PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – At 30 waterways tested across Oregon, microplastic contamination was found in every spot — from the rivers that flow through our biggest urban centers to the state’s most remote and treasured waterways, like Crater Lake and Wallowa Lake, an environmental group reported Monday.

The findings are outlined in a new report,Microplastics in Oregon: a Survey of Waterways, released Monday by Environment Oregon Research & Policy Center using methodology developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the organization said in a news release, which continues in full below.

“The results of this study should set off alarms for all Oregonians who love our state’s rivers and lakes,” said Celeste Meiffren-Swango, state director with Environment Oregon Research & Policy Center. “The staggering amount of microplastics we found likely means that no…

by Brittany WhiteheadSunday, December 5th 2021

https://wlos.com/news/local/critically-endangered-male-red-wolf-now-at-wnc-nature-center-in-hopes-reproducing

3VIEW ALL PHOTOSBen, a red wolf, is seen at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York. Ben was transferred to the WNC Nature Center on Nov. 20, 2022. (Photo credit: Wolf Conservation Center)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) —A critically endangered red wolf was flown to Asheville on Nov. 20 and now resides at the WNC Nature Center.

Male red wolf “Ben” was born at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York in 2018, and since then lived there with his mother, father and siblings.

He came to the WNC Nature Center to join red wolves Karma and Garnet there, who arrived at the nature center in 2018 but did not successfully reproduce during their time there.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA NATURE CENTER OFFERS FUN FOR ENTIRE FAMILYBen, a red wolf, is seen at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York. Ben was…

https://www.sciencealert.com/astronomers-have-discovered-why-the-solar-system-might-be-shaped-like-a-croissant

The possible croissant-like shape of the Solar System. (M. Opher)SPACE

MICHELLE STARR6 DECEMBER 2021

The Solar System exists in a bubble.

Wind and radiation from the Sun stream outwards, pushing out into interstellar space. This creates a boundary of solar influence, within which the objects in the Solar System are sheltered from powerful cosmic radiation.

It’s called the heliosphere, and understanding how it works is an important part of understanding our Solar System, and perhaps even how we, and all life on Earth, are able to be here.

“How is this relevant for society? The bubble that surrounds us, produced by the Sun, offers protection from galactic cosmic rays, and the shape of it can affect how those rays get into the heliosphere,”says astrophysicist James Drakeof the University of Maryland.

“There’s lots of theories but, of course, the way that galactic cosmic rays can get…

Researchers say “robust acceleration” in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current has been largely driven by ocean warming tied to human activity.ByBrooke Migdon | Dec. 6, 2021https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.490.0_en.html#goog_2991371260 seconds of 15 secondsVolume 20%

Story at a glance

• The world’s strongest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, is speeding up, according to new research, mostly because of rising ocean temperatures.
• The ACC carries water around the globe, pushing more water than any other ocean current.
• It’s not entirely clear what accelerating currents mean for the ocean, but additional research has suggested it will likely alter waters’ heat distribution and impact the way in which nutrients are carried in oceans across the globe.

Earth’s strongest ocean current is getting faster, new research has found, and it’s largely because of humans.

The study, published late last month in the journalNature Climate Change, concluded that “robust acceleration” in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current was…

42 Grizzly Bears Killed So Far in Wyoming This Year

Published onOctober 21, 2021October 21, 2021inNews/Bears

***For All Things Wyoming, Sign-Up For Our Daily Newsletter***

By Wendy Corr, Cowboy State Daily

2021 is proving to be a dangerous year for grizzly bears.

So far this year, 42 grizzly bears have died in Wyoming, from the Beartooth Range down to the Dubois region — and there are still more than two months to go in the calendar year.

In 2020, the number of grizzlies killed through October totaled 31.

Some of the increase can be traced to the fact there has been an above-average number of encounters between grizzlies and humans this year, said Luke Ellsbury, a large carnivore biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

“Typically we’ll have three or four aggressive encounters every fall,” he said. “I think we’re at seven or eight maybe…

November 13, 2019Bob CampbellQuality of Life

https://www.bridgemi.com/quality-life/what-went-wrong-shootings-three-michigan-hunters-last-year

SHARE THIS:Share this article on TwitterShare this article on FacebookShare this article via emailPrint this articleQuality of LifeWhat went wrong in the shootings of three Michigan hunters last year

SHARE THIS:Share this article on TwitterShare this article on FacebookShare this article via emailPrint this articleDonate

Related stories in this report:

• ‘You just react’ — Hunter deaths shadow opening of Michigan firearms season
• Michigan hunters thought they shot deer, squirrels — they hit other hunters
• 11 safety tips for deer firearms hunting in Michigan

The three men loved deer hunting. Strangers to one another, they share the catastrophe of being gunned down in the first days of Michigan’s deer firearms season last November. The circumstances of their deaths have been intensely investigated by law enforcement and state conservation officers, and have…

https://wchstv.com/news/local/hunter-charged-after-shooting-killing-man-he-mistook-for-bear-in-boone-county

byANNA SAUNDERS, SHANNON STOWERSSaturday, December 4th 2021

<img alt=”

A hunter in Boone County has been charged after officials said he shot a man after mistaking him for a bear. (Sinclair Broadcast Group){/p}” src=”https://wchstv.com/resources/media2/16×9/full/1015/center/80/f55e1f62-a8bc-4a92-b1ea-dbeb6a74a5fd-large16x9_Crime_PoliceLineDoNotCrossSBG.png” srcset=”/resources/media/f55e1f62-a8bc-4a92-b1ea-dbeb6a74a5fd-large16x9_Crime_PoliceLineDoNotCrossSBG.png?1638640432207 1024w, /resources/media/f55e1f62-a8bc-4a92-b1ea-dbeb6a74a5fd-medium16x9_Crime_PoliceLineDoNotCrossSBG.png?1638640431886 768w, /resources/media/f55e1f62-a8bc-4a92-b1ea-dbeb6a74a5fd-small16x9_Crime_PoliceLineDoNotCrossSBG.png?1638640439826 320w, /resources/media/f55e1f62-a8bc-4a92-b1ea-dbeb6a74a5fd-jumbo16x9_Crime_PoliceLineDoNotCrossSBG.png?1638640432312 1500w, /resources/media/f55e1f62-a8bc-4a92-b1ea-dbeb6a74a5fd-jumbo16x9_Crime_PoliceLineDoNotCrossSBG.png?1638640432312 1900w, “>https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.490.0_en.html#goog_1925789371Volume 90%<p>A hunter in Boone County has been charged after officials said he shot a man after mistaking him for a bear. (Sinclair Broadcast Group){/p}

BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) —A hunter in Boone County has been charged after officials said he shot a man after mistaking him for a bear.

Jimmy Castle, 70, has been charged with misdemeanor negligent shooting and felony failure to render aid aftera man’s body was found in the Preston Branch area of Twilighton Thursday, according to West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Sgt. Larry Harvey.

Castle was hunting on Wednesday when he claimed he saw a bear in…

• Posted By: Andrew Schneider
• December 4, 2021 @ 5:42 pm
• Today’s Local News

• https://www.kniakrls.com/2021/12/04/iowa-dnr-investigating-fatal-hunting-accident/

Iowa DNR conservation officers responded to a fatal hunting incident this afternoon near Lake Red Rock.

The incident happened at the Red Rock Wildlife Management Area at around 2:45 pm on the south of Lake Red Rock and north of Knoxville on 132nd Place. A hunter was fatally struck during a deer drive by a round believed to be fired from a member of a large hunting party.

The investigation into the hunting related shooting is on-going at this time. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Knoxville Fire and Rescue are assisting.

Hunters are reminded of the following safety tips:

– Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
– Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
– Know your intended target and its surroundings.
– Do not touch the trigger of the gun…

By Victoria Gill
Science correspondent, BBC NewsPublished19 hours agoShare

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59521211

Scientists have discovered marine animals living on plastic debris in an area of the open ocean dubbed “the Great Pacific Garbage Patch”.

Many of the creatures are coastal species, living miles from their usual habitats, on a patch halfway between the coast of California and Hawaii.

Plants and animals, including anemones, tiny marine bugs, molluscs and crabs, were found on 90% of the debris.

Scientists are concerned that plastic may help transport invasive species.

The study examined plastic items more than 5cm (2in) in diameter gathered from a gyre – an area where circulating currents cause floating debris to accumulate – in the Pacific.

Lead researcher Dr Linsey Haram, who carried out the work at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre, said: “Plastics are more permanent than many…

By Matt Spetalnick and Susan Heavey

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fauci-says-he-hopes-us-travel-ban-southern-africa-can-be-lifted-reasonable-2021-12-05/

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WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) – The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has spread to about one-third of U.S. states, but the Delta version remains the majority of COVID-19 infections as cases rise nationwide, U.S. health officials said on Sunday.

Though the emergence of the new variant has caused alarm worldwide, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease official, told CNN “thus far it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it” but he added that it was too early to draw definitive conclusions and more study is needed.Report ad

Fauci, U.S. President Joe Biden’s chief medical…