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Sea Lion Saves A Life At Golden Gate Bridge
By: AuthorTara Panton
Posted onAugust 16, 2023
CategoriesNews
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San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, an iconic symbol of architectural brilliance, has been the setting for countless tales over the years. Among these is the unforgettable story of Kevin Hines and a surprising sea lion that saves his life at Golden Gate Bridge.
A Day of Reflection and Renewal
On a day that seemed like any other, Kevin Hines found himself grappling with overwhelming personal challenges at the Golden Gate Bridge. As he descended into the icy embrace of the waters below, an immediate pang of regret consumed him. But destiny had a different plan. A sea lion, sensing his distress, approached with purpose. This marine mammal circled Kevin, gently nudging him, ensuring he remained afloat until the timely arrival of rescuers.
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Nature’s Unsung Heroes
Kevin’s experience isn’t unique. Time and again, animals have showcased an uncanny ability to sense human distress and intervene:
- Dolphins: These intelligent creatures have been known to form protective rings around swimmers, shielding them from potential threats like sharks.
- Dogs: Beyond being loyal companions, dogs have saved families from fires, deterred dangers, and even detected health anomalies in their owners.
- Elephants: In certain regions, stories abound of elephants stepping in to protect humans from other wild animals.
In Kevin’s situation, the sea lion’s intuitive act was a beacon of hope in a moment of despair.
Safety First: Golden Gate’s Initiative
In response to such incidents, the Golden Gate Bridge authorities have championed safety. A state-of-the-art $210 million net system now graces the bridge, designed to catch and safeguard individuals, reinforcing the bridge’s status as a symbol of hope and unity.
Kevin’s New Dawn
This life-altering event reshaped Kevin Hines’ perspective. He has since channelled his energies into advocating for mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of community and support during life’s tumultuous phases. His journey serves as a poignant reminder of life’s inherent value and the unexpected lifelines that can appear.
Intriguing Tales of Animal Rescuers
- Gorillas: There are heartwarming tales of gorillas safeguarding lost human children in their habitats, ensuring their safety until help arrives.
- Pigs: These intelligent animals have, on occasion, alerted their owners to imminent dangers, be it intruders or fires.
- Parrots: With their vocal prowess, parrots have mimicked alarms or cries for assistance, drawing attention to unfolding emergencies.
In Conclusion
Life, with its myriad twists and turns, often presents us with profound mysteries and lessons. Kevin Hines’ story stands as a testament to the unpredictable yet beautiful tapestry of existence and the miracles that can manifest even in the most challenging moments.
Whether through the protective instincts of a sea lion or the collective efforts of a community, there’s always a glimmer of hope, even when the path seems uncertain.
Thank you for following along with this article – Sea Lion Saves A Life At Golden Gate Bridge
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‘Cutting-edge’ wind farm still an eagle killer
Credit: By MATTHEW DENHOLM | 18 Aug 2023 | theaustralian.com.au ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/08/17/cutting-edge-wind-farm-still-an-eagle-killer/
A wind farm with so-called “industry-leading” bird avoidance technology has killed at least eight endangered Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles, prompting calls for an urgent moratorium on new turbines in eagle zones.
Cattle Hill Wind Farm in Tasmania’s Central Highlands uses IdentiFlight camera technology – which it describes as a “cutting-edge avian detection system” – to stop the wind turbines when birds approach.
However, the system – which is spruiked by the industry and regulators as the foremost solution to wind turbine bird deaths – has failed to prevent the deaths of at least eight eagles in less than four years.
The Australian understands that figure – confirmed by Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority – includes five eagle deaths in the past 12 months.
“We should he very concerned about this because what we’re looking at here is the start of a planned huge industry,” said eagle exert and wildlife biologist Nick Mooney.
“Everybody has ignored rule 101. That is, if you’re worried about eagles, don’t put wind farms where there’s lots of eagles, and the overseas (scientific) literature. stresses that.”
He was aware of 61 wedge-tailed eagles and five white-bellied sea-eagles being found dead or incapacitated during periods of formal mortality monitoring at Tasmania’sexisting1vind farms.
This was likely the tip of an iceberg, with some wind farms no longer required to monitor for bird deaths and formal monitoring restricted to areas under turbines, missing birds that die further afield after being struck.
He was aware of another nine large-scale wind farms proposed for Tasmania, which was concerning given that cumulative impacts of multiple wind farms were still not factored into federal environmental approvals.
Cattle Hill Wind Farm confirmed the deaths. It said its modelling had predicted its turbines would kill 14 eagles after four years and this was allowed under its permit conditions.
It said seven of the deaths occurred in a “heavily forested section of the wind farm where the lower portions of several turbines are not visible to surrounding IdentiFlight stations”.
“An additional, taller 30m IdentiFlight tower has now been installed … to significantly reduce blind spots and further reduce eagle mortalities,” it said.
However, Mr Mooney said the system’s shortcomings and any solution should be independently verified.
He said he believed several turbines al Cattle Hill may need to be shut down in the interim, and the massive industry expansion in eagle density areas put on hold until an effective bird avoidance system was developed.
The wedge-tailed eagle recovery plan was due to be updated in 2010, but a promised revamp has yet to materialise, despite the proliferation of wind farms since.
Federal Environn1ent Minister Tanya Plibersek said her revamp of national environment laws would “better protect nature by considering cumulative impacts on threatened plants and animals with clear thresholds”.
“And we’ll make sure that recovery strategies for threatened species can be updated more easily to better manage cumulative impacts,” she said.
Source: By MATTHEW DENHOLM | 18 Aug 2023 | theaustralian.com.au
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Bird flu keeps fowl away from fairgrounds for the second year
by: Izzy Post
Posted: Aug 15, 2023 / 03:14 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 15, 2023 / 03:14 PM EDT
FAIRLEA, WV (WVNS)– For the second year in a row, poultry animals are not on display at the State Fair of West Virginia, despite a dropping number in Avian Influenza (bird flu) cases.
The Blue Ribbon Center is not squawking with the same excitement as in years past. In 2023, agriculture birds like live Chicken, Ducks, and farm Geese are not at the State Fair of West Virginia. This comes as the highly transmissible Bird Flu outbreak from 2022 is still not completely subsided.Local Pottery shop utilizes State Fair of West Virginia to sell wares
West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt explained the decision.
“So out of an abundance of caution, and we discussed it with industry, we decided that we would not have live birds at the state fair again this year,” said Leonhardt.
Leonhardt said the outbreak numbers, which wreaked havoc on grocery store egg and chicken prices for months, dropped significantly but not enough for him to feel confident bringing fowl back to the fairgrounds. That caution, however, paid off.
“West Virginia, with a little bit of luck and a little bit of work, has kept Avian Influenza in our backyard flocks and our commercial flocks out of West Virginia. There’s only two states in the lower 48 that don’t have any that haven’t had an avian influenza outbreak. That’s Louisiana and West Virginia,” Leonhardt said.Rainy day at the State Fair of West Virginia? Don’t worry, there is plenty still to do.
There are economic impacts to the decision as well, according to West Virginia State Veterinarian, Dr. Jim Maxwell.
“The commercial poultry industry is by far our largest economic driver of agriculture, animal agriculture, and animal industries in the state,” Dr. Maxwell explained.
So for 2023 the Blue Ribbon Center is filled with information and interactive displays.
Commissioner Leonhardt says a decision on whether or not to bring birds back in 2024 will not be made until after the winter.
Bird flu outbreak stokes fears for Washington’s wild birds
New strain of avian flu has killed dozens of birds on a small Puget Sound island. Cases have turned up elsewhere as well.
BY: LAUREL DEMKOVICH – AUGUST 15, 2023 2:40 PM
Since July 1, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has collected more than 1,224 dead Caspian tern carcasses – most of which are adults – and more than 158 dead gull carcasses – most of which are chicks. (Mike Carlo/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
The spread of bird flu has left Washington wildlife officials scrambling to test suspected cases and cleaning up hundreds of tern and gull carcasses along the coast of an island in northern Puget Sound.
Avian flu has historically affected mostly poultry, but a new strain – H5N1 – is proving deadly for wild birds as well. More than 75,000 wild birds globally have died because of the strain. Though human infection is rare, it’s not impossible.
Since the disease first came to Washington last March, cases in wild birds have been increasing in the state. But officials say they are still trying to gauge the full effects.
“The impacts in Washington have been hard to quantify,” Katie Haman, wildlife veterinarian at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the state Fish and Wildlife Commission last week. “How many cases are we missing? We just don’t know.”
In Washington, the first case of the H5N1 strain was reported on March 1, 2022 in a greater white-fronted goose in Walla Walla County.
So far, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed 112 cases in Washington, but Haman said that number is likely incomplete.
One outbreak that wildlife officials are monitoring is on Rat Island, a small island in Puget Sound, near Port Townsend. The wildlife preserve on the island is currently closed to the public due to the outbreak.
Since July 1, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has collected more than 1,224 dead Caspian tern carcasses – most of which are adults – and more than 158 dead gull carcasses – most of which are chicks.
The long-term impacts of the Rat Island outbreak are “unknown,” Haman said. “I think time will tell.”
Bird flu cases on Puget Sound island have some wildlife officials concerned about spread of disease
The rash of cases on the island is the first H5N1 event in a marine environment in Washington, Haman said. The department has devoted a lot of resources to cleaning it up, in part because of a fear that the disease could spread to other animals, like seals.
In Peru, H5N1 killed thousands of sea lions earlier this year. Seal deaths in Maine were also linked to the bird flu.
But so far in Washington, there are no confirmed cases in marine mammals, Haman said. The department has tested various mammals in Washington, and so far only raccoons and bobcats have tested positive.
If the disease does jump to humans, the mortality rate can be more than 50%. And if bird flu and human flu combine, it could trigger a pandemic. The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic was caused by a similar scenario.
Moving forward, the department will continue to track the spread of the disease. The department did receive one-time funding for the next two years to keep up surveillance efforts and will likely ask the Legislature for more funding.
There aren’t many preventative steps that can protect birds and other animals, Haman said, especially as the H5N1 vaccine isn’t widely available for wildlife.
For now, she said state officials will continue to collect data on where and how the disease is spreading.
“Unfortunately, H5N1 does not seem to be going away,” she said.
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