Animals
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Attention

Rat attack fears at care home in Stockholm, Sweden


thelocal.se
Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:29 UTC
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© Fredrik Sandberg/SCANPIXA Stockholm care home has been struggling with a rat problem.
Suspected rat attacks have sparked fears at a care home in the Swedish capital after several residents suffered mysterious bite wounds.

Just a month after a woman had to be taken to hospital after a rat attacked her in a Gothenburg care home, it looks as if the hairy beasts have struck again.

The Sofiagården care home in Stockholm has reported itself to Sweden's Health and Social Care Inspectorate after mysterious scratches, bruises and wounds begun appearing on several of the elderly residents last month.

Nobody was able to say how they had got their injuries, but care home bosses believe that rats could be behind them.

"We can't say with certainty that they are definitely scratches or bites by rats, but the suspicion alone means that we have acted on it - we are obliged to do that under the law," head of operations Maj-Lis Johansson told local newspaper Stockholm Direkt on Thursday.
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Attention

Blue stinging jellyfish invade Norway and Sweden coasts


thelocal.no
Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:16 UTC
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© Franzi takes photos/FlcikrBlue jellyfish.
Record numbers of blue stinging jellyfish are thronging the southern coast of Norway, mounting a growing a menace to swimmers.

The jellyfish, which usually found in slightly warmer waters than red jellyfish, can give unpleasant stings.

"I can't remember receiving so many reported sightings ever before," Jan Helge Fosså, a marine biologist at Norway's Institute of Marine Research told Aftenposten.

Fosså said that he expected the jellyfish to follow the currents further north, but was unsure of why numbers had reached such high levels.

Large numbers of blue jellyfish have also been spotted off Sweden's western coast.
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Wolf

Dog attack sends 3 children to hospital in Temecula, California

Alex Groves and Patrick O'Neill
The Press-Enterprise
Sun, 12 Jul 2015 12:36 UTC
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An example of an American Staffordshire terrier, shown in a 2002 file photo.
Three Temecula children were hospitalized after a family friend's dog attacked them Saturday, July 11 in Temecula, Riverside County sheriff's deputies said.

All three children - ages 4, 14, and 15 - were taken to a local hospital with injuries to their arms. One later was flown to a hospital in San Diego for further treatment. The names and possible relationship of the children were not disclosed.

The extent of their injuries and their conditions were not available.

The dog - an American Staffordshire terrier, a breed of pit bull - was turned over to animal control officers.

The children were attacked just before 5 p.m. Saturday in the 40000 block of Chantemar Way in Temecula, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's Department news release.

"Witnesses stated the dog ... mistook children playing as aggressive actions," the release said.

It attacked one of them, and when two other children tried to help, the dog attacked them as well, the release said.

When deputies arrived, they confined the dog to a bathroom and called animal control.
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Arrow Down

Seabird populations have dropped 70 percent since 1950s


sciencedaily.com
Thu, 09 Jul 2015 12:02 UTC
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© Daniel DonneckeUBC research shows world's monitored seabird populations have dropped 70 percent since the 1950s, a stark indication that marine ecosystems are not doing well.
UBC research shows world's monitored seabird populations have dropped 70 per cent since the 1950s, a stark indication that marine ecosystems are not doing well.

Michelle Paleczny, a UBC master's student and researcher with the Sea Around Us project, and co-authors compiled information on more than 500 seabird populations from around the world, representing 19 per cent of the global seabird population. They found overall populations had declined by 69.6 per cent, equivalent to a loss of about 230 million birds in 60 years.

"Seabirds are particularly good indicators of the health of marine ecosystems," said Paleczny. "When we see this magnitude of seabird decline, we can see there is something wrong with marine ecosystems. It gives us an idea of the overall impact we're having."
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Cut

Strange animal behavior: Monkeys attacking customs at salons in Pune, India


The Times of India
Wed, 08 Jul 2015 17:39 UTC
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Monkey
Three monkeys have caused terror among the patrons of a few hair-cutting salons in the Shukrawar peth and Shanivar peth areas since last week. The civic authorities and forest department officials are passing the buck over the responsibility to catch the animals.

Two men were attacked while they were entering two different salons in the area in the last two days. Residents have demanded that the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) take immediate action to nab the animals.

On Monday, Sanjay Mane, a medical professional, was attacked and bitten by a monkey when he was entering in a salon in Teli lane of Shukrawar peth. On Sunday, a monkey entered the saloon in Shaniwar peth area and attacked Santosh Chougule, a customer. Similar incidents were reported last week from the same area.
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Snowflake Cold

Update: Heaviest snowfall in years kills over 171,850 alpacas in Peru

Robert Felix
iceagenow.info
Sat, 11 Jul 2015 12:38 UTC
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Over 171 850 alpacas died in recent days
State of emergency declared in three provinces of Puno.

10 July 2015 - The Regional Council of Puno declared the state of emergency in the provinces of Sandia, Carabaya and San Antonio de Putina because of the damage generated by low temperatures, snow and ice.

On Thursday, the regional directorates of Transport and Communications, Agriculture, Health, Education, municipalities and other institutions announced that, to date, more than 171 850 alpacas died from the snow and ice.

In response, the regional government of Puno ordered the purchase of 15,000 bales of oats to feed the animals still alive despite the bad weather.

The regional governor of Puno, Juan Luque Mamani, said that compared with previous years, this year is the heaviest snowfall.

Thanks to Argiris Diamantis for this link
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Attention

5 additional dead whales found in Alaska waters since June; total 14 dead

Kortnie Horazdovsky
ktuu.com
Fri, 10 Jul 2015 11:59 UTC
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© M/V Kennicott crew / NOAAThe first of several dead fin whales discovered in the Gulf of Alaska floats outside Marmot Bay on May 23.
Several more whale carcasses have been found since the June announcement of nine dead fin whales discovered in Alaska waters, a UAF researcher told Channel 2 News Friday, though none appear to be newly deceased.

Kate Wynne, a Marine Mammal Specialist for the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, told Channel 2 News that since the June 18 announcement of the nine dead fin whales, four humpback whales and another fin whale have been found dead.

According to Wynne, the five whales appeared to have been dead for the same amount of time as the previously discovered whales.

Officials announced in June that nine fin whales had been discovered floating dead in areas between Kodiak and Unimak Pass, off the end of the Alaska Peninsula and Unimak Island.

After the first two whales were discovered in May, Wynne said it triggered a response from numerous agencies, including the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Comment: See also: 9 fin whales found dead in Alaska waters in recent weeks

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Black Cat

Strange animal behavior: Cheetahs hop aboard vehicle full of tourists in Kenya

Victoria Nielson
news.com.au
Fri, 10 Jul 2015 19:07 UTC
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© Picture Media The look on tourist Mickey McCaldin’s face says it all.
Silly or brave? This tourist got a little more than he bargained for while on safari in Kenya.

With its razor sharp claws and teeth, this is one moggy you certainly don't want curling up in your lap.

The bold big cat jumped into the back seat of the jeep as it drove through the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya.

Slowly it sauntered over to where Irish tourist Mickey McCaldin until it was barely a foot away from his face.

Cheetahs are seen as being the less threatening member of the big cat family, although attacks aren't unheard of. Adam Sandler was the victim of a threatening cheetah attack in 2013.

Scottish tourist Violet D'Mello was also attacked by a cheetah back in 2012 in Kragga Kamma game reserve in South Africa. And in this case the big cats were hand reared, not wild.
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Wolf

Injuries caused by animal attacks increase by 39% in a year for Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Noor Nazzal
The Gulf News
Sat, 11 Jul 2015 17:40 UTC
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If bitten by a scorpion, the sting must be removed and then the area should be sterilised. If that is not possible, wrap the area with a bandage or cloth until help arrives
The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services registered a total of 170 accidents caused by animal attacks in 2014 in Dubai

Injuries caused by animal attacks increased by 39 per cent last year in Dubai as more people are adopting pets, a report by the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services revealed.

Most of the accidents were caused by home pets, farm animals or poisonous reptiles the victims came across while camping in the desert.

The Corporation registered a total of 170 accidents caused by animal attacks in 2014 in Dubai. This shows a 39 per cent increase in comparison with the 122 accidents registered in 2013.

Dr Omar Al Sakaf, Technical Support Director at Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, said there is an urgency to approach animals carefully even if they are tame animals brought up in homes or farms.

Among the cases the paramedics treated were injuries caused by bites from dogs, scorpions and reptiles.

Al Sakaf also said many of the cases included injuries caused by pets that were treated violently in homes and farms such as dogs, cats, horses and camels.
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Wolf

Spate of coyote attacks on four children in Irvine, California

Kaylee Heck
news.yahoo.com
Sat, 11 Jul 2015 17:09 UTC
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© ABC News

California Town on High Alert after Coyotes Attack Children
California residents are being warned to be more vigilant about coyotes after four attacks on children in the past month in the Irvine area.

The most recent incident — this past Sunday — involved a 2-year-old child.

"It was a child, about approximately 2 years old, was in the garage. They opened the garage up and the coyote came in and actually got the child on the neck area and part of the cheek," California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lt. Kent Smirl told ABC's Los Angeles station KABC.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported four incidents involving coyotes and young children in the past month in Irvine, where the children have either been bitten or scratched by a coyote. All four had minor injuries from the attacks.

"These incidents highlight the importance of communities working together to eliminate sources of food that may attract wildlife to neighborhoods," Capt. Rebecca Hartman said. "When coyotes are fed, either intentionally or unintentionally by food being left out, they can become a public safety threat."

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