Free Republic

Ranchers say their hands are tied as reintroduced wolves—listed as endangered—are feasting on cattle instead of hunting elk and deer.. Descendants of rewilded wolves are taking a heavy toll on cattle in Northern California and Oregon, killing calves and full-grown animals and putting stress on cow-calf operations and ranchers’ pocketbooks. Because wolves are listed as an endangered species under state and federal law, ranchers are hamstrung: They can’t shoot or harass these protected predators. The penalty for killing a wolf is steep; federal law carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, unless a rancher...

A pair of orcas killing great white sharks by ripping open their torsos for their livers — and as a result scaring away great whites from a South African region — has raised questions about whether that could happen along Cape Cod. But it’s “really too early to say” if killer whales will descend upon the Massachusetts coast and drive away the growing great white shark population, a local shark expert tells the Herald. “When there have been orca sightings here through the years, they’ve never really seemed to impact the white sharks in the area,” said John Chisholm, who...

PRESTON, Idaho -- A school district in Idaho is investigating an incident that took place last week in which a science teacher allegedly fed a live puppy to one of his reptiles in front of students. Local animal activist Jill Parrish is the one who filed the police report. "What I have learned in the last four days is disgusting. It is sick. It is sick," Parrish told KSTU. Parrish said a teacher at Preston Junior High School told her that last week after school, Robert Crosland fed a live puppy, who was reportedly sick, to one of his reptiles....

From ORB LAB's FB page: Shark fishing season has officially begun for the ORB LAB. Last Friday, a crew struck out to try and recapture sharks carrying tags containing valuable information about the species assemblage encountered by these coastal apex predators. We caught one large female on our first line Friday, but we were not expecting to catch her like this! This unlucky smooth dogfish couldn't resist the menhaden used as bait and unfortunately fell victim to one of the top predators in the bay. The dogfish was about 3 feet long and completely swallowed by the sand tiger shark.

Decomposed Chavez body may be too dead to go on eternal display After Hugo Chavez's death last week, government officials revealed that the late Venezuelan leader's body would be embalmed and displayed "for eternity." Just like Han Solo, but with less chance of him waking up again. However, the grisly plans may now not happen at all. According to Russian and German scientists who are experts in the field of embalming (what a job), his body is now a bit too gross and decomposed. "They tell us it’s very difficult because the process should have started earlier," said acting President...

Over the years I've had many fish tanks. More recently I had to "settle" for goldfish because of exigent circumstances. Got a couple of "junk fish" from Wal-Mart and a used an old 30 gal tank. These hearty goldfish thrived and lived literally through fire and ice storms. I named them Franny and Zooey. They thrived and grew and "loved" each other. On occasion they developed "Ick" - Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a single-celled parasite also known as Ich. Treatment with medications always solved the infection. A few days ago Ich raised it's ugly head and, despite "heroic" efforts short of CRP,...

Here is video from California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy holding a Town Hall Meeting in Bakersfield where he was asked why the Congress was allowing President Obama to create all the "Czars" he is creating. Just before he answered there were shouts from the audience of "He's a communist!" McCarthy answered the question by saying he did not believe Obama had the right to appoint these "Czars" AND give them powers that encroach on the "Checks and Balances" the Constitution requires. . . . . (Watch Video)

<p>A founding member of the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois met in New York City tonight with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.</p> <p>Jodie Evans, who co-hosted Obama's first major fundraiser in Hollywood in February 2007 just after Obama announced his candidacy and is a top fundraiser and donor to Obama's campaign, led a delegation of leftist anti-American groups that held a private meeting near the United Nations. The stated purpose of the meeting was to "serve as an opening for diplomatic resolution" to prevent war between Iran and the United States.</p>

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - A charter boat deckhand was bitten in half by a 20-foot shark as he snorkeled with tourists off the coast of western Australia, police said Sunday. The 26-year-old man was killed Saturday afternoon off the Abrolhos Islands, about 250 miles north of where the pleasure cruise began at the Western Australia state capital, Perth, police said. Police said the man's body was not recovered, and the species of shark was not known. The water was about 26 feet deep where the attack occurred, some 35 miles west of the coastal town of Geraldton. No one else...