Couple guilty in case of strangled girl by Burmese python (Via HerpDigest)

Couple guilty in case of strangled girl by Burmese python
By Millard K. Ives, Staff Writer, Dailycommerical.com 7/16/11
millardives@dailycommercial.com

In what is believed to be the first verdict of its kind in Florida, a Sumter County jury found a couple guilty Thursday in the death of her child, Shaianna Hare, who was strangled by the couple's pet Burmese python.

Jaren Hare, 21, and her former live-in boyfriend, Charles "Jason" Darnell, 34, were tried on third-degree murder, manslaughter and child abuse and face up to 45 years in prison.

They had rejected a plea deal on Monday for 10 years in prison.

Lawyers for the defendants had tagged the snake docile and a family pet, in which children in the couple's Oxford home regularly played with.

Hare's attorney Ismael Solis compared it to a pit bull house pet that "just went crazy" in a terrible accident.

"There was no way in her mind she could have thought she could eat that baby," Darnell said of the snake during a videotaped interview with detectives.

But the six-person jury didn't buy it and took less than two hours to bring back guilty verdicts on all charges -- at which time Hare sobbed as Darnell tried to console her.

"The snake is not at fault in this case. It's a wild animal. The responsibility for the death of that child is those defendants right there," said prosecutor Pete Magrino, pointing at the couple.

In a video-taped interview with detectives, Hare had admitted the snake, named Gypsy, had escaped at least 10 times prior to July 1, 2009, when it was found in Shaianna's crib, wrapped around her lifeless body on a bloody sheet.

It apparently had slithered out of it aquarium.

And the aquarium's lid was a quilt fastened by safety pins. And, sometimes for added measure, Darnell said he kept it in a clothes bag in the aquarium, but admitted it had a small hole in it.

A snake farmer said on his farm, such snakes average 15 to 16 feet long and weigh roughly 140 pounds. The python that killed Shaianna Hare, although it was 8 1/2 feet long, weighed less than 15 pounds.
The prosecution said the snake was malnourished. A medical examiner testified the snake had basically tried to ingest the child.

Darnell apparently had feed the snake in a month, a pet that usually fed on road kill squirrels Darnell found.

According to media sources, the foreperson from this jury did not want to be identified, offered insight how they reached the verdict. "Even under the most remote circumstances, it was possible that the child could be injured. And it was their duty to make sure there was no possibility that a 2-year-old would be bitten or anyway harmed."

It believed this is the first time in Florida that a couple has stood trial in a snake strangulation death of a child. And the case is considered the only known attack in Florida of a nonvenomous constrictor killing a child.

Magrino said in an interview before the trial started he was unaware of any similar trials. But he added it didn't deter him from wanting to try the couple.

"It was a case that needed to be tried," Magrino said.

Judge William Hallman set the sentencing date for Aug. 24.

Why are chimps hunting red colubus monkeys to death?

Alasdair Wilkins — Time is running out for the red colubus monkey, which lives in Uganda's Kibale National Park. Chimpanzees appear to be huntings these poor guys to death. It's the first time that one primate species has overhunted another, without humans being involved.

According to census data collected between 1975 and 2007, the Ugandan red colubus monkey has seen an 89% population drop, and the hunting habits of common chimpanzees are almost entirely to blame. Disease and competition with similar monkey species have also been cited as factors, but the researchers say these still just pale in significance when compared to the effects of chimp hunting.

Indeed, these chimps seem to be actively trying to wipe out their primate brethren. The chimps generally target younger monkeys that haven't yet reached reproductive age, which means there are far fewer red colubus monkeys around who can help bring the population back. Chimpanzees have been doing very well during all this, as their population has increased by 53% over the same time period that the monkeys have nearly disappeared.

It's a good reminder that overhunting is not a strictly human practice, although we tend to be particularly adept at wiping out other species through excessive hunting. The researchers aren't sure what is driving the chimps to kill so many colubus monkeys - it's possible that other food sources decreased or that environmental shifts could have made increased hunting the most effective option.

There is a bit of good news, though - the chimpanzees seem to have seriously cut back on their hunting in recent years, which might mean the red colubus monkeys can survive after all. This means that fewer adult chimps are passing on their hunting skills to their young, which is creating generations of poor hunters, which can only help the colubus monkeys. No one is quite sure why the chimps changed their hunting patterns, but I'd like to think this is our first evidence of chimp conservationism.

American Journal of Primatology via Scientific American. Image via.

http://io9.com/monkeynews/

Leopard kills German woman on Namibian TV set

Published: 17 Mar 11 08:02 CET

A leopard not previously thought to be dangerous has killed a member of a German television crew making an episode of a popular series in Namibia, production company ndF said.

"The animal was thought to be completely docile. Some members of the team even stroked him before," a spokeswoman for ndF said on Wednesday after the deadly incident outside the former German colony's capital Windhoek last Friday.

The 46-year-old victim, who has not been named, was part of a team preparing an episode of Um Himmels Willen, or "For Heaven's Sake", a light-hearted and long-running series set in and around a Bavarian nunnery.

"He completely unexpectedly went for her throat," Ulf Tubbesing, a Namibian-German television veterinarian who owned the farm where the tragedy took place, told German daily Bild.

"I immediately ordered my farm manager to shoot the animal."

The woman died of her wounds at the scene.

AFP/ka

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110317-33777.html

‘Big cat killed in gruesome manner’

Forest officials carry the body of
a leopard for postmortem in
Bhubaneswar. (PTI)

SANDIP BAL

Bhubaneswar; Jan. 14: The preliminary inquiry report of city divisional forest officer (DFO), Jayant Das, was submitted to the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), P.N.Padhi today who had ordered an inquiry of the incident.

The report claimed that the leopard killed at Gandarpur on the outskirts of the city on Thursday was done in the most gruesome manner with the villagers blocking all his escape routes.

Sources said that the report described in detail how the beast was surrounded by lathis and iron rod-wielding villagers who attacked him from all sides.

Two persons had also been injured after being attacked by the leopard.

The injured had been admitted to the Capital Hospital. The condition of the victims is said to be improving.

Das said that the forest ranger of the area had registered an ‘undetected’ case in connection with the incident.

“If we come across definite proof about the involvement of individuals we would take action against them,” the DFO added.

The official who assured that he would try to conclude his inquiry as soon as possible so that guilty could be punished, said that the ‘undetected’ case was filed since it was not clear as to who had killed the animal.

“After recording the statements of the locals and observing the video clippings, we will try to fix the guilt,” he added.The forest department officials today scoured the Khairapada area near the Gandarpur village following strong rumours that another leopard had been spotted by the people there.

“But neither our officials nor the policemen accompanying them could locate any leopard,” he said. Forest officials had conducted a similar search in and around the Nuapatna village but failed to find even the pugmarks of any leopard.

Officials said since leopard was Schedule I animal those responsible for its inhuman killing would be punished under section 51 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

While section 9 of the Act describes killing or hunting a protected animal as a punishable crime, section 51 of the law says that the guilty could draw jail term up to a maximum of seven years and a fine of Rs 25,000. Efforts are also being made to ascertain as to where do the animal come.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110115/jsp/orissa/story_13443034.jsp

‘Big cat killed in gruesome manner’

Forest officials carry the body of
a leopard for postmortem in
Bhubaneswar. (PTI)

SANDIP BAL

Bhubaneswar; Jan. 14: The preliminary inquiry report of city divisional forest officer (DFO), Jayant Das, was submitted to the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), P.N.Padhi today who had ordered an inquiry of the incident.

The report claimed that the leopard killed at Gandarpur on the outskirts of the city on Thursday was done in the most gruesome manner with the villagers blocking all his escape routes.

Sources said that the report described in detail how the beast was surrounded by lathis and iron rod-wielding villagers who attacked him from all sides.

Two persons had also been injured after being attacked by the leopard.

The injured had been admitted to the Capital Hospital. The condition of the victims is said to be improving.

Das said that the forest ranger of the area had registered an ‘undetected’ case in connection with the incident.

“If we come across definite proof about the involvement of individuals we would take action against them,” the DFO added.

The official who assured that he would try to conclude his inquiry as soon as possible so that guilty could be punished, said that the ‘undetected’ case was filed since it was not clear as to who had killed the animal.

“After recording the statements of the locals and observing the video clippings, we will try to fix the guilt,” he added.The forest department officials today scoured the Khairapada area near the Gandarpur village following strong rumours that another leopard had been spotted by the people there.

“But neither our officials nor the policemen accompanying them could locate any leopard,” he said. Forest officials had conducted a similar search in and around the Nuapatna village but failed to find even the pugmarks of any leopard.

Officials said since leopard was Schedule I animal those responsible for its inhuman killing would be punished under section 51 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

While section 9 of the Act describes killing or hunting a protected animal as a punishable crime, section 51 of the law says that the guilty could draw jail term up to a maximum of seven years and a fine of Rs 25,000. Efforts are also being made to ascertain as to where do the animal come.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110115/jsp/orissa/story_13443034.jsp

Big cat leaves forest officials confused

TNN, Jan 14, 2011, 06.21am IST

LUCKNOW: Even after three lives were lost in the man-animal conflict in the killing fields of Katarniaghat and Nishangadha, the forest department is yet to wake up from its slumber.

The department is yet to identify the big cat, which made the killings. On one hand, department's preliminary findings indicate it to be a "tigress with a cub". On the other hand, pugmarks show them to be three different big cats behind three killings made over a week-long period. "We are trying to identify, because prima facie it appears to be three different tigers," said BK Patnaik, chief wildlife warden, UP on Thursday.

The pugmarks were found only in the first and last killing. In the case of second killing there were no pugmarks. The killings have been made in two ranges -- Nishangadha and Katarniaghat. The department is making Pugmark Impression Pads (PIPs) along tracks and water holes. This is being done to track the movement of the tigers in the area and also to identify the real man-eater.

The mobile veterinary unit has been stationed in the area, so that it could be called in for rescue as and when required. The tranquillising team from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has also been called in along with a tiger biologist to watch the behaviour of the tigers.

Three teams comprising forest officers have been put on the job to patrol the area for tracking the big cats. "This is a mating season for tigers and they are known to be aggressive during this period," said Patnaik. The locals in the area are being informed about the same. They are being told not to go to forest to collect firewood or grass.

But has the department made any arrangements to meet such requirements of villagers? The department has no clear cut answers on this. Meanwhile, gram pradhans in the area have been given the phone numbers of forest officers, so that they can immediately inform officers in case they spot a big cat in vicinity.

The department has not branded any of the three killings to be a man-eating incident. In the last incident, however, the tiger was spotted around the body of its victim, though villagers tried to chase it away. But forest officers said that it was a natural behaviour of tiger that it does not leave its kill.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Big-cat-leaves-forest-officials-confused/articleshow/7280265.cms

Big cat leaves forest officials confused

TNN, Jan 14, 2011, 06.21am IST

LUCKNOW: Even after three lives were lost in the man-animal conflict in the killing fields of Katarniaghat and Nishangadha, the forest department is yet to wake up from its slumber.

The department is yet to identify the big cat, which made the killings. On one hand, department's preliminary findings indicate it to be a "tigress with a cub". On the other hand, pugmarks show them to be three different big cats behind three killings made over a week-long period. "We are trying to identify, because prima facie it appears to be three different tigers," said BK Patnaik, chief wildlife warden, UP on Thursday.

The pugmarks were found only in the first and last killing. In the case of second killing there were no pugmarks. The killings have been made in two ranges -- Nishangadha and Katarniaghat. The department is making Pugmark Impression Pads (PIPs) along tracks and water holes. This is being done to track the movement of the tigers in the area and also to identify the real man-eater.

The mobile veterinary unit has been stationed in the area, so that it could be called in for rescue as and when required. The tranquillising team from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has also been called in along with a tiger biologist to watch the behaviour of the tigers.

Three teams comprising forest officers have been put on the job to patrol the area for tracking the big cats. "This is a mating season for tigers and they are known to be aggressive during this period," said Patnaik. The locals in the area are being informed about the same. They are being told not to go to forest to collect firewood or grass.

But has the department made any arrangements to meet such requirements of villagers? The department has no clear cut answers on this. Meanwhile, gram pradhans in the area have been given the phone numbers of forest officers, so that they can immediately inform officers in case they spot a big cat in vicinity.

The department has not branded any of the three killings to be a man-eating incident. In the last incident, however, the tiger was spotted around the body of its victim, though villagers tried to chase it away. But forest officers said that it was a natural behaviour of tiger that it does not leave its kill.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Big-cat-leaves-forest-officials-confused/articleshow/7280265.cms

Boy (13) miraculously escape crocodile’s jaws

15 January, 2011 11:10:00
By Hlengiwe Ndlovu

Witchcraft rumours are doing wild rounds at Tsakasile area in Croydon following a young boy’s miraculous escape from the vicious jaws of a crocodile.

The brave 13-year-old boy fought the crocodile at a swollen Mbuluzi River last week and managed to escape.

The community is pointing an accusing finger at an unnamed family for domesticating the reptile for witchcraft reasons. Although the witchcraft rumour was clearly baseless because none of the interviewed community members could substantiate it, but it clearly has gained momentum at Tsakasile. “That crocodile is a real menace and we know its owners.

“To people it may look like an ordinary crocodile, but as a community we have become aware that it’s tamed and the owners are keeping the poor reptile for witchcraft reasons just to terrorise the community,” said Selinah Magagula, who was in the company of another woman only identified as LaNkhosi.

Escape

After the boy’s miraculous escape, community members are saying all sorts of things about the crocodile and the witchcraft idea gains strength by the day. Narrating the community’s encounter with the crocodile, a resident, who is also a member of the Magagula clan, but refused to be identified said the crocodile was well known for terrorising livestock, especially goats. He said while the community was aware that crocodiles sometimes get vicious, but the crocodile in question was behaving strangely. “Imagine, this crocodile just attacks and kills goats, but it never eats them. “It only kills livestock and discards whatever it has killed next to the river. As a community we find this to be strange,” he said.

Owners

He alleged that the crocodile was ‘sent’ to kill goats so that the owners may be at loss. The rumour seems to have gained momentum as the residents allege that the crocodile was sent by its owners to terrorise their (owners) enemies.

The community wants the Big Game Parks to get rid of the vicious reptile. “We do not know what the owner’s real agenda is. We would feel much safer if the Big Game Parks would just take it away”. Tsakasile area is not the only African place to associate crocodiles with witchcraft.

In Tanzania, scholars Richard and Heather Scott conducted a study on crocodiles and the link to witchcraft beliefs.

In their findings, they discovered that there was a deep fear at Korogwe district as the community had a strong belief that crocodiles were tamed by certain individuals for witchcraft purposes. The community strongly believed that it was impossible to kill a tamed crocodile and that even if you tried to kill it, its owners would send it back to your house to kill you.

The tamed crocodiles in Tanzania are further widely believed to be assassins, disposing off enemies of their ‘owners’.

The study found that if any person was successful in killing a tamed crocodile, they should bury its bile in front of many witnesses to avoid the possibility that some might use it for poison.

Extensive

The Big Game Parks could not readily provide comment. An officer identified as Micheal said there would have to be extensive consultation with the relevant people in order for the Big Game Parks to provide an informed comment on the allegations.

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=19907

Boy (13) miraculously escape crocodile’s jaws

15 January, 2011 11:10:00
By Hlengiwe Ndlovu

Witchcraft rumours are doing wild rounds at Tsakasile area in Croydon following a young boy’s miraculous escape from the vicious jaws of a crocodile.

The brave 13-year-old boy fought the crocodile at a swollen Mbuluzi River last week and managed to escape.

The community is pointing an accusing finger at an unnamed family for domesticating the reptile for witchcraft reasons. Although the witchcraft rumour was clearly baseless because none of the interviewed community members could substantiate it, but it clearly has gained momentum at Tsakasile. “That crocodile is a real menace and we know its owners.

“To people it may look like an ordinary crocodile, but as a community we have become aware that it’s tamed and the owners are keeping the poor reptile for witchcraft reasons just to terrorise the community,” said Selinah Magagula, who was in the company of another woman only identified as LaNkhosi.

Escape

After the boy’s miraculous escape, community members are saying all sorts of things about the crocodile and the witchcraft idea gains strength by the day. Narrating the community’s encounter with the crocodile, a resident, who is also a member of the Magagula clan, but refused to be identified said the crocodile was well known for terrorising livestock, especially goats. He said while the community was aware that crocodiles sometimes get vicious, but the crocodile in question was behaving strangely. “Imagine, this crocodile just attacks and kills goats, but it never eats them. “It only kills livestock and discards whatever it has killed next to the river. As a community we find this to be strange,” he said.

Owners

He alleged that the crocodile was ‘sent’ to kill goats so that the owners may be at loss. The rumour seems to have gained momentum as the residents allege that the crocodile was sent by its owners to terrorise their (owners) enemies.

The community wants the Big Game Parks to get rid of the vicious reptile. “We do not know what the owner’s real agenda is. We would feel much safer if the Big Game Parks would just take it away”. Tsakasile area is not the only African place to associate crocodiles with witchcraft.

In Tanzania, scholars Richard and Heather Scott conducted a study on crocodiles and the link to witchcraft beliefs.

In their findings, they discovered that there was a deep fear at Korogwe district as the community had a strong belief that crocodiles were tamed by certain individuals for witchcraft purposes. The community strongly believed that it was impossible to kill a tamed crocodile and that even if you tried to kill it, its owners would send it back to your house to kill you.

The tamed crocodiles in Tanzania are further widely believed to be assassins, disposing off enemies of their ‘owners’.

The study found that if any person was successful in killing a tamed crocodile, they should bury its bile in front of many witnesses to avoid the possibility that some might use it for poison.

Extensive

The Big Game Parks could not readily provide comment. An officer identified as Micheal said there would have to be extensive consultation with the relevant people in order for the Big Game Parks to provide an informed comment on the allegations.

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=19907

Sailor's body found inside shark at Jaws Beach

The body of a sailor who disappeared off Jaws Beach – on an island where one of the "Jaws" movies was filmed – has been found inside the stomach of a shark.

Published: 11:20PM BST 15 Sep 2010

Police in the Bahamas used fingerprints to identify Judson Newton, although they are still waiting for DNA test results.

It is unclear if the 43-year-old Mr Newton was alive when he was eaten.

Mr Newton went on a boating trip with friends off Jaws Beach, where Jaws: The Revenge was filmed, on August 29.

The group, who were fishing off New Providence Island, encountered engine trouble and called for help.

Rescuers found three men aboard who said that Mr Newton and a friend jumped into the water to try to swim back to shore. Officials launched a search for them, but neither was found.

On September 4, a local investment banker caught the 12-foot tiger shark while on a deep-sea fishing trip and he said a left leg popped out of its mouth as they hauled it in.

When officers cut the shark open, they found the right leg, two severed arms and a severed torso.

One of Newton's friends, Samuel Woodside, 37, said that he was surprised when he heard police say Mr Newton probably drowned.

"To me, he was always a strong swimmer," Mr Woodside said. "I don't know what happened."

Mr Woodside said he and Mr Newton were childhood friends and would go fishing almost every weekend when Mr Newton wasn't working as a sailor on cargo boats or as a chef at local restaurants.

"He was a sailor, you see," he said. "Anywhere where he could get a fishing line, he would go there."

The beach near where Mr Newton was last seen is located on the small island where the 1987 Jaws film was partially filmed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/bahamas/8005531/Sailors-body-found-inside-shark-at-Jaws-Beach.html

Sailor's body found inside shark at Jaws Beach

The body of a sailor who disappeared off Jaws Beach – on an island where one of the "Jaws" movies was filmed – has been found inside the stomach of a shark.

Published: 11:20PM BST 15 Sep 2010

Police in the Bahamas used fingerprints to identify Judson Newton, although they are still waiting for DNA test results.

It is unclear if the 43-year-old Mr Newton was alive when he was eaten.

Mr Newton went on a boating trip with friends off Jaws Beach, where Jaws: The Revenge was filmed, on August 29.

The group, who were fishing off New Providence Island, encountered engine trouble and called for help.

Rescuers found three men aboard who said that Mr Newton and a friend jumped into the water to try to swim back to shore. Officials launched a search for them, but neither was found.

On September 4, a local investment banker caught the 12-foot tiger shark while on a deep-sea fishing trip and he said a left leg popped out of its mouth as they hauled it in.

When officers cut the shark open, they found the right leg, two severed arms and a severed torso.

One of Newton's friends, Samuel Woodside, 37, said that he was surprised when he heard police say Mr Newton probably drowned.

"To me, he was always a strong swimmer," Mr Woodside said. "I don't know what happened."

Mr Woodside said he and Mr Newton were childhood friends and would go fishing almost every weekend when Mr Newton wasn't working as a sailor on cargo boats or as a chef at local restaurants.

"He was a sailor, you see," he said. "Anywhere where he could get a fishing line, he would go there."

The beach near where Mr Newton was last seen is located on the small island where the 1987 Jaws film was partially filmed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/bahamas/8005531/Sailors-body-found-inside-shark-at-Jaws-Beach.html

Texas man stung by 1200 bees

06:00 AEST Thu Sep 16 2010
By ninemsn staff

A Texas man has been lucky to survive a bee attack that saw him stung more than 1200 times.

Lamar LaCaze, 65, was mowing his lawn last month when the unexpected bee attack took place, covering his body with stingers, the San Marcos Daily Record reported yesterday.

Mr LaCaze managed to call his son Trey six times to ask for help but received no answer.

When his son called him back, Mr LaCaze managed to tell him that he was "in bees".

When Mr LaCaze was found by his son, he was slumped over a fence and covered by the swarming bees.

"His head was black, solid bees," he said.

"It looked like a bee hive on his head."

Hospital staff managed to pull more than 1200 stingers from his body, as well as whole bees from his ears, nose, mouth and throat.

He will be released from hospital in the next few days though his body will take longer to process all the bee venom.

See video at: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7962124/texas-man-stung-by-1200-bees

Texas man stung by 1200 bees

06:00 AEST Thu Sep 16 2010
By ninemsn staff

A Texas man has been lucky to survive a bee attack that saw him stung more than 1200 times.

Lamar LaCaze, 65, was mowing his lawn last month when the unexpected bee attack took place, covering his body with stingers, the San Marcos Daily Record reported yesterday.

Mr LaCaze managed to call his son Trey six times to ask for help but received no answer.

When his son called him back, Mr LaCaze managed to tell him that he was "in bees".

When Mr LaCaze was found by his son, he was slumped over a fence and covered by the swarming bees.

"His head was black, solid bees," he said.

"It looked like a bee hive on his head."

Hospital staff managed to pull more than 1200 stingers from his body, as well as whole bees from his ears, nose, mouth and throat.

He will be released from hospital in the next few days though his body will take longer to process all the bee venom.

See video at: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7962124/texas-man-stung-by-1200-bees

Montana woman fights bear using courgette

24 September 2010

A woman from the US state of Montana has fought off a 200lb (91kg) black bear with a courgette from her garden.

The bear attacked one of the woman's dogs on the back porch of her home late on Wednesday evening, Missoula County Sheriff's Lt Rich Maricelli said.

When the woman tried to stop the attack, the bear bit into her leg.

The woman, whom police have not named, grabbed the closest object - a courgette from her garden - and threw it at the bear, causing it to flee.

Lt Maricelli told the Associated Press news agency that the woman, who lives about 15 miles (24km) from the town of Missoula, had not sought medical attention.

Authorities were still trying to track down the bear on Thursday.

Ripped jeans

The attack happened just after midnight when the woman let her three dogs into the backyard before she headed to bed, Lt Maricelli said.

Authorities believe the black bear was just 25 yards away, eating apples from a tree.

Two of the dogs sensed the bear, began barking and ran away. But the third dog, a 12-year-old collie, remained close to the woman as she stood in her doorway.

Before she knew what was happening, the bear was on top of the dog and battling the collie, Lt Maricelli said.

"She kicked the bear with her left leg as hard as she could," Lt Maricelli said.

But as she kicked, the animal swiped at her leg with its paw and ripped her jeans.

As she retreated into the house the bear stuck its head through the doorway. The woman grabbed a 14-inch courgette she had picked from her garden and threw it at the bear's head.

The collie appeared to be uninjured, Lt Maricelli added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11401167
(Submitted by Tim Chapman)

Montana woman fights bear using courgette

24 September 2010

A woman from the US state of Montana has fought off a 200lb (91kg) black bear with a courgette from her garden.

The bear attacked one of the woman's dogs on the back porch of her home late on Wednesday evening, Missoula County Sheriff's Lt Rich Maricelli said.

When the woman tried to stop the attack, the bear bit into her leg.

The woman, whom police have not named, grabbed the closest object - a courgette from her garden - and threw it at the bear, causing it to flee.

Lt Maricelli told the Associated Press news agency that the woman, who lives about 15 miles (24km) from the town of Missoula, had not sought medical attention.

Authorities were still trying to track down the bear on Thursday.

Ripped jeans

The attack happened just after midnight when the woman let her three dogs into the backyard before she headed to bed, Lt Maricelli said.

Authorities believe the black bear was just 25 yards away, eating apples from a tree.

Two of the dogs sensed the bear, began barking and ran away. But the third dog, a 12-year-old collie, remained close to the woman as she stood in her doorway.

Before she knew what was happening, the bear was on top of the dog and battling the collie, Lt Maricelli said.

"She kicked the bear with her left leg as hard as she could," Lt Maricelli said.

But as she kicked, the animal swiped at her leg with its paw and ripped her jeans.

As she retreated into the house the bear stuck its head through the doorway. The woman grabbed a 14-inch courgette she had picked from her garden and threw it at the bear's head.

The collie appeared to be uninjured, Lt Maricelli added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11401167
(Submitted by Tim Chapman)

Coyote lunges at two children, bites father in Rye Brook; another sighting today

By Shawn Cohen • spcohen@lohud.com • September 6, 2010

RYE BROOK — A trapper spotted a coyote alongside Acker Drive at 8:20 this morning, but have been unable to capture it or confirm it was the same one that attacked two youngsters last night — biting a father who was protecting his 2-year-old daughter.

"We're onto some coyote," said Rye Brook police Sgt. Rich Carroll. "We have troopers out looking at him. It could be the one, but we don't have names on their collars."

The first confrontation happened at 6:50 p.m. on Eagles Bluff, where a coyote lunged toward a 14-year-old boy who was playing with other children. The teen struck it in the face and the coyote ran off into the woods, police said. That boy was not injured but did have marks where the coyote made contact with him, police said.

About an hour later on Hillandale Road, a coyote lunged at the 2-year-old who was playing with her 28-year-old father in the driveway.

"The father was able to scare off the coyote but not before the coyote bit him on the back of the leg," police said in a news release.

Father and daughter sought treatment at Greenwich Hospital; the father's injury was superficial and the girl was not injured, though she too had a mark on her skin, police said.

Rye Brook police and trappers responded last night to both areas. Two trappers were out this morning when one of them discovered a coyote in the woods off Acker Drive.

The village developed what it called a "comprehensive tracking program" early last month in response to two attacks. A 6-year-old girl, Emily Hodulik, was attacked June 26 by two of the animals as she played outside her home on LaSalle Avenue in Rye. She was bitten on her shoulder and scratched on her back.

On June 30, a coyote bit 3-year-old Erika Attar on her neck and torso as she played in a backyard on North Street in Rye.

In light of last night's confrontations, the village reminded people not to leave pet food or trash outside and said small children and pets should not be outside unattended.

Feinstein said the village's latest three-week trapping program was to expire this week. "Given the incidents, we'll re-examine that," she said.

She said a hazing program, using lights and noise, had been used to make the animals fearful of humans once again.

"So far their behavior had been nonaggressive. Tonight is obviously a different situation, and a very serious situation," she said Sunday

Any coyote sightings in Rye Brook should be reported to local police at 914-937-1020.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100906/NEWS02/9060329/1018

Coyote lunges at two children, bites father in Rye Brook; another sighting today

By Shawn Cohen • spcohen@lohud.com • September 6, 2010

RYE BROOK — A trapper spotted a coyote alongside Acker Drive at 8:20 this morning, but have been unable to capture it or confirm it was the same one that attacked two youngsters last night — biting a father who was protecting his 2-year-old daughter.

"We're onto some coyote," said Rye Brook police Sgt. Rich Carroll. "We have troopers out looking at him. It could be the one, but we don't have names on their collars."

The first confrontation happened at 6:50 p.m. on Eagles Bluff, where a coyote lunged toward a 14-year-old boy who was playing with other children. The teen struck it in the face and the coyote ran off into the woods, police said. That boy was not injured but did have marks where the coyote made contact with him, police said.

About an hour later on Hillandale Road, a coyote lunged at the 2-year-old who was playing with her 28-year-old father in the driveway.

"The father was able to scare off the coyote but not before the coyote bit him on the back of the leg," police said in a news release.

Father and daughter sought treatment at Greenwich Hospital; the father's injury was superficial and the girl was not injured, though she too had a mark on her skin, police said.

Rye Brook police and trappers responded last night to both areas. Two trappers were out this morning when one of them discovered a coyote in the woods off Acker Drive.

The village developed what it called a "comprehensive tracking program" early last month in response to two attacks. A 6-year-old girl, Emily Hodulik, was attacked June 26 by two of the animals as she played outside her home on LaSalle Avenue in Rye. She was bitten on her shoulder and scratched on her back.

On June 30, a coyote bit 3-year-old Erika Attar on her neck and torso as she played in a backyard on North Street in Rye.

In light of last night's confrontations, the village reminded people not to leave pet food or trash outside and said small children and pets should not be outside unattended.

Feinstein said the village's latest three-week trapping program was to expire this week. "Given the incidents, we'll re-examine that," she said.

She said a hazing program, using lights and noise, had been used to make the animals fearful of humans once again.

"So far their behavior had been nonaggressive. Tonight is obviously a different situation, and a very serious situation," she said Sunday

Any coyote sightings in Rye Brook should be reported to local police at 914-937-1020.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100906/NEWS02/9060329/1018

Towns battle monkey menace after 60 attacks

1 September 2010

Two Japanese towns have declared war on a band of marauding monkeys that have attacked more than 60 people in the forested foothills of Mount Fuji, local officials say.

Alarmed by an unusual spate of biting and scratching attacks, officials in Mishima and Susono have deployed hundreds of volunteers, city staff, police, rescue workers and animal researchers to ward off and catch the animals.

At least 62 people have suffered minor injuries since August 22 in the two towns in Shizuoka prefecture west of Tokyo, and the cities are now considering using tranquilliser guns against the animals.

"If possible, we want to capture them," a Mishima city official said. "But we have deep forests and a mountain range. Once they flee, it's difficult to catch them."

Mishima city's website now gives monkey-sighting updates and volunteers accompany children on their way to school.

Susono has set up a 150-strong team to go after the monkeys, believed to be a macaque species.

Stories of monkey attacks are common in rural Japan, where farmers often report fruit damage, and tourists in remote mountain areas are sometimes bitten, especially in winter, by animals searching for food.

Animals experts have told Mishima and Susono officials that the mischievous monkeys may be attacking people for fun and that the attacks should end once the animals become bored.

"The attacks started very suddenly," the official said. "We don't know why. Only the monkeys can tell you why they started."

- AFP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/01/2999964.htm

Towns battle monkey menace after 60 attacks

1 September 2010

Two Japanese towns have declared war on a band of marauding monkeys that have attacked more than 60 people in the forested foothills of Mount Fuji, local officials say.

Alarmed by an unusual spate of biting and scratching attacks, officials in Mishima and Susono have deployed hundreds of volunteers, city staff, police, rescue workers and animal researchers to ward off and catch the animals.

At least 62 people have suffered minor injuries since August 22 in the two towns in Shizuoka prefecture west of Tokyo, and the cities are now considering using tranquilliser guns against the animals.

"If possible, we want to capture them," a Mishima city official said. "But we have deep forests and a mountain range. Once they flee, it's difficult to catch them."

Mishima city's website now gives monkey-sighting updates and volunteers accompany children on their way to school.

Susono has set up a 150-strong team to go after the monkeys, believed to be a macaque species.

Stories of monkey attacks are common in rural Japan, where farmers often report fruit damage, and tourists in remote mountain areas are sometimes bitten, especially in winter, by animals searching for food.

Animals experts have told Mishima and Susono officials that the mischievous monkeys may be attacking people for fun and that the attacks should end once the animals become bored.

"The attacks started very suddenly," the official said. "We don't know why. Only the monkeys can tell you why they started."

- AFP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/01/2999964.htm

NEARLY KILLED BY MYSTERY SPIDER

NEARLY KILLED BY MYSTERY SPIDER

26 August, 2010
JOSIE HINTON

WHILE living in Australia he survived both the venomous bite of a redback spider and the deadly sting of a box ­jelly­fish.

But the last thing Don Forrester expected when he returned to England was to be left close to death by a poisonous ­spider in Kentish Town.

After being bitten by a hungry, hairy-legged creature last week, the former Sunday Times journalist has warned residents to beware of a colony of tropical spiders that could be on the loose in Camden.

Mr Forrester, of Grafton Road, was laying decking for a friend in Islip Street last Wednesday when he felt a sudden pain in his hand, which he put down to a wood splinter.

Seconds later he saw two unusual-looking brown hairy spiders with yellow stripes on their backs scurrying across the garden.

But it was only when his hand swelled to five times its normal size that he realised he had become the creatures’ prey.

Mr Forrester said: “Within an hour my hand went from what I thought was a little splinter to looking like a balloon. It continued to get bigger for three days and the pain got so intense I thought I’d better do something about this.”

Mr Forrester sought the advice of a chemist who told him he needed antibiotics, but before the 62-year-old could see a doctor he took a turn for the worse while having a drink with friends in the Sir Robert Peel pub in Malden Road.

“I’d just got my pint when I just started to shake all over, my heart started to race and I started to come over all white,” said Mr Forrester. “The boys took one look at me and said they were going to get an ambulance. Without them I’d probably be dead.”

He was rushed to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead with dangerously low blood pressure and was later taken into theatre where doctors worked to remove the poison, which had already begun travelling up his arm. Mr Forrester’s condition was so serious he was kept in overnight and given antibiotics intravenously. He is now taking a cocktail of 11 tablets a day and has been advised to have physiotherapy to restore the movement in his arm.

But the ex-Fleet Street reporter is only too aware of how lucky he was to survive his ordeal.

“I’m a fit man – that’s the reason I was able to fight it off,” he said. “But if it had been an elderly or sick person without that level of resistance they might not have made it.”

Mr Forrester now plans to research the ­spider’s identity so he can warn other people what to look out for.

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2010/aug/nearly-killed-mystery-spider