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

WORLD MALARIA DAY ~ OKLAHOMAN dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ RABIES reports from AK, FL, MD, & NC.

 

World Malaria Day is commemorated on April 25, the date in 2000 when 44 African leaders met in Abuja, Nigeria, and committed their countries to cutting malaria-related deaths. In the last decade, increased funding and political commitment have led to a scale-up of effective malaria prevention and control interventions, saving approximately 1.1 million lives globally and decreasing malaria mortality by nearly 25% globally and 33% in sub-Saharan Africa . Despite these successes, an estimated 660,000 malaria-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2010 . For 2013, the theme of World Malaria Day is “Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria,” which serves as a reminder of the ultimate goal. – Reference: World Health Organization. World malaria report 2012. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2012. Available at http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world_malaria_report_2012

Hantavirus:

Deer mouse. Courtesy USDA.

Oklahoma 04/24/13 sfgate.com: An Oklahoma Panhandle resident has died due to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, according to the State Department of Health. The department said in a news release that the Texas County man’s death is the first hantavirus-related death in Oklahoma since 2001 and the third such death in the state since 1993, when hantavirus was first recognized in

Texas County

the U.S. Health department officials did not release the man’s age or when he died. Hantavirus is carried by wild rodents, particularly by deer mice in Oklahoma. – See http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Okla-health-dept-reports-death-due-to-hantavirus-4460363.php

Rabies:

Alaska 04/23/13 Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area: A rabid wolf killed near Chandalar Lakes and transported to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has state health and wildlife officials warning Alaskans to be on the lookout for other animals that may be infected. The rabid wolf was the first infected animal to be documented around Chandalar Lakes, an area south of the Brooks Range about 185 miles north of Fairbanks. The trapper discarded the skinned, beheaded carcass of the sick wolf in a forested area near Palmer and state wildlife officials warned that contact by other animals could spread the disease. Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman Cathie Harms said its presence in the Mat-Su is not grounds for panic. After tests on the head confirmed rabies, the rest of the carcass was retrieved. The rabies virus is found in an infected animal’s nervous system, and nervous system tissue on the carcass such as the spinal cord had not been scavenged. “The chances for transmittal are low, but they exist,” Harms said by phone from Fairbanks. – For complete article see http://www.necn.com/04/23/13/Rabid-Alaska-wolf-prompts-health-warning/landing_nation.html?&apID=f0c0de27a0ad4bbeaa12729602293783

Florida 04/23/13 Jackson County: A raccoon killed by a dog south of Marianna has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.jcfloridan.com/news/article_7bd2207c-ac57-11e2-8c39-0019bb30f31a.html

Maryland 04/23/13 Caroline County: A feral cat captured late last month in the 3000 block of Houston Branch Road in Federalsburg has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_cd489bae-ac1e-11e2-9625-001a4bcf887a.html

North Carolina 04/22/13 Catawba County: A raccoon killed by two unvaccinated dogs in the Conover area has tested positive for rabies. Both dogs have been euthanized. – See http://www.wbtv.com/story/22045125/confirmed-case-of-rabies-reported-in-catawba-county

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

OKLAHOMAN dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ FLORIDA county confirms HUMAN CASE of EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS ~ MONTANA reports EQUINE HERPES VIRUS-1 in two counties ~ RABIES reports from AR, CO, NJ, & NC.

Deer mouse. Courtesy U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Oklahoma 03/27/13 leaderandtimes.com: by Robert Pierce – The recent death of a Hooker, Okla., woman has been ruled as hantavirus. According to district coroner Dr. Hubert C. Peterson, the woman was 50 years old, and she died last week in Ulysses. Hantaviruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control, are a group of viruses that may be carried by some rodents. Some hantaviruses can cause a rare but deadly disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS for short. Last week’s case is the first of 2013. No cases were reported to the Seward County Health Department in 2012, and clinic RN Charly Madden said it has been a few years since the last case. “I would say it has been at least three or four years,” she said. “We just want people to be aware of it and not forget.” Peterson said he was called about the case around 9:30 p.m. around March 19. “She was visiting her parents that live (in Ulysses),” he said. “She had a four-day history of viral symptoms.” Peterson said those symptoms included nausea, muscle aches and increasing respiratory distress. “She went to a Ulysses physician, where she elected to have treatment and return to her parents’ home,” he said.  Peterson said tests showed the disease was in its later stages, and the woman was found four hours after returning to her parents’ home. The coroner said the disease attacks lungs and involves all pulmonary tissue similar to what happens with premature babies. “The patients die of total respiratory insufficiency,” he said. – For complete article see http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11288:hantavirus-kills-hooker-okla-woman&catid=12:local-news&Itemid=40

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

Florida 03/25/13 Hillsborough County: Health officials have announced that a human case of EEE has been confirmed in the county for the first time in three years. The person, who was infected with the mosquito-borne virus earlier this month, is recovering. It is unusual to see a case of EEE so early in the year and officials have issued an alert. – See http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/breaking-news/2013/mar/25/2/mosquito-borne-eastern-equine-encephalitis-case-in-ar-670121/

Equine Herpes Virus-1:

Montana 03/25/13 liv.mt.gov: News Release – A 6-year-old mare in Gallatin County has tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), but is not related to a case in Flathead County reported late last week. “We have another case of EHV-1, but let me stress that there is no connection to the earlier case,” said assistant state veterinarian Dr. Tahnee Szymanski. “Fortunately, the Gallatin County case, like the Flathead case, appears to be an isolated event.” The infected horse arrived in Montana three weeks ago from southern California. – For complete release see http://liv.mt.gov/news/2013/2013-0325_equinesherpesvirusgallatincounty.mcpx

Montana 03/21/13 liv.mt.gov: News Release – A horse in Flathead County has been diagnosed with the neurological form Equine Herpes virus (EHV1) after developing clinical signs of the disease. Based upon the travel history of the animal and the incubation period of the disease, the horse was likely exposed at an event in Ravalli County earlier this month. The Department of Livestock is currently working with event organizers to inform event participants of the potential risk. – For complete release see http://liv.mt.gov/news/2013/2013-0321_equineherpesvirusinflatheadhorse.mcpx

Rabies:

Arkansas 03/22/13 Pulaski County: A skunk found in the Edgewater subdivision near Lake Willastein in Maumelle has tested positive for rabies. – See http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=647862

Colorado 03/22/13 Larimer County: Three skunks and a raccoon have tested positive for rabies in the past week. A raccoon that fought with a vaccinated dog in the vicinity of U.S. 287 and Eisenhower Blvd. in Loveland tested positive for the virus. One of the skunks also fought with a dog near the north end of Carter Lake, and the other two were found in the Masonville area. – See http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130322/NEWS01/303220030/3-skunks-raccoon-Larimer-County-test-positive-rabies?nclick_check=1

New Jersey 03/25/13 Cumberland County: An aggressive raccoon that was in contact with a dog in Stow Creek Township on March 7^th has tested positive for rabies. The dog has been quarantined and its owners are being treated for exposure to the virus. – See http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2013/03/second_reported_case_of_rabies.html

North Carolina 03/23/13 Durham County: A raccoon found in the 100 block of Bahama Road has tested positive for rabies. This is the 5^th rabies-infected raccoon reported in the county this year. – See http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/23/2773976/fifth-case-of-rabies-in-durham.html

Is WHITE ANIMAL found dead in MAINE a WOLF, COYOTE, or DOG? ~ WOMAN in MANITOBA, CANADA, attacked by WOLF ~ MONTANA reports first case of HANTAVIRUS for 2013 ~ RABIES reports from AL, CA, GA, NJ, NCx2, ND, PA, & TXx3.

One of six white wolves at the White Wolf Sanctuary near Tidewater, OR. Photo by Oregon Dept. of Transportation.

Maine 03/22/13 seacoastonline.com: by Laura Dolce – Wildlife experts say they are one step closer to determining exactly what type of animal was found in Kennebunk Monday night — a wolf, coyote or dog. The story has kept people talking for days, with some speculating that the mystery animal was either a coy dog — a coyote-dog combination — or a wolf/dog hybrid. Others worried it could have been someone’s pet. The mystery first started when the white animal staggered out of the woods around 7 Monday night behind a Balsam Lane home, crawled under the back porch and died. Resident Ryan Chiasson, 14, was at home with friends. “My friend was in the bathroom and looked out window and said, ‘Oh my God, there’s a wolf!’” she said. At that point, the three teens ran onto the back porch. “It came up and stared at us,” Chiasson said. “It was limping and its mouth was open. It seemed confused.” Chiasson said the animal then went under the porch and laid down. The teens, fearing it was perhaps rabid, went in to call police. “When we came back out, it was dead,” Chiasson said. While Chiasson and her friends thought the all-white animal was an albino wolf, a Kennebunk police officer who came to the scene told them it was a coyote. – For the complete article and photos of the animal see http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130322-NEWS-130329898

Canada:

Manitoba 03/18/13 cbc.ca: A woman in Manitoba, Canada, was receiving rabies treatment Wednesday after surviving a roadside attack by a timber wolf. Dawn Hepp was driving along a highway near Grand Rapids, Manitoba, on March 8 when she pulled over to see if a stopped motorist was in need of help, Canadian national broadcaster CBC reported. As she walked to the other motorist’s car, the wolf leapt at her. “His face and his jaws were around my neck,” she told CBC, adding that she could feel the wolf’s fur on her face. “He dug a little deeper with that tooth and by the larynx,” she added. “Whether he couldn’t get a good enough grip or what, he let go.” . . . Remaining calm, Hepp drove herself to the hospital in Ashern and was treated for puncture wounds and rabies. – For complete article and photos of victim’s wounds see http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/03/18/mb-wolf-attack-dawn-hepp-manitoba.html

Hantavirus:

Deer mouse

Montana 03/22/13 kpax.com: A Deer Lodge County resident has been diagnosed with Hantavirus in what the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department says is the first case for 2013. The person, who came in contact with the virus while cleaning an area that had been contaminated by rodents, is expected to make a full recovery. – See http://www.kpax.com/news/deer-lodge-co-resident-diagnosed-with-hantavirus/

Rabies:

Alabama 03/19/13 Shelby County: A dog that was kept in the vicinity of County Road 61 in Columbiana and was reported acting strangely by its owner has tested positive for a variety of the rabies virus typically found in raccoons. – See http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2013/03/19/dog-tests-positive-for-rabies-near-columbiana/

California 03/20/13 Kern County: Officials say Kern is a rabies endemic county and in the past two weeks three of six bats tested have been found positive for the virus. Some of the bats tested were found in residential areas, and one was found in a schoolyard. – See http://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/kern-county-is-a-rabies-endemic-county-seeing-an-increase-in-rabies-infested-bats-in-two-weeks

Georgia 03/20/13 Forsyth County: A bat recently discovered in the backyard of a home on Riverhaven Drive in east Forsyth county has tested positive for rabies. – See http://cumming.patch.com/articles/rabid-bat-found-in-forsyth-county-backyard

New Jersey 03/18/13 Morris County: Local police say a raccoon that bit a child who was playing in a wooded section of land behind his home in the Indian lake section of Denville Township is likely to have rabies. The animal has not been located and an alert has been issued. – See http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/03/young_child_was_bitten_by_racc.html

North Carolina 03/21/13 Orange County: by Beth Velliquette – A fox that was suspected of attacking two people in southern Chapel Hill Wednesday has tested positive for rabies. The North Carolina Public Health Laboratory tested the fox after Orange County Animal Services impounded the fox Wednesday about noon and sent the now-dead animal to the lab for testing. Animal services can’t say for sure if the fox that tested positive is the same fox that attacked two people Dogwood Acres and Southern Village on Tuesday, but they believe there’s a strong likelihood that it is. On Tuesday afternoon, a man on a ladder pruning bushes was attacked by a fox that climbed up to bite him. Officials began looking for the fox and tried to alert people in the area to be careful, but later a fox attacked a woman in Southern Village, which abuts Dogwood Acres. The next morning, the search was on again for the fox and, around noon, someone contacted authorities saying he had run over a fox that attacked the tires of his vehicle. – See http://www.heraldsun.com/news/x145781283/Chapel-Hill-fox-tests-positive-for-rabies

North Carolina 03/20/13 Davidson County: A skunk that attacked an unvaccinated dog on March 13^th in Denton has tested positive for rabies. The skunk was killed by the dog, and the dog had to be euthanized. – See http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20130320/News/303209982

North Dakota 03/20/13 Burleigh County: A skunk that attacked a construction crew in Bismarck and bit one of the men before it was killed with a shovel has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=62751

Pennsylvania 03/18/13 Luzerne County: Three Wilkes-Barre residents are being treated for exposure to the rabies virus after being attacked by a feral cat last week. The first victim was bitten on the leg by an orange tabby cat on George Avenue and when fliers were posted in the neighborhood two other people reported they had been scratched by the cat. – See http://psdispatch.com/news/local-news/361960/3-undergoing-treatment-for-rabies

Texas 03/18/13 Coryell County: Three skunks found in Gatesville this month have tested positive for rabies. The first was found in the 100 block of Pate Drive, the second in the 100 block of Ash Drive, and the most recent in the 1000 block of Highland Drive. – See http://www.kcentv.com/story/21672737/three-skunks-test-positive-for-rabies-in-gatesville-in-recent-weeks

Texas 03/20/13 Travis County: by Eric Janzen – The Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services department is looking for a man who dropped off a sick bat at a local vet clinic. The department is concerned the man may have been exposed to rabies. The man delivered the bat to Austin Vet Care, 4106 North Lamar, on Sunday around 2:30 p.m. He is described as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, and bald with a stocky build. The man was last seen wearing a green t-shirt and black shorts. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Disease Surveillance Program at 512-972-5555. – See http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/officials-looking-for-man-who-may-have-rabies

Texas 03/21/13 Gregg and Harrison counties: A bat caught in Longview Tuesday at a unit in the Hidden Hills Apartment complex off Gilmer Road has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/bat-caught-at-longview-apartment-complex-tests-positive-for-rabies/article_6e824274-9273-11e2-804c-001a4bcf887a.html

RABBIT hunter in NORTH CAROLINA contracts TULAREMIA ~ MICE captured at CALIFORNIA nature preserve test positive for HANTAVIRUS ~ RABIES reports from AR, KS, & VA.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

North Carolina 02/19/13 wilsontimes.com: by Jon Jimison – The N.C. Wildlife Commission and state Division of Public Health are encouraging hunters to take precautions after a rabbit hunter in eastern North Carolina tested positive for a rare but serious disease called tularemia, also known as rabbit fever. A second member of the same hunting party also showed signs of the disease. “We’re just asking hunters to take precautions and be aware,” said Carolyn Rickard, spokeswoman for the N.C. Wildlife Commission. Rabbit hunting season in North Carolina runs from Nov. 17 to Feb. 28. Both hunters appear to be recovering, the commission noted. Although rare, rabbit fever is a serious and potentially fatal disease. It’s also one where preventative measures can be taken. Marilyn Haskell, public health veterinarian and epidemiologist with the N.C. Division of Public Health, said the division’s role is to prevent diseases and its employees would like to get a prevention and education message out to the public.

Tularemia vectors.

Tularemia is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s typically found in animals, especially rodents and rabbits. Most cases occur in rural areas. There have been 17 cases reported in North Carolina since 1999.“That is combined, confirmed and probable,” said Haskell, who specializes in rabies and zoonotic diseases. “It can make you very, very sick. We want hunters to know you can get very sick and the rabbit can appear very normal.” There are about 200 cases reported annually in the United States. The disease has a 30 percent mortality rate in some forms if left untreated. It’s treated with antibiotics, Haskell said. All cases this year in North Carolina have been confined to the current investigation. Officials said they wouldn’t name the eastern North Carolina county where the disease was reported due to patient confidentiality concerns. – For complete article see http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Feature/Story/18247908—Hunter-contracts–rabbit-fever-

Hantavirus:

California 02/21/13 pe.com: by Richard Brooks – Three mice found in a nature preserve northeast of Moreno Valley have tested positive for hantavirus, Riverside County health officials said. The rodents were among 34 captures during January in Norton Younglove Reserve in the hills between San Timoteo Canyon Road and Highway 60. Hantavirus can be fatal to humans, cautions the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People become infected through contact with infected rodents, the animals’ urine or droppings. Victims develop fever and headache that can lead to respiratory failure. Rodent control in and around homes remains the primary strategy to prevent catching hantavirus. “Over the past decade, approximately 10 percent of the rodents collected in Riverside County have tested positive for hantavirus,” county Department of Environmental Health officials said in a written statement released Thursday, Feb. 21. “To date, there are no documented human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome originating within Riverside County,” However, they caution people to avoid stirring up debris while cleaning mouse-infested areas, especially in rural areas. Cleanup work should be done while wearing rubber gloves and leaving a 10 percent solution of bleach or household disinfectant on contaminated surfaces for at least 15 minutes. Sponges and mops should be used, rather than brooms and vacuums, officials emphasize. And dead rodents should be double-bagged in plastic before disposal.

Rabies:

Arkansas 02/19/13 Madison County: A cow kept in Kingston has tested positive for rabies. Officials believe the cow was bitten by a rabid skunk, probably 4-12 weeks prior to showing any symptoms. Cows typically develop a hoarse bellow. Drooling and abnormal swallowing may make them appear to have something caught in their throats. Some animals may only show depression and weakness, or partial paralysis, of the hindquarters. During the course of several hours to a few days, the animal will go down, develop convulsive seizures and die. – See http://harrisondaily.com/cow-dies-of-rabies-near-kingston/article_27087632-7ae2-11e2-8883-0019bb2963f4.html

Kansas 02/22/13 Greenwood County: A skunk found biting and holding onto a dog’s tail in an area northeast of Eureka has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/article_e337b54e-7d11-11e2-af83-10604b9f7e7c.html

Virginia 02/22/13 Hampton: A raccoon that attacked a family dog on Wednesday at the Sandy Bottom Nature Park has tested positive for rabies. – See http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/raccoon-attacked-dog-hampton-had-rabies

WISCONSIN DNR reports first DEER with CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE in Waukesha County ~ HANTAVIRUS antibodies found in blood of some workers at YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK ~ RABIES reports from CO, CT, FLx3, GAx2, NE, NJx2, NYx3, NCx2, VA, & WI.

Whitetail deer. Photo by state of Indiana.

Wisconsin 02/06/12 dnr.wi.gov: Department of Natural Resources officials confirm a deer has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease in Waukesha County for the first time. “Being the first CWD positive in Waukesha County is noteworthy but not completely unexpected,” said DNR area wildlife supervisor Tim Lizotte. “Given the proximity to a CWD-positive deer 16 miles away in Jefferson County, we knew it was a possibility.” A portion of Waukesha County is in the existing CWD Management Zone, where DNR has been performing disease surveillance to better determine its presence and prevalence. This deer was reported sick-looking to the DNR by a landowner in the Town of Delafield. – For complete news release see http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2649

California 01/31/13 mariposagazette.com: by Erik Skindrud – A small number of Yosemite National Park workers can now boast that they survived an extremely close encounter with hantavirus. Several Park workers who gave blood in October have come up positive for antibodies to the Sin Nombre strain that causes the deadly illness, California Department of Public Health spokesman Matt Conens has told the MARIPOSA GAZETTE.  Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, killed three Yosemite visitors and sickened six more last summer. No Park workers were among the total. Conens did not give the precise number of workers who tested positive, but said it was “fewer than one percent” of 569 employees who answered questions and donated blood as part of the study.

Dr. Charles Chiu

Most who took part in the voluntary testing work for the National Park Service. An unknown percentage work for Park concessionaire Delaware North Companies. “This is a pretty major finding,” Dr. Charles Chiu of UC San Francisco’s Department of Medicine and a leading virus researcher, said when told of the result. “One percent is still fairly rare, but it could be possible that there’s a higher rate of these subclinical infections than we thought,” Chiu said. – For complete article see http://www.mariposagazette.com/news/2013-01-31/Front_Page/Hantavirus_antibodies_show_up_in_Yosemite_workers.html

Rabies:

Colorado 02/06/13 Logan County: A wounded stray cat that was rescued by a family in the vicinity of Iliff has tested positive for rabies. The cat bit and scratched at least three people, including a child, who are now being treated for exposure to the virus. Officials said the cat had contracted the skunk strain of rabies. – See http://www.journal-advocate.com/sterling-local_news/ci_22530855/rabid-cat-found-logan-county-3-people-exposed?source=most_viewed

Connecticut 02/01/13 Litchfield County: A raccoon that recently attacked a dog in Torrington has been reported to have had rabies. – See http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2013/02/01/news/doc510af92d6a03d986149007.txt

Florida 02/07/13 Polk County: A bat found at 355 1^st Avenue North in Lake Wales has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Rabies-reported-in-Polk-County/-/1637132/18017390/-/cibhhvz/-/index.html

Florida 02/07/13 Palm Beach County: A raccoon that fought with a dog behind a private residence in Jupiter on Monday  has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/first-county-animal-rabies-case-discovered-after-d/nWJFk/

Florida 02/01/13 Nassau County: A raccoon that fought with a dog in the eastern part of the county last month has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Rabies-alert-in-Nassau-County/9q2JmD0F70Ggayokv5zGYg.cspx

Georgia 02/07/13 Chatham County: Two raccoons trapped in different areas of the county has tested positive for rabies. The first was caught on Skidaway Island, and the second in Vernonburg. Three family pets were exposed to the virus. – See http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2013-02-07/two-raccoons-rabies-found-chatham-county#.URXGHWeFn9G

Georgia 02/07/13 Liberty County: A Riceboro couple is receiving post-exposure rabies treatment after both were bitten by the family dog which tested positive for the virus. – See http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2013-02-07/liberty-county-dog-has-rabies-couple-being-treated-bites#.URXDHGeFn9F

Nebraska 02/06/13 Sarpy County: A bat that was found by two students in Bellevue East High School has tested positive for rabies. Both students handled the bat before taking it to a teacher and their parents have been advised to seek immediate medical attention. – See http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/students-handle-rabid-bat-treatment-urged/article_e60ca989-9ed3-5bbc-996c-4e8d68cce753.html

New Jersey 02/05/13 Cumberland County: A skunk that was in contact with a dog in Port Norris has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2013/02/first_positive_rabies_case_rep.html

New Jersey 02/05/13 Cape May County: Three raccoons and a skunk have tested positive for rabies so far this year in the townships of Upper, Dennis (2), and Middle. – See http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/cape-may-county/34566-county-warns-of-rabies-risk.html

New York 02/08/13 Columbia County: A raccoon found on Tuesday along the Route 20/22 corridor in New Lebanon has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.registerstar.com/news/article_3aa6994e-717d-11e2-8bdf-001a4bcf887a.html

New York 02/07/13 Lewis County: A raccoon found in the town of West Turin has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130207/NEWS04/702069732

New York 02/01/13 Otsego County: A raccoon found in a barn in Middlefield on January 30^th has tested positive for rabies. The animal had contact with a cow housed in the barn, but the cow had been vaccinated. – See http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Raccoon-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-Otsego-County-189430111.html

North Carolina 02/05/13 Durham County: Two dead raccoons found in the city of Durham. The first, found on Jan. 29^th in front of a home on the 2300 block of Strawberry Lane, has tested positive for rabies. It was determined that the resident’s dog probably killed the animal. The second, found on Feb. 2^nd in the yard of a home on the 2300 block of Alabama Avenue, has also tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/05/2657681/durham-county-gets-first-two-rabies.html

North Carolina 01/31/13 Gaston County: A young cat brought to a veterinarian by a woman living at Howe Court in Belmont because it was displaying neurological symptoms has tested positive for rabies. – http://www.wbtv.com/story/20918601/officials-1st-rabies-case-of-2013-in-gaston-co

Virginia 02/01/13 Amherst County: A 16-year-old student who grabbed a bat in a hallway of Amherst County High School  in the city of Amherst on Thursday and threw it from the building was bitten and is now be treated for potential exposure to rabies. – See http://www.newsadvance.com/new_era_progress/news/article_591864d8-6bc0-11e2-b3c1-0019bb30f31a.html

Wisconsin 02/04/13 dhs.wisconsin.gov: News Release – A Marquette University vs Providence College basketball game played on Jan. 26^th in Milwaukee was interrupted because a bat was flying around the court at the Bradley Center. Anyone who thinks they might have been touched by the bat is urged to seek immediate medical advice. Last year, 29 bats in Wisconsin tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/News/PressReleases/2013/020413.htm

MAN in northern BRITISH COLUMBIA dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ Impact of free-ranging DOMESTIC CATS on WILDLIFE in the UNITED STATES ~ MONTANA wolf trapper snags MOUNTAIN LION, PARK EMPLOYEE, and PARK RANGER ~ UTAH officers put down three MOUNTAIN LIONS for attacking family PETS ~ Endangered MEXICAN GRAY WOLF released in ARIZONA ~ More show HORSES quarantined with EQUINE HERPES VIRUS in COLORADO ~ RABIES reports from CA, & TX.

Deer mouse. Image by U.S. Army Medical Department.

Canada:

British Columbia 01/28/13 ca.msn.com: Health officials from B.C. and Yukon are in Atlin, B.C., today looking for the source of a deadly case of Hantavirus. The rare disease is normally spread through the urine and feces from deer mice. Officials confirmed the virus was responsible for the death of Gerhard Holmok, 45, earlier this month. Holmok died suddenly Jan. 9 at the Whitehorse hospital. Doctor Ronald Chapman, the Chief Medical Health officer for northern B.C., said the Atlin death is the most northerly case of Hantavirus ever diagnosed in the province. “Up until 1995, the farthest north the virus occurred in B.C. is up to Williams Lake, so this is certainly the farthest north.” – For complete article see http://news.ca.msn.com/local/north/bc-man-died-from-hantavirus-yukon-officials-confirm

Domestic Cats:

National 01/29/13 nytimes.com: by Natalie Angier – In a report that scaled up local surveys and pilot studies to national dimensions, scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that domestic cats in the United States — both the pet Fluffies that spend part of the day outdoors and the unnamed strays and ferals that never leave it — kill a median of 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals a year, most of them native mammals like shrews, chipmunks and voles rather than introduced pests like the Norway rat. The estimated kill rates are two to four times higher than mortality figures previously bandied about, and position the domestic cat as one of the single greatest human-linked threats to wildlife in the nation. More birds and mammals die at the mouths of cats, the report said, than from automobile strikes, pesticides and poisons, collisions with skyscrapers and windmills and other so-called anthropogenic causes. Peter Marra of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and an author of the report, said the mortality figures that emerge from the new model “are shockingly high.” “When we ran the model, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Dr. Marra, who performed the analysis with his colleague, Scott R. Loss, and Tom Will of the Fish and Wildlife Service. “We were absolutely stunned by the results.” The study appeared Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. The findings are the first serious estimate of just how much wildlife America’s vast population of free-roaming domestic cats manages to kill each year. – For complete article see http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/science/that-cuddly-kitty-of-yours-is-a-killer.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

Mountain Lions:

Montana 01/30/13 missoulian.com: by Tristan Scott – A mountain lion caught recently in a wolf foothold trap set on the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park was turned loose by state wildlife officials, but the National Park Service employee who discovered the animal and reported it to game wardens was caught the following day when he sprang a second trap in the same area. The seasonal employee discovered the trapped mountain lion Jan. 19 along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River just outside of the park boundary, which is defined by the high-water mark on the north side of the river. The park employee was conducting wildlife research and reported the trapped cougar to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials. Erik Wenum, an FWP wildlife specialist, responded to the scene near Harrison Creek and darted and released the mountain lion. He also issued a trapping violation to the trapper for exceeding the amount of exposed bait permitted as an attractant. According to the state’s wolf trapping regulations, no trap may be set within 30 feet of an exposed carcass or bait that is visible from above, a measure intended to minimize the number of raptors unintentionally caught in the traps. FWP Warden Capt. Lee Anderson said the park employee returned to the area with a park ranger the following day and, while attempting to show the ranger where the incident had occurred, accidentally sprung another trap, which caught the bottom of his heel. The employee, who was wearing waders, was not injured. – For complete article see http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/traps-catch-lion-then-ranger-on-glacier-park-boundary/article_51c1c208-6a7e-11e2-9f6c-001a4bcf887a.html

Utah 01/29/13 parkrecord.com: By Caroline Kingsley – Two pets were attacked by mountain lions early Tuesday morning in Woodland. One pet was found dead and another injured less than a mile away. The incidents are still under investigation, and information about what type of pets were attacked has not yet been released. An officer from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) responded to the report and was able to quickly track one of the mountain lions responsible for the animal’s death and euthanize it. Two more mountain lions were discovered by late morning. In all, three mountain lions were captured and euthanized: one adult female and two young mountain lions. Douglas estimates there are about six incidents in Northern Utah involving mountain lions each year. “It happens especially near people that live in areas close to the winter range where deer come down. That’s what mountain lions are following,” Douglass said. – For complete article see http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_22475275/three-mountain-lions-attack-pets

Mexican Gray Wolf:

Arizona 01/29/13 care2.com: by Alicia Graef – This month, a 4-year-old Mexican gray wolf known as M1133 is getting a taste of the wild after being  released into Arizona’s Apache National Forest in the hope that he will join the Bluestem wolf pack, whose alpha male was illegally killed last year. M1133′s release marks the first time a Mexican gray wolf has been released since 2008. The species once roamed vast portions of the Southwest and Mexico, but were eradicated by the 1900s in the U.S. over conflicts with humans and livestock, while populations dwindled in Mexico. In the 1980s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, which recommended a captive breeding program and supported a goal of maintaining at least 100 wolves in their historic range. Fish and Wildlife officials hope that M1133 will pair up with the Bluestem pack’s alpha female, who has still not chosen a new mate. However, some are still concerned that even if he does, it still will not boost their small population. As of now, the number of Mexican gray wolves in the wild is estimated to be less than 60 in New Mexico and Arizona with just six breeding pairs, and recovery efforts have been an uphill battle. – For complete article see http://www.care2.com/causes/endangered-mexican-gray-wolf-released-in-arizona.html

Equine Herpes Virus:

Colorado 01/30/13 cbslocal.com: Colorado agriculture officials have confirmed that a horse that was used during the National Western Stock Show in Denver has a potentially fatal virus. The 6-year-old gelding from Texas was part of a team of quarter horses that pulled a stagecoach during rodeo performances during the National Western Stock Show that ended Sunday. The infected horse is among seven horses that have been quarantined at the National Western Stock Show coliseum due to concerns about equine herpes virus, and a hold order was placed on six other horses still being tested. – See http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/01/30/virus-confirmed-in-horse-used-at-national-western/
Rabies:

California 01/29/13 Sonoma County: A cat that was taken to a veterinarian on Monday by its owner because it was displaying strange and aggressive behavior has tested positive for rabies. Family members are being treated for exposure to the virus and officials are evaluating neighbors for potential risk of exposure. – See http://news.sonomaportal.com/2013/01/29/glen-ellen-cat-had-rabies/

Texas 01/30/13 Gregg and Harrison counties: A woman is receiving post-exposure rabies shots after being bitten by a bat Monday at Home Depot in Longview. The woman was picking up concrete blocks to load onto a cart at the time. The bat could not be located. – See http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/woman-to-undergo-rabies-treatment-after-bat-bite/article_f650a1c1-4ec2-5741-b857-9e566aa195ac.html

Japanese brewer’s STUDY claims BEER may have ANTI-VIRUS properties ~ RAT BITE FEVER confirmed in several WASHINGTON residents ~ MOUSE trapped in southern CALIFORNIA positive for HANTAVIRUS ~ FERAL CAT enters pet door and attacks FLORIDA family.

Author’s Note: How about some NATURAL UNSEEN BENEFITS for a change? And just in time for the holiday season! Beer . . . more than just a breakfast drink . . . it’s also keeping us healthy. But they caution one would have to drink 30 12 oz. cans to derive benefit, which seems to me just another benefit.

Global 12/07/12 huffingtonpost.com: Does beer have anti-virus powers? According to a new study funded by Japanese beer company Sapporo Breweries, a “key ingredient” found in the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage may very well help stave off winter sniffles. Researchers at Sapporo Medical University found that humulone, a chemical compound in hops, was effective against the respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, AFP reports. In addition, humulone was also found to have an anti-inflammatory effect, according to Sapporo’s news release. “The RS virus can cause serious pneumonia and breathing difficulties for infants and toddlers, but no vaccination is available at the moment to contain it,” Jun Fuchimoto, a researcher from the beer company, told AFP. The RS virus, which is said to be particularly prevalent in the winter months, can also cause symptoms similar to that of the common cold in adults. But before you reach for that bottle of your favorite brew, harboring dreams of winter-illness domination, be warned: Since only small quantities of humulone can be found in beer, researchers say a person would have to drink about 30 12 oz. cans of the alcoholic drink to benefit from the anti-virus effect, AFP notes. – For complete article and video see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/beer-has-anti-virus-properties-study-sapporo_n_2258735.html

Rat Bite Fever:

Washington 12/07/12 wenatcheeworld.com: by Dee Riggs – Rat Bite Fever has been confirmed in a few Chelan and Douglas county residents and possibly in a Grant County resident who may have been exposed here. The Chelan-Douglas Health District issued a press release about the illness Friday but offices are closed on Fridays so details on how many cases were not available. Rat bite fever is a bacterial disease carried by rats and is part of the normal flora of their mouths and noses, according to the press release. Other animals such as mice, gerbils, ferrets, squirrels, cats, especially feral cats and dogs can get infected, and may or may not get sick with rat bite fever, but they may also spread it. There is no known person-to-person transmission, and it is more commonly seen in children. A bite, scratch, droppings or urine from an infected rodent can transmit the disease. Any food items potentially contaminated by rodents or their droppings should be thrown away. Contaminated water sources and unpasteurized milk have also been considered possible health risks for rat bite fever. Illness develops within three weeks of the exposure. Initial symptoms include fever, muscle aches, joint pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting and many people develop a rash on their hands and feet one to five days after having a fever. Unlike influenza, there is no cough associated with the illness and it is easily treated with antibiotics.

Hantavirus:

California 12/07/12 fox5sandiego.com: A mouse trapped in Campo by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health has tested positive for hantavirus,  an illness that is not easily transmitted but can be fatal. The disease is often found in rodents in San Diego’s backcountry, but they rarely pose a threat to humans when they’re in the wild, according to the DEH. At home, people should be careful when cleaning up rodent debris and droppings. An infection could cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which starts out like the flu but can escalate to severe breathing difficulties and, in 36 percent of case, causes death, according to county officials. – See http://fox5sandiego.com/2012/12/06/campo-mouse-tests-positive-for-hantavirus/#axzz2EQn4g1Iu

Feral Cat Attack:

Florida 12/05/12 Lee County:  A feral cat that entered the pet door of a Cape Coral family’s home and attacked a mother and daughter is under quarantine and being observed for signs of rabies. It’s assumed the cat was looking for food. – See http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2012-12-05/Feral-cat-enters-dog-door-attacks-Cape-Coral-family-#.UMK3hHdrRs9

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