Category Archives: animals

WMEO News Update – Midday Report

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Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat, lies slumped over the WMEO 9 news desk with his head resting on the surface. A small brown teddy bear sits beside him, and a black microphone lies tipped over in front. The blue studio backdrop and WMEO logo create a humorous newsroom scene.

⭐ WMEO News Update — Wednesday 11:30

Pumpkin Spice (at the news desk): “Good afternoon. WMEO is live. Banner and Balboa are in the field, and I have been abandoned.”

Alert brown squirrel standing upright on green grass, facing the camera with its bushy tail raised behind it.

Banner (crackly field audio): “Banner reporting. I’m interviewing Sir Chittersworth, squirrel about town,  about winter prep. He says nut‑gathering is at an all‑time high.”

Sir Chittersworth: angry chittering

Banner: “He just stole my pen.”

Black cat crouched on sand facing an aggressive seagull with wings spread and beak open near the water’s edge.Balboa (shouting over wind): “Balboa reporting— I was supposed to interview a migratory bird, but a seagull just attacked me! It stole my notes!”

Balboa: “It took my microphone! WHY DOES IT WANT MY MICROPHONE!”

Seagull: loud, hostile squawking

Pumpkin Spice (sliding off the desk): “I have requested a transfer back to field reporting immediately.”

WMEO 9 news desk with a knocked‑over microphone, a gray toy mouse, and a small brown teddy bear placed on the papers in front of the blue studio backdrop.

WMEO Management: “We will now be ending our midday report and apologize for… whatever that was. Thanks for watching.”

Disclaimer:
No cats were harmed during the making of this report. Balboa’s microphone, however, did not survive.

 

Wildlife Overpasses Are Saving Lives

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Elk walking across a vegetated wildlife overpass above a busy multi‑lane highway, with cars passing underneath and open plains in the background.

A Slow Start for a Smart Idea

Not so long ago, wildlife bridges were almost unheard of. The first versions started appearing in the 1950s, but here in the U.S., the idea took decades to gain traction. Canada embraced the concept much earlier, and because they’re our closest neighbor, we had a front‑row seat to watch their success.

When Human Impact Forces Action

For years, wildlife advocates pushed for safe passage for migrating animals, while politicians pointed to the cost. And as often happens, nothing really changed until enough people were affected. Once the human impact became impossible to ignore, momentum finally shifted.

Colorado’s Most Dangerous Stretch of Highway

One of the worst areas for wildlife collisions is in Colorado. You might remember when I shared the opening of the I‑25 Greenland Wildlife Bridge — and then the update when the first three elk crossed it shortly after it opened. The latest numbers are jaw‑dropping.

A 91% Drop in Wildlife Collisions

Since the overpass opened, wildlife‑vehicle collisions have dropped 91%. Ninety‑one percent. That’s not just a win — that’s a lifesaver.

Before the bridge was built, this stretch of highway saw up to 25 animal‑vehicle collisions per day during migration season. Think of the ripple effect: fewer injuries, fewer animal deaths, fewer totaled cars and trucks. Imagine a big rig hitting an elk — the damage to the truck, the cargo, the driver, and of course the animal. And that’s just one accident.

Built for Big Game — Used by Everyone

The overpass spans I‑25 near the Greenland exit between Larkspur and Monument. It was designed primarily for pronghorn and elk, but the success has gone far beyond that.

Video feeds show entire elk herds using the bridge. Pronghorn are crossing to the west side of I‑25 for the first time in decades. Bears, deer, coyotes, and other animals have been spotted using it too.

Biologists even created a protected pathway for small mammals by piling wood along the edges so they wouldn’t be picked off by predators while crossing. It’s not just a big‑game solution — it’s a full‑ecosystem fix.

A herd of elk standing in a grassy field, with a large bull elk in the center and leafless trees in the background.

A Model for the Future of Wildlife Safety

Colorado’s success is more than a local win — it’s a blueprint. When we give wildlife safe passage, we protect animals, drivers, families, and entire ecosystems. The Greenland overpass proves that thoughtful infrastructure can save lives on both sides of the guardrail.

Projects like the Greenland overpass remind us that the West isn’t just a place we admire — it’s a place we share. When we build with wildlife in mind, we’re choosing a future where animals can follow the paths they’ve used for centuries and drivers can travel safely through the landscapes we all love. It’s a simple idea with enormous impact, and Colorado has shown what happens when we finally decide to make room for every creature that calls this region home.

 

WMEO Late Breaking News — New Cat Species Discovered

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Two cats sitting behind a WMEO 9 news desk, an orange cat in a black bow tie and a black cat with a toy mouse and teddy bear, with a studio screen behind them showing a spotted wild cat and the headline “NEW CAT SPECIES IDENTIFIED.”

🐾 Dateline: Taunton, MA — This is a late‑breaking bulletin from WMEO: We Meow, You Listen.

Reporting live from the Nature Desk, here’s Banner with the latest update.

Banner: “Big news today, folks. It’s not every day science discovers a new species of cat. In fact, it’s almost suspicious.”

Balboa: “That’s right. We don’t need new species. We were good enough for the Egyptians — we should be good enough now.”

Banner: “Balboa is referring to the fact that ancient Egyptians worshiped cats as gods. But that has absolutely nothing to do with this story. A small wildcat known as the Atacama Tiger Cat was identified in Bolivia in 2016. WMEO has confirmed it weighs three pounds. Three. Pounds. That’s smaller than Balboa’s ego.”

Balboa: “2016?! What took them so long to tell us? Why the big secret? Were they afraid we’d unionize?”

Banner: “Sources say the cat is about 18 inches long, stripy, extremely cute, and definitely a wild cat — not a housecat, not adoptable, and not interested in sharing your couch.”

Close-up of a small spotted wild cat sitting against a black background, showing its patterned coat, large eyes, and long banded tail.

Pumpkin Spice, WMEO’s roving reporter, lounging on a hay bale in full autumn colors.

Roving Reporter, Pumpkin Spice

Balboa: “Pumpkin Spice volunteered to cover the story. He claims he speaks fluent Tiger Cat. We doubt it. He barely speaks housecat.”

Banner: “WMEO will continue monitoring this developing situation. Stay tuned for updates as our field reporter attempts to make contact — or at least avoid getting hissed at.”

Two cats sitting behind a WMEO 9 news desk, an orange cat in a black bow tie and a black cat with a toy mouse, teddy bear, and playing cards, with a studio backdrop and “Thank you for watching” displayed on the desk.

 

This concludes our WMEO Special Report. We Meow — You Listen. Thanks for watching… Balboa insists you applaud.

 

WMEO Weekend Update – Fat Bears Are Back

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Two cats sit behind the WMEO 9 news desk like news anchors. The orange cat on the left and the black cat on the right face the camera with a microphone between them. Paw‑printed papers lie on the desk, and Balboa’s small gray toy mouse sits on the black cat’s side. Behind them, a large studio screen shows a bear catching a salmon with the headline “FAT BEAR WEEK 2026.” The newsroom background is softly blurred with blue and red lighting.

WMEO Weekend Update – Fat Bears Are Back- We Meow, You Listen

Banner: Good evening, Taunton — the salmon are running, the bears are bulking, and Fat Bear Week is lumbering back into the spotlight.

Balboa: And some of these guys are so round they need their own zip code.

Banner: Fat Bear Week runs September 22–29 this year. It started in 2014 as an annual competition celebrating how the brown bears of Katmai and Brooks Camp pack on weight before settling in for their long winter sleep.

Balboa: Pack on weight? These guys carbo‑load like they’re training for the Salmon Olympics. They add blubber faster than a whale on cheat day.

Banner: Park Superintendent Mark Sturm says Brooks Camp has more cubs this year than they’ve seen in a long time. The new generation is off to a strong start.

Balboa: Strong start? They’re practically born into a bracket. Last year, over 1.7 million votes came in from more than 100 countries before Bear 32 — “Chunk” — took home the crown.

A large brown bear stands in a rushing river near a small waterfall, its fur wet and heavy. The bear faces forward with a piece of fish visible near its mouth, surrounded by flowing water and rocky terrain in a natural wilderness setting.

 

Banner: The 2026 Fat Bear Week bracket dropped Friday,  September 18. Voting runs September 22–29 (no weekend voting), and the champion will be crowned September 29.

Balboa: Chunk is back to defend his title. And remember — these bears gain most of their weight by eating fish. Fish! One of humans’ favorite diet foods. Do we need to rethink everything.

Banner: If you want to be one of the more than 1.7 million people who voted last year…

Balboa: From more than 100 countries!

Banner: Yes, from more than 100 countries — head over to the Fat Bear Week website, meet the bears, and vote for your 2026 champion.

Balboa: My money’s on Chunk. Two‑time champ material right there. And remember — Chunk may be a champion, but he’s no teddy bear.

Two cats sit behind a news desk labeled “WMEO 9 – Thank you for watching.” The orange cat on the left and the black cat on the right pose like news anchors. A small gray toy mouse and a light‑brown teddy bear rest on the desk in front of them, with paw‑printed papers nearby. The background shows a softly blurred newsroom with glowing blue and red lights.

Banner (closing): That’s your WMEO Weekend Update — stay curious, stay chunky, and remember: in Katmai, size does matter.

Balboa: And so does the salmon count.

 

When a Chore Turns Into a Treasure Hunt

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Two deer standing in a sunlit grassy clearing surrounded by dense green foliage.

Rediscovering Hidden Gems in My Photo Archives

Dolphins swimming together at the ocean surface with their dorsal fins visible above the water.When I started The Great Photo Tagging Project, I was doing everything I could not to feel overwhelmed. My archives had grown to more than 10,000 photos, and most of them weren’t tagged. Any time I needed a specific picture, I had to scroll endlessly—unless I happened to remember the exact year and month I took it.

Take Hawaii, for example. I started traveling there in 2008 and went annually for years. I have hundreds of photos from those trips, but no clue which year a particular shot belonged to. Finding one specific image felt nearly impossible.

To make matters worse, I didn’t know about tagging when I began blogging. I’d find a photo, use it, and then toss it right back into the black hole of the untagged archives. So when I finally decided to tackle this project, it felt daunting.

The Slow March Through the BacklogA powerful geyser eruption sending steam and water upward, surrounded by grassy terrain and a forested backdrop.

At first, everything went smoothly. I was happily tagging away, and I made a rule: any new photo gets tagged immediately so I don’t add to the backlog. Somewhere along the line, though, the fun faded. Tagging became a chore.

Still, I was determined. I’d skip a day or two, then come back and knock out a page of 20 photos, slowly working my way backward through the years.

I’m currently in November 2016, inching my way toward the very beginning of the archive—January 2011. Some months are easy with just 10 or 20 photos. But then I hit a trip month and suddenly I’m staring down 300 images. Momentum? Slowed.

When the Chore Became a Treasure Hunt

But recently something unexpected happened. Without a car, I haven’t been able to get out and take new photos, so I’ve been relying on the archives. And as I started reviewing images in small batches, I began noticing things I’d completely missed before.

Treasure #1: The Puffin

Original puffin photo showing the bird floating on calm water before enlargement.I once waded through more than 200 puffin photos during post‑processing and somehow missed a gem. But while tagging, I enlarged one tiny puffin and—there it was—the iconic mouthful‑of‑fish shot I thought I’d missed forever. My first treasure.

Close‑up of an Atlantic puffin with a mouthful of fish, revealing details missed in the original thumbnail.

Treasure #2: Haleakala

The untouched Haleakala photo showing the raw volcanic landscape before post‑processing.I’ve always loved my Haleakala photo, but my artistic eye said it was a little flat. When I rediscovered it during tagging, I decided to give it a little post‑processing love. Suddenly it had punch, depth, drama. Treasure number two.

Vibrant, enhanced photo of Haleakala’s volcanic terrain with sharp detail and dramatic cloud formations.

Treasure #3: The Submarine Shots

The untouched shipwreck photo showing the quiet underwater scene before enhancement.Then came two photos taken from a submarine. Shooting through thick porthole glass isn’t ideal, but with a little editing magic, those images transformed from “nice memory” to “something really special.”

The transformed shipwreck image showing rich color, marine life, and dramatic underwater detail after post‑processing.

The untouched eagle ray photo showing the quiet underwater moment before enhancement.

Vibrant, enhanced photo of three spotted eagle rays swimming across the ocean floor, showcasing their patterns and graceful movement.

Finding Beauty in the “Ugly Ducklings”

Now I’m energized again. I’m not just tagging my inventory—I’m hunting for hidden gems. I’m looking for those overlooked, imperfect photos that just need a little love to become beautiful swans.

And honestly? I can’t wait to find my next treasure.

What about you? Have you ever looked at an old photo with new eyes and discovered a treasure hiding in plain sight?