Colorado Wolf AND WILDLIFE CENTER JUNE 2017
Get paid to shoot ‘Powerball’ coyotes under new NC law BY COLIN CAMPBELL · ccampbell@newsobserver.com
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The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for this logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The contents of the material we include in our newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. We collect information from sources that are from other organizations, the web, news feeds, and/or other sources. We choose articles that are in the related field of education and conservation.
A new program approved in the N.C. House recently would put a bounty on coyotes in an effort to control the population in Richmond County. Senate Bill 249 creates a coyote bounty program in the rural county along the South Carolina border. Thursday’s House vote means the bill becomes law because local bills don’t go to the governor. Under the program, the county government can capture, neuter and mark coyotes, and then release them into the wild. Hunters would then be encouraged to shoot coyotes through a $500 prize – offered by the county or a local nonprofit – for bringing in a dead coyote with the marking. “They will make them like the Powerball coyotes for the county,” explained Rep. David Lewis, a Dunn Republican. “It’s going to incentivize people to shoot coyotes, and they may get a Powerball coyote that will be worth $500.” Why only offer the prize for marked coyotes? “Apparently they were afraid that people would buy (dead) coyotes and try to collect the bounty,” Lewis said. Jokes ensued on the House floor. “Could those parameters be extended to the General Assembly, especially the sterilization part?” asked Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat. “My wife’s already got me, Rep. Michaux,” Lewis replied. Other legislators brought up the Looney Tunes cartoon character Wile E. Coyote. “Are they going to use the Road Runner, allow him to catch the coyotes?” asked Rep. Marvin Lucas, a Spring Lake Democrat. “It would be entirely within Richmond County’s options to use an anvil as a way of taking the coyotes,” Lewis said. Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/ state-politics/article157692459.html#storylink=cpy
Sky, our new coydog, is a rescue from Ohio and loves his new home. A big THANK YOU to Brian for building and donating his time to the new concrete coyote den. It will be rocked with natural stone to make his home truly a work of art. Also thank you Rick for the amazing painstaking work of building a beautiful enclosure for Sky and installing the first new double gate system with a man gate that has an entrance and exit and guillotine for capture. Also thank you David for the hog ringing and the rest of CWWC staff for ALL of the work that you do to keep this Center running smoothly. - Darlene
Meet Rhett and Scarlet, our new red fox kits
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Meet our two new wolf pups
Chakra & Orenda TOP: Orenda came from Seacrest Wolf Preserve in FL. BOTTOM: Chakra came to us from the Washington Park Zoo in Indiana. She was born from an accidental pregnancy, of which two females were sent to new homes in CO. We were happy to receive her while the other girl went to Mission Wolf.
Orenda practicing meet & greets at our Father’s Day event
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BLUE
WHALE SHELBY, CWWC INTERN
Our live action animal escape drill
Blue whales are the largest animals that roam our world. They can weigh up to 200 tons, which is the equivalent to 33 elephants. Despite their enormous size, their main supply of food is called krill, a shrimp-like crustacean which averages only about 2 inches long. Blue whales are not just the largest animals in the world, but they are also the loudest. Their songs can be louder than a jet engine and are used underwater to most likely attract other blue whales. These amazing whales are truly migratory, and so they are almost always routinely traveling. They can be found in every ocean in the world, excepting the Arctic Ocean. Despite their global distribution, they are one of the rarest whales existing. Before widespread whaling efforts, (pre-20th century) there were estimated to be approximately 250,000 Blue Whales roaming the oceans. Due to heavy hunting however, their number diminished to almost extinction. In 1966 the International Whaling Commission declared blue whales a protected species, however their numbers are not rising well. Some of the main reasons for this species to be still on the endangered list are shipstrikes, fishing equipment, climate change, and predation. Due to their astonishing size, these blue whales are easily hit by large sea vessels, such as cruise and container ships, and left too injured to
survive. They are also easily entangled in fishing nets and are also left mortally wounded. Many of the krill they rely on for their diet are becoming subject to climate change. Due to rising temperatures and ocean acidification, Blue Whales may now have to travel up to 300 miles more to acquire their food supply. This species can also become prey for other animals, such as the Killer Whale. Lastly, it is undeniable that poaching is still occurring on these species. Due to all these different factors, there are only 10,000 estimated to be left in the world today. The only rising population of Blue Whales is occurring outside of California. Even though they are categorized as endangered, there is still hope for this species. The World Wildlife Foundation is using satellite tags to better understand their migration patterns. Hopefully, these will lead to more information about frequent locations, so they can be better protected in those areas. Most of the breeding and resting areas already protected are located around Chile. Whale sighting is currently on the rise, and that helps provide revenue and awareness for the protection of this beautiful species. With their size and grace, Blue Whales could easily be listed as one of the great natural wonders of the world, and it would be a tragedy to lose such a spectacular animal.
Meet our new office chick - Ariel keeps Allison company behind the desk & greets guests
sources: wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/blue_whale/ · worldwildlife.org/species/blue-whale
Unfortunately, Kwahati developed a mass on his back leg, but the removal was a success. Thanks Dr. Volz, Dr. Brad & team
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ADOPTION CORNER
Available from TCRAS · Teller County Regional Animal Shelter
Available from San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society
tcrascolorado.com · 719.686.7707 · NO-KILL shelter in Divide, Colorado
slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) · Non-Profit NO-KILL Shelter
Chance Happy Toes Male/Neutered Sandy/White Chihuahua, Short Coat/Mix Hi. My name is Happy Toes cause I love to dance. I came to TCRAS as a stray and no one came looking for me...as strange as that sounds. I am a happy boy with lots of kisses to give. I know my house manners. I am OK with other dogs, but would like a proper introduction just to make sure we will be friends. So, please dance over to TCRAS and we will be can meet and fall in love.
B.C. aka Bat Cat 8 y 1 m 26 d Female/Spayed Black Domestic Shorthair/Mix Hi. My name is B.C. because my previous people called me Bat Cat. I came in with some of my feline friends cause the people we lived with could no longer take care of us. I get along with other cats. I know my house manners. I would love to have a warm and sunny place as well as a lap to lay on. I am a great girl looking for a forever home.
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ADOPTION FAIR Saturdays 11am-5pm at the Petco in COS at 5020 N. Nevada
Chance is a lover. He is very mellow, well-trained, housetrained, good with other dogs. Malamute/husky and several other breeds. The husky part, we think, gives him a high prey drive, no cats please. We rescued him 2 years ago. He was being attacked by dogs in a small Colorado town on a freezing day. For 4 days we nursed him back to health. We didn’t think he would survive. On day 5 he stood up and walked. We had named him Survivor. His current owner needs to surrender him because he is gone most of the time for work. Chance needs a female playmate, air conditioning (unless you are at a high altitude), and a doggie door. His fur is VERY thick and luxurious. Neutered, chipped, all vacc’s. We consider him a perfect buddy. He would love to have someone at home with him much of the time.
Elwood Elwood was rescued from an Airedale Terrier breeder who could not sell him. He is 10 months old, 80 lbs. He has been in foster for 4 months and has made great strides in socialization and self-confidence. He loves to go on off-leash runs in the desert with the foster’s other dogs. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is affectionate. He will need more training. Neutered, all vacc’s.
Maximus Maximus lives up to his name. He is an 80 pound loving, slobbering Neapolitan Mastiff, 3 years old, good with kids. We have raised enough money for Maximus to get a TPLO (tibial-plateau-leveling-osteotomy). We are still waiting for the surgery as we cannot find a foster/owner who is willing to rehabilitate him after surgery. He needs someone strong to lift him in his sling the first week; after that he can walk on his own. Rehab would be 12 weeks, mostly limiting activity. He is best as an only dog; however, he has made a heeler dog friend, Sonny, at the shelter and they are very attached.
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We have a new big garden bed that was planted this spring with a variety of perennials. It will fill in over the next few years. All of the gardens have been refreshed with natural mulch.