CAMBRIDGE, Mass.

Man shot himself to death in Harvard Yard, school says

An unidentified man has been found dead on the campus of Harvard University after school officials said he shot himself.

The Harvard Crimson reported that the body was found Saturday morning on the top step of Memorial Church in Tercentenary Theatre.

A university spokesman told the newspaper that the man suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Harvard Yard. It is unclear if the man was affiliated with Harvard.

Katherine Mentzinger, a resident of Thayer Hall, told the newspaper that she heard one gunshot and could see the body “in a pool of blood” from her friend’s room in the dorm.

Mentzinger said she saw a tour group that had been in the area during the shooting taken aside to be questioned by police.

Local and state authorities are helping with the investigation.

MERRIMACK, N.H.

Painting by chicken draws bids of almost $450 on eBay

A chicken in Merrimack is strutting its artistic stuff with a piece of art that’s fetched more than 50 bids on an online auction site.

A silver spangled appenzeller hen called Simon has created a masterpiece called Fireworks, produced by dabbing her footprints in red, orange and yellow acrylic paint and walking around on a black canvas to create a the fireworks-like scene.

Simon’s owner, Wendy Thomas of Merrimack, told the New Hampshire Union Leader that the Fireworks painting was placed on eBay Wednesday. As of Friday night, bidding was nearing $450.

Proceeds from the painting will benefit a local children’s playground.

AUBURN, N.H.

Man who shot his pit bull gets community service

A Manchester man who admitted shooting his pit bull in local woods has been sentenced to 40 hours of community service at an animal rescue league after his charge was reduced to a misdemeanor in Candia District Court.

Thirty-nine-year-old Adam Lamotte was facing a felony charge of animal cruelty. The New Hampshire Union Leader said Lamotte’s sentence also includes a six-month probation period during which he cannot own domestic animals.

Lamotte turned himself in to police in February after learning through a news story that they were looking for the dog’s owner. The pit bull was found tied to a tree off a trail on the Manchester Water Works property near the Route 28 bypass.

WATERBURY, Vt.

Hunters urged not to use urine-based scents for deer

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging hunters not to use urine-based scents to attract deer because of concerns it could spread a fatal disease that infects deer and moose.

The department said the infectious agent of chronic wasting disease can be passed in urine.

The agent, called a prion, can remain in soils for many years.

The state said some captive deer facilities that produce urine products for hunting have not complied with mandatory disease prevention and monitoring regulations.

Chronic wasting disease is always fatal and is impossible to eradicate once it has been fully established in an area.

No cases have been found in Vermont.