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Red Fox Stops By CT Home: They 'Need Not Be Feared,' Officials Say Red Fox Stops By CT Home: They 'Need Not Be Feared,' Officials Say
Red Fox Stops By CT Home: They 'Need Not Be Feared,' Officials Say A red fox made a surprise visit to a Fairfield County home as the homeowner's cat watched while safely indoors.  The visit happened at a New Canaan home on Tuesday, Nov. 21.  The curious critter, identified as a red fox by its reddish fur, black legs and ears, and white-tipped tail, was seen venturing onto the homeowner's porch and yard.  According to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), the animals are commonly found living near human residences, as they can find plenty of food, water, and shelter, especially in yards.  The foxes are accustomed to …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Family Of Bobcats Takes Over Backyard Of Home In CT Family Of Bobcats Takes Over Backyard Of Home In CT
Family Of Bobcats Takes Over Backyard Of Home In CT A family of bobcats visited a Fairfield County home and made themselves at home. The incident took place in New Canaan on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The three cats, two smaller and one larger, didn't cause any trouble and just wandered around the yard checking out the trampoline and other items. The State Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) said that at times the mother cat is looking for a new home for little ones -- they are known to frequently move their litter -- or is searching for food.  One of the smaller cats.  Christine Yang DEEP said the number of bobcats in …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Moose Spotted Near I-91 In Windsor Locks: Drivers Should Watch Out, Officials Say Moose Spotted Near I-91 In Windsor Locks: Drivers Should Watch Out, Officials Say
Moose Spotted Near I-91 In Windsor Locks: Drivers Should Watch Out, Officials Say State environmental officials are warning drivers to be cautious after a moose was spotted near a busy Connecticut highway exit. The warning came as the result of a sighting on Tuesday, Oct. 17, when a moose was seen in Hartford County near Exit 40 on Interstate 91 southbound in Windsor Locks, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced.  According to DEEP officials, the large animals can "pose hazard potential" to drivers, especially during the early morning and evening hours when they are most active. There are currently estimated to be just over 100 moose in the…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Large Moose Spotted In Bloomfield Just Miles From Where 2 Were Killed Large Moose Spotted In Bloomfield Just Miles From Where 2 Were Killed
Large Moose Spotted In Bloomfield Just Miles From Where 2 Were Killed Officials are warning residents and motorists to use caution after another large moose was spotted in Connecticut. The moose was spotted in Hartford County in Bloomfield just three days after two were killed on I-91 by motorists just two miles away. The Bloomfield Police said the moose was spotted in the area of Ellsworth Drive on Saturday, May 20. Earlier report: Second Moose, Struck, Killed By Car In Hartland The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection also put out a warning on Twitter, asking residents to please not approach the animal and to use caution when driving especia…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Fox Found Trapped In Tire Rescued In Connecticut Fox Found Trapped In Tire Rescued In Connecticut
Fox Found Trapped In Tire Rescued In Connecticut Environmental conservation officers in Connecticut rescued a fox after the animal got its head stuck in a tire over the weekend. Officers in the Northwest corner helped free the animal after it became trapped while it was likely chasing a small rodent, according to an announcement from Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police on Sunday, July 31. Authorities did not share the location where the incident took place. "With the help from the homeowners and a little baby oil, our wardens were able to safely free Mr. Fox," officials reported. "Although I’m sure he was 'tire'd out…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
Coyotes Kill Six Peacocks In Broad Daylight At Martha Stewart's NY Estate Coyotes Kill Six Peacocks In Broad Daylight At Martha Stewart's NY Estate
Coyotes Kill Six Peacocks In Broad Daylight At Martha Stewart's NY Estate Six peacocks on Martha Stewart's 153-acre New York estate were killed in a brazen, broad-daylight attack by coyotes. The 80-year-old writer/television personality said she's building an enclosed fence around her yard at the property in the hamlet of Katonah in the Town of Bedford in Northern Westchester County. "RIP beautiful Blue Boy," Stewart wrote on Instagram In a post that displayed a video of one of the victims. "The coyotes came in broad daylight and devoured him and five others.” Stewart said six "large and aggressive coyotes who have expensive tastes when it comes to poultry" car…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
CDC Issues New Monkeypox Guidance Amid Increase In Cases CDC Issues New Monkeypox Guidance Amid Increase In Cases
CDC Issues New Monkeypox Guidance Amid Increase In Cases Amid the largest monkeypox outbreak ever in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance. Since May 2022, monkeypox cases, which have historically been rare in the United States, have been identified in 18 states and territories among both persons returning from international travel and their close contacts domestically, the CDC said. The CDC said there have now been 72 confirmed cases of monkeypox -- a big jump from the 19 cases reported at the beginning of June. Globally, more than 1,600 cases have been reported from more than 30 countri…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Moose On The Loose: Police Issue Alert After Sighting In CT Moose On The Loose: Police Issue Alert After Sighting In CT
Moose On The Loose: Police Issue Alert After Sighting In CT Police have issued an alert about a wild moose that has made a big impression on residents in a Connecticut town. The Winchester Police Department in Litchfield County announced on Thursday, March 31, that it has received a number of complaints about the moose spotted in the area, and people approaching and crowding the animal. Police added that the department has received reports of people parking on and walking across the highway to see the moose, which could lead to crashes. The department plans to establish barriers to protect the moose and enforce the barriers if people do not respec…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
Uptick In Coyote Sightings Now Being Reported In Region Uptick In Coyote Sightings Now Being Reported In Region
Uptick In Coyote Sightings Now Being Reported In Region Coyote sightings have been on the rise in the Hudson Valley, prompting some pet-owners to be on high alert as they seek to protect their furry friends. For coyotes, February marks the beginning of mating season, which lasts between four and six weeks, peaking late in the month and early in March, according to animal experts, who noted that it varies year-to-year depending on weather, prey, quantity, and other mitigating factors. Researchers said that the season begins with mating, followed by pup raising, and then dispersal, leading to the rise in sightings in recent weeks. Related story…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police Warn Residents Two Coyotes Have Been Seen In CT Police Warn Residents Two Coyotes Have Been Seen In CT
Police Warn Residents Two Coyotes Have Been Seen In CT Police are warning residents that two coyotes have been seen in Fairfield County. Officials said early Wednesday, Sept. 8, they have been notified by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that the two coyotes were spotted in Norwalk around Flax Hill Park. They are reminding residents of steps to take in the event they encounter the animals or to prevent coyotes from coming into their yards. Pet owners are urged to keep their dogs leashed and insight. If they are in the yard, homes should have coyote-proof fencing. Never feed coyotes, and remove bird feeders, fallen f…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
CT Town Sees Increase In Bear Sightings, Police Say CT Town Sees Increase In Bear Sightings, Police Say
CT Town Sees Increase In Bear Sightings, Police Say A Fairfield County town is warning residents of multiple black bear sightings in the area. On Sunday, May 31, there were multiple black bear sightings reported in the northern section of Westport. The bear was first reported to be in the area of Weathervane Hill and then was seen by Earthplace which is located off Woodside Lane, said Westport Police Lt. David Wolf. Later that day, the bear was observed at the Westport/Weston YMCA, and in the early evening, there were additional sightings on Weston Road.  Westport Animal Control believes that it was the same b…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Three Bears Enjoy Fun In Sun At Park In Western Mass Three Bears Enjoy Fun In Sun At Park In Western Mass
Three Bears Enjoy Fun In Sun At Park In Western Mass A trio of bears took in the sights at a popular Western Massachusetts park on Wednesday as they took a minute to enjoy the warm weather. An alert was issued in Hampden County by the Chicopee Police Department on Wednesday, May 19 regarding three bears that were spotted in Preston Park and in the Fairview area making the rounds as the weather heats up. Anyone in the area has been instructed to remove any food sources, including bird feeders, and to ensure that trash is secured so as to reduce the enticement for the bears to wander onto residents’ properties. Police noted that bear sighting…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Moose On Loose At UConn Campus Signals Beginning Of Birthing Season Moose On Loose At UConn Campus Signals Beginning Of Birthing Season
Moose On Loose At UConn Campus Signals Beginning Of Birthing Season After a moose was spotted on the UConn campus, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is advising motorists to be watchful of increased deer and moose activity along roadways. The moose was spotted strolling the streets in Mansfield and later on the campus in Storrs on Saturday, May 8. DEEP says the sign of the moose out and about is normal as the months of May and June mark the birthing period for deer and moose.  DEEP’s Wildlife Division urges motorists to be aware during this period of activity and also slow down and drive defensively should a large animal,…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Who Has The Most Bears? CT Map Shows 8,000-Plus Bear Sightings, Town By Town Who Has The Most Bears? CT Map Shows 8,000-Plus Bear Sightings, Town By Town
Who Has The Most Bears? CT Map Shows 8,000-Plus Bear Sightings, Town By Town If you had to guess which town has reported seeing more than 500 bears this year, which one would it be? One might assume a rural community would have the most bear sightings, but bears have increasingly been making their way into cities and busy towns searching for food. In Connecticut, the town that has seen the most bears so far this year is Simsbury with 505 sightings reported to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection through Sept. 10. The state tracks bear sightings, as well as bobcats and moose on its Wildlife Sighting Public Viewer. Bears have been breaking int…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
Record Number Of 'Bear Break-Ins' Of CT Homes This Year, DEEP Reports Record Number Of 'Bear Break-Ins' Of CT Homes This Year, DEEP Reports
Record Number Of 'Bear Break-Ins' Of CT Homes This Year, Deep Reports An unprecedented number of black bears have ambled into the homes of unsuspecting Connecticut residents in 2020, some seriously injuring leashed and unleashed dogs therein, according to the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The total number of such incidents this year has been 42. Comparatively, the agency said that only 17 bears entering homes were reported throughout the entirety of 2019; that number of bear break-ins was seen in just July of 2020. Preceding the fall season, during which black bears increase their food intake to prepare for hibernating throu…

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by Christina Coulter