DEAR READERS: Please see this recent release from Project Coyote (projectcoyote.org).

"Wildlife Services, often known as the killing arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, just published its 2023 program data detailing the number of animals the department killed and the methods used. The numbers are as staggering as always, with 1.4 million animals killed nationwide last year. ...

"In 2023, wild carnivores, as usual, were among the most heavily targeted species, with the program intentionally killing 68,649 coyotes, 305 wolves, 2 Mexican gray wolves, 237 mountain lions, 437 black bears, 2,246 foxes (including red, gray, and kit species), 482 bobcats, and 6 federally protected grizzly bears. Wildlife Services also gassed over 400 coyote and fox dens, killing an unknown number of pups in dens.

"The Wildlife Services uses M-44 cyanide bombs, neck snares, foothold traps, and aerial gunning in their 'lethal arsenal' -- methods as cruel as they are indiscriminate. These reckless practices resulted in the unintentional killing of federally protected species including the golden eagle and Mexican gray wolf, as well as many other species including 658 river otters, 443 raccoons, 379 snapping turtles, and 91 gray foxes. Even our companion animals are at risk, with numerous cats and dogs meeting their untimely end from Wildlife Services."

Tragically, these numbers are likely underestimated, as program insiders have long reported that Wildlife Services consistently underreports animals killed. To find out how you can help to stop this wanton slaughter of the innocent and save the vital biodiversity of natural habitats, go to projectcoyote.org.

DEAR DR. FOX: In a recent column, you stated that “predators never kill more than they need.” Where did you get that information? Have you had any experience with livestock and predators?

I was raised on a sheep ranch, ran my own sheep ranch and worked on a UC Davis agriculture experiment station. I have seen adult ewes that were killed by coyotes and not eaten at all, and also baby lambs killed and only the stomach contents eaten. On my own ranch, three ewes and our largest ram were killed in one night by a mountain lion -- with no flesh eaten from any of them.

I am sure you can find research that shows that some predators do kill more than they need. One thing I have learned is that you can’t make blanket statements about predators; they will prove you wrong. -- J.L., Geyserville, California

DEAR J.L.: I agree with you that predators will often prove us wrong: Unpredictability, to a degree, is the nature of predators. However, to repeat what I wrote earlier, predators do not normally kill more than they need. This is because of the energy needed to track and kill prey, the risk of incurring injuries from larger prey, and the ecological constraints around the availability of prey animals.

Domesticated animals, such as sheep -- especially those in a fenced field or corral, with no escape -- are very vulnerable to predators, which may well kill several and not consume them. Also, some varieties of domestic livestock have limited anti-predator responses, often bunching up together and making mass killing more likely. In India, I witnessed native cattle, especially cows protecting their calves, standing up to some predators and driving them off, while European dairy breeds lack this defensive behavior.

The bottom line where predators are concerned is to be prepared. Use nonlethal methods of predator deterrence, the best being the deployment of guard dogs, plus monitored night corrals. I recall one Indian cattle owner whose animals were allowed to graze freely in the jungle during the day, where there were tigers, leopards and dholes (wild dogs). I asked him how he felt about losing some cattle to these predators and he replied, “The jungle is their kingdom, and this is my rental payment.”

Regrettably, many cattle owners there resorted to putting out poisoned bait, which killed many non-target species, including village dogs. My late wife worked there and raised funds for a veterinarian to certify livestock losses from predators so that the owners could receive government compensation. Similar government insurance and compensation in the U.S. and other countries will help prevent retaliatory responses by livestock owners shooting, trapping, snaring and poisoning predators.

The region of Montesinho in northern Portugal provides an example of how to let wolves and livestock coexist as peacefully as possible. Ranchers in the area use guard dogs, fencing (as needed) and shepherds to oversee flocks and dogs.

"According to data gathered by the European Union, wolves kill about 65,500 livestock each year, the majority being sheep," reported the BBC. "Considering there are an estimated 60 million sheep in the EU, the level of wolf predation represents an annual killing of 0.065%."

For details, go to: bbc.com/future/article/20240808-in-portugal-shepherds-coexist-with-wolves.

UN: WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING HARMS NATURE, PUBLIC HEALTH

Wildlife trafficking occurs in more than 80% of countries, inflicts “untold harm upon nature” and jeopardizes public health, according to a report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. And 40% of the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians seized by authorities between 2015 and 2021 were on lists of threatened or near-threatened species. Better law enforcement is needed to reduce both supply and demand, the report says. (Full story: The Guardian, May 13)

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: Our oceans, and the lives therein, are in trouble. Climate change is warming the oceans, which energizes hurricanes and typhoons, while the rising levels of carbon dioxide acidify the waters and kill many species.

The Gulf of Mexico now has a "dead zone" expanding over 6,700 square miles where there is little to no life. This is because of the over-application of nitrate and phosphate fertilizers by farmers in the Midwest, which the rains wash into the Mississippi River to empty into the ocean. The fertilizer triggers an overgrowth of algae that decompose, sink to the bottom and deplete oxygen from the water so nothing can live in the dead zone.

Some of these algae are toxic to wildlife. Domoic acid poisoning from algal blooms appears to be the cause of recent multiple sea lion strandings along a 155-mile stretch of California’s coast. Adult female sea lions have been the primary victims. The neurotoxin affects the brain and heart, and the substance can sicken other marine mammals, as well as humans.

There are also freshwater concerns. Runoff from people fertilizing their lawns, along with sewage spills after heavy rains, create algal blooms in lakes and streams across the U.S. Keep dogs out of fresh water with algal growth, because some algae are highly toxic. And no dog should be allowed in any aquatic habitat if they are wearing an anti-tick and flea collar or have a spot-on product on their skin since these pesticides are lethal to aquatic life.

Communities restoring kelp forests and the sustainable farming of this carbon-sequestering, oxygen-releasing seaweed offer a glimmer of hope.

DEAR DR. FOX: I was a student of yours when you were associate professor of psychology at Washington University. I really enjoyed your course in animal behavior. I am now retired from teaching high school, and I was wondering what you think kids should be taught today -- when they are not stuck on social media and gaming. -- K.K., Sarasota, Florida

DEAR K.K.: You bring back fond memories of my time at that excellent university in St. Louis, and you raise an interesting question about today's students. I feel the generations to come will be challenged on many fronts, from the ravages of extreme climatic events to internecine strife and rising costs of food and other basic resources.

After checking out various school curricula in social studies and civics, I would add humane and environmental ethics and conservation, coupled with sustainable living: adopting ways to reduce the carbon footprint of conspicuous consumption. I would also add home economics, focusing on healthful food selection and preparation. Learning basic survival skills, self-reliance and collective action and support would also be prudent, considering the uncertainties that the future holds.

RISKS AND TIPS FOR HANDLING PET FOODS AND TREATS

Analyses of 14 raw meat diets and 41 processed diets for pets found multidrug-resistant E. coli in 10 of the raw diets, multidrug-resistant salmonella in one raw diet, and neither in the processed foods. The findings “strongly suggest that conventionally processed pet food is a safer option ... (and) indicate a need for proactive actions involving the pet industry, food safety agencies, and pet owners to mitigate risks for public health,” researchers wrote in the journal Eurosurveillance. Relatedly, a survey of pet owners in Slovenia revealed that many pet owners are unaware of the health risks posed by raw diets. (Full story: Food Safety News, May 7)

Just like "people" food, pet foods can sometimes be contaminated with bacteria like salmonella or listeria, which can cause serious illness in both the pets that eat them and the people who handle the food and treats. Commercially prepared pet foods and treats can provide nutritious diets and delicious rewards for pets, but it is important to handle them with health and safety in mind.

The AVMA has developed resources on safe handling practices for pet food and treats, including when to dispose of them, hand-washing guidelines and other tips. View the guidelines here: avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/safe-handling-pet-food-and-pet-treats.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: In July, amid a local outbreak of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued a 30-day ban on transporting dogs in or out of the state. A spokesperson for Brandywine Valley SPCA, Delaware's largest animal welfare organization, said the group vaccinated all of the dogs housed in its shelters and foster homes and is also vaccinating any dog brought in as a stray. It is also offering two-dose canine influenza vaccines for dogs in the community. (Full story: WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Maryland, July 30)

No single infectious agent has been identified in these local and regional outbreaks of CIRDC. One factor may be the increase in airborne pollen and fungal spores in many areas, which is linked to climate change. But in my opinion, fine particulate matter is a major contributing factor. Consider the many particles and pollutants from automobile exhaust, various industries and forest fires that dogs sniff up while walking and running close to the ground.

Drastically reducing the burning of fossil fuels is called for, not only to reduce the severity of climate change, which triggers forest fires (which in turn exacerbate climate change), but also to prevent diseases caused by air pollutants. Certain tiny particles can damage our lungs, hearts and possibly our brains. The impact on wildlife is potentially extensive, affecting animals' survival behaviors as well as their neuroendocrine, immune and reproductive systems.

According to the EPA, certain particles that contain aluminum, zinc, lead and sulfuric acid are "making lakes and streams acidic; changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins; depleting the nutrients in soil; damaging sensitive forests and farm crops and affecting the diversity of ecosystems." (For details, see epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm.)

It is notable that outbreaks of CIRDC have become more prevalent in many states where air quality has been declining precipitously from the burning of forest fires. According to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, CIRDC had reached at least 16 states as of December of last year: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

DOGS CAN SMELL OUR EMOTIONAL STATES

Recent research published in Scientific Reports suggests that dogs can tell whether people are stressed or relaxed based on their scent, and the animals may be able to modify their behavior accordingly. British researchers noted that dogs apparently can interpret odors even when they do not know the person well. (See "The odor of an unfamiliar stressed or relaxed person affects dogs’ responses to a cognitive bias test" by Zoe Parr-Cortes et al., published in Scientific Reports, July 2024.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Have you read this book? It's by John Clifton: "Stop the Shots! Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets?" -- J.L., Minneapolis

DEAR J.L.: Yes, indeed I have. Clifton included interviews with several veterinarians in his groundbreaking book. It is not an anti-vaccination diatribe, but a well-reasoned documentation of the risks of giving our animal companions too many unwarranted vaccinations. Regrettably, this practice continues, even though various veterinary associations have set new guidelines to minimize vaccinations and optimize their protective value, which I fully endorse.

See my previous posts on the subject:

-- drfoxonehealth.com/post/cat-vaccination-protocols

-- drfoxonehealth.com/post/dog-vaccination-protocols

-- drfoxonehealth.com/post/animal-vaccination-concerns-vaccine-associated-autoimmune-and-other-diseases

There are also rising concerns about genetically engineered mRNA vaccines, which I will address in a future column.

DOG THEFT CAN EVOKE SAME EMOTIONS AS PERSON’S DEATH

People may experience the same degree of despair, hopelessness and emotional pain after a dog is stolen as they do when a beloved person dies, according to a small study in Animal-Human Interactions. Those feelings can be compounded by a lack of understanding as well as laws that consider pets property, researchers found. (Full story: HealthDay News, April 26)

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)