The Vermont Bear Hound Association announced it is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for illegally shooting and dumping the bear.
Bear hound group offers reward in sow dumping case
Black Bear shot and dumped in Connecticut River
On the morning of July 13, a lactating female black bear was dumped into the river from the Newbury Crossing Fishing Access Area. The bear had died from a gunshot wound.
No-mow strategy to protect birds now backfiring
Biologist Kevin Tolan from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies tells WCAX-TV the lack of mowing is spawning invasive plants choking off the very grass that was designed to save ground-nesting birds.
Dog found tied to sign at 3 AM – cops seek info
Do you know anything about this dog found tied to a street sign?
Police investigate dog-on-dog killing
Investigators are now trying to identify the owner of the pit bull, described as a woman between 40 and 50 years old who was accompanied by a child believed to be 8 to 10 years old at the time of the incident.
Woman charged with stealing family’s dog, stealing two cars, and leading police on car chase
Berlin Police say Ashley M. Lynch, 26, of Barre City, entered a home in the area of Vermont Route 12 and Muzzy Road on July 5 and took the family’s dog – identified in WCAX coverage as Fiona, a 16-year-old pit bull lab mix.
Why Vermont won’t just relocate a problem bear
Fish & Wildlife fields the question constantly. Its answer comes down to geography, biology, and thousands of bears already on the landscape.
Luxury hotel…for dogs? Tune in today
About seven out of every ten Vermont households own a pet. That’s one of the highest rates in the country.
Batchelder: A fed bear is a dead bear
If the past few years are any indication, by the end of summer we will have had to put down or provide similar authorizations for dozens more bears to end acute conflicts that threaten human safety.
High courts backs fur trappers, coyote hunters over POW
In a decision issued June 12, the high court affirmed a lower court ruling rejecting challenges brought by several animal-rights organizations to rules adopted following legislation passed in 2022.
Worsening tick activity may be new normal, state officials say
Experts attribute the growth of tick-related illnesses to climate change and more frequent tick-human contact.
Woman cited after pit bull kills her father
Authorities allege that Campbell’s dog, “Jack,” had a known pattern of aggression before attacking and killing Stephen Campbell at the family’s Brigham Hill Road home.
Paddock Paradise promotes food, forage and freedom for horses
Close to 50 attendees drove to Becky Kinkead’s barn to see this Paddock Paradise example on Thursday, June 4. The workshop, hosted by University of Vermont Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Vermont Grass Farmers Association, attracted people of all ages with varying experiences in caring for horses.
Car strikes horse on Willoughby Lake Road in Brownington, animal euthanized
The horses’ owners arrived and told responders the animals had broken out of a containment fence.
Protect Vermont’s native wildlife this summer: Give loons and sea lamprey their space
State biologists urge boaters, anglers, and shoreline residents to respect two of Vermont’s most ecologically important — and often misunderstood — native species.
The song that won a state
How the Hermit Thrush became Vermont’s official bird, June 1, 1941
Search and rescue dogs show skills at Philo Ridge Farm
“I can’t really tell you how amazing it is to find people who are lost,” Daniel Lampignano said.
Electric fencing protects chickens – but remember the peanut butter
Keeping a small flock of chickens at home to provide eggs and meat has become increasingly popular, but many small-scale poultry farmers are discovering that several species of wildlife like the taste of chicken as much as we do.
Vermonters are always itching for spring. Then they spring to itching.
A field ranking of the bugs that bite you between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Seen in Rutland County, what species is this?
An animal spotted in Rutland County is drawing attention from Vermont wildlife observers after a photograph of it was shared publicly this week on social media by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
Emerald Ash Borer infestation grows
The EAB is a beetle introduced from Asia that attacks all native ash trees (trees in the Fraxinus group). If trees are not treated, this insect is expected to kill nearly 99% of Vermont’s ash trees.
McGuinness: Are persons identifying as animals exempt from Vermont’s bestiality laws?
Senator Steven Heffernan asked Senator Tanya Vyhovsky on the Senate Floor Friday whether persons that identify as animals would be exempt from Vermont’s bestiality laws.
Vermont’s state fish is ‘thriving’ despite national population decline
As the weather gets warmer, Vermont’s brook trout are staying cool.
Teen charged after video shows he threw Bullet the Puppy
A video circulating online showed the suspect holding a puppy, identified as “Bullet,” and throwing it a distance out of view of the camera.
50 huskies rescued
Malnourished huskies rescued in raid on Hyde Park barn.
Pit bull kills elderly man
Family members were inside the home at the time of the attack, including the dog’s owner, who was able to stop the attack and secure the animal, police said.
Beagle found shivering, water bowl frozen – owner cited
The dog had no food available. Its water bowl was completely frozen. The beagle was shivering and cold to the touch.
State floats conservation plan for lemmings, orchids, sturgeon
The adorable Southern bog lemming, delicate small whorled pogonia orchid, mysterious lake sturgeon and humble wood turtle may not seem to have much in common. But, all four are classified as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” (SGCN) in a newly-drafted update to Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan, which is now available for public comment.
Despite a low count of broad-winged hawks, experts don’t raise concern for the overall population
Vermont hawkwatch counting sites saw fewer numbers for the broad-winged hawk population this year.
2024 Champ sighting off Port Henry? You decide…
As reported by CHNI and other news outlets, a drone video capturing a large, dark shape moving beneath a boat on Lake Champlain has landed filmmakers Richard Rossi and Kelly Tabor on an episode of William Shatner’s The UnXplained.
Trappers and educators protect Vermont against invasive beetle
Asian longhorned beetle, found in Massachusetts, not spotted here yet.
Daylight Saving Time change brings far greater odds of hitting a deer — here’s why
The risk of a deer-vehicle collision is 14 times higher in the two hours after sunset than in the two hours before sunset, due to the dramatic reduction in driver visibility in darkness.
Even the lobsters prefer Canada these days
The ultimate destination for these climate-migrating lobsters is north, into the cooler, more stable waters of Canada.
Breaking: Suspected shooter of German Shepherd says he thought he shot a bear
Witnesses told troopers they saw a man walking away from the area shortly after the shot, before getting into a white full-sized pickup truck and heading toward town.
Blotter: German Shepherd fatally shot in Richford
The German Shepherd returned home with a fatal gunshot wound to its snout.
Fishing restricted in part of Hatchery Cove to protect spawning salmon
The closure aims to provide a safe corridor for the landlocked Atlantic salmon that gather in Hatchery Cove before migrating up the nearby Hatchery Brook to spawn each fall.
‘Unofficial’ smallmouth bass catch smashes state record
If Andrew Oestringer of Barnet had brought his bass to a certified scale before filleting the fish, he would probably hold a new state record.
The poisonous Virginia Creeper: like most bad things, VT dogs don’t know to avoid it
This year, the prevalence of Virginia Creeper feels particularly pronounced, raising the need for public awareness about its hidden dangers for Vermont families and their unsuspecting dogs.
Martha Stewart adopts two Vermont rescue horses
The organization shared the news over the weekend, calling the adoption “a true dream come true” for the animals and their volunteers.
Animals fight crime, are crime victims in VT last week
In one stop, police said Mike detected a felony quantity of MDMA (Ecstasy), two handguns, and drug paraphernalia.
Sale of bear paws, gall bladders illegal, hunters warned
Bear gallbladders are sought by some Asians for their medicinal properties, according to a Canadian wildlife official interviewed by CBC. They create an acid beneficial to the immune system.
Best Pooch in the Noosk returns to the Onion City
Even the pooches who didn’t win still wagged their tails and grinned ear to ear.
Selectboard suspends Animal Control Officer after charge of dragging screaming pig
The squealing pig could be heard above the roar of the ATV engine on the video that neighbors used to record the incident, Game Warden Ethan Coffey reported.
Bear killer, dumper charged
Critic blames crackdown on hunting bears with dogs
Williston man faces criminal charges for having sex with his dog
Videos on bestiality websites showing Proulx having sex with a dog believed to be a large pit bull, court records note.
Vermont’s rise in raccoon rabies crosses the border into Quebec
The state has faced an increase in cases since 2022. The last time Vermont saw a rise in rabies-positive raccoons, the primary species carrying the virus, was between 2015 and 2016.
Town constable is arrested for aggravated animal cruelty
Matthew Hill, 47, dragged a live screaming pig behind an ATV along Paronto Road near his residence, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department confirmed Tuesday evening.
The art of herding geese — and why Vermont does it every year at Dead Creek
When Canada geese molt their flying feathers in the summer, scientists see a key window to study and track them.
Soulia: Life after deaf for old dogs?
Can dogs hear beyond deafness? A Vermont farmer-coder thinks so—and he’s asking for your help.
Leaving the dog in a hot car can lead to a $2000 fine
With the summer heat on the rise, the Berlin Police Department is urging the public to avoid leaving pets—particularly dogs—unattended in parked vehicles, warning that the practice is not only dangerous but may also lead to criminal charges under Vermont law.
Moose wanders through Montpelier
While the photos taken by officers were too blurry for a clear ID, authorities say there was no mistaking the animal’s size and distinctive silhouette.
Pure white whistle pig sighted in Vermont
Its pure white fur could be due to one of two conditions: albinism or leucism.
Soulia: $2 million later, Vermont scraps wildlife crossing
Was there a smarter path?
Without school $$ bill, House out until June 16
House Speaker Krowinski announced the full House would come back on June 16, which was the date previously put on the calendar for a potential session to address any bills that the Governor vetoed. The plan is now for the education conferees to continue meeting over the next few weeks to hammer out an agreement that can also satisfy Governor Scott. Stay tuned.
How local towns are handling the emerald ash borer
The bugs have been spotted in 96 out of Vermont’s 247 municipal areas, the state says
Willoughby Steelhead Rainbow Trout will be jumping
Steelhead can be spotted moving up the falls during warmer days in mid-to-late April and sometimes into early May.
Young wildlife belong in the wild
Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and it is also against the law.
Real-life ‘Homeward Bound’ trio looking for one, new home
Reed the cat was unhappy until reunited with his two traveling companions.
Authorities raid home, charge Concord couple with Child and Animal Cruelty
“It was an awful, ugly, nasty situation,” said Sharon Eaton, director of Riverside Animal Rescue.
Birds of Vermont Museum thinks global, counts local
Vermont has the most birders per capita in the U.S. according to data from a popular birding app.
Some cliff tops and overlooks are closed to protect nesting Peregrines
Hikers and climbers can help nesting peregrine falcons by avoiding several Vermont cliff areas this spring and early summer.
Abandoned Rottweiler Hank finds new home
Potters Angels thanked the efforts of Vermonters Against Animal Cruelty and Abandonment, an organization dedicated to finding loving homes for animals in need.
Dog rescue was a way of life for Hinesburg woman
VT Dog Rescue continues its work after founder’s death.
Dog abandoned in apartment lost half his weight
The owner shut off all utilities and left him to die, cold and alone.
