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.
Natural Unseen Hazards Blog 