Mountain Lions, Coyotee's, etc. Beautiful Animals !

[Beardman]

@Mike, I'm glad to hear you've taken such an interest in Australian wildlife, they are my favourite area of study too, At university I studied wildlife and conservation biology, and tried to focus on Australian species where possible. Yes Cockatoos can be a massive problem too actually, they have been known to strip entire stands of trees bare of all foliage.

@Tom, Yes, yes, I know all about the my station my rules, rule, haha. A lot of farmers and property owners do that kind of thing all the time. While it is illegal for farmers to kill cockatoos themselves (I think it is upwards of a $5000 fine, maybe more these days), the rangers can still legally cull them if their numbers get out of hand and they start becoming a pest.

I've read up a little bit of what happened with the Bison over in the US... That is one of the greatest tragedies I think, and one of the best examples of the destructive nature of humans.

[Mike]

Another couple things that sort of go along with that would be extinctions. You mentioned the bison which brought to mind the wisent in Europe that almost went extinct. Then, here in the US we had the passenger pigeon. It was once the most numerous bird in the country but was wiped out with the last one dying in 1914. The Carolina parakeet also fizzled out due to humans. Something closer to AUS would be some of the emu species. Thylacine's from Tasmania sound fascinating. Other extinctions caused by hunting would be the Quagga (a zebra like animal) and of course we can't forget the dodo!

 Sorry, I can ramble on about things like this all day long. Other than genetics and agriculture, this is one of my favorite topics.

 So back to the topic at hand- We had a neighbor up the road that had some animals injured when a black bear came through and sliced a couple of their horses not too long ago

[slymyke]

Mike,

Believe it or not, we have black bears in Central Florida.  Mainly in one area, and we never see them over my way, but you wouldn't really think we would have any here.  Every once in a while, you see one on the news.. in somebody's tree or in their back yard.  They are a little on the small side, and don't usually harm any animals. 

[Sir Harry]

I have a fear of raccoons. Any tips on what to do if I encounter one head-on? Been seeing at least a dozen in the last three days...Please don't say that they are beautiful!

[MMArob]

I have a fear of raccoons. Any tips on what to do if I encounter one head-on? Been seeing at least a dozen in the last three days...Please don't say that they are beautiful!

Not that many choices.
Look at it and wait for it to move on, kill it, scare it or walk away, right? 

[tomgallagher]

I have a fear of raccoons. Any tips on what to do if I encounter one head-on? Been seeing at least a dozen in the last three days...Please don't say that they are beautiful!

Run like he**. Those critters can get downright vicious.