Mississippi Sandhill Cranes Suffer Losses

GAUTIER, Miss. (AP) - Seven of the 20 Mississippi sandhill
cranes released in the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in December have died.
Refuge biologist Scott Hereford says another one of the cranes
released in December was returned to the Audubon Center in New
Orleans after suffering a shattered leg.
Hereford says six of the cranes died in coyote attacks. He says
another young crane is believed to have flown too low over
Interstate 10 and collided with a vehicle.
The crane deaths occurred in January and February.
The cranes were born and raised in captivity before being
released in December into pens on the 20,000-acre refuge.
Hereford says there are 112 to 115 Mississippi sandhill cranes
surviving on the refuge.
The cranes are an endangered species.

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