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Wildlife Conservation

News
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bear Captured On Camera In Northern Westchester: Here's Where Bear Captured On Camera In Northern Westchester: Here's Where
Bear Captured On Camera In Northern Westchester: Here's Where Residents in Northern Westchester, stay bear-aware: one of the massive animals was seen strolling behind a home in the area, officials said.  The bear was seen walking behind a residence in North Salem on Titicus Road near the Baxter Preserve, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said in a post on social media. The sighting was captured by a camera used by enthusiasts to take pictures of animals, Lucas said.  "Please take your bird feeders in!" Lucas wrote on social media.  According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, residents can protect themse…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
New Lobster Tales: 2 More Rare Orange Crustaceans Found At NY Businesses New Lobster Tales: 2 More Rare Orange Crustaceans Found At NY Businesses
New Lobster Tales: 2 More Rare Orange Crustaceans Found At NY Businesses As families gathered over Labor Day weekend, these lucky crustaceans enjoyed a reunion of their own. Days after an ultra rare orange lobster was saved from a New York Stop & Shop, two of her siblings were rescued from businesses on Long Island. “Meet Tangerine and Navel, Clementine's sisters who were rescued and released this Labor Day following an influx of calls about orange lobsters turning up at the East Setauket Stop & Shop and Northport Fish & Lobster!” Humane Long Island announced on Facebook Tuesday, Sept. 3. Earlier Report: Ultra Rare Orange Lobster Rescued From…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Slithery Surprise: 12-Foot Python Attacks Crews Responding To NY Water Main Break Slithery Surprise: 12-Foot Python Attacks Crews Responding To NY Water Main Break
Slithery Surprise: 12-Foot Python Attacks Crews Responding To NY Water Main Break It wasn’t exactly what crews expected to find on a busted pipe call. In the region, employees with the Albany Water Department got quite a scare on Friday, July 12, while responding to a broken 48-inch water transmission line in Tivoli Lake Preserve. Shortly after arriving on site, crews encountered a 12-foot-long snake. Albany Water initially identified the creature as a boa constrictor. Still, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) later clarified to Daily Voice that the serpent was actually a reticulated python measuring a whopping 12 feet, 10 inches long.  A DEC …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Bedford Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge Bedford Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge
Bedford Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge Thanks to elementary school students in Westchester and Rockland counties, several baby peregrine falcons born on top of the new Tappan Zee Bridge have been bestowed with creative names.  To name the falcons, which were born in late May on top of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, the New York State Thruway Authority and Veolia Water held a contest in which voters could decide between several names chosen by schoolchildren throughout the region. Nearly 200,000 votes later, the results are in — the four winning names are:  Beakoncé, which earned 26 percent of votes and was the idea of Ms…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Several Bear Sightings Reported Throughout This Hudson Valley County: Here's How To Avoid Them Several Bear Sightings Reported Throughout This Hudson Valley County: Here's How To Avoid Them
Several Bear Sightings Reported Throughout This Hudson Valley County: Here's How To Avoid Them Several bear sightings have been reported throughout a Hudson Valley county as they emerge from their winter dens.  The sightings were reported over several days by residents in multiple areas of Putnam County, according to an announcement by the Putnam County SPCA on Tuesday, June 4.  Although the organization did not identify specific areas where the bears were spotted, it did explain that sightings have increased as the bears search for food following their emergence from their winter dens with depleted fat reserves. According to the New York State Department of Environmental …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Osprey Nest Causes Closure At Popular Playland Ride In Westchester Osprey Nest Causes Closure At Popular Playland Ride In Westchester
Osprey Nest Causes Closure At Popular Playland Ride In Westchester A major ride at a popular Westchester amusement park is temporarily shut down thanks to some avian visitors who decided it was a perfect site to build their home.  The Gondola Wheel at Rye Playland is temporarily closed because of an active Osprey nest built on the ride, the park announced on Thursday, May 16.  The park, which opened for the season on Saturday, May 18, said the wheel would be closed "until further notice" to protect the Ospreys who have called it home. Park officials also said they would continue to share updates with guests. View this post on…

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by Ben Crnic
News
In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway
In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway Despite social media buzz and some help from a couple of drone operators, there’s still no sign of a family of black bear cubs days after their mama was struck and killed on a highway in the region. The Columbia County incident happened Friday evening, April 19, on the Taconic State Parkway near Exit 99 in the hamlet of Spencertown. Two or three 10-pound cubs that are still nursing were left orphaned when the adult bear was hit and killed, according to the wildlife nonprofit Lucky Rehabilitation Center. “We located the body of their mom and will be gathering hair samples this morning in th…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence In Hudson Valley Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence In Hudson Valley
Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence In Hudson Valley A black bear is still on the loose after breaking into a Hudson Valley home and being shot by the homeowner. The incident occurred in Orange County on Thursday, March 28 in Greenwood Lake. According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), a department police officer responded to the residence after a homeowner called 911 to report a black bear broke into an enclosed front porch.  The homeowner reported shooting the black bear once with a handgun and the bear ran off into the woods, DEC officials said. Attempts to locate the bear were unsuccessful. DEC’s investiga…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Where's Albert? 11-Foot Gator's Seizure From NY Home Sparks Backlash: 'Kind Of Messed Up' Where's Albert? 11-Foot Gator's Seizure From NY Home Sparks Backlash: 'Kind Of Messed Up'
Where's Albert? 11-Foot Gator's Seizure From NY Home Sparks Backlash: 'Kind Of Messed Up' Where is Albert the alligator? That’s what a New York man and his thousands of supporters are demanding to know after state wildlife officials seized his 11-foot, 750-pound gator from his home. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers showed up to Tony Cavallaro’s Erie County residence in the town Hamburg on Wednesday, March 13, after learning that he had built an addition to his home and installed an in-ground swimming pool to keep the gator. Officers accused Cavallaro of allowing members of the public, including children, to get into the water and pet Albert while the all…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Hudson Valley Man Admits Selling $70K In Elephant Ivory Pool Cues, DA Says Hudson Valley Man Admits Selling $70K In Elephant Ivory Pool Cues, DA Says
Hudson Valley Man Admits Selling $70K In Elephant Ivory Pool Cues, DA Says A Hudson Valley man has been convicted for his part in the illegal commercialization of elephant ivory worth more than $70,000. Rockland County resident Kenneth Kerner, age 59, of Clarkstown, was convicted on Thursday, Feb. 22 after pleading guilty to the crime on Thursday, Feb. 8, said the New State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York County District Attorney’s Office. Kerner, who was sentenced to five years probation, 200 hours of community service, and an obligation to donate $10,000 to a wildlife organization was caught as part of an investigation that began…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Mystery Predator: Animal That Killed Deer In Driveway Caught On Video By NY DEC Staffer Mystery Predator: Animal That Killed Deer In Driveway Caught On Video By NY DEC Staffer
Mystery Predator: Animal That Killed Deer In Driveway Caught On Video By NY DEC Staffer That darn cat. Or was it? An incident that happened in upstate New York last week required a teamwide effort by members of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. A video from the town of Wilmington in Essex County, about 12 miles northeast of Lake Placid, captured the predator that killed a deer in a local resident's driveway. "The incident was reported to DEC wildlife, with an eyewitness description of the event and the mystery predator," the DEC said in a Facebook post. "A DEC wildlife biologist responded to the scene and set up a trail camera overlooking the carcass in …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Hudson Valley
Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Hudson Valley A Hudson Valley man has been issued multiple tickets by state conservation officials for allegedly killing a deer out of season. The incident took place in Ulster County on Friday, Oct. 28 at a home in the town of Rochester. The state Department of Environmental Conservation officials responded to a home in Rochester after receiving reports of multiple deer being killed with the aid of bait, according to the DEC. The person responsible, who was not identified, admitted to shooting the deer behind his property and claimed the large trough of corn and horse feed in his backyard was intended …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Hudson Valley, DEC Says Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Hudson Valley, DEC Says
Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Hudson Valley, DEC Says A man from the region was ticketed after allegedly illegally shooting and killing a bear in the Hudson Valley. The incident took place in Ulster County in the town of Rochester in October, said the state Department of Environmental Conservation. According to a report from DEC, two department officers received reports that someone had illegally killed a bear. The complainant said a local hunter shot the female bear with a bow and then, with two accomplices, tracked the animal into the woods and killed it with a shotgun.  The hunter posted several pictures of himself and the two ac…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley A 12-year-old Boy Scout is on the mend after an encounter with a black bear left him with minor injuries, ABC7 reports. Henry Ayers told the outlet he was with his troop from Cooperstown camping at Harriman State Park, located in both Rockland and Orange counties, Sunday, May 1, when he awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. "I look up and it was a giant bear,” Ayers told ABC7. “I thought it was a nightmare. It was honestly crazy. I didn't think I was awake." The Scoutmaster, Diana Nicols, told the outlet the bear bit through the boy’s sleeping bag, leaving him with minor cuts and bruises. He…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Do not release your pet goldfish in lakes or ponds. That's what officials are saying after a huge goldfish was recently pulled from a Minnesota lake, an issue that has been seen across the United States in recent years. National Geographic said while a goldfish typically weighs just 0.2 to 0.6 pounds, they can weigh more than five pounds in the wild, CBS News reported. "They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants," the City of Burnsville, Minnesota, tweeted on Friday, July 9.  In recent years, huge g…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Hudson Valley Man Convicted Of Shark Trafficking Hudson Valley Man Convicted Of Shark Trafficking
Hudson Valley Man Convicted Of Shark Trafficking The tide has turned on a Hudson Valley man who was convicted of shark trafficking protected species that he kept in his pool with the intent to sell, the Attorney General announced. Dutchess County resident Joshua Seguine, age 40, of Lagrangeville, pleaded guilty to illegal commercialization of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and wildlife, for the illegal possession with intent to sell seven sandbar sharks, a protected species under New York law New York AG Letitia James and the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation Commissioner (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Injured Miniature Horse Likely Attacked By Black Bear Injured Miniature Horse Likely Attacked By Black Bear
Injured Miniature Horse Likely Attacked By Black Bear State wildlife officials believe a miniature horse may have been attacked by a black bear due to the nature of the injuries. The incident was reported in Fairfield County on Wednesday, May 20, when a Wilton resident called the police department to report the attack, said Wilton Police Lt. Robert Kluk. Wilton Animal Control, as well as an officer from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), responded to the home on Kellogg Drive and determined the horse had been attacked sometime during the overnight hours. "It was determined from the wounds to the animal that it…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Police Issue Alert Following Multiple Coyote Sightings In Westchester Police Issue Alert Following Multiple Coyote Sightings In Westchester
Police Issue Alert Following Multiple Coyote Sightings In Westchester While most are fretting over the unabated spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a village in Westchester is warning of a different potential threat: coyotes. The Scarsdale Police Department issued a warning to area residents after there were multiple coyote sightings in the area of Mamaroneck and Saxon Woods Roads near Meadow Road. Police said that the coyotes did not appear threatening, and there was no contact with area residents, most of whom have been in self-isolation due to the virus. No incidents were reported, just sightings. "Coyotes are an integral part of our natural ecosystem…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Video: Watch Brand-New Bear Sighting In Area Video: Watch Brand-New Bear Sighting In Area
Video: Watch Brand-New Bear Sighting In Area One of the first bear sightings of the New Year has been reported in the area. It happened on Wednesday, Jan. 8 near the Putnam County/Dutchess border where a Pawling resident received a surprise when she checked her home's surveillance camera feed and found an unexpected visitor: a black bear. In the video, the bear can be seen activating security lights, making the rounds, investigating the backyard before taking off from the driveway of the home into a nearby wooded area without incident. The new sighting comes after several throughout the area late last year. According to environment …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Deer Rescued In Area After Snout Gets Stuck In Halloween Bucket For Days Deer Rescued In Area After Snout Gets Stuck In Halloween Bucket For Days
Deer Rescued In Area After Snout Gets Stuck In Halloween Bucket For Days A yearling deer with its snout stuck in a Halloween bucket for days was saved thanks to concerned residents and animal control officials. The deer was seen in Putnam Valley by a couple of residents who then called the Putnam County SPCS and state Encon officials who were able to grab the baby and gently work the pumpkin bucket off of its head. Reportedly, the bucket was stuck on the deer for four days, and once it was posted to social media people across the country became concerned about the poor little deer. The community, which sees the yearling and her mother around the area, have name…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Deer-Mating Season, Earlier Sunsets Lead To Increases In Crashes Deer-Mating Season, Earlier Sunsets Lead To Increases In Crashes
Deer-Mating Season, Earlier Sunsets Lead To Increases In Crashes Oh, deer. It’s deer mating season, and area residents have been cautioned that there will be a rise in vehicle collisions involving the animal for several months. The breeding season for white-tailed deer in the area runs from October to January, with peak activity taking place in mid-November, leading to an increase of sightings and collisions involving deer vs. drivers. AAA said that following the shift in clocks for Daylight Savings Time over the weekend, drivers and pedestrians should be most aware of potential collisions with deer between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. during the evening commute.…

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by Zak Failla
News
Rare Fall Coyote Sightings Reported In Westchester Rare Fall Coyote Sightings Reported In Westchester
Rare Fall Coyote Sightings Reported In Westchester Although temperatures are dropping, and reported sightings typically tend to take a dip, a pair of sizable coyotes were recently spotted making the rounds in Westchester. Two sightings of coyotes - estimated at approximately 40 pounds each - were reported in New Rochelle in recent days. The first sighting was reported on Thursday, Oct. 24 at approximately 7:15 a.m., the second on Sunday, Oct. 27, both in the Beechmont Woods neighborhood. The coyotes didn’t make contact with any humans, but were seen prowling about the area. According to the Parks Department, coyotes are canines, “which me…

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by Zak Failla
News
ID Released For Woman Who Climbed Into Lion's Den At Bronx Zoo ID Released For Woman Who Climbed Into Lion's Den At Bronx Zoo
ID Released For Woman Who Climbed Into Lion's Den At Bronx Zoo Police have identified the daredevil who dove into a lion enclosure at the Bronx Zoo in a video that went viral over the weekend. Brooklyn resident Myah Autry, 32, managed to escape unharmed after she leaped into the African lion exhibit and appeared to taunt one of the animals in a video that went viral on social media over the weekend. In videos posted on Instagram, Autry can be seen climbing over the fence into the lion’s den, then waving, talking, apparently taunting, and dancing in front of the king of the jungle, despite warnings and protestations from other zoo-goers. She captioned …

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by Zak Failla
News
Humpback Whale Makes Big City Splash In NY Harbor Humpback Whale Makes Big City Splash In NY Harbor
Humpback Whale Makes Big City Splash In NY Harbor A humpback whale made quite a splash with a group of fisherman in New York City, making a surprise appearance off the coast of Staten Island. The whale was spotted by Alex Carr and several of his co-workers from the Staten Island Zoo who were celebrating a friend’s birthday out on Raritan Bay. The large whale was approximately 100 feet from the boat at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17 when Carr and his buddies managed to snap several photos. The whale hung around in the water for longer than a half-hour as the bemused fishermen watched it. This is the second sighting of a whale in New York…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Concrete Jungle: NYC Seeing Spike In Coyote Sightings Concrete Jungle: NYC Seeing Spike In Coyote Sightings
Concrete Jungle: NYC Seeing Spike In Coyote Sightings Manhattan is earning its title as a “concrete jungle” with coyote sightings surging as the weather warms up. The sightings have been highest in upper Manhattan - reportedly up to 35 this year, already six times more than the amount reported two years ago, according to the city’s Parks Department. This year, there have reportedly been 26 sightings in Manhattan, four in Queens and five in the Bronx, including more than a dozen in Central Park. According to the Parks Department, coyotes are canines, “which means that they are members of the same genus as wolves and domesticated dogs. In gener…

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by Zak Failla
News
Confirmation Of Girl Bitten On Face By Blood-Sucking 'Kissing Bug' Sparks New CDC Warning Confirmation Of Girl Bitten On Face By Blood-Sucking 'Kissing Bug' Sparks New CDC Warning
Confirmation Of Girl Bitten On Face By Blood-Sucking 'Kissing Bug' Sparks New CDC Warning The “kissing bug,” a disease-carrying insect which is known to bite people on their mouths and faces, has made its way to the East Coast. In July last year, a family from Kent County in Delaware contacted the state’s Division of Public Health and Department of Agriculture to request assistance in identifying a bug that had bitten their child’s face. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the parents were concerned about possible disease transmission from the insect.  In a statement released on Friday, April 19, the CDC confirmed that the bug was identified as Triatoma sanguisug…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Bear Facts: Here's What To Know As Sightings Start Up Again Bear Facts: Here's What To Know As Sightings Start Up Again
Bear Facts: Here's What To Know As Sightings Start Up Again As the weather warms, black bears are waking up and coming out of their dens to find food, and plenty of it after months of sleeping. In fact, bear sightings have already been reported across the region, and wildlife experts are reminding residents of the best way to deal with the bears as humans move more into their native habitat. The bear population is healthy and increasing and sightings are becoming more common, especially in neighborhoods because food sources are abundant and easy to access, think birdfeeders, garbage cans, grills, etc. Officials say once a bear finds a good food so…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Know Before You Go: This Town In The Hamptons Just Banned The Release Of Balloons Know Before You Go: This Town In The Hamptons Just Banned The Release Of Balloons
Know Before You Go: This Town In The Hamptons Just Banned The Release Of Balloons A popular Long Island vacation destination is getting a little less festive with the passing of a rare balloon ban. The East Hampton Town Board announced that it has unanimously voted in favor of legislation that will ban the intentional release of balloons in the area. Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, who sponsored the legislation, said that the idea behind the new law was to cut down on litter and to protect wildlife that ingests popped balloons. “Balloons waste natural resources, litter our communities, pollute our waterways and kill wildlife,” the new law states. Balloons are defined a…

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by Zak Failla
News
Body Of First Pygmy Sperm Whale On Long Island Sound Found Body Of First Pygmy Sperm Whale On Long Island Sound Found
Body Of First Pygmy Sperm Whale On Long Island Sound Found One week after a request for the person who had taken the carcass of a rare pygmy sperm whale from a beach in FairfieldCounty to return it, the whale has been recovered. The Town of Stratford said the whale, the first spotted on Long Island Sound, that washed up on Russian Beach before disappearing last month has been found. The statement was issued by officials with the town, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, which all worked together to retrieve the whale. "Pygmy sperm whales are rather elusive and this may mark&…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
DEC Wants Rare ‘Exotic’ Deer Spotted In Upstate NY Targeted, Killed As Precaution DEC Wants Rare ‘Exotic’ Deer Spotted In Upstate NY Targeted, Killed As Precaution
DEC Wants Rare ‘Exotic’ Deer Spotted In Upstate NY Targeted, Killed As Precaution Conservation officials in New York are encouraging hunters to target and kill an “exotic” non-native species of deer that has been spotted in the state and may potentially infect native animals in the area with a deadly disease. The New York State Department of Conservation has received several trail photos of a male sika deer, according to a report from New York Upstate. The small elk is native to Japan and eastern Asia, and at least two sources have sent photos to environmental officials. According to the report, Jerry Grigonis, of Fulton, said he first noticed the deer on his trail camer…

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by Zak Failla