Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Crews remove 90 dead birds from Little Chute pond, possible deaths caused by bird flu. (SOURCE: WBAY)

By WBAY news staff and Andrew McMunn

Published: Mar. 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM PST

LITTLE CHUTE, Wis. (WBAY/Gray News) – At least 90 dead ducks were removed from a pond in Wisconsin, and officials are investigating if their deaths were caused by bird flu.

Kent Taylor, the public works director for the Village of Little Chute, said crews removed 90 dead mallards from a storm pond Wednesday.

“Several of our employees were viewing Facebook or social media, and they had seen that there were several reports that there were some dead ducks in our Buchanan storm pond,” Taylor said.

Officials contacted the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for help in removing the dead birds from the pond in Little Chute.

“We took their advice and they said we could clean up the ducks out of the pond, so our guys went in the pond with their waders on, and pulled all the ducks out,” Taylor said.

Taylor also said there is no danger to the public at this time. However, residents are wanting to know exactly what caused that number of birds to die.

“Is it pollution? Is it bird flu? I’d like to know what it is?” Ken Affeldt of Little Chute asked.

The DNR took samples from six of the dead mallards from the storm pond.

They said the results of of the tests may not been seen for a couple of weeks.

“Their biologists came out and explained to us that it looked very similar to what they had seen elsewhere in the county, particularly over in Kaukauna (Wisconsin) most recently, and they said it looked like it would be associated with the avian bird flu,” Taylor said.

Despite the unsettling scenes, Taylor said the village will continue to monitor the storm pond and take additional measures if dead birds keep turning up.

“That pond has harbored as many as a 1,000 to 2,000 waterfowl, most recently because it is open, there’s a warm water outlet into that pond. It’s a spot we take care of on a regular basis,” Taylor said.

After the ducks were removed from the pond, the DNR placed their carcasses in bags and brought them to the Outagamie County Landfill to be disposed of.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 12,215 cases of avian flu have been found in wild birds in the country.

The vast majority of avian flu cases have been found in poultry, with at least166 million birds affected.

Under-18 youth can take part now, with full opening starting April 1

Metro photo

Posted Wednesday, March 5, 2025 5:17 pm

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

PIERRE — The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department recently kicked off the seventh year of the Nest Predator Bounty Program, as South Dakota youth under age 18 could begin harvesting nest predators for submission on March 1.

The program will open to all South Dakota residents April 1. Tails from raccoon, striped skunk, badger, red fox, and opossum will be eligible for $10 per-tail payments with a maximum total payout of $500,000. Tails must have been harvested during the open period to be eligible for submission.

“This program continues to get youth outside and involved in wildlife management,” department Secretary Kevin Robling said. “With spring right around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.”

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The 2023 and 2024 programs saw steady participation among youth under age 18, which composed 46% of the total participants.

Tails eligible for submission can be harvested via trapping or hunting. Participants need a hunting, furbearer, or fishing license to be eligible to participate in the bounty program. Landowners harvesting nest predators for the program on their own land and youth under 18 are exempt from this license requirement.

GFP will also once again offer a weekly youth trap giveaway. One participating youth under age 18 will be drawn weekly to receive a raccoon trapping starter kit, trapping handbook, a knife and a write-up explaining Benton Howe’s love for the outdoors.

All participating youth will also be given the National Trapper’s Association Trapping Handbook as well.

“Trapping is tradition in South Dakota, and this is a great way for the next generation of trappers to learn more about this activity and wildlife management,” Robling said. “We’re excited to build on the success of this program, and the fantastic pheasant season we had last year.”

Complete program details as well as dates, times, and locations for tail submissions can be found on the GFP website. For bounty submissions outside of the listed office locations and times, please contact your local wildlife conservation officer or wildlife damage specialist.

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Four elephants found trapped in a truck, NSPA suspects misconduct

The national SPCA revealed that four elephants have been rescued from an overturned truck en route to the Samara Karoo Reserve near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.

The incident took place on Wednesday, 5 March, on Olifantskop Pass.

According to the animal activists, the wild animals had been “gifted” from SANParks to the private game reserve, who later disputed the claims.

SPCA SHARES HORRIFIC NEWS OF TRAPPED ELEPHANTS

In a press release, the SPCA revealed that four elephants were trapped in an overheated truck that had overturned in the Eastern Cape. 

The NGO claimed that the animals were allegedly “donated” from a SANParks reserve to Samara Private Game Reserve, which they claimed offered hunting opportunities.

The accident reportedly took place after a “shift in weight” during the transportation.

“It would be interesting to know why the elephants (what the government would term “assets”), are being donated to a private game reserve.  The NSPCA already has enough concerns and problems about elephants in private game reserves as it stands”, the statement read.

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According to an on-site vet, the animals were successfully rescued and have no visible injuries.

SAMARA KAROO RESERVE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT

On Facebook, the Sama Karoo Reserve responded to the insinuation that the elephants had been gifted to them for hunting purposes.

It posted: “It is categorically FALSE that Samara offers ‘hunting opportunities.’ Samara Karoo Reserve is a conservation undertaking committed to wildlife reintroduction and land restoration, funded by photographic tourism. We are NOT a hunting operation”.

The private reserve stated that the four elephants were captured in Addo Elephant National Park and translocated to their site, with the aim of establishing a new population of elephants in the area.

It continued: “This translocation is about expanding the habitat available for elephants to thrive.

“Samara is assisting SANParks by providing homes for elephants as the current population in Addo Elephant National Park is expanding beyond the park’s habitat resources.

“All the appropriate permissions were granted for this translocation”.

In a statement to The South African, SANParks said that the elephants were a “donation” to the private game reserve.

NO INJURIES

According to Samara Karoo Reserve, a team of specialists, including a professional wildlife translocation team, veterinary team, and capture and release team, was on-site to rescue the trapped elephants.

The animals, as well as the driver of the truck, are uninjured.

Speaking to The South African, the NSPCA stood by their original claims.

The post Four elephants found trapped in a truck, NSPA suspects misconduct appeared first on SA People.