Mountain lions killed after eating human remains
Three mountain lions in Arizona were euthanized after eating human remains close to a popular hiking trail. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department discovered the human remains last Tuesday during an investigation on the Pima Canyon Trail. Though the mountain lions are not suspected of killing the victim, they were captured and killed Wednesday night. The Sheriff’s Department is still trying to determine the circumstances leading to the victim’s death.
“Mountain lions are not routinely scavengers. A mountain lion eating human remains is abnormal behavior. Those that do are more likely to attack a human being in the future,” Game & Fish Department Regional Supervisor Raul Vega told KGUN.
Read the full story here: https://thesouthern.com/news/mountain-lions-killed-after-eating-human-remains-on-hiking-trail/article_6effe183-3c12-55dc-9e37-ab45d1306879.html
Man missing nearly two weeks in Grand Canyon is found alive
A Texas man missing in the Grand Canyon was found alive last week after disappearing for 11 days. Martin E. O’Connor, 58, was last seen on December 22 at the Yavapai Lodge on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. He had been traveling alone and was a guest at the lodge from December 17 to December 22.
Hikers spotted O’Connor just off the New Hance Trail, a difficult trail described by the park website as “not maintained and maybe the most difficult established trail on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.” O’Connor was reportedly spotted hunkered away from the elements under an overhang. The hikers that spotted him reported what they saw to the backcountry information office and a rescue helicopter was sent to retrieve O’Connor the next day. It was not immediately clear whether the man suffered any injuries.
Read the full story here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/01/03/hiker-went-missing-grand-canyon-national-park-before-christmas-almost-two-weeks-later-he-was-found-alive/
Francis Walter Dam in Pennsylvania considered for NYC water needs
The Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Delaware River Basin Commission and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, is considering holding water from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh River in a reservoir to be used by New York City.
The Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting a feasibility study to define problems, needs and opportunities associated with project operation—primarily focused on flood risk management. Opponents of the project are concerned about the risk of flooding, as the Francis Walter Dam is a flood control structure and was not designed to be a holding bank for New York City. Concerns are also expressed over the impact on the ecosystem of the Lehigh River.
A public meeting to discuss the project will be held on January 9 at 6pm at the Mountain Laurel Resort in White Haven, PA. The Army Corps of Engineers is also accepting comments by email at [email protected].
Read more about the study here: https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Francis-E-Walter-Dam/Reevaluation-Study/
