Fearless Basenji

[jenwilson]

I didn't know if anyone else had seen this, but I thought it worth sharing.

Another Bear Attack In Asheville NC

Wildlife officials say the freezing weather this spring destroyed much of the bears' food supply, driving them to search near human homes.

Asheville, NC – Another bear attack on a family dog here highlights the animals' desperate hunger after a late freeze destroyed much of their food supply, a wildlife official said.

Bears also are extra hungry this spring because of a poor acorn crop in the fall that forced many of them into hibernation without the proper amount of body fat, said biologist Joffrey Brooks of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

"They're living off of garbage and birdfeed," Brooks said. "If you have a bird feeder that gets attacked by a bear then you got to quit feeding the birds."

It's unclear how many bear attacks on pets have occurred this season, he said.

Late Tuesday, a 20-pound dachshund-beagle mix was attacked by an angry mother bear with cubs nearby that ripped open sections of the dog's hindquarters. A second family dog, a 30-pound mix basenji, joined the fight and helped beat back the bear, said owner Andrea Hunnicutt.
"I heard a lot of commotion," Hunnicutt said. "When I came out on the deck that overlooks the yard, my male dog was running the bear out of the yard."

A veterinarian stitched up the wounds and implanted a tube in Ms. Wiggles to drain fluid as the injuries heal.

In another bear attack this month, two dogs were killed outside a home.

Associated Press Asheville Citizen-Times
Maila Rible , Web Producer
created: 5/24/2007 12:26:06 PM
Last updated: 5/24/2007 12:35:30 PM

[Duke]

This is very sad. Amazing the Basenji-mix hauled off to fight the bear off! This morning on news radio on my way to work, I heard a bear was shot and killed after he'd killed a young boy in a tent. Don't know what state it was in b/c my ears didn't perk into the story until I heard about the child.

There are coyote here in suburban Detroit that keep me on my toes with Duke and Daisy. There was an attack to a Golden Lab while walking with the owner!! They have begun to not have fear of humans. It's becoming a big deal in our area. How to relocate them - something's got to be done if possible.

[BDawg]

I am sorry things happen to humans, but I am also sad for the animals. We have taken their habitat and yet it's THEIR fault they're in OUR space. Poor little things have no where to go…

[jys1011]

OMG what a basenji!!!..altho it doesn't surprise me at all. These little guys are CONVINCED they are much bigger than they really are

It's so sad what going on with the wildlife..coyotes, bears, deer…we're just running out of room to be able to coexist peacefully.

[JazzysMom]

@BDawg1005:

I am sorry things happen to humans, but I am also sad for the animals. We have taken their habitat and yet it's THEIR fault they're in OUR space. Poor little things have no where to go…

Well….. we have just as much a right to the space as they do -- we ARE ALL a part of the natural environment. The earth, the habitat is OURS as well. It is OUR space as much as it is THEIRs; it's not like we beamed in as aliens from another planet and are trying to take over. We are ALL native to the planet, so I try to be very careful about statements like that.

The difference is, we can try to come up with new ways to live that will provide for them as well as us; to limit our damage to the environment as much as is possible. And we are becoming more and more aware of that, and making more effort to keep natural areas as much as possible.

But we also need to remember that all of the limits to their ability to get enough food in the wild are not our fault either. Some years there is less rain, more rain, more rabbits, fewer rabbits, locust swarms, more heat, less heat, whatever that will affect the availabilty of their food sources. It has been that way since time began. That also sends them into our backyards looking for whatever we may have out, be it bird seed, cat food, or small pets. --- like part of the problem w/the bears in the N. Carolina story. They moved in because the acorns didn't produce this year in great enough quantity to feed the bears.

This year in our area we have more rabbits than I have ever seen in the 16 yrs I've lived in this house. They are everywhere, day and night. My flower beds have been decimated; my garden is struggling {the fence is useless against rabbits}. Therefore our coyote population is also very visible this year, and I expect that next year there will be a lot of little baby coyotes everywhere. If the rabbits hold up for next year, it won't be a problem. But if something happens this Fall/Winter to affect the rabbit population then I suspect that the coyotes will move in on family pets to a much larger degree.

There is likely a balance somewhere, and it will be delicate at best -- as it is for all living creatures {wolves vs deer, coyotes vs rabbits/squirrels, grizzly/salmon}. Too much of one leads to too few of the other; eliminating one leads to too many of the other. We are the only creatures that can in any way make a deliberate attempt to create a balance {and in doing so we sometimes make the problem worse}. It is a tricky thing to try to do, but at least the effort is being made.

[annandael]

I don't think most of the human population is trying to help the environment. Africa is a good example. It's even questionable about us as Americans…there are many who want to make it better yes...but I've met so many and seen by example so many that just don't care.

God I wish I still lived in Germany.

[dash]

@annandael:

I don't think most of the human population is trying to help the environment. Africa is a good example. It's even questionable about us as Americans…there are many who want to make it better yes...but I've met so many and seen by example so many that just don't care.

God I wish I still lived in Germany.

I agree with you. The US is one of the top polluters in the world. It is very disturbing. Especially when we slam China for doing what we did a hundred years ago. Yet we are still the greatest coal burning country. I feel Americans feel we are doing more than we actually are. Our govt has us convinced it is the other countries that are causing the problems but that is simply not true.

As far as Africa goes, I boycott all diamonds unless made here. There is no guarantee your diamond in non conflict so we do not buy them.

[Quercus]

@JazzysMom:

Well….. we have just as much a right to the space as they do – we ARE ALL a part of the natural environment. The earth, the habitat is OURS as well. It is OUR space as much as it is THEIRs; it's not like we beamed in as aliens from another planet and are trying to take over. We are ALL native to the planet, so I try to be very careful about statements like that.

We are the only creatures that can in any way make a deliberate attempt to create a balance {and in doing so we sometimes make the problem worse}. It is a tricky thing to try to do, but at least the effort is being made.

Exactly to the second paragraph…we are the ones with the great big brains, so we need to find a way to steward and protect ALL life on earth...not just ourselves....maybe that means sacrificing our RIGHT to take as much land as we want to do whatever we want with?

An effort is being made? By some people, in some areas, to some limited success...but not at the rate and committment level it should be...IMO, of course....

[Quercus]

<>
Ha! I boycott diamonds because I can't afford them Just kidding, I understand what you are saying

[dash]

well yes theres that too

[Basenji_Boy]

@Quercus:

Exactly to the second paragraph…we are the ones with the great big brains, so we need to find a way to steward and protect ALL life on earth...not just ourselves....maybe that means sacrificing our RIGHT to take as much land as we want to do whatever we want with?

http://nature.ca/notebooks/english/enexpg.htm

List of endangered or extinct animals, much of it due to habitat loss.:(

[dash]

@JazzysMom:

It is OUR space as much as it is THEIRs; it's not like we beamed in as aliens from another planet and are trying to take over. We are ALL native to the planet, so I try to be very careful about statements like that.
QUOTE]

The more I think about it the more this bothers me. If my history is correct, we did not come on a spaceship but we did come on a boat and we killed the actual native people who were here and the for those that survived, we kindly gave then some crap land to survive on. Then, instead of even attempting to live in harmony with the life that was ALREADY here, we killed the animals or destroyed what habitat they had causing several species to go extinct or at least endangered. then when destroying the land was too much work for our ancestors they enslaved africans to do our work for us.

Do we really need a 3000 sq ft house for 2 people????

I have yet to see a real effort being made. Today the EPA was on the news that they have not forced companies to reduce emissions that went into effect 5 years ago. Our govt loves to talk about helping and conserving but not when it come to doing and paying for it.

I know this is scattered. I have so many issues they tend to all spill out at once.

[JazzysMom]

Without getting into a huge debate about environmentalism vs conservatism, historical issues, etc. I think we will just have to agree to disagree on much of this issue.

[BDawg]

Hmmm… JazzysMom-- it is our planet, yes but that's about the extent to which I agree with you. I don't think pollution is as much of a problem for wildlife as habitat destruction is...

An example- my parents own 25 acres in the mountains. I went to visit them this past weekend and I know their neighbor has beavers on his property. I was so excited to have a chance to see them up close; on my last visit I only got to see the pencil shaped tree trunks and their house- but this time I really wanted to wait for a siting. Unfortunately I found out that they had created a dam that flooded the property so the land owner had them trapped and then killed. For what?? Doing what beavers do?! The land owner has acres upon acres of just woods and lakes and streams. Did he really NEED to remove the beavers because they were doing THEIR thing? I don't know. I just think that was unnecessary. That is the kind of thing that irritates me. Why is it OUR land and not theirs? They had probably been in those woods for ages... but no, it's OUR land now. But they were wrecking OUR land and OUR gardens and OUR things...

And sure, the environment changes and makes food sources scarce from year to year but what about all the roads they have to cross to find the shrinking food supplies? They're bound to get squished with any step they take. And heaven forbid they come within 30 feet of a house... PEST we scream! Quick, call someone to take it out!! We're the greedy ones. Want, want, want... it's all ours! None for you! If we wanted to 'share' the land/environment/planet we'd be more like the Native Americans...IMO of course.

(Not trying to attack anyone, but I have a BIG heart for creatures who cannot help themselves)