WISCONSIN MAN mauled by BLACK BEAR ~ MONTANA confirms 2 cases of HANTAVIRUS ~ CALIFORNIA university police issue MOUNTAIN LION warning ~ CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE moving toward SHENANDOAH and YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKS ~ RABIES reports from AR, CA, CT, ID, MDx2, NCx2, OH, TX, VA, & WA ~ ANNOUNCEMENT: USDA APHIS meeting re FERAL SWINE damage management.

Black bear. Courtesy U.S. Forest Service.

Wisconsin 05/16/13 greenbaypressgazette.com: by Nathan Phelps – A man was bitten, cut and scratched Wednesday when he was attacked by a black bear on Finch Lane in Silver Cliff in Marinette County. Gerre Ninnemann encountered the bear just before 1:30 p.m. after seeing it go after his dog, according to a Marinette County Sheriff’s Department report. Ninnemann called his dog back to the house and tried to run inside, but the bear ran him down from behind and took him to the ground. The animal started biting and clawing at his back, the report said. Ninnemann was able to get up and make it to the corner of the cabin, but was caught by the animal again.

Marinette County

His wife, Marie, grabbed a shotgun from the home and used it to hit the bear on the head. At that point, Gerre Ninneman again was able to get away from the bear. He used theshotgun to poke it in an effort to keep it away as they retreated into the cabin. The bear continued to circle the cabin and look in the windows, according to the report. A Marinette County deputy shot and killed the bear. A conservation warden took possession of the bear to check for possible rabies, according to the incident report. Gerre Ninneman was taken to Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette for treatment.

Hantavirus:

Gallatin County

Montana 05/17/13 bozemandailychronicle.com: County and state officials today confirmed two new cases of hantavirus and the first 2013 death in the state from the illness. A Gallatin County woman in her 20s died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and a Carbon County man in his 40s was diagnosed with it, the Department of Health and Human Services reported.

Carbon County

The Gallatin County woman is the 10th person in Montana to die from hantavirus. Both people appear to have had recent exposure to rodents. There have been 37 reported cases of hantavirus in Montana since 1993. With one or two cases a year, Montana is second only to New Mexico in the number of cases. – For further details read May 18 report at www.dailychronicle.com

Mountain Lion Sightings:

California 05/14/13 sanluisobispo.com: by Julia Hickey – A mountain lion sighting at Cal Poly on Monday night has brought the number of sightings at or near the university to four this month. All of the sightings have taken place near Poly Canyon Village, said George Hughes, chief of police for the University Police Department. “This mountain lion has been seen on the hillside. That’s its natural habitat; it’s not unusual,” Hughes said. The first sighting took place May 2 on Stenner Creek Road; followed by two sightings Sunday near the Poly Canyon Village parking structure; and a fourth sighting at 9:30 p.m. on Monday night in the same area near the structure. Police are assuming that all sightings are of the same mountain lion, Hughes said.  Although mountain lions are secretive and attacks on humans are rare, police say there are considered threats. – For recommendations see http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/05/14/2508213/mountain-lion-poly-canyon-village.html

Chronic Wasting Disease:

Virginia 05/14/13 dailyprogress.com: by Aaron Richardson -  A deadly brain disorder affecting deer, moose and elk is on the region’s doorstep, and its spread could be impossible to stop. Chronic wasting disease, a progressive condition that can remain idle for years before killing the infected animal, has been found in deer 25 miles from the Shenandoah National Park’s northern border, said park biologist Rolf Gubler. The park stretches northeast from outside Waynesboro to Front Royal. Experts say there is no evidence that chronic wasting can be transmitted to humans. But its effect on deer, as well as moose and elk, is devastating — symptoms include dramatic weight loss, tremors and teeth-grinding — and the disease is incurable. Park officials held meetings on chronic wasting earlier this spring in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Washington, and they are working on a plan to contain the infection. That could include thinning the heaviest populations of whitetail deer in the park. – For complete article see http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/chronic-wasting-disease-in-deer-likely-to-move-farther-east/article_173a965a-bcea-11e2-ad43-0019bb30f31a.html

Wyoming 05/14/13 thewildlifenews.com: Information gleaned from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department indicates that deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is advancing towards western Wyoming’s winter elk feed grounds and Yellowstone National Park. A new map from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition shows the areas where the disease has been detected in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are within 45 miles of winter elk feedgrounds and about 40 miles from Yellowstone Park’s northeast corner. The 2012 information reveals the farthest advance west of CWD in deer in Wyoming yet. Last year, three mule deer were found infected with CWD in Green River, Wyo.; an infected moose was found near Idaho in Star Valley, Wyo., in 2008. Veteran conservationist Lloyd Dorsey of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition said the disease is now essentially on the doorstep of the elk feed grounds, including the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole. Dorsey notes that deer from the endemic disease areas to the east and south migrate north and west to elk herd units in the upper Green River and Jackson Hole, where most of the winter feed grounds are located. For more information on the map depicting CWD areas and Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s efforts to phase out the artificial elk feeding areas and transition to healthier, free ranging wildlife, see http://www.greateryellowstone.org/elkrefuge – For complete article see http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2013/05/17/chronic-wasting-disease-closes-in-on-yellowstone/

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Mississippi 05/15/13 Madison County: State health officials have confirmed the first human case of WNV reported in the state this year in early April. Last year, 247 cases of WNV were reported statewide, including 5 fatalities. – See http://www.dailyleader.com/news/article_e7036d56-bd8c-11e2-97b0-0019bb2963f4.html

Rabies:

Arkansas 05/16/13 Garland County: Officials confirm nine skunks have tested positive for rabies in the county in the last three months. Pope County has the highest in the state with 13 cases, and statewide Arkansas had more confirmed cases by May of this year than in the entire year of 2011. With 90 confirmed cases and the summer months still ahead, the Natural State is on track to surpass the 131 cases recorded in 2012. – See http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=663792

California 05/14/13 Santa Clara County: A bat found April 12^th on the Los Gatos Creek Trail between Lark Avenue and Charter Oaks Drive has tested positive for rabies. – See http://campbell.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/bat-found-on-los-gatos-creek-trail-tests-positive-fore594fe7b41

Connecticut 05/14/13 New Haven County: A raccoon found May 12^th in the vicinity of Pope and Hawley roads in Oxford has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.voicesnews.com/articles/2013/05/14/arts_and_living/pets_and_wildlife/doc519274565e1f2493782011.txt

Idaho 05/14/13 Kootenai County: A bat found on an interior staircase of a home in the county has tested positive for rabies. Everyone living in the home is now being treated for potential exposure to the virus. – See http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/14/rabid-bat-flies-north-idaho-home/

Maryland 05/16/13 Garrett County: Seven people are being treated for exposure to rabies after a goat in the southern area of the county tested positive for the virus. – See http://times-news.com/local/x730880365/Second-rabies-case-in-Garrett-involves-goat

Maryland 05/14/13 carrollcountytimes.com: by Kelcie Pegher – The Carroll County Health Department is seeking a medium-sized dog with a black coat that bit a person at Memorial Park in Taneytown May 5, according to a release from Carroll County Government. Joe Mancuso, the rabies coordinator for Carroll County said from the description that was given to him, it does not appear as though the dog had rabies.  If you have any information to help locate the dog or its owner, contact the Carroll County Health Department at 410-876-1884, or the Carroll County Humane Society at 410-848-4810.

North Carolina 05/15/13 Henderson County: A gray fox that attacked and bit a woman who was working in the garden at her home on Penny Drive in Hendersonville has tested positive for rabies. The fox bit her several times on the left hand and right leg. Later that night, the fox bit a man in the vicinity of Sweetwater Hills Drive and fortunately the man managed to kill the animal with his flashlight. Both bite victims are being treated for exposure to the virus. – See http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20130515/NEWS/130519867?p=2&tc=pg

North Carolina 05/15/13 Guilford County: A fox that bit two children on Sunday who were sitting on the deck at their apartment on Guyer Street in High Point has tested positive for rabies. One was bitten on the hand, the other on the leg. – See http://www.news-record.com/news/1225066-91/rabid-fox-bites-two-children

Ohio 05/16/13 Mahoning County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Cherry Hill Place in Boardman has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/may/16/second-rabid-raccoon-found-in-mahoning-c/?nw

Texas 05/16/13 Taylor and Jones counties: A skunk found in the 3400 block of Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene has tested positive for rabies. Three unvaccinated dogs had been in contact with the skunk. Last month, two rabid skunks were captured within the city’s limits. – See http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/may/16/third-skunk-in-abilene-this-year-with-rabies/

Virginia 05/14/13 Pittsylvania County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Laniers Mill Road has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/article_ccdf3da2-bcd7-11e2-843e-001a4bcf6878.html

Washington 05/14/13 Franklin County: A bat that bit an 11-month-old child twice in Pasco has tested positive for rabies. The child and her grandmother, who removed the bat from the child’s back, are being treated for exposure to the virus. The bat few from the deck umbrella as it was being opened. – See http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/05/14/2597353/rabid-bat-bites-pasco-baby.html

Announcement:

On Thursday, May 23^rd, APHIS’ Wildlife Services and Veterinary Services programs will host a scoping meeting to provide more information about a national approach to feral swine damage management and take comments from participating stakeholders.  Anyone who is unable to attend in person can join the meeting via a live Webcast.  Additional meeting information is available on the Wildlife Services’ Web site at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/feral_swine/index.shtml.  A Notice announcing APHIS’ intent to prepare an environmental impact statement to examine the potential impacts of alternatives for feral swine damage management was published in today’s Federal Register. The public comment period closes June 12.  http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001-1436.

Event Logistics:

Date:  Thursday, May 23, 2013 ~ Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT

Location: 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737

CANADIAN has 300 stitches after BLACK BEAR attack ~ COYOTES snatch DOGS and confront PEOPLE in CALIFORNIA municipal park ~ CALIFORNIA Park Ranger attacked by MOUNTAIN LION in Redwood National Park ~ RACCOONS responsible for frequent MICHIGAN beach closings ~ RABIES reports from AZ, NY, NCx2, OK, & VAx3.

Black Bear photo by Lynn Chamberlain, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Canada:

Ontario 05/12/13 torontosun.com: by Len Gillis – Two Timmins, Ont., women scared off a 400-pound black bear attacking a man after it had killed his dog and left him with wounds that needed 300 stitches. “I could feel his teeth rubbing against my skull. That was the worst feeling ever,” said Azougar, 30, said Sunday from his hospital bed at Lady Minto Hospital in Cochrane, Ont. Azougar was attacked and mauled by the bear early Saturday as he sat on the front step of his remote cabin eating breakfast. He was rescued by the two Timmins “angels”, campers who had been driving by on a bush road and heard his screams. They were able to scare the bear away and drive the bleeding Azougar to hospital. “I feel good. I am in a little bit of pain, but I’m OK,” said Azougar, who had been given a shot of morphine to ease the pain of the more than 300 stitches needed to close dozens of puncture wounds.

Black bear. Photo by Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, Azougar said he still plans to enjoy life in the outdoors. He moved to Cochrane, Ont., from Toronto last month, to set up an Internet entrepreneur business. “I was having breakfast on my front porch,” he said as he described the tiny eight-by-sixteen foot cabin on a remote bush road, about 10 kilometres south of Cochrane. “Out of nowhere, I could hear this thud, this vibration on the ground,” he said. “Then there was this bear coming towards me.”His German Shepherd rushed at the bear and as the two animals fought, Azougar ran into the cabin and slammed the door but the bear followed. “He started rushing the window, breaking the window and chipping off wood beside the window,” Azougar said.“He made it through (the window) and I ran out,” he said, with the bear in pursuit. “After about 30 metres, he took me to the ground.” Azougar said the animal slammed him down with its front paws, and began clawing and biting. “He knocked me down and I covered my head. He took my shoulder apart, then he peeled the skin off my head and started biting my skull,” Azougar recalled.“I could feel his teeth rubbing against my skull. That was the worst feeling ever. I jammed my thumb into his eye and so he went back to my shoulder.” “I was just screaming. I could feel my flesh being pulled by his teeth,” he said, adding that a good portion of his scalp was torn off.“I just thought I was dying. He was trying to drag me into the bush, like where he killed the dog.”

Azougar said he thought he was going to pass out, when suddenly there was a lull in the savage attack and the sound of a blaring car horn. “Out of nowhere these two ladies showed up in a car. After that the bear ran away. I don’t know who they were,” Azougar said. “They just showed up out of nowhere.” “The women that saved, me, no I don’t know them. I would like to know them, to meet them,” Azougar said. “If you meet them, you thank those angels for me. They are my angels. Without them I wouldn’t be alive.” Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources responded to the bear attack call immediately Saturday and killed the bear. – See original article, photo, and map at http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/12/women-scare-off-bear-attacking-man-in-northern-ontario-campgrounds

Coyote Attacks:

California 05/10/13 signalscv.com: by Jim Holt – A coyote snatched a dog from a girl’s arms in Valencia Summit Park, where sheriff’s deputies and animal control workers responded Friday on a report of a jogger chased by a coyote, officials confirmed. “Apparently they found a coyote that people are telling us is aggressive,” said Sgt. Rich Nagler of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “We went out there and animal control was called.” The report of a coyote chasing a jogger at Summit Park came in about 8 a.m. Friday. A man walking two large dogs reportedly came to the woman’s aid and chased off the coyote, investigators said. No one was hurt. The incidents follow an attack Tuesday at the same park in which a coyote grabbed and killed a dog being walked on a leash held by a 6-year-old girl, said Evelina Villa, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. – For complete article see http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/95812/

Mountain Lion Attack:

California 05/10/13 times-standard.com: At approximately 7:30 pm on Thursday May 9, 2013, an off-duty Park Ranger was attacked by a mountain lion on Crescent Beach within Redwood National and State Parks. Crescent Beach is located off Enderts Beach Road just south of Crescent City, CA. The ranger was fishing on the beach accompanied by his dog. The park ranger witnessed his dog being chased by an animal that he quickly identified as a mountain lion. He yelled at the lion as the animal approached him. The lion attacked the ranger who responded by striking it with his fishing pole and kicking the animal several times. The lion swiped at the ranger at least once, tearing his jeans, but without causing any bodily injury. The lion eventually ran off. Both the park ranger and his dog were unhurt in the attack.

The park ranger contacted California Fish and Wildlife Officers and National Park Rangers who immediately responded to the scene. Enderts Beach Road and the Nickel Creek Campground were cleared during the search for the mountain lion. Both have been re-opened to the public today. The lion was spotted hiding in driftwood near the location of the original attack around 9:00 pm and was dispatched by Fish & Wildlife Officers around 9:15 pm. The attacking animal was a sub-adult which is classified as a younger, not fully grown animal, but independent and no longer dependent on its mother. The lion carcass has been sent to the California Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Sacramento or further analysis. More details on the age, gender, size and condition of the animal will be released after further analysis. – For complete article see http://www.times-standard.com/news/ci_23216890/mountain-lion-attack-at-crescent-beach-redwood-national

Raccoons:

Michigan 05/12/13 seattlepi.com: Officials say they have found the source of bacterial pollution that has caused the frequent closing of a beach on Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, and a possible solution. Feces from raccoons that live in nearby storm drains are the source of high e-coli levels at East Bay Park in Traverse City, officials say. They say a $768,000 grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant will help them build a filtering system they say should reduce the pollution. Sarah U’Ren of the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay says storm drain cameras spotted hundreds of pounds of raccoon feces at the site.

Rabies:

Arizona 05/10/3 Gila County: A Rabies Alert has been issued after a fox and a coyote that were found in the vicinity of Forest and Mule Track roads near Young tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2013/may/10/coyote-foxes-positive-rabies-young/

New York 05/09/13 Chautauqua County: A bat captured by a resident of Ellington, who awoke to find the animal flying around the room, has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130509/CITYANDREGION/130509217/1010

North Carolina 05/10/13 Mecklenburg County: A kitten that was a domestic pet living with a family in the 28205 ZIP code area, which includes Plaza Midwood, has tested positive for rabies. The kitten was not eating and was exhibiting strange behavior. The family is receiving post exposure rabies treatment. – See http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Plaza-Midwood-pet-tests-positive-for-rabies-207010721.html

North Carolina 05/10/13 Scotland County: A fox that attacked a woman earlier this week as she walked to her car in the vicinity of Havelock Drive in the Leisure Living subdivision of Laurinburg has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.laurinburgexchange.com/view/full_story/22538788/article-Woman-bitten-by-rabid-fox?instance=popular

Oklahoma 05/10/13 Oklahoma County: A 10-week-old puppy held in foster care for the Oklahoma Humane Society by an Oklahoma City family tested positive for rabies after suddenly becoming aggressive and biting a family member. – See article and video at http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/okc/family-discovers-10weekold-foster-puppy-has-rabies/-/11777584/20095078/-/ui15jdz/-/index.html

Virginia 05/10/13 Louisa County: A stray dog described as a Husky mix found late Tuesday on Dusty Road in Bumpass has tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have been in contact with the dog should seek immediate medical advice. – See http://www.wric.com/story/22216358/dog-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-louisa-county

Virginia 05/10/13 Norfolk: A raccoon that attacked a vaccinated dog in the vicinity of Rolleston Avenue recently has tested positive for rabies. – See http://hamptonroads.com/2013/05/raccoon-tests-positive-rabies-norfolk

Virginia 05/09/13 Newport News: A sick raccoon found in the vicinity of Briarfield Road and Mercy Boulevard earlier this month has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/newport_news/raccoon-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-nn

MONTANA college student attacked by GRIZZLY ~ NEW MEXICAN diagnosed with state’s first case of HANTAVIRUS this year ~ MOUNTAIN LION alert issued by CALIFORNIA authorities ~ TICKS at CALIFORNIA and WASHINGTON test positive for LYME DISEASE ~ MOSQUITO in TEXAS tests positive for WEST NILE VIRUS ~ RABIES reports from CA, FL, GA, KS, MD, NC, & TN.

Grizzly. Photo by Jean-Pierre Lavoie. Wikimedia Commons.

Montana 04/20/13 missoulian.com: by Vince Devlin – A Salish Kootenai College student was attacked and mauled by a grizzly bear less than a mile from the campus Friday morning. Less than three hours later, the college cancelled classes and asked students to leave campus immediately after a bear was seen in the vicinity of campus dormitories. The mauling victim, a male, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan and transferred to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Stacy Courville, a wildlife biologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said the student was hiking alone in a brushy area along Mud Creek. Lake County Undersheriff Dan Yonkin said the man’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Karen Sargeant said he suffered head and arm injuries, but his condition was unknown. The student’s name was not disclosed.

Salish Kootenai College is in Pablo, Lake County, MT.

Reports on when the attack occurred varied from 10:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Yonkin said the victim was coherent and talking after the attack, and told authorities he believed the bear was a grizzly. CSKT authorities later confirmed it was a grizzly sow with two yearling cubs. “He was unaware a bear was nearby until she started charging,” Yonkin said. “She was most likely in defensive mode because of the cubs.”  – For complete article see http://missoulian.com/news/local/salish-kootenai-college-student-mauled-by-grizzly-bear/article_aa63db10-a919-11e2-882f-001a4bcf887a.html

Hantavirus:

Deer mouse. Common carrier of Hantavirus.

New Mexico 04/19/13 health.state.nm.us: News Release – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) is announcing today that a 45-year-old woman from McKinley County has laboratory confirmed Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome  (HPS). This is the first case of Hantavirus in New Mexico this year. The patient has been hospitalized at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she was last listed as being insatisfactory condition.

McKinley County

An environmental investigation will be conducted at the home of the patient to try and help reduce the risk to others. – For complete release with recommended protective measures see http://www.health.state.nm.us/CommunicationsOffice/2013%20News%20Releases/NMDOH-PressRelease-20130419-HumanHantavirus-EN.pdf

Mountain Lion Sightings:

California 04/20/13 El Dorado County: An alert has been issued in South Lake Tahoe after a mountain lion was sighted this week in a meadow area between Black Bart Avenue and Al Tahoe Boulevard. – For details see http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/20/5357412/mountain-lion-sightings-in-south.html

Lyme Disease:

Female Western Black-legged Tick. Courtesy CDC.

California 04/19/13 nps.gov: News Release – Officials from Los Angeles County and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) are advising visitors that ticks from Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills recently tested positive for Lyme disease. Three separate pools of western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus) found along the Coyote Trail were found to be positive. . . “We’re finding that about 1 or 2 percent of western black-legged ticks in the area carry the Lyme disease bacteria, so it’s important for us to identify where the problem is occurring,” said Saviskas. “This particular tick is most active from late November through May.” More information is available at www.lawestvector.org or by calling 310-915-7370. – For complete release see http://www.nps.gov/samo/parknews/lyme-disease-at-paramount.htm

Washington 04/19/13 konp.com: Samples of ticks in Clallam County showed a couple had the bacteria that could lead to Lyme disease. That prompted health officials to issue a warning to local health providers to be on the lookout. But Clallam County health officer Dr. Tom Locke says the results don’t mean you should stop going outside. He tells KONP, it’s uncertain of this is the start of an acute outbreak, or just a normal level of the bacteria. He says typically they don’t change protocol for tick management until tests show at least 20 percent of the tick population has the bacteria. – For complete article see http://www.konp.com/local/8640

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Texas 04/19/13 Dallas County: Officials in Highland Park are spraying the southwest part of town after a mosquito trapped in the area tested positive for WNV. – See http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/04/19/mosquito-tests-positive-for-west-nile-virus-in-highland-park/

Rabies:

California 04/19/13 Tulare County: County health officials are asking for help contacting a Tulare woman who turned in a bat earlier this month. Health officials said today the bat tested positive for rabies, prompting officials to seek out help locating the woman and her family members. “This woman and her family are at risk for contracting rabies,” Health officials said in a released statement. Anyone with information about the woman is encouraged to call Tulare County Communicable Disease Control Office at 685-5720, or 471-7092 after regular business hours.

Florida 04/19/13 Palm Beach County: A raccoon captured by a private trapper on the FAU North Campus in Jupiter on Wednesday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/sfl-rabid-raccoon-captured-at-fau-campus-in-jupiter-20130419,0,5207729.story

Georgia 04/19/13 Forsyth County: A fox that was killed by two dogs on April 16^th in Cumming has tested positive for rabies. The encounter took place in the vicinity of Hickory Trail located off Chamblee Gap Road. – See http://johnscreek.patch.com/articles/alpharetta-woman-charged-with-murder-rabies-reported-in-forsyth

Kansas 04/20/13 Russell County: A domestic animal within the City of Russell has tested positive for rabies. With the difference between “Furious” and “Paralytic” rabies explained. – See http://www.krsl.com/local-news/2081-animal-in-russell-tests-positive-for-rabies-virus

Maryland 04/18/13 Baltimore County: Health officials have confirmed that a grey, tan, and white feral cat from a colony living in the vicinity of Rhonda Court in Milford Mill has died of rabies. Anyone exposed to a stray cat of that description in that area between March 28 and April 12 should immediately seek medical advice. – See http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/feral-cat-has-rabies-baltimore-county-to-trap-others-in-colony/2013/04/18/55404906-a889-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html

North Carolina 04/20/13 Forsyth County: Officials are concerned about a raccoon that attacked a dog on April 15^th in the 500 block of Knollwood Street in the Ardmore community of Winston-Salem. The raccoon was not captured and could be infected with rabies. – See http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_022b8490-a93f-11e2-aa6b-0019bb30f31a.html

Horse with rabies. Not the horse mentioned in the article.

Tennessee 04/18/13 Wilson County: A horse stabled in the county has tested positive for rabies. Two other Wilson County animal rabies cases this year involved a dog and a skunk.  – See http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130418/NEWS07/304180088/Horse-tests-positive-rabies-Wilson-County?nclick_check=1

Elderly CANADIAN couple survive BEAR attack ~ CALIFORNIA MAN bitten by DOG at-large ~ WEST NILE VIRUS report from LOUISIANA.

Grizzly bear. Courtesy National Park Service.

Canada:

Chart courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

British Columbia 11/26/12 thestar.com: A man and woman have been airlifted to a Calgary hospital after surviving a bear attack near Kimberley, B.C. Conservation officer Joe Caravetta says the attack happened late Sunday afternoon in a remote area about 250 kilometres southwest of Calgary. Caravetta says it appears the two hikers may have startled a female bruin and two cubs, and the mother bear attacked when the woman tried to run away. The bear then turned on the man before continuing to attack the woman — leaving both people with serious injuries to their legs, groin, head and arms.

Chart courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

RCMP and four conservation officers were called to the scene and are trying to track the bears to determine if a grizzly or a black bear was involved. Caravetta says it’s likely a grizzly attack because any incident involving a black bear would be quite unusual at this time of year because the animals should be hibernating.

Author’s Note: According to a separate cnn.com report, the man, in his 80s, and his wife, in her 60s, encountered the bear and cubs near a dead deer.

Rabies:

California 11/26/12 willows-journal.com: The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a Rottweiler that attacked a Hamilton City man on Saturday. The attack occurred about 5:49 p.m. near the area of 1410 Esperanza Ave. The 34-year-old victim is reported to have suffered puncture wounds to his face, officials said. Sheriff’s officials said it is extremely important that this canine be located quickly to ensure that there is no danger of rabies or additional attacks. The dog is black and tan and weighs approximately 50 to 60 pounds, officials said. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the dog, its location or its owner to call 934-6507 or 934-6431.

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Louisiana 11/19/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: State health officials confirm 15 new WNV cases this week, and reports one death from the disease. There are six new neuroinvasive disease cases reported this week, from Jefferson (1), Orleans (2), Tangipahoa (1) and Rapides (2) parishes. Five of these are newly identified cases, and one is a previously reported case that progressed into neuroinvasive disease. There are 10 new West Nile fever cases reported this week, from Assumption (1), Catahoula (1), East Baton Rouge (2), Ouachita (1), Rapides (2), St. Landry (1) and Winn (2) parishes. Louisiana has had 371 WNV cases, of which 152 are neuroinvasive disease, and 16 deaths, all of which occurred within two weeks of disease onset, thus far in 2012. – See http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2701

Two ALASKAN trappers mauled by BROWN BEAR near Kenai River ~ FLORIDA reports another case of DENGUE FEVER ~ PENNSYLVANIA girl bitten by RABID BAT ~ AUTHOR’S NOTE: Limited reporting effective immediately.

Brown bear. Photo by Alaska Public Lands.

Alaska 11/13/12 peninsulaclarion.com: by Brian Smith – A brown bear sow mauled two Anchorage men setting traps near the Kenai River on Saturday night [Nov 10], sending one to an Anchorage hospital with serious injuries, a wildlife official said. Jeff Selinger, Alaska Department of Fish and Game area wildlife biologist, said the two men, whose names or ages he could not immediately release, were attacked a half mile upstream of the Kenai Keys on the south — or Funny River — side of the river. Both men were attacked by the bear during the incident but officials from Central Emergency Services said only one man was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital and then flown to Anchorage with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Selinger said the two men were separated at the time the sow attacked the first man. Upon hearing the bear and the man’s cries for help, the second man ran to help. “He yelled at the bear and tried to get him away from the area and it came after him and knocked him down and then went back to the first individual and worked him over some more and then left the area,” Selinger said. Neither man had a gun or bear spray, Selinger said. The second man received only bruises from the [incident] and returned Monday to retrieve the traps the two set. The man reported he saw cub tracks in the area as well, Selinger said. It is late in the year for a bear attack, Selinger said, but some brown bears do not den as soon or as heavily as others. He said active bears have been caught in traps in the area well into December. “Some bears rarely sleep,” he said. Selinger said Fish and Game has no plans to go searching for the bear. “The victims even said, ‘That’s the last thing we want you to do, to go out and try to track this bear down because it is obvious we got into its space,’” he said. – For complete article see http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2012-11-13/trappers-mauled-by-bear-near-kenai-river

Dengue Fever:

Florida 11/17/12 Miami-Dade County: Health officials have confirmed an 82-year-old man is the second person in the county to be diagnosed with dengue fever this year. – See http://www.cbs12.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.fl/244ce335-www.cbs12.com.shtml

Rabies:

Pennsylvania 11/16/12 Erie County: A bat that bit a Millcreek Township girl has tested positive for rabies. Health officials confirm the girl is receiving post-exposure rabies vaccinations. – See http://www.goerie.com/article/20121115/NEWS02/311159878/Millcreek-girl-bitten-by-rabid-bat

Author’s Note:

Due to physical (they tell me the carpal tunnel syndrome will always be with me) and time limitations, this blog will, from this date forward, focus almost exclusively on incidents involving actual injury to human beings, and to major scientific advances in the control, treatment, or cure of Unseen Natural Hazards.

Those who are interested in following weekly statistics published in the CDC’s Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report may do so by going to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwr_wk/wk_cvol.html . Click on Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables .

WISCONSIN DNR seeks VOLUNTEERS for CARNIVORE tracking program ~ OREGON HUNTER mauled by wounded BEAR ~ MOUNTAIN LION reports from NE, & SD ~ COYOTE reports from ILLINOISx2 ~ WEST NILE VIRUS reports from CDC (National), CAx2, & ME ~ RABIES reports from GAx2, NY, NCx3, & TX.

Wolverine. Courtesy National Park Service.

Wisconsin 11/02/12 dnr.wi.gov: News Release – Learn tracking skills – assist in wildlife surveys. Researchers from the Department of Natural Resources have conducted track surveys of fur-bearing mammals since 1977. In 1979, the DNR began conducting formal wolf track surveys as part of the state wolf monitoring program. A separate survey program for American marten began in 1981. Snow track surveys have also been used to determine distribution and abundance of fisher, bobcat and other forest carnivores in Wisconsin. since 1995, the Wisconsin DNR has used volunteers to conduct snow track surveys for wolves and other carnivores.

The goals of the survey are to:

1. determine the number, distribution, breeding status and territories of wolves in Wisconsin;

1. develop a sense of the abundance and distribution of other medium-sized and large carnivores in the state; and
2. determine the existence of rare carnivores such as Canada lynx, cougar and possibly wolverine.

Become a tracker! Help monitor Wisconsin’s wolf population by conducting winter track surveys.

To participate, you will be expected to:

• attend a wolf ecology course sponsored by DNR, Timber Wolf Alliance or Timber Wolf Information Network;
• attend a track training course sponsored by the WI DNR & Timber Wolf Alliance;
• take a mammal track test; and
• agree to complete three surveys following DNR guidelines [PDF] and submit their findings.

Data received from this program is used to supplement DNR surveys and provide the public with opportunity to be involved in determining the status of our forest carnivores. Contact information – For information on the Volunteer Tracking Program, contact: Jane Wiedenhoeft, Track Program Manager, 715-762-1362. – See http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/volunteer.html

Bear Attack:

Oregon 11/02/12 mailtribune.com: A Medford man suffered multiple injuries Thursday afternoon after a bear he and a hunting partner had shot grabbed and began to maul him. Alex Machado, 22, was being treated at press time for multiple injuries in the emergency room of Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford — following a search and rescue effort that included the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the Oregon State Police and Mercy Flights responders. The second hunter, 24-year-old Nathan Shinn of Phoenix (OR), was uninjured in the incident. Officials said Machado and Shinn were deer hunting near Elk Creek Road in Trail when they spotted the bear. The men, who officials said had bear hunting tags, fired on the animal and hit it in the abdomen. As the men approached the bear in a meadow where it had lain down, the animal awoke and grabbed Machado, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Andrea Carlson said in a news release.

Jackson County

“To make sure something is dead, confirm it with the barrel,” said senior trooper Jim Collom of the OSP Division of Fish and Wildlife. “They thought it was dead because it was laying there. “It’s always good to go up with your gun and make sure it’s dead.” After grabbing Machado, Carlson said, the bear began biting Machado on the right side of his body injuring his right hand and arm, pulling the man into a hug. Machado and the bear rolled down a 50-foot embankment, with the bear continuing to bite Machado as they plummeted. Shinn ran after them, killing the bear with a rifle shot to the head. Shinn and the injured Machado then walked up a nearby ridge. – For complete article see http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121102/NEWS/211020340/-1/NEWSMAP

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Nebraska 11/02/12 York County: Two farmers reported seeing a mountain lion cross the road in front of them about four miles east of Thayer early Thursday afternoon. The sighting remains unconfirmed. – See http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/mountain-lion-reported-near-thayer/article_a176ea34-24f2-11e2-be7b-0019bb2963f4.html

South Dakota 11/02/12 Pennington County: Outdoor recesses were cancelled today at Rapid Valley Elementary School in Rapid City after a security camera captured a mountain lion walking across the school yard this morning. – See http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/mountain-lion-spotted-at-rapid-valley-elementary-school/article_af774c66-250e-11e2-b225-0019bb2963f4.html

Coyote Attacks:

Illinois 11/02/12 DuPage County: A Downers Grove resident at 5326 Meadow Lane saw his Havanese-breed dog carried off in the mouth of a coyote last month. Paul Neustadt said the attack occurred in his front yard. A week later, one of his neighbors found two coyotes eating a deer in her yard. – See http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2012/11/02/pet-dog-attacked-by-coyote-in-downers-grove-police-say/axi5bu7/

Illinois 11/02/12 Lake County: A 12-year-old Chihuahua-breed dog survived an attack by two coyotes yesterday in its owner’s yard in the Tiffany Farms subdivision of Antioch. The dog, which was hooked to a leash, suffered injuries to a back leg and paw. – See http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8871173

West Nile Virus (WNV):

National 10/31/12 cdc.gov: Update – As of October 30, 2012, 48 states have reported WNV infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 4,891 human cases of WNV, including 223 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,498 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,393 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. The 4,891 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of WNV disease cases reported to CDC through the last week in October since 2003. Over 70 percent of the cases have been reported from 10 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Colorado) and over a third of all cases have been reported from Texas. – For maps and details see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Author’s Note: According to a report by Reuters news service published online, CDC officials have confirmed that the pace of this year’s WNV outbreak is slowing, though the numbers continue to grow. – See http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/us-usa-health-westnile-idUSBRE89U1IN20121031

California 11/01/12 Riverside County: Health officials have confirmed that a Palm Desert resident has tested positive for WNV. This is the 14^th confirmed human case in the county this year. – See http://palmdesert.patch.com/articles/vector-control-palm-desert-resident-tests-positive-for-west-nile-virus

California 10/30/12 San Diego County: Health officials have confirmed that a dead crow found in La Jolla is the first in the county to test positive for WNV.  The bird was found west of I-5 and south of La Jolla Cove. – See http://www.lajollalight.com/2012/10/30/crow-found-in-la-jolla-tests-positive-for-west-nile-virus/

Maine 11/01/12 maine.gov/dhhs: Update – Health officials have identified a human case of WNV neuroinvasive disease in Cumberland County. This is the state’s first ever locally-acquired case of WNV. – See https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/13abc1fb6657232f

Rabies:

Georgia 10/31/12 Chatham County: A feral cat found in the vicinity of the Diamond Causeway in the Pin Point community has tested positive for rabies. – See http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2012-10-31/citizens-urged-take-precautions-against-rabies#.UJNEQ4Yt7WA

Georgia 10/31/12 Whitfield County: A 15-year-old pet cat that bit its owner has tested positive for rabies. Another person was also exposed to the virus. Due to the cat’s age and because it was normally kept indoors, the owner had not kept the cat’s vaccinations current. – See http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19963080/two-in-whitfield-county-exposed-to-rabies-by-indoor-cat

New York 11/01/12 Clinton County: A skunk found in the Village of Keeseville has tested positive for rabies. This is the 3^rd rabid animal found in the county in the last few weeks. – See http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x1133193704/Another-rabid-skunk-confirmed-in-Keeseville

North Carolina 11/02/12 Orange County: A raccoon killed by dogs on Wednesday in the vicinity of Efland Cedar Grove and Harmony Church roads in Efland has tested positive for rabies. This is the 12^th confirmed case of the virus reported in the county so far this year. – See http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/02/2457285/orange-county-gets-12th-confirmed.html

North Carolina 11/01/12 Alamance County: A young cat found Wednesday in the Eli Whitney area of the county near the Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road has tested positive for rabies. Five people are being treated for exposure to the virus. On Thursday, a skunk found near Reid Road in the northern part of the county also tested positive for rabies. An unvaccinated dog was euthanized due to exposure to the virus. – See http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/top-news/county-s-fifth-sixth-rabies-cases-confirmed-1.41874

North Carolina 10/31/12 New Hanover County: A fox that was killed by a vaccinated family dog on Seafarer Drive in Carolina Beach has tested positive for rabies.  This is the 20^th rabid animal found in the county so far this year. – See http://pleasureisland.wect.com/news/families/59951-20th-case-rabies-nhc-identified-fox

Texas 10/30/12 Bexar County: Health officials have confirmed that six children at Pearce Primary School in the Southside Independent School District were exposed to a bat that tested positive for rabies. The school sent out a letter to parents regarding the incident. So far this year, the Metropolitan Health District says there have been 12 cases of rabies in the county, all in bats. – See http://www.woai.com/content/news/newslinks/story/6-children-exposed-to-bat-infected-with-rabies/QO_-whcuVEyLmUeVW1Sx0Q.cspx

ALASKAN infected with TRICHINOSIS after eating BLACK BEAR meat ~ CANADA: MANITOBAN dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ MOUNTAIN LION reports from ID, & MO ~ COYOTE report from ILLINOIS ~ WEST NILE VIRUS reports from CA, FL, & TX.

Black bear. Photo by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Alaska 10/25/12 adn.com: by Michelle Theriault Boots – The black bear meat tasted delicious. Sean Sullivan didn’t know it would give him trichinosis. “Like the best steak you’ve ever had,” said the 32-year-old oil platform worker from Nikiski. It was early summer and Sullivan was at his remote cabin east of McGrath. There were a lot of black bears in the area, he said. One day Sullivan was heading back to the cabin to sharpen a chain saw when he saw a bear trying to break in. “I noticed a big black fuzzy thing halfway through the door,” he said. Sullivan pulled out a pistol and shot the six-foot tall bear. (He says he reported the killing to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.) Later he and a friend skinned the animal and stored the meat in freezer bags in the river to keep it cold. For dinner he cooked some of the meat in a skillet with butter, pepper and garlic salt. He ate the bear with peas and rice, sitting on the porch of a cabin with a view of the nearby Trimokish Hills.

Bear steak.

Looking back, Sullivan says the meat seemed to be cooked to “something a little more than medium rare.” “It obviously wasn’t enough,” he said. That became clear six weeks later, when he started noticing uncharacteristic soreness in his legs and back. Next came an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms and a high fever. He became sensitive to sound. His eyes hurt. Then his wife found him in the bathtub in the middle of the night in the midst of a fever hallucination about snowmachine repair. “I kept saying, ‘I’m trying to figure this out, I almost got it figured out,’” he says. His wife had already figured out that it was time for Sullivan to get to a hospital.

At first, doctors thought he might have meningitis. But then they started down a “strange line of questioning,” he remembers: Had he gone hunting recently? Had he shot any bears? Had he eaten them? A diagnosis soon followed: Trichinosis. It’s caused by eating raw or undercooked meat infected with the larvae of a worm called Trichinella, which reproduces and eventually travels through arteries to become cysts in muscle tissue. The disease, most associated with pork, can cause a litany of symptoms from aching joints to swelling of the face and eyes and in serious cases can be fatal. Worldwide, about 10,000 cases of trichinosis are recorded each year. In the United States, the number has dropped from 400 per year on average in the 1940s to 20 or fewer today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That drop can be attributed to better sanitary practices in the pork industry and improved public awareness of the risks of eating raw or undercooked meat, the CDC says. – For complete article see http://www.adn.com/2012/10/25/2672252/dinner-of-black-bear-leads-to.html

Hantavirus:

Canada:

Deer mouse. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Manitoba 10/26/12 winnipegsun.com: by Joyanne Pursaga – A Manitoban has died from complications of hantavirus infection for the first time in 12 years. The province says the middle-aged Winnipeg man was otherwise healthy when he passed away last week. His is the first such death in Manitoba since 2000. The virus is found in the urine, feces and saliva of infected deer mice. Manitoba Health is warning people about the rare but highly fatal air-borne hantavirus. – For complete article see http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/10/26/winnipeg-man-dies-of-hantavirus

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Idaho 10/26/12 Ada County: Wildlife officials plan to set mountain lion traps on Saturday along the Boise River between the Glenwood Bridge and Eagle Road. More than 10 mountain lion sightings have been reported in the vicinity in the last three weeks ranging from Eagle, to Garden City, to east Boise. Last week, a dog was attacked. Officials say, while the traps are set, people out on the Greenbelt should keep pets on a leash. – See http://www.ktvb.com/news/Search-for-mountain-lion-ramps-up-around-Boise-175958521.html

Missouri 10/26/12 Reynolds County: Officials have confirmed a photo of a mountain lion taken by a trail camera on October 10^th in the Current River Conservation Area about five miles south of Ellington. – See http://www.therolladailynews.com/article/20121026/NEWS/121029229/-1/entertainment%20life

Coyote Attacks:

Illinois 10/26/12 DuPage County: City officials confirm there have been 20 reports of coyote sightings in Wheaton as of October 10^th, and there were 22 similar reports last month. A new interactive map has been published that allows residents to report exactly where they’ve seen coyotes. – See http://wheaton.patch.com/articles/coyotes-report-your-sightings-here

West Nile Virus (WNV):

California 10/26/12 Marin County: Mosquito and vector control officials have confirmed that five more WNV infected birds have tested positive in the communities of San Rafael, Novato, Ross, Corte Madera, and Greenbrae. – See http://millvalley.patch.com/articles/wnv-infected-bird-found-in-san-rafael

Florida 10/25/12 Suwannee County: Health officials advise there has been increased mosquito-borne disease activity in some areas of the county and two horses have tested positive for WNV. – See http://suwanneedemocrat.com/local/x699464220/Two-horses-test-positive-for-West-Nile-Virus-in-Suwannee-County

Texas 10/26/12 Hidalgo County: Health officials have confirmed that another horse has tested positive for WNV in the city of Edinburg bringing the total number of WNV cases in the county this year to five: three equine and two human cases. – See http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_d47dcee6-1fcc-11e2-acb5-001a4bcf6878.html

CALIFORNIA WOMAN sustains minor injuries from BEAR attack ~ COYOTE report from INDIANA ~ WEST NILE VIRUS report from LOUISIANA ~ RABIES reports from GA, & TX.

Cinnamon black bear. Courtesy National Park Service.

California 10/19/12 dfg.ca.gov: News Release – An Ojai woman sustained minor injuries to her arm and back after being attacked by a bear while walking her dogs at about 7 a.m. Friday. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens confirmed the attack at approximately 3:30 p.m. today and were on scene and continuing the investigation. The victim, a 50-year-old woman, was walking her three dogs on a road just north of the Ojai city limit adjacent to national forest when she apparently surprised a California black bear described as cinnamon brown and approximately 250 pounds with a cub described as 45 to 50 pounds.

The bears ran across the road ahead of her but the sow returned and swiped at the woman’s wrist, causing an approximately one- to two-inch laceration. The bear began to leave, then returned and charged the female who turned her back to the bear. The bear knocked her down an embankment causing several six-inch abrasions which appeared to be claw marks. The bear followed her down the hill and sniffed at the victim who sat still with her head in her lap. She stated the she could feel the bear’s breath on her neck. The bear left after about 10 seconds. The woman got herself up the embankment and called law enforcement. She did not seek medical treatment and has asked to remain anonymous.

Ojai, California.

DFG will attempt to capture the bear. Some trails in the area may be closed to hikers. There is no indication that this is the mother of the bear cub that was found and rescued in Ojai on Friday and transported to a wildlife care center over the weekend. Since 1980, there have been about 15 confirmed bear attacks in California. The most recent was in the fall of 2010 at the Fallen Leaf Lake Campground near Lake Tahoe.

Coyote Attacks:

Indiana 10/20/12 Johnson County: Coyotes have been attacking so many pets in Greenwood that officials seek to hire trappers and are prohibiting residents from leaving food for animals outside. Dozens of pets have been reported dead or missing. – See http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/south_central/coyotes-run-loose-in-greenwood

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Louisiana 10/19/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed nine new WNV human cases. No WNV deaths occurred this week. So far, there have been 321 human cases and 12 deaths from the disease reported this year. – For complete news release see http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2670

Rabies:

Georgia 10/19/12 Gilmer County: A raccoon that attacked a dog on John Call Road in Ellijay has tested positive for rabies. The dog is now in a six month quarantine, and its owner, who was potentially exposed to the virus, is receiving post-exposure treatment. – See http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/oct/19/rabies-case-reported-ellijay-ga-georgia/?breakingnews

Texas 10/19/12 Travis County: A rabies alert has been issued after two skunks involved in separate incidents in western areas of the county tested positive for rabies. – http://www.kutnews.org/post/rabid-skunks-reported-western-travis-county

Remains of ALASKA forester killed by BROWN BEARS found on Chichagof Island ~ CHIPMUNK suffering from BUBONIC PLAGUE found in northern CALIFORNIA ~ Officials kill MOUNTAIN LION in SOUTH DAKOTA city ~ NATIONAL report on WEST NILE VIRUS.

Brown bear eating salmon. Courtesy National Park Service.

Alaska 10/16/12 go.com: by Dan Joling – Human remains found ravaged by one or more brown bears on a southeast Alaska island are likely from a Sitka man overdue on a boating trip, Sitka police said Monday. Police confirmed the death Sunday and said remains found on Chichagof Island were likely that of Tomas Puerta, 54, who left Sitka in a skiff Thursday on his way to a forestry job site near Peril Strait. The death was first reported by KCAW-FM. Sitka is a community of about 9,000 on Baranof Island. Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof islands together are known as the “ABC Islands.” They’re sparsely populated with humans but heavily populated with bears that Alaska researchers have found are genetically more closely related to polar bears than to other brown bears. “They have lots of bears, especially up on Chichagof,” said Sitka police Lt. Barry Allen. “We have enough here on Baranof Island, but Chichagof has a scad of them.”

Chichagof Island, Alaska.

Puerta was a tree-thinner, Allen said. He was employed in an area that had been logged to cut young trees so others would have less competition and would grow faster. Puerta had made a grocery run, Allen said, and was returning to the job site with a load of food. The 40- to 50-mile trip on flat, protected water should have taken about two hours Thursday afternoon, Allen said, but Puerta never made it. “It looks like he had engine problems and he wound up on the beach,” Allen said. – For complete article see http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bear-mauling-victim-found-alaskan-island-17486684#.UH36HlEt7WB

Bubonic Plague:

Uintah chipmunk. Photo by Utah Department of Natural Resources.

California 10/16/12 nbcbayarea.com: by Lori Preuitt – Rodents carrying the plague are the latest worry for campers and hikers in California – now spotted in both the north and south of the state. A chipmunk died from the disease South Lake Tahoe, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The discovery follows a ground squirrel that was diagnosed with the bubonic in Riverside County just last week.  The positive test for the squirrel was the first reported case of the bubonic plague in Southern California in nearly a decade. It reportedly showed no signs of illness. The chipmunk, on the other hand, was found rolled up in a ball, shaking and struggling to breathe when it was discovered near the entrance to the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, according to the U.S. Forest Service. – For complete article see http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/health/Plague-Worries-Move-to-Lake-Tahoe-174434151.html

Mountain Lion Sightings:

South Dakota 10/16/12 Pennington County: State wildlife professionals killed a mountain lion that was spotted in a tree in a residential area of Rapid City on Monday. – See http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/71311/group/homepage/

West Nile Virus (WNV):

CDC map.

National 10/09/12 cdc.gov: Update – As of October 9, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 4,249 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 168 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,123 (50%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,126 (50%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. The 4,249 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the second week in October since 2003. Almost 70 percent of the cases have been reported from eight states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Illinois) and over a third of all cases have been reported from Texas. – For further details see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

CANADA: GRIZZLY kills ALBERTA hiker’s leashed DOG ~ MOUNTAIN LION report from MONTANA ~ EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS & WEST NILE VIRUS reports from AL, IA, LA, & MS ~ RABIES report from NJ ~ CDC REPORTS: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending September 22, 2012.

Grizzly. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Canada:

Alberta 09/28/12 the province.com: A popular hiking area in Banff National Park has been closed after a grizzly bear attacked and killed a small dog. Parks Canada spokeswoman Brianna Burley said it happened in the Skoki Valley area, near the Lake Louise ski hill, on Thursday. A hiker was scrambling off the trail with his Jack Russell terrier when the adult grizzly approached and started stalking the pet. “At first the hiker tried to stand his ground against the grizzly bear, and then came to a realization that the bear was intent on getting the dog,” Burley said Friday. The man tried to scare off the animal by yelling, throwing rocks and his backpack at it, but the grizzly wasn’t backing off, Burley said. “At this point he dropped the leash and the dog ran away about 20 feet at which point the bear chased the dog and that’s where the bear overtook the dog.” The grizzly left the area, taking the dog’s body. The hiker, an employee of Skoki Lodge, was not hurt but was shaken. – For complete article see http://www.theprovince.com/travel/Trails+closed+after+grizzly+bear+attacks+kills+small+Banff/7317499/story.html

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Montana 09/29/12 Lewis & Clark County: On Saturday afternoon, a resident of the South Hills area of Helena alerted authorities that they spotted a mountain lion near the intersection of Lodgepole and Lime Kiln, near Mount Ascension Park. – See http://www.kxlh.com/news/mountain-lion-spotted-in-helena-south-hills-area/

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) & West Nile Virus (WNV):

Alabama 09/28/12 Mobile County: According to local health officials, a sentinel chicken in Grand Bay has tested positive for EEE. – See http://blog.al.com/live/2012/09/sentinel_chicken_in_grand_bay.html

Iowa 09/28/12 idph.state.ia.us: News Release – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Department of Public Health today reminded Iowans that mosquitoes remain active until hard freeze occurs and can carry WNV. Surveillance has shown a larger number of horses have been infected with WNV this year, with more than 20 confirmed cases. In addition, 19 human cases of WNV have been reported in 16 counties in 2012. No WNV-related deaths have been reported this year. Humans cannot ‘catch’ WNV from an animal, but an increase in animal cases indicates higher activity among mosquitoes carrying the virus. – See http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphNews/Reader.aspx?id=8225EBD7-3840-4A3A-9783-96313D26A376

Louisiana 09/28/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed 29 new human cases of WNV this week and no new deaths, and reminded residents to continue taking precautions against mosquito bites so they can lower their risk of infection. The state is seeing the highest number of reported WNV infections in several years, with 280 cases and 11 deaths from the disease thus far in 2012. – For details and county involved see http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2646

Mississippi 09/27/12 msdh.ms.gov: Update – State health officials confirm there have been 26 new human cases of WNV in the past week. The number of human cases now confirmed totals 197, including 5 deaths. – For details and county information see http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,93,554.html

Rabies:

New Jersey 09/29/12 Somerset County: A grounded bat found outside 422 Brookside Lane in Hillsborough less than a mile from the Middle School has tested positive for rabies. Parents of area school children are urged to contact health or school officials if their children touched the bat. Several children were seen near the bat poking it with a stick. – see http://hillsborough.patch.com/articles/rabid-bat-found-on-brookside-lane-sidewalk

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending September 22, 2012:

Published September 28, 2012/ 61(38); ND-522-ND-535

Anaplasmosis . . . 7 . . . New York (7),

Babesiosis . . . 3 . . . Maryland, New York (2),

Brucellosis . . . 1 . . . Indiana,     

Ehrlichiosis . . . 4 . . . Florida, Maryland (2), Virginia,

Giardiasis . . . 194 . . . Alabama (6), Alaska (2), Arkansas (3), Florida (31), Idaho (6), Iowa (3), Maryland (6), Michigan (3), Missouri (4), Montana, Nebraska (8), Nevada, New York (49), Ohio (20), Oregon (5), Pennsylvania (8), South Carolina (2), Vermont, Virginia (2), Washington (29), Wisconsin (2), Wyoming (2),

Hansen Disease (Leprosy) . . . 1 . . . Missouri, 

HME/HGE Undetermined . . . 3 . . . Indiana (3),

Lyme Disease . . .  173. . .  Connecticut, Delaware (5), Florida (4), Maryland (6), Michigan, New York (82), Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania (44), Tennessee (2), Virginia (24), Washington (2),

Q Fever (Chronic) . . . 2 . . . Missouri, Nebraska, 

Rabies (Animal) . . . 63. . . Arkansas (3), Idaho (14), Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland (7), Michigan (4), Missouri (2), New York (10), Texas (9), Virginia (11), West Virginia,

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Confirmed) . . . 5. . . Missouri (3), North Carolina (2),

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 39 . . . Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas (4), Florida, Indiana, Missouri (5), North Carolina (11), Ohio, Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island, Tennessee (5), Virginia (6),

Tularemia . . . 1 . . . Missouri.