Bits and Bites from Around the World > Another Child Attacked by Cougar in Malibu

 

Child attacked by mountain lion that wandered into California neighbourhood

By Rachel Goodman  Global News

Posted August 11, 2025 12:56 pm

 2 min read

View image in full screen

A mountain lion approaching the camera while walking through blooming bushes. The scene is in Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile’s Patagonia region. Carlos A Carreno / Getty Images

An 11-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after being attacked by a mountain lion in California over the weekend.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the child was bitten on Sunday at about 5:40 p.m. outside a home in the Pacific Coast Highway and Encinal Canyon Road area of Malibu.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies told the outlet that the girl was bitten on the arm and transported to a hospital in Thousand Oaks with non-life-threatening injuries.

Wildlife experts later put down the mountain lion they believed was responsible for the attack, it added.

The Mountain Lion Foundation estimates that about 4,500 mountain lions inhabit vast ranges of landscape across California, and about 40 per cent of the state is considered suitable habitat for the species, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says.

View image in full screen

A mountain lion sitting relaxed in Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile. Getty Images

Mountain lions are a solitary and elusive species that tend to avoid human contact and are also referred to as cougars, panthers and pumas.

The department receives hundreds of mountain lion sighting reports every year, but few result in the animals posing an imminent threat to public safety, it told NBC Los Angeles.

Mountain lion attacks on humans are also rare. Since 1890, there have been six known fatal human attacks by mountain lions in California.

Its website says the state’s most recent fatal mountain lion attack was in March 2024, when a 21-year-old man was killed in a remote part of El Dorado County. Since 1986, there have been 23 non-fatal attacks.

Mountain lions eat mostly large animals, such as deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, wild pigs, feral horses and burros, the wildlife department says, and will adapt their hunting behaviour in response to a changing environment, prey availability and competition for food.

They may also hunt other animals, including poultry, small livestock or pets.

Last Thursday evening, a biker in the Alpine Capone area along Brohm Ridge, near Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia, suffered minor injuries after being followed by a mountain lion.

Officials said the animal pursued the man and “made contact,” then followed him for another 20 minutes.

The man walked backward holding his bike, and eventually was able to get the big cat to disengage by throwing rocks at it.

Last year, a five-year-old boy survived a mountain lion attack in Malibu Creek State Park after he was targeted by the predator during a family picnic.

According to the Los Angeles news station KTLA, he was playing with several other children close to the family’s picnic site, where at least six adults were supervising, when a mountain lion picked up the child by his head and began to run away.

Witnesses said the child’s father chased the fleeing mountain lion and fought it until it dropped the boy from its mouth. The boy was airlifted to hospital, where he was treated for injuries, including to his eyes.

Bits and Bites from Around the World > Canadian woman bitten by shark loses both hands

 

Canadian woman loses both hands after shark encounter in Turks and Caicos

By Katie Scott  Global News

Posted February 18, 2025 8:17 am

 Updated February 18, 2025 8:37 am

 3 min read

View image in full screen

A file photo of Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Getty Images

The family of a tourist who was seriously injured when she was bitten while trying to “engage” with a shark in Turks and Caicos is now speaking out about the horrifying moment that “completely altered” the Canadian woman’s life.

The 55-year-old Canadian tourist, who remains unnamed, attempted to “engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs” on Friday, Feb. 7, according to a press release from the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) last week.

The victim’s brother-in-law, Al Chevarie, has set up a GoFundMe page to financially help the woman and her husband, Ralph Chevarie, following the incident.

“While on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, my sister-in-law and her husband, my brother, lived what can only be described as a nightmare,” Al began his post on the fundraising page.

He said his brother and sister-in-law were in “only hip deep clear water” when a “seven-foot bull shark came at my sister-in-law and bumped into her legs.”

“The shark then circled around and bit her thigh. Not satisfied, the shark came back again and when she put both hands in front of her to protect herself, the shark cut off both of her hands, one at mid forearm and the other at the wrist,” he wrote.

View image in full screen

Photo from the GoFundMe for woman involved in shark encounter in Turks and Caicos. Al Chevarie / GoFundMe

Chevarie said his brother rushed back to help her and “managed to wrestle away the shark and stayed between her and the shark until she walked out of the water and collapsed on the beach.”

The Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources originally shared that the incident took place in Blue Hills, Providenciales, on Friday, Feb. 7, and the victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she was stabilized and transported off the island for further medical attention.

Chevarie said his sister-in-law was taken to a local hospital for initial treatment “but had to be flown back to Canada by air ambulance to undergo further surgery and recovery.”

“My brother served our country in the Canadian Armed forces for over 30 years with tours in Kuwait, twice in Afghanistan, Golan Heights, Haiti and Bosnia. He served our country with pride; it’s our turn to help them,” Chevarie wrote. “This is something that has completely altered their life in the blink of an eye. I ask, if you can, to please help them; they will need a lot of support to get through this. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated.”

The GoFundMe post has currently raised over $24,600 of its goal of $35,000 from 309 donations as of Tuesday morning.

1:58

How to avoid shark attacks, according to experts

The Turks and Caicos government had previously said that the shark was approximately six feet in length, and did not identify the specific species.

Government officials closed the beach following the incident and reopened it to the public Sunday, Feb. 9, “after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.”

The government didn’t share further details of the tourist’s interaction with the shark but did issue a warning to others swimming in the area.

“The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life. Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances,” the post read.

Shark bites in the waters off the Turks and Caicos islands are rare, with only one unprovoked non-fatal attack reported last year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.

Bits and Bites from Around the World > Shark attacks Canadian woman on Turks and Caicos

 

Tourist badly injured after approaching shark for photo in Turks and Caicos

A tourist visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands was seriously injured when she was bitten while trying to “engage” with a shark, according to authorities.

The 55-year-old tourist attempted to “engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs,” according to a press release from the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).

The incident took place in Blue Hills, Providenciales, on Friday, Feb. 7, and the victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she was stabilized and transported off the island for further medical attention. She is expected to survive.

The woman’s identity has not been released, but several tabloids report that the tourist is believed to be a Canadian national. Global News reached out to Global Affairs Canada, who did not confirm if the person is Canadian, saying they were aware of reports of an “accident.”

“Global Affairs Canada is aware of reports of a Canadian citizen who experienced an accident in Turks and Caicos. Consular officials are contacting local authorities to gather information and stand-ready to provide consular assistance. Due to privacy considerations, no further details may be disclosed,” they said in a statement to Global News.

“The shark was estimated to be approximately 6 [feet] in length. However the species is yet to be confirmed,” the government added in the report.

Government officials closed the beach following the incident and reopened it to the public Sunday, Feb. 9, “after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.”

The government didn’t share details of the tourist’s interaction with the shark but did issue a warning to others swimming in the area.

“The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life. Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances,” the post read.

Shark bites in the waters off the Turks and Caicos islands are rare, with only one unprovoked non-fatal attack reported last year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.

1:58

How to avoid shark attacks, according to experts

The incident comes after two American tourists were bitten by a shark in the Bahamas earlier this week. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said police in Bimini are investigating after two women were victims of a shark attack and needed to be airlifted for their injuries.

“Initial reports indicate that the victims, both U.S.A. residents, sustained injuries while swimming in the waters at Bimini Bay. They received initial treatment at a local clinic before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention. One of the victim’s injuries is listed as serious,” police said.

Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, spoke with NBC News after returning to Florida and shared the harrowing details from hospital beds. They said they had jumped off their friend’s yacht and soon after, the shark approached.

“We’re just very grateful to still be here with all of our limbs,” Decker told NBC’s Today show earlier this week.

Decker said after they jumped into the ocean she “felt something nudge my leg.”

“I was like, ‘Summer, what was that?’ And she was like, ‘Don’t scare me like that.’ And probably about two minutes later, we were right by the ladder. I felt my leg get tugged down, and I immediately knew I was bit by a shark,” Decker recalled.

They said their friends immediately pulled them out of the water and wrapped a tourniquet around Decker’s right leg. Shortly after, they realized Layman was also suffering from a shark bite.

“They yelled to me that the top of my foot was shredded, and I just hadn’t realized until I looked down,” Layman said.

Decker was airlifted to a hospital in the Bahamas and once they were both stable, they were flown back to Florida for Decker to undergo surgery.

Bits and Bites from Around the World > Man fights Polar Bear to save wife; North Sea Storm Wreaking Havoc

 

Man fights polar bear to protect wife from mauling

in northern Canada

By Darryl Coote

Dec. 6 (UPI) -- A man is recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained while fighting a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled in northern Ontario, Canadian authorities said.

The incident happened early Tuesday in Fort Severn First Nation, located along the coast of the Hudson Bay.

Local police said the couple had exited their home at 5 a.m. local time to find their dogs when a polar bear lunged at the woman in their driveway.

"The woman slipped to [the] ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack. The bear then attacked the male, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs," Nishnawbe Aski Police Service said in a statement.

During the attack, a neighbor responded with a firearm and opened fire on the bear. The unidentified neighbor hit the animal several times, forcing it to retreat into the woods, where it died from its injuries.

Police were dispatched to the residence following reports of gunfire and located the deceased bear. The injured husband had already been transported to a community nursing station to receive medical attention.

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service said it will continue to patrol the area to ensure no other bears pose a threat to the community.

Fort Severn, Ontario

Cargo ship rudderless on the North Sea

due to storm; Solar panels landing on cars

A cargo ship on the North Sea is having issues due to the storm. The Valday, which is 82 meters long, is drifting rudderless toward the south, the Coast Guard reported. Attempts to tie up and drag the ship have been unsuccessful.

The ship has no cargo but does have seven crew members on board, and is located 22 kilometers off the coast of Rotterdam, according to the Coastguard. Tugboats are on their way to the cargo ship. A rescue boat from the KNRM station in Stellendam will release the lifeboat from Hoek van Holland to lie nearby as a "safety vessel.”

The waves on the North Sea can go up to four meters high with a wind power of eight or nine. The Coast Guard said that other ships are also struggling because of the storm. Their engines have failed, or they did not stay at their anchorage. The Coast Guard is in contact with these ships.

Heavy winds also resulted in the collapse of a warehouse belonging to a hardware store in Groningen on Friday. Other areas in the city saw solar panels blown onto cars. A wall also moved in the city with fears that it was going to fall. This led to two stores being evacuated, a spokesperson for the Groningen Safety Region said.

The three incidents happened at 10:55 a.m. and 11:13 a.m. The first report about the warehouse collapsing on the Beckerweg came in at 10:55 a.m., a spokesperson reported. The warehouse collapsing was likely due to the strong winds. It was a part of a wholesaler of wood and building materials. No one was present when the building collapsed.

This came two minutes before emergency services were warned about a moving wall with small fragments coming off it onto the Sontplein between the Decathlon and Kwantum stores.The stores had already been evacuated, and the wall has been closed off, the spokesperson said.

Trouble then arose at 11:13 a.m. on the Oliemulderstraat. Solar panels were blowing off of one or several homes and landing on cars.

In all cases, the fire brigade secured the location and then transferred it to the owners or the municipality for further handling.

Another attack on agriculture > Study on air pollution blames cows

 

Polluted air causes €18 billion health damage

per year; Agriculture the biggest problem

NLTimes

In 2022, air pollution from Dutch soil caused 18 billion euros in health damage. Agriculture caused the most damage at 7.1 billion euros, Pointer reported after applying a research method from the European Environment Agency (EEA) to Dutch emission data of 15 harmful substances.

My first comment is - Bullshit!

My first question is - Who sponsored this research? Bill Gates? 

The agriculture sector - livestock farming, in particular - is the biggest source of health damage due to air pollution in the Netherlands. The cattle sector alone causes 3 billion euros in damage, mainly due to the large amount of ammonia emissions.

The traffic and transport sector, including inland vessels and mobile construction equipment, is the second largest source of air pollution-related health damage at 5.3 billion euros. Exhaust fumes from road traffic caused 2.4 billion euros of that damage.

Industry, energy, and refineries together caused 3.1 billion euros in damage. According to Pointer, the emissions of industrial pollution can clearly be linked to specific companies. In 2022, the top three were Tata Steel with 408 million euros in health damage, Esso’s refineries in Rotterdam at 185 million euros, and Shell at 176 million euros.

Pointer asked environmental economist Sander De Bruyn of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) to check its calculations. “The amount of 18 billion euros is a loss of prosperity that occurs immediately. If you apply the EEA method, you indeed arrive at this order of magnitude,” he said. Improving air quality is an investment, De Bruyn said. “The costs of the measures are generally less than the health benefits you can achieve.”

The public health institute RIVM lists air pollution as the second largest cause of health damage in the Netherlands, after smoking. One in five children with asthma developed the condition due to pollution. Air pollution also increases the risk of heart problems high blood pressure, low birth weight, and premature births. Around 11,000 Dutch people die an average of eight months early every year due to the consequences of breathing unhealthy air.

Of course, there is no study counting the positive impacts of cows, agriculture, transport, and industry. That would be interesting.

Air pollution has declined sharply since the 1990s, but the Netherlands is still far from meeting the World Health Organization’s advisory rules for healthy air, according to the program. 

================================================================================================

Bits and Bites from Around the World > Pope tells US Catholics to vote for lesser of evils (ouch); Bear attacks man in Crowsnest Pass

 

Pope slams Harris and Trump, tells U.S. Catholics

to vote for ‘lesser evil’

By Michelle Butterfield  Global News

Posted September 13, 2024 1:28 pm

 3 min read

Pope Francis said that American voters face the choice between “the lesser evil” in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, taking aim at both Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump, and emphasizing that he believes both are running for president on anti-life policies.

“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants or the one who (supports) killing babies,” Francis said, speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane Friday, as reported by The Associated Press. “Both are against life.”

The in-flight press conference, which took place on a chartered flight from Singapore to Jakarta as part of a 12-day tour, saw the Pope urge Catholics to vote with their conscience.

“In political morality, in general they say that if you don’t vote, it’s not good, it’s bad. You have to vote, and you have to choose the lesser evil,” he said.

==============================================================================================

Man in serious condition after bear attack

near Alberta-B.C. border

By Simon Little & Elissa Carpenter  Global News

Posted September 13, 2024 6:53 pm

 1 min read

A bear attack in the Crowsnest Pass near the Alberta-B.C. border on Friday has left one man in hospital.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife said the attack happened northwest of Coleman, Alta., in the Alison Creek Road area, just after noon.

Alberta RCMP say two hikers were in the remote area together. One was able to signal for help with a Garmin SOS device.

STARS Air Ambulance airlifted the victim from the area.

Alberta Health Services said the patient, a man in his 40s, was in serious condition but is expected to survive.

It was not immediately clear if the bear was a grizzly or a black bear.

RCMP and Alberta Fish and Wildlife are investigating the incident.