Placer County Local News: Animals

The Placer County 4-H livestock judging team has emerged as the No. 1 team in California, earning the prestigious opportunity to represent the state at the national 4-H competition this year.

A rusty brown bark beetle, the length of a grain of rice, lands on a ponderosa pine. Tiny insect legs make a clicking sound, as the beetle scales the tree. Twitching its antennae, the miniature assassin readies itself to bore into the pine, often the tree's death knell.

The Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District recently reported the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been detected in two Roseville and Rocklin neighborhoods.

Bears are hungry and scavenging for food anywhere they can find it, which includes trash cans, grills, garages, vehicles and homes. There are easy steps to keep bears wild and from you destroying your home and cars.

The Colfax City Council unanimously approved a two-year contract with Placer County Health and Human Services for animal control and care services during its May 8 meeting.

The organization has announced plans to construct an 8,800 square-foot Veterinary and Foster Care Center adjacent to its current Adoption and Education Center at 200 Tahoe Ave. in Roseville.

Placer County property owners in the Tahoe Basin can receive up to $2,200 to install a bear-resistant garbage can, also known as a bear box.

Beavers create unburned islands where plants and animals can shelter from megafires, research has confirmed. A movement is afoot to reintroduce the rodents to the state's waterways.

Bears are awake and already causing havoc to cars and homes as they search for food. There are easy steps to take to keep homes and vehicles safe from bears. Follow these tips from the BEAR League and California Department of Fish & Wildlife.