She covered a wide swath of New Mexico over the past 10 year, between wandering on her own and being relocated by state wildlife crews.
Along the way, she earned a rap sheet "as long as her arm," wildlife officials say.
But after a troubled youth in the foothills east of Albuquerque, the bear appears to have retired to the quiet shores of Lake Navajo. State wildlife officials say the infamous bear also is the Mama Bear who gained popularity here this summer after a fisherman’s photograph of her ferrying her cub across the mile-wide lake was picked up by area newspapers and television stations.
The bear’s true identity — and troubled past — were revealed this week in the fall issue of New Mexico Wildlife. She was identified by a photo that captured the green tag in her ear.
Bear No. 56 grew up in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque, turning to trouble in 2002. That’s the year she was picked up at least four times for raiding trash cans, chicken coops — and sometimes houses — in the small mountain community of Tijeras. She first was tagged as Bear No. 770 but she lost that tag, along with a piece of her ear, early on.
On her fourth recorded encounter with the law, Bear No. 56 was chased up a tree and tranquilized. After that, officers decided to relocate her to the Zuni Mountains, about 100 miles to the west.
That was the last anyone heard of the bear until Aug. 4, when Mark Meier, a retiree from Arboles, Colo., spotted her swimming across northwest New Mexico’s Navajo Lake with her cub on her back.
"This bear has really gotten around," said Rick Winslow, the state wildlife department’s large carnivore biologist. "Our records show she was caught and relocated at least four, and likely five times."
The amount of territory she has covered on her own also is remarkable, Winslow said. The lake is about 150 miles from where she was last dropped off.
Perhaps even more extraordinary, Winslow says, it that Bear No. 56 was never euthanized after becoming so habituated to humans and causing so much trouble in the summer of 2002. Problem bears are usually put down after three strikes.
"There have been bears that we’ve relocated numerous times — for various reasons," he said. "This definitely is one well-traveled — and lucky — bear."
2011年11月6日星期日
2011年9月27日星期二
She'd prefer poultry as pets
Carisa, though, isn't counting her chickens quite yet. And her grandfather, Stephen Fogt, who offered to build her a coop , isn't zipping over to the lumber yard any time soon.
The new zoning law must be drafted, reviewed by the Planning Commission and sent back to the board for final approval, said Fogt, who twice has addressed the township on behalf of his granddaughter.
"We want to do it the right way," said Fogt, of Bethlehem, who knows it could take months before they get the official green light. "Carisa has wanted chickens for a long time, and there weren't provisions to deal with a couple of hens."
Carisa's wish to house two small hens clashes with a decades-old ordinance aimed at preventing commercial chicken farms from sprouting up in residential neighborhoods. The Fogts live on half an acre in Orefield, and under the current zoning law, she would need at least 5 acres to meet the zoning requirements to have even one chicken.
"You could see this is not Winchester Heights," said Fogt, referring to a local upscale development, then motioning to the garages and sheds that surround his daughter Julie's rural lot.
After their initial request was denied by the zoning board, the Fogts returned to the township, asking commissioners to rewrite the ordinance, keeping residents like Carisa in mind.
"We listened to her story and thought it might be possible to change our ordinance to include hens as pets," Ellesworth said. "Everyone seems to want to find a way to accommodate them."
Townships and cities across the state are finding ways to make room for backyard poultry.
Philip Clauer, instructor for Penn State's 4-H Youth and Specialty Poultry program, said the trend of changing ordinances to allow raising of poultry in urban areas has been popular since 2007.
"Some people feel better producing their own food, and chickens are small, inexpensive and easy to raise," Clauer said. "I also see more people getting back to doing family projects with their extra time instead of traveling or more expensive activities with the family."
The issue was explored in a recent online forum, hosted by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. Some townships adjusted ordinances to allow for chickens, with laws varying to consider lot sizes and the nature of the community.
Brian Moyer, program assistant with Lehigh County's Penn State Cooperative Extension office, said the struggle is familiar and a growing number of residents are "adamant about having these ordinances changed."
Not all townships bend their rules, though.
Clauer, based in State College, Centre County, said about half of the townships in his area accepted proposed changes and the other half refused revisions.
And in recent years, he said, some chicken owners who helped spark the poultry trend have backed out.
"Interesting thing is many people that started raising urban chickens three to five years ago no longer have their chickens," he said. "It is a neat idea until people realize they need daily care and are different than pets."
Carisa has been fascinated with chickens since she was a toddler, and can rattle off the names of more than a dozen chickens at her grandmother's Bucks County house, including Cookie, Sparkle and Thelma, the boss of the bunch.
"I want to collect my own eggs and have my own chickens — just two little hens," Carisa said.
Carisa plans to keep them in acoop , which would be at least 100 feet from the nearest neighbor — a plan that got the preliminary nod of the township earlier this month.
The new zoning law must be drafted, reviewed by the Planning Commission and sent back to the board for final approval, said Fogt, who twice has addressed the township on behalf of his granddaughter.
"We want to do it the right way," said Fogt, of Bethlehem, who knows it could take months before they get the official green light. "Carisa has wanted chickens for a long time, and there weren't provisions to deal with a couple of hens."
Carisa's wish to house two small hens clashes with a decades-old ordinance aimed at preventing commercial chicken farms from sprouting up in residential neighborhoods. The Fogts live on half an acre in Orefield, and under the current zoning law, she would need at least 5 acres to meet the zoning requirements to have even one chicken.
"You could see this is not Winchester Heights," said Fogt, referring to a local upscale development, then motioning to the garages and sheds that surround his daughter Julie's rural lot.
After their initial request was denied by the zoning board, the Fogts returned to the township, asking commissioners to rewrite the ordinance, keeping residents like Carisa in mind.
"We listened to her story and thought it might be possible to change our ordinance to include hens as pets," Ellesworth said. "Everyone seems to want to find a way to accommodate them."
Townships and cities across the state are finding ways to make room for backyard poultry.
Philip Clauer, instructor for Penn State's 4-H Youth and Specialty Poultry program, said the trend of changing ordinances to allow raising of poultry in urban areas has been popular since 2007.
"Some people feel better producing their own food, and chickens are small, inexpensive and easy to raise," Clauer said. "I also see more people getting back to doing family projects with their extra time instead of traveling or more expensive activities with the family."
The issue was explored in a recent online forum, hosted by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. Some townships adjusted ordinances to allow for chickens, with laws varying to consider lot sizes and the nature of the community.
Brian Moyer, program assistant with Lehigh County's Penn State Cooperative Extension office, said the struggle is familiar and a growing number of residents are "adamant about having these ordinances changed."
Not all townships bend their rules, though.
Clauer, based in State College, Centre County, said about half of the townships in his area accepted proposed changes and the other half refused revisions.
And in recent years, he said, some chicken owners who helped spark the poultry trend have backed out.
"Interesting thing is many people that started raising urban chickens three to five years ago no longer have their chickens," he said. "It is a neat idea until people realize they need daily care and are different than pets."
Carisa has been fascinated with chickens since she was a toddler, and can rattle off the names of more than a dozen chickens at her grandmother's Bucks County house, including Cookie, Sparkle and Thelma, the boss of the bunch.
"I want to collect my own eggs and have my own chickens — just two little hens," Carisa said.
Carisa plans to keep them in a
2011年9月14日星期三
Talking chickens: choosing a house
With the huge increase in poultry keeping there has been an equally big rise in the range of poultry paraphernalia on sale. Poultry housing is a case in point. It's also a classic example of the good old bandwagon being jumped on as various would-be poultry housing experts peddle an array of accommodation claiming to be the ideal solution to your chicken housing needs.
Often the price looks attractive, the house looks attractive, heck even the clean-wellied family standing there feeding the chickens look attractive. Surely they know a quality chicken house when they see one? There are many cheap and nasty coops flooding the market. I know this as I've tested a number of them in the field, and seen a ewe run straight through one when the feed bucket appeared. The result was nothing but an expensive pile of firewood and a small flock of bemused and now homeless bantams.
More often than not these mass produced models are constructed of fast grown timber - come the first drop of rain they swell, leaving you either barricading a door that won't close, or ripping the door furniture off in a vain attempt to release the squawking inhabitants. The first warm day means the timber dries and cracks, the felt roof bubbles and boils, and come nightfall the hens refuse to go in. This is not due to their disappointment at the decline of their once attractive property but because the hovel is now a haven for, and probably crawling with, the poultry keeper's nemesis, red mite. Add on the fact that it said on the blurb that it would suit four large hens when that stocking density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and what are you left with? A couple of hinges and some kindling.
A decent coop for thee to four birds should cost you in the region of £300 though this can depend on whether you elect for a free standing house or one with a run attached. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a large space and the pop hole door is big enough for the breed you keep, then the main requirements of housing boil down to three points which will define the number of birds the house will hold; perches, nest boxes and ventilation.
Most breeds of chicken will perch when they go to roost at night, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off edges so the foot sits comfortably on it. The perch should be higher than the nest box entry as chickens will also naturally look for the highest point to perch. A perch lower than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is incidentally when they produce the most poo) leading to soiled eggs the following day. They shouldn't however be so high off the floor of the house that leg injuries could occur when the bird gets down in the morning. Chickens need about 20cm of perch each (in small breeds this is obviously less), plus if more than one perch is installed in the house they should be more than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their neighbours but are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front.
Ideally the house should have a least one nest box for every three birds and these should be off the ground and in the darkest area of the house. The house should have adequate ventilation: without it then condensation will build up every night, even in the coldest of weather. Be aware, ventilation works on the principle of warm air leaving through a high gap drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a set of holes on opposite walls of the house and at the same level, this is what's known as a draught.
If you have a house with a run attached then the points above are still true, but you should also consider the run size. The EU maximum legal stocking density for a free range bird is (and let's face it, one of the motivations for keeping some hens at home is possibly improved or better welfare) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's maximum one bird per 4m squared. Take a close look at some of the bargain houses - it could well be the house has the right perches, correct ventilation and ample nest boxes for a reasonable number of birds, but will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized piece of ground to spend the day on?
And so as the saying goes, "you pays your money and makes your choice". You may think you've grabbed a bargain, but you and your flock could rue the day you did. Purchase the right house and it will last for a few decades, if not longer given the correct treatment. In the end your poultry and your poultry keeping experience will be much the better for it.
Often the price looks attractive, the house looks attractive, heck even the clean-wellied family standing there feeding the chickens look attractive. Surely they know a quality chicken house when they see one? There are many cheap and nasty coops flooding the market. I know this as I've tested a number of them in the field, and seen a ewe run straight through one when the feed bucket appeared. The result was nothing but an expensive pile of firewood and a small flock of bemused and now homeless bantams.
More often than not these mass produced models are constructed of fast grown timber - come the first drop of rain they swell, leaving you either barricading a door that won't close, or ripping the door furniture off in a vain attempt to release the squawking inhabitants. The first warm day means the timber dries and cracks, the felt roof bubbles and boils, and come nightfall the hens refuse to go in. This is not due to their disappointment at the decline of their once attractive property but because the hovel is now a haven for, and probably crawling with, the poultry keeper's nemesis, red mite. Add on the fact that it said on the blurb that it would suit four large hens when that stocking density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and what are you left with? A couple of hinges and some kindling.
A decent coop for thee to four birds should cost you in the region of £300 though this can depend on whether you elect for a free standing house or one with a run attached. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a large space and the pop hole door is big enough for the breed you keep, then the main requirements of housing boil down to three points which will define the number of birds the house will hold; perches, nest boxes and ventilation.
Most breeds of chicken will perch when they go to roost at night, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off edges so the foot sits comfortably on it. The perch should be higher than the nest box entry as chickens will also naturally look for the highest point to perch. A perch lower than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is incidentally when they produce the most poo) leading to soiled eggs the following day. They shouldn't however be so high off the floor of the house that leg injuries could occur when the bird gets down in the morning. Chickens need about 20cm of perch each (in small breeds this is obviously less), plus if more than one perch is installed in the house they should be more than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their neighbours but are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front.
Ideally the house should have a least one nest box for every three birds and these should be off the ground and in the darkest area of the house. The house should have adequate ventilation: without it then condensation will build up every night, even in the coldest of weather. Be aware, ventilation works on the principle of warm air leaving through a high gap drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a set of holes on opposite walls of the house and at the same level, this is what's known as a draught.
If you have a house with a run attached then the points above are still true, but you should also consider the run size. The EU maximum legal stocking density for a free range bird is (and let's face it, one of the motivations for keeping some hens at home is possibly improved or better welfare) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's maximum one bird per 4m squared. Take a close look at some of the bargain houses - it could well be the house has the right perches, correct ventilation and ample nest boxes for a reasonable number of birds, but will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized piece of ground to spend the day on?
And so as the saying goes, "you pays your money and makes your choice". You may think you've grabbed a bargain, but you and your flock could rue the day you did. Purchase the right house and it will last for a few decades, if not longer given the correct treatment. In the end your poultry and your poultry keeping experience will be much the better for it.
2011年6月6日星期一
Chicken Coop Proposal Ruffles Feathers In Gastonia
GASTONIA, NC- "I did not forsee any problems at all. I just thought it would go through, we would get the permit, we would build a coop, we would have chickens and life would go on without any problems," said Dwayne Johnson, a Gastonia resident.
Johnson and his partner, Brian Giampaoli, put a bid in to the City of Gastonia.
They want to build a chicken coop to house up to 20 hens on this 3-acre estate in the historic district of Gastonia.
"I think, for someone to spend 20,000 dollars on a chicken coop is... most people would probably think it's outrageous, but we have to do that in order to maintain the architecture and the style our home is built around," said Giampaoli.
Their plea... they say the chickens would help the community be more "green".
The chicken would produce daily fresh eggs and compost from their waste.
The City of Gastonia sent a denial letter to Johnson in May stating "Your site plan appears to be in compliance with the applicable requirements of section 10-18 of the livestock ordinance."
But, the bid was still denied.
Johnson thinks this letter is more subjective than objective. The letter goes on to state that the animals are likely to seriously interfere with the neighboring properties because of noise and odor.
Johnson and Giampaoli’s neighbors agree.
It's not the country. It is in the city and we just didn't want it back there," said
Kristine DeJong.
DeJong and her husband Ronald sent a letter to the city stating they don't want the coop because it's too close to their home.
Others neighbors with nearby property think the chickens could decrease property value.
"You apply for your chicken permit. We say we don't want it and the powers that be will make a decision based on that," said DeJong.
At this point, Johnson and Giampaoli say that's not enough because the denial was uneducated and unfair.
"A baby's diaper stinks if you don't change it. So, if you have an animal and you don't take care of them, then of course they're going to stink. Dogs stink, cats stink," said Johnson.
Johnson filed an appeal to the city's denial last week.
He's told a meeting is being set up with him and the assistant county manager to discuss the appeal.
If the coop is denied again, they plan to pursue legal action against the city of Gastonia.
Johnson and his partner, Brian Giampaoli, put a bid in to the City of Gastonia.
They want to build a chicken coop to house up to 20 hens on this 3-acre estate in the historic district of Gastonia.
"I think, for someone to spend 20,000 dollars on a chicken coop is... most people would probably think it's outrageous, but we have to do that in order to maintain the architecture and the style our home is built around," said Giampaoli.
Their plea... they say the chickens would help the community be more "green".
The chicken would produce daily fresh eggs and compost from their waste.
The City of Gastonia sent a denial letter to Johnson in May stating "Your site plan appears to be in compliance with the applicable requirements of section 10-18 of the livestock ordinance."
But, the bid was still denied.
Johnson thinks this letter is more subjective than objective. The letter goes on to state that the animals are likely to seriously interfere with the neighboring properties because of noise and odor.
Johnson and Giampaoli’s neighbors agree.
It's not the country. It is in the city and we just didn't want it back there," said
Kristine DeJong.
DeJong and her husband Ronald sent a letter to the city stating they don't want the coop because it's too close to their home.
Others neighbors with nearby property think the chickens could decrease property value.
"You apply for your chicken permit. We say we don't want it and the powers that be will make a decision based on that," said DeJong.
At this point, Johnson and Giampaoli say that's not enough because the denial was uneducated and unfair.
"A baby's diaper stinks if you don't change it. So, if you have an animal and you don't take care of them, then of course they're going to stink. Dogs stink, cats stink," said Johnson.
Johnson filed an appeal to the city's denial last week.
He's told a meeting is being set up with him and the assistant county manager to discuss the appeal.
If the coop is denied again, they plan to pursue legal action against the city of Gastonia.
2011年5月18日星期三
Amid chicken coop debate, rooster gets police attention
A rooster had something to say in Normal's debate over residential chicken coops, and ruffled some feathers in the process.
Neighbors complained Wednesday morning about a rooster crowing in a north-side neighborhood. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Ironwood Drive, ready to tell homeowners that cock-a-doodle-doos are cock-a-doodle-don'ts.
"It turns out, some wild rooster has just decided to take up residence there," Normal Sgt. Rob Hospelhorn said.
The homeowners enjoy visits from ducks and set out feeders for them, he said. "I guess the rooster thinks he's a duck," said Hospelhorn.
Later in the day, police were dispatched to the intersection of Main and Willow streets, where a family of ducks backed up traffic as they tried to cross a street. It was unclear whether the birds simply were out for a stroll or were conducting their own protest.
Normal is considering a proposal that would allow homeowners to keep up to four hens -- but no roosters. Current rules allow domesticated pets -- cats, dogs and the like -- and horses in some areas.
Neighbors complained Wednesday morning about a rooster crowing in a north-side neighborhood. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Ironwood Drive, ready to tell homeowners that cock-a-doodle-doos are cock-a-doodle-don'ts.
"It turns out, some wild rooster has just decided to take up residence there," Normal Sgt. Rob Hospelhorn said.
The homeowners enjoy visits from ducks and set out feeders for them, he said. "I guess the rooster thinks he's a duck," said Hospelhorn.
Later in the day, police were dispatched to the intersection of Main and Willow streets, where a family of ducks backed up traffic as they tried to cross a street. It was unclear whether the birds simply were out for a stroll or were conducting their own protest.
Normal is considering a proposal that would allow homeowners to keep up to four hens -- but no roosters. Current rules allow domesticated pets -- cats, dogs and the like -- and horses in some areas.
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