Monterey County Local Animals News Articles and Digest

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening State of California

Ranchers, Tribes Clash Over Water, Salmon Ahead of Sweeping New Irrigation Regulations

12/17/2023
Salmon populations in the Scott and Shasta rivers have crashed, so state officials are about to restrict irrigation again. And the controversial rules may even become permanent.

From Monterey Herald...

Animals Sustainability

Can Frog Transplants Save an Endangered Species?

12/17/2023
A small band of researchers have hatched an ambitious amphibian comeback, using foothill yellow-legged frog eggs from a creek near King City to reestablish populations within the frog’s historic range.

From Monterey Herald...

Environment Animals

Butterfly Numbers Down, But Not Out

12/15/2023
Seasonal counts are showing there are, as expected, fewer butterflies overwintering in Pacific Grove than last year, but not the record lows of 2018-20.

From YubaNet...

Environment Animals

Millions of Birds Lose Precious Energy Due to New Year’s Eve Fireworks

12/11/2023
Birds are affected by the mass use of fireworks on New Year’s Eve up to a distance of 10 km away, reports an international team of researchers.

From SFGate...

Animals Housing

Coyotes More Likely To Turn Up at Wealthier Properties in San Francisco

12/08/2023
A coyote recently was found at the $27 million Russian Hill home of AI mogul Sam Altman. This relates to a study, which found that coyote sightings were more frequent in higher-income areas of San Francisco.

From Monterey Herald...

Business, Economy & Jobs Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening

California’s Commercial Dungeness Season Delayed Again

12/08/2023
Local Dungeness crab is off the Christmas menu. And probably the New Year’s one also.

From Monterey Herald...

Business, Economy & Jobs Land Use & Development Animals Sustainability

Silacci Ranch Gains Conservation Easement

12/08/2023
The California Rangeland Trust announced the 9,400-acre Silacci Ranch's conservation was finalized, preserving the family's 140-year ranching legacy on land in Monterey and San Benito counties.

From New York Times...

Environment Animals

Plan to Eliminate Catalina’s Deer Infuriates Locals

12/07/2023
Conservationists intend to shoot all of the deer on Santa Catalina Island by helicopter. Some people are opposed, either for not wanting to eliminate the deer or for missing out on future chances to hunt them.

From Sacramento Bee...

Animals Sustainability

White House Allocates Millions for Burps from California Cows

11/24/2023
Livestock are responsible for half of all methane emissions in California. The White House is giving $21.4 million to California Dairies and $22.8 million to Dairy Farmers of America to help change this.

From Monterey Herald...

Environment Animals

Point Pinos: ‘One of the Greatest Avian Crossroads in the World’

11/18/2023
With a plentiful food supply, Monterey Bay is a coveted area for both local and migratory birds.

From Monterey Herald...

Environment Parks & Recreation Animals

BSLT, Esselen Tribe of Monterey County to Pursue Co-management of Basin Ranch

11/17/2023
After its acquisition of the 5,105-acre Basin Ranch, the Big Sur Land Trust is in pre-planning stages for its first co-management agreement with the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. The acquisition creates a new nature preserve that will protect a critical wildlife corridor for a variety of vulnerable species.

From Salinas Valley Tribune...

Animals Veterans

Soledad Service Dog Wins Award for Providing Comfort to Army Veteran

11/15/2023
Image for display with article titled Soledad Service Dog Wins Award for Providing Comfort to Army Veteran

Operation Freedom Paws, a California-based service dog training organization, provides the tools and training to help vets battle inner turmoil.

From The Guardian...

Environment Animals

Southern California Has Wolves Again, for the First Time in Nearly 150 Years

11/13/2023
A 2021 fire has helped bring wolves back to Southern California for the first time since the 19th century. A rancher is worried about how to keep wolves, which are federally protected, from harming cattle.

From Monterey County Weekly...

Animals Sustainability Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

Fall Is the Season to Count and Tag Juvenile Steelhead on the Carmel River. This Year Was a Good One, but the Species Remains in Decline.

11/08/2023
Image for display with article titled This was a Good Year, but Steelhead on the Carmel River Remain in Decline

Just past 9am, a small team of employees from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District begin staging equipment along a stretch of the Carmel River, just upstream from the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.

From YubaNet...

Animals Sustainability

NOAA: New Funding to Help Bring California Salmon Back from the Brink

11/06/2023
The Office of Habitat Conservation’s Restoration Center has awarded $27.8 million to bring Central California Coast coho salmon back to California rivers, funding projects by Trout Unlimited, the San Mateo and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation Districts, and the Nature Conservancy.

From LAist...

Animals Sustainability

A Big Year of Snow in California Was Horrific for Endangered Sheep

10/31/2023
Researchers tell LAist that half of California’s population of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, which are endangered, died last winter due to record weather. Causes of death include avalanches, starvation and getting eaten by mountain lions after moving to lower elevations for food.

From Monterey Herald...

Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening Sustainability

Changing the Way Swordfish Is Caught

10/28/2023
A new type of fishing gear in California is bringing high-quality swordfish to markets and restaurants in the Monterey Bay Area, with the added bonus of decreasing unintended catch.

From Monterey County Weekly...

Business, Economy & Jobs Animals Sustainability

High Presence of Humpback Whales Off the Central Coast Delays Opening of Crab Fishing Season.

10/27/2023
Image for display with article titled High Presence of Humpback Whales on Central Coast Delays Opening of Crab Fishing Season

The commercial and recreational crab fishing season along much of the California coast, which was set to open Nov. 15, has been delayed indefinitely.

From Monterey Herald...

Animals

Rare Northern Right Whale Dolphin Spotted Off California Coast

10/23/2023
The dolphin, described as small and slender with no dorsal fin, is typically seen in the cold water of the northwest.

From YubaNet...

Art & Culture Animals

Graphic Novel Illustrates Plight of Mountain Lions

10/20/2023
Written by Center for Biological Diversity scientist Tiffany Yap and illustrated by artist Meital Smith, “Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma’s Journey” takes the reader through diverse habitats, across busy freeways and inside science labs to learn about one mountain lion’s survival story.

Monterey County Local News: Animals