Breaking Wildlife News: A Heroic Bear Story, Boone & Crockett's New Species, and Wooly Mammoth Discoveries

We wrap 2024 with headlines regarding bears and heroism, a new species added to the Boone & Crockett Club, Wooly Mammoth findings and more! Join radio hosts Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' and Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt (Tigger & BEC) with The Bend Radio Show & Podcast, your news outlet for the latest in Outdoors & Western Lifestyle News!  

Episode 217 Details

Hunting Heroism, Rare Species Milestones, and Ancient Mammoth Findings  12-Year-Old Boy Saves Father from Bear Attack on Wisconsin Hunting Trip 

A Minnesota father is praising his 12-year-old son for saving his life after a black bear attack on September 6, 2024. While hunting in Wisconsin, Ryan Beierman was knocked down by a wounded bear that son, Owen, had shot earlier. The bear charged, and Ryan was left fighting for his life when 12-year-old Owen quickly shot and killed the bear with a hunting rifle. Ryan suffered several injuries, including cuts and puncture wounds, but credits Owen for his heroism. The father-son duo had extensive hunting experience, the father is proud of Owen's quick thinking and the shot that saved his father's life.

REFERENCE: 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/young-boy-uses-rifle-save-father-from-black-bear-attack-a-hero

Boone & Crockett Club: Recognizes Javelina to Big Game Trophy Records

The Boone and Crockett Club has officially added javelina, or collared peccary, to its big-game trophy records—the first new species added in nearly 25 years. 

The name Javelina descends from Spanish for “wild sow,” though javelina are unrelated to feral hogs, which sometimes share the landscapes they occupy.

Native to the Southwest, javelina from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico are eligible for the records once measurement standards, likely based on skull dimensions, are finalized. This decision highlights the species' growing popularity among hunters and its value to conservation efforts, especially in desert habitats.

Interest in javelina hunting has surged, with hunters reporting stable to growing populations and range expansion into northern areas like Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Biologists report that across all three U.S. states with javelina populations, nearly 58,000 hunters annually harvest an estimated 33,000 javelina. Adding javelina as a trophy species aims to elevate their conservation status, bringing attention and resources to their often-overlooked habitats. The move reflects a collaborative effort among wildlife managers and conservationists across the Southwest and Mexico.

Previously regarded as pests in some areas, the designation gives javelina greater value, encouraging responsible management. With its inclusion, javelina could impact the "North American 29" Super Slam of big-game species, though Boone and Crockett has not confirmed changes to this roster. Final details, including minimum scores for entries, are expected in the coming months.

REFERENCE:

https://www.boone-crockett.org/boone-and-crockett-club-announces-decision-create-new-big-game-records-category-javelina

Complete Mastodon, Wooly Mammoth, Jaw Discovered in New York Backyard 

A significant paleontological discovery was made in Orange County, New York, when researchers unearthed a complete mastodon (Wooly Mammoth) jaw—first found in the state in over 11 years. The jaw, along with additional bone fragments, was discovered in a backyard near Scotchtown. The homeowner spotted two mastodon teeth protruding from the soil, which led to further excavation and the discovery of the full jaw, a rib, and a toe bone. The fossils are set for carbon dating and analysis to learn more about the mastodon’s age, diet, and habitat. This discov