Metaboston

What's Killing New England's Bats?

In something of a Halloween hangover there are some updates on white-nose syndrome, apparently caused by a fungus, that is decimating bat populations in New England.  It seems to be a particular problem for bats that hibernate so the problem for our bats like the little brown bat is clear.

A Hogzilla for Massachusetts

A Russian wild boar, unusual in Massachusetts, was hit on route 2 in Lancaster, only about 35 miles from Boston.

Russian wild boars were introduced to New Hampshire in the 1890s at the 20,000-acre Corbin wild game preserve. [Chester Hall, a local hunter who took away the body, said some escaped when a fence was blown down during a hurricane.

Mr. Hall said he has hunted bear, but he would not want to meet a wild boar up close.

“They can be very nasty and aggressive,” he said. “I would rather see a 500-pound bear in the woods than a boar.

(Image:  Poster of the Hogzilla movie, based on the country's most famous giant pig).

Vermont's Bears Are Thriving

So they may be spending more time deeper in the woods away from hunters.

Image:  Wikimedia Commons)

Global Warming Increases Lobster Supply

Another contributing factor in falling lobster prices:  increasing supply as lobsters benefit from global warming.

“Lobsters, crabs, squid, and other invertebrates are becoming more common while populations of bottom-feeding fish are plummeting, according to a long-term trawling study of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay.

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Scientists from the University of Rhode Island (URI) say rising sea temperatures linked to global warming is the primary cause of shifts in the abundance and types of species living in the bay and adjacent Rhode Island Sound

Renaissance Ferret Faire!

Not sure what else there is to say about this.  Two great things put together.

"Take heed that you do not miss this royal event. Many more surprises will be revealed as we near the the date for our celebration to honor King Ranger and present young Queen Tuesday. Renaissance apparel is urged.

Info:
Time:  September 20th, 11:00am - 4:00pm
Location:  Borderland State Park, Sharon, MA
Cost:  $4 + $2 parking

Lobster Price Slump

Daniel Gross explains more about the great lobster price decline that we've written about.

“At root, the global forces that are driving up the price of food don't significantly affect the vacation lobster business in Maine. Commercial and consumer demand doesn't vary much for off-the-boat lobster. Sure, many lobsters are sold to processing plants. But unlike other seafood products—think of canned tuna, or clam sauce, or frozen fish fillets—lobster is not produced or marketed on a mass global scale, which also means there are no speculators trying to make a killing on lobster futures. The fact that people are eating more and better in China and India isn't much boosting the demand for lobsters from Maine. Even in the United States, lobster remains to a large degree a regional product.

Deer in Harvard Square

Deer can now be found roaming in Cambridge adding to the woes of urban gardeners and drivers.

"Wild deer near Harvard Square? Andrew Fletcher would not have believed it had he not seen one himself.

"It was right off of Brattle Street, at the corner of Brattle and Craigie. And it was just sort of standing in the middle of the road," said Fletcher, who works at the nearby Buckingham Browne & Nichols School.

Fletcher encountered the doe earlier this month, in the third deer sighting this summer within the urban wilds of Cambridge, according to animal control officials. (The others were spotted on Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square and near Somerville's Beacon Street.)

Asian Longhorned Beetles in MA

The invasive Asian longhorned beetle has been found near Worcester.  The beetle infests hardwood trees.  Once they are present, the only method to stop the infestation is to cut down the affected trees as was done in Chicago.

"The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, "ALB"), a pest of hardwood trees including maple, birch and horse chestnut, was recently discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts. An astute resident of the Greendale section of Worcester reported the sighting, and it was confirmed by entomologists from USDA APHIS-PPQ earlier this week.

The Asian Longhorn Beetle is an invasive species native to China. It was first discovered in the U.S. in New York in 1996, and has also been found in Chicago and New Jersey. The beetles cause damage by tunneling within the trunks and branches of trees, disrupting the sap flow and weakening and eventually killing them.

This pest attacks a wide variety of hardwood trees, particularly maples, and is considered a serious threat to the nursery, lumber, wood products, maple syrup, and tourism industries in our state. If it became established over a large area, it could also significantly disrupt the forest ecosystem."

You can submit photos and a report if you think you see the beetle. (Image:  Jennifer Forman Orth, Mass DAR)

Why Are Coyotes in New England So Large?

An interesting discussion by University of Maine student Cameron McCormick.
(Video by BatGuys of a coyote in Sudbury).

Boston's Secret Land in Burlington and Woburn

 

Boston owns 210 acres of land in Burlington and Woburn that was given to the city on the death of the owner Mary Cummings.  She wanted Boston to use it as a "public pleasure ground." 

Boston doesn't really do anything with it, although Boston officials thought about developing it, before deciding they couldn't under Cummings' will.  Now residents of Burlington and Woburn are trying to get control of the land and actually turn it into a real park.

 "The residents, organized as Friends of Mary Cummings Park, filed a complaint last week with Attorney General Martha Coakley's Public Charities Division alleging that city officials have neglected the land, abused a trust fund by using it to pay legal and survey work, and plotted to sell the valuable tract near Route 128 for a residential development.

Residents complain that last year the city ripped out handsome, hand-carved welcome signs neighbors placed on the property at their own expense, while keeping "No Trespassing" signs posted around the property.

The organization is asking Coakley's office to strip the city of its oversight responsibilities and to place the park in the hands of local and state park advocates."

Boston does not want to give up the land for reasons that aren't totally clear.  Although perhaps Boston officials hope they can develop the land at some future point or that it will otherwise have value.  In the meantime it doesn't look like there is money to pay for what would be other towns' parks.

Boston seems to be doing a terrible job handling the land and undoubtedly has other priorities.  Hopefully the the Friends of Mary Cummings Park will be able to turn the land into an actual park and not just a placeholder.

Moose Returning to the Northeast

A nice essay by Bill McKibben (from the Patagonia catalog) on the return of the moose to the Northeast, including Massachusetts, and how moose symbolize wildness.

"There’s something prehistoric about the moose – his size, his nearsighted manner, his lack of concern. The fact that he’s been able to roam back into this most relentlessly civilized of all North American regions makes us realize it’s not quite the place we’d thought. Its presence here can’t be taken for granted. Indeed, warming temperatures mean it’s unlikely to get much farther south, and there are already signs of its range starting to constrict as temperatures rise in the upper Midwest. But for the moment, the moose is a tonic symbol that the place we live in isn’t entirely civilized. That’s the idea that conservationists most need to get their work done, the sense that this is still a natural place, indeed more natural all the time. With a moose standing insouciantly in the nearest swamp, our constricted East Coast imaginations have precious freedom to roam."

New England Aquarium Ads

Mullen did a great job with these ads for the Sharks and Rays exhibit at the New England Aquarium from the viral video of a shark chasing a duck boat on the Charles (and its corresponding ad) to using local landmarks like the Make Way for Ducklings statute, Weeks Footbridge and the Hatch Shell the campaign is both fun to look at and on message.

Pet-Renting to be Banned in Boston?

FlexPetz, a small company that serves as a Zipcar for dogs faces a City Council hearing on July 9th that will determine whether it will be able to expand to Boston from its current operations in New York, Los Angeles and London.

"The company, which counts frequent travelers and busy urbanites among its clientele, maintains a stable of dogs that have been rescued or "rehomed." Clients can check out a dog for a few hours up to a number of days. There are initial fees of about $250 to sign up in addition to a $100 monthly membership fee. It costs about $45 to rent a dog for a day. Members are charged for at least four "doggy days" each month regardless of whether or not they take out a dog. The company will drop off dogs at a customer's home or office and pick them up later for additional fees."

Opponents are disturbed by the stress on the dogs from frequent changes and the objectification of the animals

Fishers: Aggressive Weasel Species in the Suburbs

Once hunted for their fur, fishers were re-introduced to northern New England to help control porcupines.  Since their reintroduction they've been spreading out as far as Rhode Island, Connecticut and suburban Boston.

"Sinewy, with bushy tails and beady eyes, fishers weigh 5 to 15 pounds and live on land and in trees. They are mainly carnivorous, typically eating squirrels, mice, voles and other small animals, as well as nuts and seeds. Fishers are also one of the porcupine’s few enemies, killing it by attacking its snout and flipping it on its back.

“Fishers are pretty vicious,” said Michelle Johnson, the animal control officer in West Greenwich.

The fisher belongs to the mustelid family, which includes weasels, otters and wolverines. It has the aggressive, carnivorous temperament of a wolverine and can climb trees like a marten. Like weasels, a fisher will kill multiple animals at a time in a confined space. Fishers are nocturnal and not easily spotted."

Although fishers can be dangerous to small pets and livestock they aren't a threat to humans.

"In suburban Lexington, Mass., officials hung fliers in the common area of a condominium complex urging residents to keep cats and small dogs indoors because a fisher was spotted in nearby woods. In Northborough, Mass., officials put a warning in the newspaper asking that residents seal all garbage cans and refrain from putting out food for animals." (Image:  Fisher by John James Audubon)

Vermont's First Yak Farm

Vermont Yak is possibly the first New England farm and certainly the first Vermont farm to raise yaks.

Why raise yaks?

"We are interested in introducing this spirited Tibetan animal to Vermont as a way to bring new variety to the local food movement, as a contribution to a holistic farming effort in which pasture-fed yak would fertilize fields and gardens, and as a multi-faceted revenue source – meat, fiber, agri-tourism, and breed stock would be the four primary sales arenas."

Locally raised yak meat will be the initial focus:

"The upstart Vermont Yak farmers first learned about the animals on a visit to family in Montana. They loved the meat, calling it richer and sweeter than beef, juicier and less fatty too. Williams figured she could raise and sell premium yak meat here, since Vermont has such a strong localvore movement. Localvores are people who try to eat primarily Vermont-raised food."

New Hampshire Fisherman Claims Alligator Attack

Is Melendy Pond in Brookline, New Hampshire, not far from MA, the home of a fugitive alligator?  Probably not considering the water is about 50 degrees but a fisherman claims one attacked him there.

""I don't know how close it was to him," Fish and Game Officer Todd Szewczyk said. "A lot of times when we get reports like this, it's a snapping turtle, not an alligator. I don't know how close it was when it was seen. When the police officer arrived from Brookline, the line was broken off, and he didn't get a chance to see it.""

Lobsters and Pesticides in Rhode Island

Are the big red bugs we like (lobsters) being killed by the same chemicals we use to get rid of the little bugs we don't like (mosquitos)?  Council members in Newport, Rhode Island think so.

"The Newport City Council voted to ban the toxic chemical methoprene from the city's mosquito abatement program at their April 9 meeting. The issue arose when Newport City Councilman Charles Y. Duncan called for a resolution that bans the use of any of the toxic poisons, such as methoprene, in the mosquito program. Methoprene is thought to be a contributing factor in the decline of the area lobster population."

The concern around methoprene is that it kills lobster larvae and opponents of the pesticide point to Maine's banning of the chemical.

"Altosid is made of methoprene, a larvicide, that when applied, reduces the number of adult mosquitoes and thus reduces human risk from mosquito borne diseases such as EEE and West Nile virus. Rhode Island lobstermen and many environmentalists oppose the use of methoprene because the chemical also kills lobster larvae.

The lobstermen argue that Maine is the only East Coast fishery where the lobster population is at acceptable, sustainable levels because, unlike other East Coast fisheries, Maine bans the use of methoprene and larvicides in its waters. Maine is also the only fishery where the lobster population does not suffer from shell disease. In all the other fisheries, Rhode Island included, lobster birth rates are noticeably below normal."

Last Suspect in Salem Parrot Theft Arrested

Accused parrot-napper of Salem nabbed in Maryland:

"Thirty-five-year-old Joseph Murabito was arrested March 10 during a traffic stop in Frederick and was charged as a fugitive in the September theft of the baby macaw from a pet store in Salem, Mass."

Their getaway from the pet store killed a motorcyclist they hit.

Gray Wolf in Massachusetts

What attacked a dozen sheep on a Shelburne, MA farm last fall?  Scientists now say it was a gray wolf, a species that has been rare in the state for more than 150 years after examining the body of the animal which was shot.

"According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the wild gray wolf was considered extinct in Massachusetts by about 1840. One was recorded in Berkshire County in 1918, but was believed to have escaped from domestic captivity.

A handful of confirmed spottings have been reported over the past decade of wolves being found in parts of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, but determining if they were wild or had been kept as illegal pets was difficult.

New England's large stretches of interconnected woods, mountainous regions and rural farmland offer good north-south corridors for wolves on the move.

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Wolves can travel hundreds of miles as they wander from where they were born, seeking food, mates and new territory.

If this wolf originated in Canada, the experts say, it likely crossed the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, went through Maine, then navigated hundreds of miles of roads, rivers and communities before reaching Shelburne."

Another example of how a wildlife renaissance in New England is bringing back species common in colonial times and forces the region to confront some of the wildlife issues present in the West.

You can see wolves nearby in Ipswich, MA at the Wolf Hollow nonprofit sanctuary. (image:  Nina, one of the Wolf Hollow wolves:  Wolf Hollow).

Photographs of the Somerville Coyote

After causing a mild uproar in Somerville Donald F. Norton has a nice shot of the coyote heading out along the train tracks.

Wild City: coyotes, hawks, fishers, opossums

Nature continues to mingle with city dwellers with increasing coyote sightings in Cambridge and more unusually the weasel known as the fisher.

"John Maguranis, an animal control officer in neighboring Belmont, tracks coyotes by observing their paw prints and droppings, or scat. He believes that the coyotes seen in Cambridge are members of two main families that den throughout Belmont, Arlington, and Lexington as well. He says the animals' scat indicates they feed predominantly on rabbits and mice."
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"While raccoons are the most frequently sighted wild animal, Cambridge is also home to skunks, bats, and hawks. More elusive species spotted from time to time include possums and, most recently, fishers, members of the weasel family known as one of the porcupine's few natural predators." (Image Washington DFW)

Some of the best spots for seeing hawks are along the Charles and at Fresh Pond.

What is killing Vermont's bats?

What is killing Vermont's bats?

In mass deaths eerily reminiscent of the honeybee crisis bats hibernating in Vermont and in New York are suffering high rates of death in their winter cave homes.

"At another cave, more than 90 percent of about 15,500 bats have died since 2005, and two-thirds that remain now sleep near the cave's entrance, where conditions are less hospitable. Scientists don't know what's causing the deaths, and biologists wearing sanitary clothing and respirators to prevent the spread of disease are collecting the dead for testing as part of a state and U.S. effort.                  

"'There are an awful lot of bat people, even a month ago before we had half of this bad news, all saying the same thing. We've never seen anything like it, and we're all scared,'said Alan Hicks, the leader of the investigation for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, in a telephone interview today."

Coyotes in Cambridge

Coyotes have now been seen in Cambridge and given the title of this announcement from the City of Cambridge "Coyotes in the City - a time for Precaution not Panic" not everyone is excited about it.  Where have they been observed?  "There have been sightings of coyotes in the City of Cambridge, specifically in the Cambridge Cemetery, Antrim Street, Wendell Street and the Third street areas. This is not unusual since the normal range of a single coyote can be from 2 to 30 square miles." (Image: Emily Chambliss, Duke University)

Roadkill proves bobcats are living in southeastern Massachusetts

Roadkill proves bobcats are living in southeastern Massachusetts.  Coyotes not the only threat to small pets. (Image:  John James Audubon)

Canada Lynx confirmed to be in Vermont

A Canada lynx, a large and highly elusive wild cat, was confirmed to be present in Vermont after it was shot by a farmer.  This is the first confirmation of the presence of the endangered species since 1968.  Because lynx are so hard to find and observe, scientists seeking confirmation of their presence have to be creative to capture evidence.  (Image:  National Wildlife Federation)

Eastern Cougar Foundation

Following up on yesterday's post about a Maine high school's project to prove that cougars are present in the state, the Eastern Cougar Foundation promotes the return of mountain lions (also known as pumas, panthers) to their historic range throughout the eastern U.S.

"[A] large body of verified evidence is accumulating that documents the movement of wild cougars from west to east, and from Florida to points north. Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and other midwestern states report cougars in areas where they haven't been seen in a century or more.

The regrowth of forests and the successful reintroduction of deer across the East in the twentieth century have now recreated good habitat for cougars. Especially in the southern Appalachians, with more than seven million acres of national forests and parks, in Pennsylvania with its extensive state forests, and in the heavily forested Northeast, the two fundamental necessities of cougar habitat -- cover and prey -- are once again sufficient to support cougar populations. The question of cougar recovery is not so much biological as psychological and political. Will human beings tolerate cougars in the East?"

Maine high school students try to prove there are mountain lions in Maine

Maine high school students try to prove there are mountain lions in Maine.  This is the kind of high school project we wish we could have been a part of; better than yearbook.

A group of Dexter Regional High School students and their teacher-adviser Regan McPhetres plan to investigate and prove the existence of mountain lions in Maine.

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"There’s evidence they exist around us," McPhetres said Sunday, despite the reluctance of some state officials to embrace the findings. He said confirmed sightings have been reported in Vermont, New Hampshire and New Brunswick.

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The next step, the science teacher said, is to prove a breeding population exists in the state.

(via Cryptomundo)

In New England you're most likely to hit a deer in Vermont

In New England you're most likely to hit a deer in Vermont which is rated at highest-risk with 1 in every 133 cars in the states is estimated to hit a deer.  Massachusetts has more comforting odds with 1 in every 1,084 cars in deer-car collisions.  (Graphic: NY Times)

Massachusetts Coyotes Are Part Wolf

Massachusetts coyotes are part wolf; Sometimes almost all wolf.

A book of the dogs of Fresh Pond

A book of the dogs of Fresh Pond.  Cute title:  Reservoir Dogs.  It's self-published and doesn't provide a preview of the shots but it could be interesting about a micro-community.

"Photos of, and stories about, some of the dogs (over 230) that walk around Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge, Massachusetts."

Fresh Pond dog walkers have been roiled by the policy of only allowing Cambridge residents to have their dogs unleashed.

Arctic Loon in Vermont

Arctic loon in Vermont:  could be "the first record of the species in the eastern United States."  (Image:  Wikipedia)

Deer Hunting Season Begins in Vermont and Maine

Deer hunting season begins in Vermont and Maine:  An old-school New England tradition that seems increasingly distant to urbanites, suburbanites and even rural dwellers.  Even as trendy urbanites embrace the taxidermy/hunter aesthetic.

The Parrot That Drives the Cambridge Artist Crazy

Ryan, an African gray parrot living near Porter Square has turned out to be a bad neighbor, at least for Cambridge artist and Cambridge Center for Adult Education instructor Douglas Kornfeld.  Ryan is just a little too prolific at talking. 

Ryan's owner's "yard near Porter Square abuts that of Douglas Kornfeld, a sculptor who says he has a sensitivity to this particular bird's vocal pitch. Last summer, when Kornfeld began to be bothered by Ryan's whistles and cat calls, he and Levich tried to resolve the issue. When it wasn't resolved to his satisfaction, he went to the Cambridge License Commission to complain of a noise violation . . . Kornfeld, who could not be reached for comment, told the License Commission that the bird's noise interrupted him so much he could no longer work at home or have dinner with his wife on their back porch."

Ryan currently is inside when he is at home.

The most famous African Grey Parrot, Alex, the subject of language and intelligence experiments, most recently at Brandeis, died in September.

Did You Know: New England is a Center for Black Bear Hunting

The western part of the state is the best area for finding bear (not surprisingly) but it is interesting to know there are enough bears in Massachusetts to allow for hunting even with a limit of 1 bear per hunter and nearby " Vermont has one of the densest black bear populations in the country: about one bruin for every three square miles."

Find Out: Where the Coyotes Are in Watertown

Peter Temples says they're right near his condo:  "It seems that a pack of them are living on an adjacent track of land just to the south of our property, on what was once the old Army Arsenal complex. That land, once terribly polluted by the burning of depleted uranium, has been cleaned up nicely. After years of public hearings and tests, it's slated to become a public park in the near future. At present, though, the land is overgrown with weeds and vegetation." via Universal Hub

Maybe this is Watertown's version of Chernobyl and the plentiful wildlife there.

Puffins Return to Maine

As scientists use decoys (see AP picture left), often used in hunting, to lure lonely puffins to stick around.

Moose Move to NH

More moose proliferating in New Hampshire "because trees and plants moose love to eat are growing back. In the 1800s, trees were cleared to make room for farms, but there are fewer farms now."

Birdwatcher's Bargain

A Hopkinton house that is the site of turkey and black vulture breeding grounds could be right for you, especially if you are a member of the Turkey Vulture Society who will likely point out that it is unlikely that these useful birds have polluted a well on the property.

Moose on the Roads

Moose-car crashes become an increasing concern on Massachusetts highways.  Although fewer in number than deer moose pose a more devastating threat on roadways.  "Adult moose weigh between 400 and 900 pounds on average, [one biologist] said; the average deer weighs 150 pounds." 

Exotic Animals Overrunning Vermont

The state of Vermont, best known for covered bridges and maple syrup, is being inundated with annoying and dangerous exotic pets.  Alligators and monkeys (neither of whom presumably enjoy a chilly Vermont winter) are some of the problematic creatures that  with various reptiles and amphibians the most popular choices of the odd pet owner.  One state official noted:  "It seems the more dangerous or venomous they are, the more desirable they are."  There are a few hundred species banned from Vermont (full list) included such unattractive sounding pets as the African clawed frogs, snapping turtles, Gila monsters, the giant Anaconda (of Ice Cube movie fame), death stalker scorpions, and the unpleasant-sounding yellow-legged creeping scorpion ("Dear, have you seen my creeping scorpion around anywhere?").

Is the fact that your boyfriend has a death stalker scorpion something of a warning sign?

Coyote Sighting in West Roxbury

Nice photo of a coyote running through a West Roxbury backyard.

Maine Mystery Beast Attack?

Is a mysterious beast at loose in Wiscasset, Maine responsible for the slaughter of 26 sheep?  Stick-in-the-muds favor the theory that feral dogs are responsible but crypto-zoologists hold out hope for a more mysterious creature to be found responsible.  Previous attempts to determine the identity of the Maine Mystery Beast have ended in confusion.  (Banner (left) for the Mount Desert Island Marathon by Paul Szauter celebrates the Beast) 

Martha's Vineyard: Rabbit Fever Zone

Martha's Vineyard, is the world headquarters for summer island fun and rabbit fever (which sounds kind of cute) but is otherwise known as pneumonic tularemia (scarier), a "highly infectious and potentially fatal bacterial disease."  Working outside is the best way to get it but you can even get it mowing the lawn.  The disease is caused by a bacteria carried by rabbits and rodents.  Symptoms include "sudden fever; chills; headaches; diarrhea; muscle aches; joint pain; dry cough; progressive weakness." Have fun this weekend and watch out for the rabbits!

Dogs Asked Not to Visit Nantucket Beaches

Nantucket's request that poop-producing dogs not visit island beaches strikes at one of the cornerstones of the modern Nantucket lifestyle.  What next?  No more beach driving permits and a prohibition on driving your giant truck onto the beach?

Cockroaches Strike Cambridge Eateries

Well not like the NYC rats but cockroaches have been making a couple star turns in sushi at the MIT student center and the chef's special (Irish stew) at Tommy Doyle's.

The MIT story is more notable and apparently undisputed: 

the parent of an MIT student recently reported cockroaches in the sushi and Japanese bugs in other foods and the bubble tea — a cold tea beverage with 'bubbles' or tapioca balls — at Shiaken Japan in MIT’s student center, according to health inspection reports.

'The cooking in the basement' was loaded with roaches, according to the health inspection complaint.

Sucking down a bug through the giant straw of your bubble tea when you're expecting a sweet tapioca ball seems particularly gag-inducing but is the line between eating a raw bug and eating raw fish really so clear?  Andrew Zimmern might disagree.

Pet Caskets from Maine

Shopping local (fairly local) can now apply to the pet casket market.  Woodworker Matthew Dow of Albion, Maine has been developing a new line of business at his custom woodworking and saw mill operation by hand-making  pet caskets for animals large and small.  Prices for basic models range from $95 to $395 based on size.

Maine Moose Photo Hoax

This photo of a Maine moose hauling logs currently making the email rounds is actually a Photoshop hoax.  The text purports to describe the benefits and problems of working with a moose:

Mr. Leroux ... cautioned however that there were a few problems with using a bull moose. Come June, when the new antlers start, the new bone is "in velvet" and must itch like crazy as the moose stops every once in awhile and rubs his rack against just about anything to appease the itch. Once, before the brothers learned to tie him of by himself while they had lunch, moose was rubbing his antlers against the hame on the Clydesdale called Jack and got it wedged there for a bit. Jacques said he wished he had a camera as it looked like moose was trying to push Jack over.

The other problem is the rutting season. The brothers learned quickly to leave moose in the barn as he was constantly on red alert in the woods during this time. The brothers are also considering trying this with two females to make a matched pair which would become an instant hit at the Maine Fairs. The trouble with the bulls is their racks. They would be constantly rubbing and hitting each other and yes they would have to be gelded as I just couldn't imagine getting the two bulls anywhere near each other, let alone in harness.

There's a detailed examination of the errors in the photo but interestingly using moose under harness is actually not implausible and there are apparently real photos of it being done in Canada and Alaska.

Coyotes Prowl the Suburbs

Its breeding season for coyotes and they'll be more aggressive which may explain two recent coyote attacks on small pets including one in Newton.  Coyote attacks on pets may be increasing but attacks on people are very rare according to authorities.

AquaDog: Canine Aquatic Fitness Center

AquaDog Fitness of Waltham is an aquatic fitness center for dogs run by a "certified canine swim specialist."  Facilities include "an 8-by-20-foot warm pool where dogs can swim, lounge, play fetch and move around. With massage jets and the ability to create a current of approximately six miles per hour"  and there's also canine massage and reiki stress reduction.

More on Maine's Cougars

An interesting article considering the evidence for cougars (or mountain lions) in Maine.  Some good discussion of sightings although most sources seem skeptical given the infrequency of sightings, mistakes, and lack of prey carcasses.

"Although it's clear that state and federal biologists are doubtful that Maine or the other Eastern states have resident cougars, McCollough said the agency is keeping an open mind.

 

Scientists have been surprised before by the arrival of such animals as coyotes or Canada lynx. And biologists acknowledge the Maine woods provide plenty of room to hide and, once again, have an abundance of prey."