Vegan News 4.25.13

Humans Passing Drug Resistance to Wildlife in Protected Areas in Africa. “A team of Virginia Tech researchers has discovered that humans are passing antibiotic resistance to wildlife, especially in protected areas where numbers of humans are limited.  In the case of banded mongoose in a Botswana study, multidrug resistance among study social groups, or troops, was higher in the protected area than in troops living in village areas. The study also reveals that humans and mongoose appear to be readily exchanging fecal microorganisms, increasing the potential for disease transmission.”

Investigation: New Mexico Animal Shot by Wildlife Services Agent Was a Mexican Wolf Federal Wildlife Services Agent Claimed He Thought it Was a Coyote. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that genetic tests reveal that the animal a U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services agent shot in January in New Mexico was indeed a Mexican gray wolf. The Fish and Wildlife Service, which initially denied that any wolves had been killed in New Mexico in January, has now presented the case to the U.S. attorney’s office for possible prosecution. As of last week, the shooter was still in his job on the interagency wolf-recovery field team.”

Michigan bill would create 1st statewide registry for convicted animal abusers in country. “Earlier this month, state Reps. Paul Muxlox and Harvey Santana introduced a bill that would create a sex offender-type registry for anyone convicted of animal abuse. The idea, in part, came from the work of Thomas M. Cooley law student Renee Edmondson, who helped write a majority of the law. The bill, H.B. 4535, would force anyone convicted of dog fighting, animal neglect or other animal cruelty crimes to register within five days of sentencing or his or her release from jail or prison. Anyone relocating to Michigan with similar convictions in other states must register within 21 days of moving. People will remain on the registry for five years.”

USDA Ruffles Feathers With New Poultry Inspection Policy. “The Obama administration is on the verge of dramatically scaling back the US Department of Agriculture’s oversight of the nation’s largest chicken and turkey slaughterhouses—while also allowing companies to speed up their kill lines. ”

Photo credit: photos.de.tibo via Flickr