collaborated on the project.

The site allows a user to enter a species — for instance, osprey — and watch movements over the course of a year. For example, data from 378 tracked ospreys show up as yellow dots that move between coastal North America and South America as a calendar bar scrolls through the months of the year.

Or users can enter the city where they live and click elsewhere on the map for a partial list of birds that migrate between the two locations. For example, ospreys, bobolinks and at least 12 other species migrate between Washington, D.C. and Fonte Boa, Brazil.

As new tracking data becomes available, the site will continue to expand. Melanie Smith, program director for the site, said the next phase of expansion will add more data about seabirds.

NEW BIRD SPECIES IS IDENTIFIED IN REMOTE AREA OF CHILE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Washington, D.C. resident Michael Herrera started birdwatching about four months ago and was quickly hooked. "It's almost like this hidden world that's right in front of your eyes," he said. "Once you start paying attention, all these details that were like background noise suddenly have meaning."

Herrera said he's eager to learn more about the migratory routes of waterbirds in the mid-Atlantic region, such as great blue herons and great egrets.

Georgetown's Marra hopes that engaging the public will help spotlight some of the conservation challenges facing birds, including loss of habitat and climate change.

BIRD FLU CLOSES GEORGIA ANIMAL SANCTUARY UNTIL SEPT. 30

In the past 50 years, the population of birds in the U.S. and Canada has dropped nearly 30%, with migratory species facing some of the steepest declines.

Rare butterfly rebounds in Florida after it was believed to be extinct

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:21:45 -0400

A rare butterfly that was previously believed to be extinct is returning to Florida, according to a report.

On Saturday, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) posted on Facebook about the return of the Atala butterfly, also known as Eumaeus atala.

The Atala butterfly appears to be making a comeback because its host plant – the coontie – is becoming more popular in gardens and landscapes, the SCCF explained in a Facebook post.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE OFFICIALLY ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST

"The coontie is a hardy plant and grows easily without much attention," Sue Ramos, an SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center staff member said in a statement.

"It can grow well in full sun or full shade and in poor soils, which makes it ideal for use in our sandy soils," Ramos added.

SOME ENDANGERED SPECIES BEGIN TO RECOVER, OTHERS DECLINE AS RESTORATION EFFORTS CONTINUE

Atala butterflies were believed to be extinct from 1937 until some specimens were found in 1959, according to the Florida Wildflower Association website.

More Atala butterflies were found on an island off the coast of Miami in 1979, the website says.

The butterfly species has since rebounded.

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Atala butterflies have black, velvety wings with bright blue or green hues, according to the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

The underside of an Atala butterfly’s wing has three rows of blue or green spots and a large red spot on the hind wing, the Florida Wildflower Foundation says on its website.

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Huge 10-foot alligator caught in Mississippi breaks state record

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:00:37 -0400

A 10-foot, 2-inch-long alligator was caught and killed by gator hunters in Mississippi earlier this week.

The huge reptile even broke the Mississippi record for longest female alligator, according to a press release from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP).

Jim Denson and Richie Denson, of Madison, Mississippi, caught the alligator on the Pearl River on Sunday, the press release said.

HUGE SEVEN-FOOT-LONG ALLIGATOR OUTSIDE A FLORIDA MIDDLE SCHOOL

The alligator had previously been captured and tagged by the MDWFP in 2009 as part of a research project to study growth rates and location information of the reptiles, according to Ricky Flynt, the MDWFP’s alligator program coordinator.

"At that time, the alligator also measured exactly 10 feet 2 inches and was captured within 100 yards of where the Densons killed the record alligator," Flynt said in a statement.

ALLIGATOR REMOVED FROM NEW MEXICO HOME GETS SETTLED IN ZOO: REPORT

Part of the research project is to have hunters recapture or harvest the tagged alligators and report on their size and location, the MDWFP said in the release.

"Each recapture provides us with interesting data that no other states are obtaining," Flynt said. "I am very proud of what we are learning."

TEXAS ALLIGATOR STUNS VIEWERS ON FACEBOOK WITH ITS STEALTHY, SLIPPERY MOVES

Flynt continued: "This is just another example of the value of hunters and hunting to wildlife biologists and wildlife conservation. Much of what biologists know about many species across the world came from similar mark-recapture projects involving hunter harvest data."

Flynt said the alligator was estimated to be 75 to 100 years old.

Aside from breaking a state record, the alligator tied with a previous world record for the longest free-ranging wild female alligator, which was caught in Florida in 1984.

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However, that record has since been broken. In 2021, a 10-foot, 6.75-inch alligator was caught in Florida, which is the current record holder, according to the MDWFP.

Mississippi’s public waters alligator hunting season for 2022 opened on Friday, Aug. 26, and will close at noon on Monday, Sept. 5, the press release said.

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Sheriff's deputies remove alligator from Louisiana family's patio

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 16:41:47 -0400

Sheriff's deputies in Louisiana had to wrangle an alligator that had made its way onto a family’s patio earlier this week.

On Tuesday, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office in Benton, Louisiana, posted pictures and a video of its deputies wrestling the three-foot gator.

"Deputies with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office donned a different uniform today, well sort a, to help some Benton residents on an animal nuisance call right out of the swamps," one Facebook post said.

ALLIGATOR REMOVED FROM NEW MEXICO HOME GETS SETTLED IN ZOO: REPORT

In the post, the sheriff's office explained that deputies Steve Hoff, Connor McLaughin, and Austin Mueller responded to the call about the alligator and "doubled as agents of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries."

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"Many of our animal calls range from loose livestock, horses, and dogs, and sometimes alligators," Sheriff Julian Whittington said in a statement. "Our deputies just have to be prepared for almost any call that comes in, because you never know what the day will bring."

HUGE SEVEN-FOOT-LONG ALLIGATOR OUTSIDE A FLORIDA MIDDLE SCHOOL

In the post, the sheriff’s office explained that the alligator was released into the Bodcau Wildlife Management area in Benton, Louisiana.

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Gulf coast sea turtles appear to be recovering

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 06:46:29 -0400

The sea turtle population along the gulf coast appears to be recovering after the BP oil spill, more than a decade ago.

While nesting season wraps up in August, marine biologists are excited about what they're seeing along the gulf coast.

People are finding nests in places sea turtles haven't laid eggs in years.

Check out these little guys that just hatched on the Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana. This hasn't happened in over 75 years.

SEA TURTLES ON FLORIDA'S SPACE COAST ON TRACK TO SET NEW RECORD FOR NESTS

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) have closely monitored the Chandeleur Islands since May as part of an effort to design a project that will restore the islands after they were impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil spill and numerous weather events over the years.

"Louisiana was largely written off as a nesting spot for sea turtles decades ago, but this determination demonstrates why barrier island restoration is so important," said CRPA Chairman Chip Kline in a statement.

In Pensacola, the first leatherback turtles hatched in over two decades.

Escambia County Natural Resources Management says approximately 60 leatherback hatchlings made it to the gulf undisturbed, calling it a "rare victory" on a developed coastline.

FLORIDA DRONE VIDEO CAPTURES SWIMMER FIGHTING OFF ALLIGATOR

In Mississippi, volunteers found the first sea turtle nest on its coast in four years.

"It's really exciting," said Dianne Ingram, the lead sea turtle restoration biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). "With these potentially new finds, we're excited about trying some more in-depth nest monitoring in areas where we weren't really looking before."

Ingram has been at the forefront of sea turtle restoration projects since the BP oil spill in 2010.

"There was quite a bit of impact from turtles," Ingram said. "Overall numbers of sea turtle nests fluctuate from year to year for various natural reasons, but the first two years 2010 and 2011 when the spill happened and the response was happening, nesting really dropped."

In 2016, the five gulf states impacted by the spill (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas) were given over $20 billion to put towards restoration projects.

Some of these include retrofitting lights along the beach, so turtles don't get disoriented, adding more land to wildlife refuges, and beach cleanups.

"For sea turtles, the best thing we can do for them is minimize their threats from humans," Ingram said.

DOLPHIN DEAD IN FLORIDA AFTER BEING IMPALED IN HEAD: NOAA

While FWS leads the conservation efforts on land, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) focuses on the recovery of sea turtles in the water. NOAA says bycatch, when unwanted marine life becomes hooked or entangled in fishing gear, is one of the biggest threats to sea turtles. Many of their conservation projects have focused on educating fishermen on new techniques and equipment to prevent sea turtles from getting caught in their lines.

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While conservationists are hopeful about these projects, they say it's too early to directly correlate them to the increase in nests we're seeing. Ingram says this rebound is more likely a result of sea turtles being added to the endangered species list in the 1970s.

Florida alligator found with a knife stuck in its head is euthanized

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 18:09:04 -0400

An alligator in Florida had to be euthanized after it was found with a knife in its head, according to officials.

The alligator — which was 4 feet, 9 inches long — was reportedly seen swimming in a pond in Deltona, Florida, on July 31, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rep told Fox News Digital in an email.

An alligator trapper caught the reptile, officials said.

ALLIGATOR WITH A KNIFE STUCK IN ITS SKULL SPARKS CONCERN IN TEXAS COMMUNITY

"Due to the injury to its head, it was humanely euthanized," the rep said.

The Florida FWC is investigating how the alligator was injured.

ALLIGATOR FOUND IN FLORIDA SHERIFF’S OFFICE PARKING GARAGE IS RELOCATED

It is illegal to "intentionally kill, injure, possess, or capture or attempt to kill, injure, possess or capture an alligator," unless given special authority, according to Florida law.

The Florida FWC is asking anyone with information about the alligator to come forward.

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On July 29, the FWC posted alligator safety tips on Facebook.

"If you see an alligator, keep a safe distance and make sure pets are on a leash and away from the water’s edge," the FWC wrote, in part.

"Also, never feed an alligator," the agency added. "It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and begin to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to dangerous circumstances for you and other people who encounter that alligator in the future."

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Connecticut fisherman catches 26-pound tiger muskie: 'What a monster!'

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 10:56:41 -0400

A Connecticut man landed an incredible fish last month.

Joe Rivas, 32, of Oxford, caught a 41-inch, 26-pound tiger muskie in Lake Lillinonah in July, according to a report from the Danbury-based newspaper the News-Times.

Connecticut Fish and Wildlife posted a photo of Rivas and his catch on Facebook on July 28.

COLORADO FISHERMAN BREAKS BROOK TROUT RECORD AFTER 75 YEARS

"How is your summer fishing going?!" the agency wrote on Facebook. "Thanks to Joe for sharing this photo of an impressive tiger muskie he recently caught."

The agency also explained that a tiger muskie is a cross between a muskellunge and a northern pike.

TEXAS FISHERMEN BOW MASSIVE 271-POUND ALLIGATOR GAR

The News-Times reported that a regional organization has been stocking tiger muskies in Lake Lillinonah for about five to seven years.

People who commented on Connecticut Fish and Wildlife’s Facebook post were mostly shocked by Rivas' catch.

VIRGINIA MAN CATCHES 66-POUND BLUE CATFISH, BREAKS STATE RECORD

"What a monster!" one person wrote.

"Wow, that thing is huge," another commented.

Other people seemed more nervous about the fish.

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"I don’t want to swim anymore," someone wrote.

"I would not be happy at the thought of that swimming with me," another person said. "Looks prehistoric."

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After he caught the fish and took a photo, Rivas reportedly released it back into the lake, according to the News-Times.

Rivas also reportedly caught another tiger muskie two weeks after the first. That fish was reportedly 42 inches long, but Rivas told the News-Times that he didn’t weigh it.

Rivas also released the second tiger muskie back into the lake, the outlet reported.

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Colorado fisherman breaks brook trout record after 75 years

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 08:21:46 -0400

After 75 years, Colorado has a new state record for brook trout.

Tim Daniel, of Granby, Colorado, caught a 7.84-pound brook trout in Monarch Lake in May. On Friday, Daniel’s catch was recognized as a state record breaker by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

The previous record for largest brook trout was set in 1947 with a 7.63-pound fish. That was the state’s longest-standing fish record, officials said in a press release.

TEXAS FISHERMEN BOW MASSIVE 271-POUND ALLIGATOR GAR

Daniel told CPW officials that on May 23, he went fishing with his friend Karen and his dog Moose.

"I had no intention of breaking a record," Daniel said in a press release. "I wasn’t sure what I had hooked, but I knew it was big."

VIRGINIA MAN CATCHES 66-POUND BLUE CATFISH, BREAKS STATE RECORD

Daniel told officials he used a hook to catch the record-breaking fish. That day, the fish was inspected and measured by CPW Aquatic Biologist Jon Ewart.

The fish was 23.25 inches long and was 15.375 inches around, the press release said.

ILLINOIS TEEN FISHERMAN CATCHES 50-INCH MUSKIE: ‘A WHOLE EXPERIENCE’

"It couldn't have happened to a more deserving angler than Tim," Ewart said in the press release. "He's just one of those guys that is always out there on the water and as a result, has an intimate knowledge of the subtle details necessary to be so successful."

In the press release, Daniel praised the CPW’s aquatic biologists.

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"I’ve fished waters in Northwest Colorado for many years, and I have landed some big fish," Daniel said. "Thanks to the hard work and dedication of CPW aquatic biologists, Northwest Colorado has some of the best fisheries in the state."

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Brook trout, also known as speckled trout, have pink or red spots surrounded by blue halos on their sides, with a marbled pattern on their olive-green backs, according to the CPW press release.

The fish can grow between 11 inches and 23 inches long.

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Shark attacks: Expert shares facts about the ocean predator amid uptick in sightings

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 13:18:23 -0400

With shark attacks off the coast of Long Island, New York, at a higher number than usual this summer, one expert is helping to separate truth from fiction.

Dr. Mike Heithaus, a marine ecologist and professor at Florida International Unversity (FIU), spoke with "Fox & Friends" on Thursday and answered several common questions people have about sharks.

First, Heithaus explained that sharks aren’t targeting humans.

SHARK TOOTH HUNTING: HOW TO FIND TOOTHY TREASURES AND WHERE TO SEARCH

"The vast majority of bites, sharks are making a mistake," Heithaus said. "Especially these ones off Long Island. They’re non-life threatening."

"They’re probably a shark seeing a hand or a foot and thinking it might be a fish," he added. "So we are not really on the menu and these are mistakes."

SHARK QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR SHARKS THIS SUMMER?

Heithaus said that one thing people often get wrong about sharks is that they’re not around if dolphins are around.

"Sharks and dolphins will even feed on the same fish schools," he said. "So if you see dolphins, there very well may be sharks there."

"Dolphins don’t always attack and drive away sharks," Heithaus added. "Dolphins are at risk from sharks, so if you see dolphins, you still have to be worried that sharks might be there."

WEEKEND SHARK SIGHTINGS CLOSE EAST COAST BEACHES AGAIN

Another common misconception is that sharks are the most dangerous threat to people at the beach.

"In the U.S., especially, there are many things that are more dangerous than sharks," Heithaus said. "Rip currents, just the conditions themselves. So whenever you go to the beach, you need to be aware of local conditions and listen to local advice."

Heithaus said people should be especially wary of sharks when they’re in opaque or low-visibility water, where more than 60% of shark bites take place.

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"That’s one thing you can do if you’re worried about sharks is not go swimming in turbid waters," Heithaus said. "You can also avoid swimming at sunrise and sunset, when predators like sharks tend to be really active."

"If you see a big school of fish where sharks might be feeding, stay away from that, too," he added.

Heithaus explained that the increased number of shark sightings this year could have several causes such as warm waters or successful conservation efforts since many shark species are threatened with extinction.

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"[Conservation efforts] could increase the shark numbers, but they’re still nowhere near where they should be," Heithaus said. "As we get more sharks, that means we’re probably going to have healthier oceans."

"We want to have sharks out there where we can live with them," he added.

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Texas fishermen bow massive 271-pound alligator gar

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:16:56 -0400

A group of fishermen in Texas reeled in a huge alligator gar last week.

South Texas Bowfishing, a business that offers guided bowfishing tours in the area, posted on Facebook about the massive fish that three customers caught on July 18.

The alligator gar weighed 271 pounds and was measured at 7 feet, 11 inches long and 48 inches around, according to the Facebook post.

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"New personal record for South Texas Bowfishing," the business posted on Facebook. "Had a great group of repeat customers that connected on true once in a lifetime trophy."

The post ended with: "7’ 11" giant with a 48" girth weighing in at 271 pounds. We still have dates available through end of September. Message us and get booked for a great time."

Scott Meshell, who runs South Texas Bowfishing, told Fox News Digital that his three customers – LG Selvidge, Tim Selvidge and John Jackson – caught the gar on July 17.

Meshell said it was the largest alligator gar he's had on his boat. However, the Texas state record for the heaviest alligator gar caught by bowfishing was a 290-pound gar caught in 2001 – just 19 pounds heavier than the one Meshell's customers caught.

"[It was] definitely an amazing experience for me as a guide," Meshell told Fox News Digital. "It's one of my highlights."

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In May, two other Texas fishermen caught another rare fish: a melanistic alligator gar, Fox News Digital previously reported.

Justin Jordan, who runs Lotus Guide Service in the Galveston, Texas-area, brought a customer fishing in May when they found the black alligator gar.

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"The fish started jumping out of the water and going crazy," Jordan told Fox News Digital at the time. "When we got it over to the boat and it reached the surface, we saw it and it was jet black."

Typically, alligator gars are more of an olive brown color, according to National Geographic. FTW Outdoors reported that fishermen rarely see or catch melanistic alligator gar.

The fish can also grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 350 pounds, National Geographic reported.

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After Jordan and his client caught the black alligator gar, they took a few photographs and released it back in the water, Jordan told Fox News Digital.

"It was really cool," Jordan said. "It was special. It’s almost like it was meant to happen, that we were supposed to catch that fish."

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Rare orchid found in Vermont for first time since 1902

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 08:15:39 -0400

A rare orchid has been found for the first time in 120 years, according to officials.

The small whorled pogonia was found by botanists in Vermont last month, according to a Wednesday Facebook post from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The last time a small whorled pogonia was seen in Vermont was in 1902, the department wrote on Facebook.

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In the post, the USFWS called the discovery of the orchid "breaking botanical news."

The rare orchid – which is listed as a threatened species – is named for its whorled arrangements of leaves just below the flower, USFWS said.

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The discovery of the small whorled pogonia in Vermont was first shared by Vermont Fish and Wildlife in June.

In a press release, Vermont Fish and Wildlife said a population of the flowers was found in Winooski Valley Park District conservation land.

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The small whorled pogonia is typically found in the eastern U.S. and in Ontario, the press release said.

Now that the rare orchid has been discovered, Vermont Fish and Wildlife will work with the Winooski Valley Park District to look for more of the flowers and monitor them to ensure they can flourish in Vermont, the release said.

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"Discovering a viable population of a federally threatened species unknown in our state for over a century is astounding," Bob Popp, a Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department botanist, said in a statement. "It’s Vermont’s equivalent of rediscovering the ivory-billed woodpecker."

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Virginia man catches 66-pound blue catfish, breaks state record

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 08:16:27 -0400

There is a new fishing record in Virginia.

Jason Emmel, of Louisa, Virginia, broke the state record catching a 66-pound, 5-ounce blue catfish with a bow and arrow, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

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The fish – which Emmel caught in the Pamunkey River on Monday – was 3 feet, 6 inches long.

It was verified by biologists and reviewed by the Virginia State Record Committee, according to a Facebook post from the Virginia DWR.

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Emmel’s catch is now "recognized as the current Virginia Archery State Record Blue Catfish," the DWR said on Facebook.

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Emmel beat the previous state record by about four pounds.

In 2021, William Bates, Jr. caught a 62-pound, 4-pounce blue catfish from Occoquan Bay in Fairfax, Virginia, according to the state DWR.

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Alligator found in Wisconsin lake, possible owner comes forward

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:15:42 -0400

An alligator was recently found swimming in a lake – in Wisconsin.

On Wednesday, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue, based in Menasha, Wisconsin, posted about the 18-24-inch American alligator on Facebook.

The small gator was found in Long Lake in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties, according to the Facebook post.

However, American alligators aren’t usually found in Wisconsin.

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They typically live from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas, in and around freshwater rivers, swamps, marshes and lakes, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute website.

J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue wrote on Facebook that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources brought the gator to the shelter temporarily.

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The animal rescue said it would keep the alligator for just one week before bringing it to a sanctuary.

In an email to Fox News Digital, John Moyles, the director of J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue, said the alligator is doing well, resting comfortably and enjoying meals of alligator pellets, insects and even a frozen mouse.

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The alligator’s possible owner has also come forward, Moyles said.

"The individual said that they had [the alligator] in an outdoor enclosure and that his daughter accidentally left the cage open, which allowed the alligator to escape," Moyles said.

Moyles said that after discussing the options with the potential owner, the decision was made to bring the alligator to an accredited sanctuary.

"We have been working with Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary in Athens, Michigan, and have a plan in place to send the alligator there on Monday," Moyles said.

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Illinois teen fisherman catches 50-inch muskie: 'A whole experience'

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 16:16:28 -0400

After months of persistence, a teenager in Illinois finally caught his first muskie.

On June 17, Kaiden Schrieber, 15, of the Chicago area, caught a 50-inch muskellunge, or muskie, which is nicknamed "the fish of 10,000 casts" for how difficult it is to reel one in.

Kaiden, who has been fishing for most of his life, told Fox News Digital he’s had his eye on catching a muskie for several years, particularly for the challenge.

"They’re big, predatory fish," Kaiden, an upcoming junior in high school, said. "I really like the predatory fish."

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Over the last year, Kaiden has focused solely on catching a muskie and nothing else, spending hours researching the fish and talking to local fishermen for advice.

"This was a pursuit, if you will, that he’s been on," Kaiden’s dad, Phil Schrieber, told Fox News Digital.

Kaiden and his dad went fishing on the Flambeau Chain of Lakes in Wisconsin on June 17.

Based on Kaiden’s research, the conditions weren’t ideal for catching muskie – it was a sunny, windy day – but he and his dad decided to try anyway, sticking to a deeper, rocky area of one of the lakes.

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As Kaiden was reeling in his line to try for deeper waters, he saw a fish come up and grab his lure.

"It was really cool, because I got to watch the fish just appear and eat the lure whole," Kaiden said.

"I had to fight for a good minute or two," he explained.

Eventually, Kaiden and his dad netted the muskie – which was actually too big for the net – and got it onto the boat. That's when they realized it was about 50 inches long.

"The thing that surprised me the most was how big it was," Kaiden said. "When I tried to lift it up, I’m like, ‘Man, this is bigger than I thought.’"

"It was crazy, the sheer size of it," he added.

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Kaiden said they had to spend a few minutes removing the hook from the fish and at that point, they noticed the fish was pregnant.

"You could see eggs coming out of her," Kaiden said. "So we knew we had to release her fast."

After Kaiden got a photo with the fish, he let it back into the water.

"She was sitting there for about five minutes," he said. "She had to get her strength back from all the stress. She finally swam off into the deep water, which was such a cool thing to watch."

"It was a whole experience," Kaiden added.

Kaiden also noted that the catch was a bit emotional.

"That’s something you’ve been trying to do for over a year, and it finally happens," Kaiden said.

"I want to keep doing it [fishing]," he added. "It just draws you back in, the thrill of it."

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For Phil Schrieber, the catch was a rewarding moment filled with hugs and high-fives.

"Once we got through the hecticness of bringing the fish in and releasing it and watching it successfully swim away, we just turned to each other and I saw the smile on his face," Schrieber said.

"I was so proud of his accomplishment, not just the catching of the fish, but it’s the journey leading up to that, the persistence, all the time that he spent over the years trying to catch the fish, doing all the investigative work," he added.

Schrieber explained that fishermen can go weeks without catching anything, but his son never gave up.

"His [Kaiden's] persistence and grit and determination to catch the fish is what made me so proud of him," Schrieber said. "And then seeing the smile on his face was just absolutely priceless."

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Kaiden now plans on doing more muskie fishing.

His advice to other fishermen? "Just keep your head up," he said.

"Keep a good mindset," he added. "It’s a real mental game."

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Decrease in Salmon affects killer whales, according to studies

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 14:21:44 -0400

Southern Resident killer whales have not had enough food for several years, which could affect their already small numbers, according to a study by the University of British Columbia.

Researchers looked at requirements and availability of prey for Northeastern Pacific Southern Resident killer whales. The study found a fluctuating level of salmon from spawning areas on rivers had a detrimental effect on killer whale health, threatening a small and fragile group of whales, the Bellingham Herald reported.

"It really appears like they cannot take (many) more rough years," said Fanny Couture, lead researcher for the study.

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About 75 of the Southern Resident killer whales span from the California coast to Haida Gwaii in British Columbia’s Queen Charlotte Islands.

They feed on Chinook salmon, but the number of Chinook has decreased even as fishing regulations attempted to bolster their numbers. That leaves animals high on the food chain, like killer whales, without adequate prey.

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The study showed a significant decrease in salmon between the years 1979 and 2020.

Studies have shown that a lack of food intake for killer whales has led to lower birth rates and higher death rates. The current study agreed, showing a slightly higher birth rate in years where the killer whales met their dietary needs.

Texas fisherman reels in massive alligator snapping turtle: 'Everything went crazy'

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 10:13:41 -0400

Talk about the catch of a lifetime.

A fisherman in Texas reeled in a massive alligator snapping turtle while he was celebrating Father’s Day.

Justin Broomhall, 25, of Longview, Texas, was fishing for catfish at Lake Cherokee that Sunday evening, around 7:30 p.m., with his 3-year-old son Lakestine, his dad Michael Broomhall, Sr., and his fiancé’s dad, James Elliott.

Broomhall told Fox News Digital that, at first, the catfish seemed to be biting.

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"All of a sudden, they just vanished," Broomhall said.

Broomhall, who’s been fishing since he was 4 or 5 years old, said he then noticed a trail of bubbles moving across the water.

He assumed it was a large catfish, so he threw his fishing line into the water just ahead of the trail.

"That’s when everything went crazy," he said.

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The snapping turtle took hold of the bait almost immediately and Broomhall said he and his dad fought it for 15 to 20 minutes before reeling it close enough to shore to see what it was.

When Broomhall realized he had caught an alligator snapping turtle – which is a threatened species, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife – he knew he had to let it go.

"I went to reach down in the water to grab him behind his head on his shell and the line broke," Broomhall said.

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Even though the turtle was no longer on his line, Broomhall still wanted to remove the hook from its mouth, which could give the turtle an infection, he said.

To make sure he got the turtle on shore, Broomhall stepped into the water and grabbed the turtle’s leg and tail – while his dad grabbed the belt loop on his pants.

"He pulled me back up to land, and I pulled the turtle up there and that’s when we realized how big he really was and how old he really was," Broomhall said.

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Broomhall estimates the alligator snapping turtle weighed between 150 and 160 pounds and could have been 100 years old, if not older.

"His eyes were already starting to turn hazy, like he was going blind," Broomhall said.

The massive reptile also had lots of scars, Broomhall said.

"It looked like an alligator tried to take a chunk out of his tail," he said. "He was already missing a couple of little fingers."

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After Broomhall got the hook out of the turtle’s mouth, he released it back into the lake. But Broomhall hopes this isn’t the last time they’ll meet.

"To see him return back into the wild and knowing he still lives back in that cove, I look forward to seeing him in a couple more years," Broomhall said. "Just to see him in the wild and see how he’s doing."

Though he’s heard stories from his grandfather about alligator snapping turtles, Broomhall said he’d never seen one before.

"To actually land one and actually see how big they really are, that was incredible," he said. "And to have my dad there and my son there was even cooler."

"He’s my first son, so the experience with him was – that’s once in a lifetime right there," Broomhall continued.

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Broomhall said he’s glad he gets to share his catch with an even wider audience, too.

"I’m from a little bitty town, I’m somebody that barely graduated high school and to get my name out there and show the world that there are still dinosaurs that live in these lakes and stuff like that, just makes me happy," Broomhall said.

He added: "There are still incredible things out there to be seen."

Fishermen catch 661-pound stingray, world’s largest freshwater fish

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:05:25 -0400

That is one big fish.

Fishermen in northern Cambodia caught a 661-pound freshwater stingray in the Mekong River earlier this month, according to reports.

The massive fish, which was caught on June 13, 2022, has been recognized as the world’s largest freshwater fish to be officially recorded, per Guinness World Records.

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The female stingray was named Boramy, which means "full moon" in the Khmer language, Reuters reported.

Boramy is 13 feet long – which includes her tail – and required about a dozen men to bring her to shore, according to Reuters.

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The stingray was measured by a team of international experts working with the U.S.-Cambodian "Wonders of the Mekong" project, according to Guinness, which announced news of the "record-breaking ray" on its website.

After Boramy was measured and electronically tagged, she was released back into the river.

The electronic tagging will allow scientists to monitor the fish’s movement and behavior, Reuters reported.

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Biologist Zeb Hogan, the director of the "Wonders of the Mekong" project told Reuters that catching Boramy is exciting because she is the world’s largest fish.

"It is also exciting news because it means that this stretch of the Mekong is still healthy," Hogan added. "It is a sign of hope that these huge fish still live (here)."

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Dana Lee, a biologist with FISHBIO, a fisheries and environmental consulting company, was also one of the experts who measured Boramy.

"Catching the first glimpse of the giant stingray as it was pulled from the depths was a magical moment for me," Lee told Guinness World Records.

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"The Mekong has always been somewhat of a mythical place in my mind and this creature almost seemed like the river personified," Lee added.

Boramy took the record for the world’s largest freshwater fish from a 646-pound (293 kg) catfish that was caught in northern Thailand in 2005, according to Reuters.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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California's private forestland is closing to the public due to forest fire risk

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:19:55 -0400

Swaths of private California forestlands will be closed to the public starting this week due to extreme drought and risk of wildfires, the owner announced.

Sierra Pacific Industries said the closure will take effect July 1 and will remain in effect until further notice.

The huge lumber manufacturer owns more than 2.3 million acres (930,000 hectares) of forests in California, Oregon and Washington.

The company normally allows the public access to its lands for recreational purposes in areas that are not actively being logged.

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"Despite some of the late spring rains, California is experiencing the driest conditions it has had in 1200 years," spokesperson Andrea Howell said in a press release Friday.

Sierra Pacific said it will regularly evaluate the situation but anticipates the closure will remain in effect until fall.

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The company closed its California forestlands last year from late June until early October.

NYPD removes 2,000 bees from New York City restaurant

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 13:21:36 -0400

A restaurant in New York City was abuzz over the weekend – and not just because of its human guests.

The New York Police Department's bee unit (NYPD beekeepers) were called to a restaurant in Times Square on Sunday, where roughly 2,000 bees had settled near the seating area, according to a tweet from NYPD News.

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"NYPD Bees was called in to safely remove 2,000 bees from a restaurant seating area near the crossroads of the world," NYPD News wrote on Twitter.

"The [bees] will now be relocated to an area where their pollenating [sic] skills will be put to good use," NYPD News added.

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It is unclear where exactly the bees have been relocated.

The NYPD beekeepers have been busy in recent weeks.

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They were called to a building near the World Trade Center earlier this month, where 8,000 bees had swarmed.

Those bees were also safely removed and relocated to an undisclosed apple orchard, Fox News Digital previously reported.

In May, NYPD beekeepers also relocated about 15,000 bees from a tree in Queens.

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