Hand Fishing!
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New hunters can now take online courses to qualify in Nova Scotia HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government is making an education course for new hunters available online. The interactive course is available for people aged 14 and over and helps new hunters learn safe hunting practices.
People had to previously take the course in a classroom setting, which is still available for those who prefer to take classes. The province says a new hunter who takes the online course must still write the final exam in person at a government office. It costs $25 to take the online course, which goes to the company that has been contracted by the Department of Natural Resources to provide the program. Classroom courses are still required for 12- and 13-year-olds. Garbage Brings Bears to Alberta's Oilsands Region, 145 Shot By Wildlife Officers  Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says 145 black bears were killed by Fish and Wildlife conservation officers last year after being habituated to garbage in the oilsands region. The number of bears shot in the Fort McMurray district was nearly three times the count the previous year and the highest in recent history, said spokesman Darcy Whiteside. Nearly half — 68 bears — were shot in oilsands camps and facilities after being attracted to the camp by food, garbage or other attractants, Whiteside said Tuesday. Another 51 were shot on
residential properties.  Mountain lions in British Columbia's Pacific Rim National Park
Reserve like to fatten up on black-tailed deer, but also on unlikely prey items such as harbor seals and sea lions. Researchers made the surprising discovery -- believed to be the first showing that cougars prey on marine mammals -- after collecting scat samples for a recent diet analysis. They also were surprised to learn that black-tailed deer comprise only a quarter of the predators' diet, and that raccoons are their top food source.But seals and sea lions?"This is really interesting; imagine a cougar stalking its way across a barnacle-infested reef," researcher Chris Darimont told the Leader-Post newspaper. "I know of no other account of cougars eating a marine mammal. "But I'm not completely shocked. There is some pretty delicious seafood out there. Seals are loaded with calories, fat and protein. They're big prizes, and, compared with deer, a little safer to hunt." The analysis involved 29 scat samples from a vast park area along Vancouver Island's west coast. It showed that raccoons comprised 28% of the cougars' diet; harbor seals 24%; black-tailed deer 24%; river otters 10%; sea lions 7%; mink 4%, and unknown species 3%. Prey items were identified through scat examination but also carcass analysis in the field. Recreational chinook restrictions foreseen  Fishermen from Victoria to Port Renfrew should be bracing for restrictions on the recreational chinook fishery, says Juan de Fuca Electoral Area regional director Mike Hicks. The federal Court of Appeal ruled this month that the federal government is legally bound to protect the critical habitat of endangered southern resident killer whales.
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Recreational+chinook+restrictions+foreseen/6183911/story.html#ixzz1n3mgnsZk  Is the famous gray wolf named OR7, which has been in California since Dec. 28, on its way back to Oregon?Monday's update from the California Department of Fish and Game states that OR7, which is the first known wild wolf in the state in nearly 90 years, is in northeast Siskiyou County, which borders Oregon.
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