Free Republic

An endangered Great White Heron has fully recovered from an emergency surgery after a fisherman pelted it with a rock at Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida, in January. The rock broke the bird’s wing and reportedly caused the bird to bleed heavily. The man who threw the rock, Edgar Estuardo Valenzuela, was arrested after he admitted to the act of animal cruelty, which under Florida law typically carries a punishment of prison time or a hefty fine. However, when he was discovered to be an illegal alien from Guatemala, police were able to kill two birds with...

Woof. Mother Jones republished an article from fellow progressive outlet The Guardian on Saturday that argued that while dogs may be man's best friend, they're Mother Nature's "villains." The left-wing magazine highlighted new research, originally published by The Guardian, that concluded dogs have "extensive and multifarious" environmental impacts, disturbing wildlife, polluting waterways and contributing to carbon emissions. It pinpointed how canines are disturbing native wildlife, particularly shore birds.

The Musk-Deranged and DOGE-Deranged media appear to have stumbled on a new genre of coverage: the horrendous fate that will befall Americans due to DOGE cuts across multiple federal agencies. Reaching a new height of absurdity, CBS’s Ian Lee leads viewers to infer that DOGE cuts will lead people to be eaten by bears. Watch as Lee walks viewers to an empty ranger station at Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming: .. LEE: I spoke with several senior Forest Service officials across the country, and they told me the future leadership of the agency has been wiped out, and it could...

Firefighters battling the deadly wildfires that raced through the Los Angeles area in January 2025 have been hampered by a limited supply of freshwater. So, when the winds are calm enough, skilled pilots flying planes aptly named Super Scoopers are skimming off 1,500 gallons of seawater at a time and dumping it with high precision on the fires. Using seawater to fight fires can sound like a simple solution – the Pacific Ocean has a seemingly endless supply of water. In emergencies like Southern California is facing, it's often the only quick solution, though the operation can be risky amid...

In the weekend before the November 5 elections, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) sent a SWAT team to raid the home of Mark Longo and his wife Daniela. The couple run a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary wildlife sanctuary in New York State called P'Nut's Freedom Farm. Seven years ago, the Longos rescued an injured squirrel that they named P'Nut. P'Nut, and later Fred the raccoon, became internet sensations on Instagram and TikTok. A self-described Biden supporter from Texas saw these animals on TikTok and lodged a complaint with New York state authorities. Mark and Daniela were kept...

VIDEO No, Peanut The Squirrel did NOT have rabies. However, when I asked my Amazon Alexa Echo Dot what happened to Peanut The Squirrel she INCORRECTLY replied that Peanut was diagnosed with rabies. Is the Amazon Alexa so much into taking up the government's side that it will actually LIE to protect the government? The answer appears to be YES.

A pet squirrel that gained social media fame was euthanized by state wildlife officials as part of a test for rabies. The squirrel's owner claims excessive force was used to seize his pet earlier this week. Wildlife officials said it is illegal to own the wild animal.

Haitians eating cats in Ohio! Republican gain! Republicans have 49 seats in the US Senate. Only Ted Cruz is slightly in danger. If Cruz wins (and he will), Republicans have 49 seats, then add West Virginia (a definite flip) and then Ohio and it's a Republican majority. Tester in Montana's on his way out too.

A Florida woman was arrested on animal cruelty charges and other counts after allegedly killing another woman’s pet spider by drowning it in a fizzy drink. Ilena Rasmussen, 43, faces counts of animal cruelty and petty theft after ending the life of a jumping spider in a situation that resulted in her being charged on July 29. According to The Miami Herald, Rasmussen’s roommate was the first to notice something wrong, and potentially criminal, had occurred. On July 15, the roommate arrived home to find her pet spider and its enclosure missing entirely.

I have a full grown, 80 lb. Black Lab and 3 odd shaped acres.He's stud, rambunctious and a handful for my 100 lb. wife.I've seen an ad about a GPS system and research shows me they're not new and with a number of variable features.If anyone has any pragmatic information, I'd like it.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for abandoning a dog with zip ties on its mouth and neck in a remote area of Malibu. The German shepherd was found in a remote area near Malibu Creek Canyon on July 3. It was found by two people who were out hiking at around 7:45 p.m. According to a press release from the organization In Defense of Animals, the dog’s mouth was zip tied shut, and another zip tie was constricting his neck.

On Monday, May 27, a cinnamon color phase of the common black bear entered the home of a long-time resident of Lake Tahoe, California. The bear has been reported to be a yearling. Yearling bears, recently separated from their mothers, have a difficult time establishing a territory of their own. Sometimes, sows, cubs, and young bears will keep close to human habitations to avoid being killed and eaten by adult male bears. A majority of young bears who do not reach adulthood are killed by mature male bears. It appears this young bear disputed the ownership of the house with...

Talk to anyone in my business and they'll all say the same thing: No matter how long you write stories and put them in the newspaper, you are never really sure which ones are going to strike a nerve.What you think might be a Pulitzer-quality epic might draw only a nice call from Mom, while a simple tale tossed off on deadline causes an uproar, or an avalanche of praise. One legendary former investigative reporter at this paper wrote scores of stories that changed laws and saved lives, yet never did he get more mail than when he wrote about...

I am doing research on bear attacks. A significant number happen on the Island of Hokkaido in Japan. The number of fatal attacks varies, usually between 0-4 in the last few years. I have numbers for 2018, 2019, and 2020. I need them for 2016, 2017, and 2021. Japanese authorities started tracking bear attacks a number of years ago, so the data is there. Finding it is the problem. Bear attacks in Japan are much better covered there than in the international press. Any help would be appreciated.

When it comes to birds with the gift of mimicry, parrots usually steal the show. However, there is a common bird native to the UK that has proven to be just as talented in this area. The European starling has astounded people worldwide with its remarkable ability to mimic various sounds, including the human voice. In a video shared by Nature Is Amazing on Twitter, viewers are treated to an incredible display of this bird's mimicry skills. With over six million views and six thousand bookmarks, it's evident that people are truly blown away by this unique talent.

Bears have killed nine times as many people when bear spray is sprayed than when handguns are fired in defense against bears. Fatal bear attacks are rare and make the news. Powerful cartridge handguns became popular and relatively easily available about 1873. Bear spray became available in 1985. The ability to learn about and report fatal bear attacks has expanded enormously since 1960.Data which are nearly impossible to obtain are:How many times are bears sprayed with bear spray?How many times are handguns fired in defense against bears?How many times are firearms generally fired in defense against bears?What percentage of human/bear...

When it comes to dealing with snakes, the professional reptile wranglers at Illawarra Snake Catcher in Australia are true experts. They handle the safe removal and relocation of some of the world's most venomous species on a daily basis. However, even they were taken by surprise during a recent call. A homeowner had spotted what appeared to be a deadly black snake in their house, and the snake catchers rushed to the scene. But what they discovered was not what it seemed at all.

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, two dogs named Terry and his brother endured a life of neglect and suffering. Chained to a rooftop for over two years, they were left exposed to the harsh elements and barely resembled the lively animals they once were. However, fate had other plans in store for them. A concerned neighbor noticed their plight and took action, leading to a heartwarming dog rescue story that touched the hearts of many.

In a heartwarming and amusing video that went viral on Twitter, a fisherman and his faithful canine companion shared a remarkable fishing adventure. As the fisherman momentarily left his post to use a nearby porta potty, his astute dog took matters into its own paws. Using its innate instincts, the dog seized an opportunity to catch a fish, showcasing remarkable resourcefulness and quick thinking. This heartwarming tale of the fisherman's dog exemplifies the strong bond between humans and their beloved furry friends.

In a heartwarming display of loyalty, Spy, a yellow Labrador service dog, demonstrated the incredible abilities of our four-legged friends. Trained to monitor blood sugar levels in her young companion with Type 1 diabetes, Spy's remarkable actions one night showcased the extraordinary bond between service dogs and those they assist.