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Here’s what’s worth reading today, Wednesday, January 29, 2020:
Mountain lion suspected of killing ‘thousands of dollars of missing animals’ near Tuscola: The two men who shot and killed a 150-pound mountain lion near Tuscola have been heavily criticized by animal rights advocates. KTXS also received negative feedback for airing their story. Tyler Terrell has since posted an update on his Facebook page.
At least 8 people are dead after boats catch fire at Alabama lake: At least eight people died after an overnight fire destroyed about 35 boats docked in an Alabama lake, authorities said Monday. Seven others swam to safety or were rescued from the Jackson County Park Marina at Guntersville Lake on the Tennessee River, some 100 miles northeast of Birmingham. Authorities said it appears everyone is accounted for, although that will not be finalized until all the boats have been removed from the water and inspected. The cause of the fire is unknown. The boats ranged from 20 to 40 feet long, and some were primary residences.
Ranger Boats founder Forrest L. Wood dies at 87: Forrest L. Wood, who created one of the top brands in the boating industry and was a pioneer of bass tournament fishing, has died at age 87. Wood, who was born in Flippin, Ark., founded with his wife Nina the company Ranger Boats in 1968. The business quickly grew and became a household name among fisherman around the U.S. He sold the company in 1987. Wood was known as the “father of the modern bass boat.”
Nearly half of Americans didn’t go outside to recreate in 2018. That has the outdoor industry worried: For the glass-half-full crowd that makes up the outdoor industry, the results of the latest outdoor participation survey are sobering. Outdoor businesses need people to get outside, but almost half of Americans don’t venture outdoors to play. The decline in participation threatens not just the bottom line but the outdoor industry’s mission to collectively steer policy on critical issues like climate change, environmental protection and public lands. While the Outdoor Foundation’s 2019 Outdoor Participation Report showed that while a bit more than half of Americans went outside to play at least once in 2018, nearly half did not go outside for recreation at all.
Woman rescued from icy waters after falling in while fishing: Dramatic bodycam footage captured a woman being pulled to safety after she slipped and fell into icy waters while fishing in Michigan. Deputies with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office can be seen rushing to the woman, who had been almost entirely submerged for about 15 minutes, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. Two nearby fishermen who heard her fall can be seen holding her arms up to “prevent her from slipping underwater and surely drowning,” the sheriff’s office said. “Help me. I’m numb,” she can be heard pleading. “I’m completely numb. I’m stuck.”
Man hunting iguana prompts lockdowns at Florida schools: The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office got a call that a man with a rifle was seen near a local elementary and middle school. According to deputies, this was all over iguanas. Deputies say Roy Wathen was apparently hired to hunt the animals with a pellet gun nearby.
Utah bill prohibits people behind on child support payments from getting hunting license: If you’re behind on your child support payments, a new Utah bill could prohibit you from hunting or fishing. H.B. 197, sponsored by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, would ban people who aren’t up to date on their child support payments from getting a license, permit or tag related to fishing or hunting in the state of Utah. The bill would prohibit anyone who owes $2,500 or more child support from obtaining the legal permits from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
New bill could make wolf hunting year-round in Idaho: A bill proposed in Idaho could open the door to year-round wolf hunting and “wolf-free” zones. The bill, which was proposed by Sen. Bert Brackett (R-Rogerson), was introduced last week before the Senate Resources and Environment Committee. According to Brackett, it would “manage a growing wolf population and assist in efforts to reduce depredation.” The “wolf-free” zones would be established within 11 existing big game management units south of the Snake River.
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