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Department of Environmental Conservation

Police & Fire
Hudson Valley Wildfires Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Hudson Valley Wildfires Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency
Hudson Valley Wildfires Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency As the wildfires continue to burn across the state and in the Hudson Valley, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined the extensive efforts to combat them, highlighting the crucial roles played by local and national agencies in tackling the blazes. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Hochul provided an update on the ongoing wildfire situation in the state, prompting a robust response from more than 400 fire departments and over 1,300 personnel.  These teams have worked tirelessly to contain fires in Orange and Ulster counties, closely coordinating with local fire departments and first responders. Hochul said th…

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by Daily Voice
News
Hudson Valley Resident Dies From Rare Mosquito Virus; 'Imminent Threat To Public' Declared Hudson Valley Resident Dies From Rare Mosquito Virus; 'Imminent Threat To Public' Declared
Hudson Valley Resident Dies From Rare Mosquito Virus; 'Imminent Threat To Public' Declared A New York resident has died days after contracting the state’s first human case of a rare but serious mosquito-borne virus in nearly a decade. The Ulster County resident died from complications stemming from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office confirmed on Monday, Sept. 23. It marks the first human case of EEE in New York State since 2015. Earlier Report: Human Case Of Severe Mosquito-Borne Virus Confirmed In Ulster County, First In NY Since 2015 “We’ve been informed this patient has passed away from EEE, we extend our sympathies and our hearts go out t…

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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
News
New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul
New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to stay safe and hydrated as hot, humid air rolls into much of the state ahead of severe storms predicted to bring heavy rains and flash flooding.  In an announcement on Monday, July 8, Hochul warned that above-average temperatures and high humidity would arrive in the state in the next few days. This includes "feels like temperatures" at or above 95 degrees, which can cause an increased risk of heat illnesses, Hochul's office said.  Related Report - Rounds Of Thunderstorms Expected Over Span Of Days: Here's Timing In res…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Increase In Bear Sightings Reported In Westchester Village: 'Do Not Approach' Increase In Bear Sightings Reported In Westchester Village: 'Do Not Approach'
Increase In Bear Sightings Reported In Westchester Village: 'Do Not Approach' Officials in a Northern Westchester village are advising residents to be wary of bears following an increase in sightings.  In an announcement on Wednesday, June 12, Croton-on-Hudson village officials said they have received "an increasing number" of black bear sighting reports in the last few weeks. Officials did not specify where the sightings occurred.  According to officials, this is likely because bears' movements increase in June as breeding season begins and young bears disperse to find their own space. The animals are usually not dangerous to people, but can become so if t…

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by Ben Crnic
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
News
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists With the arrival of fall, there is an increased risk of crashes involving deer, both the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are warning motorists. Deer are most active and more likely to enter public roadways this time of year as they search for mates during their breeding season, which is the months of October, November, and December. According to the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, in 2022, 41.5 percent of the crashes between deer and vehicles occurred during this three-month…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear A Hudson Valley homeowner has been accused of allegedly killing a black bear without provocation.  The incident took place in Dutchess County on Saturday, April 22 in the town of Dover.  According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call for shots fired and witnessed an individual dragging the bear back to his residence when they arrived at the location. The sheriff's office contacted State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Kevin Wamsley who responded to the scene and interviewed the homeowner wh…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road Wildlife officers in New York got a slithery surprise on Valentine’s Day when a massive reticulated python was found on the side of a Long Island road. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers were called Tuesday, Feb. 14, with reports that a large snake had been found on the side of the road in the town of Medford, according to the agency. When officers arrived, they found the python curled up in a ball. They quickly determined that the reptile, which measured 14 feet long, was dead. Officers removed the snake from the roadway to “appropriately dispose of it,” the agency s…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Truck Hits Overpass On Hutchinson River Parkway In Scarsdale Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Truck Hits Overpass On Hutchinson River Parkway In Scarsdale
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Truck Hits Overpass On Hutchinson River Parkway In Scarsdale This story has been updated. A truck carrying 42,000 pounds of frozen french fries struck an overpass on a Westchester County parkway, causing a fuel spill and a closure of the roadway's lanes in one direction.   The incident happened on Wednesday morning, Feb. 1 around 6:50 a.m., when a tractor-trailer traveling south on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale hit the Mamaroneck Road bridge, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary said.  As a result of the crash, 75 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the trailer's refrigeration unit onto the parkway and int…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post
Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post A New York hunter learned the hard way that if you’re going to break the rules, it’s probably best not to announce it on social media. Department of Environmental Conservation officers in Greene County were tipped off on Wednesday, Dec. 7, about a Facebook post showing a man with a deer that had been taken illegally, the department said. Officers learned that the man had moved from the Capital Region to the town of Hope in Hamilton County. Investigators there were able to track down the man’s location, where they spotted the prized buck hanging on a property. While interviewing the man, h…

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by Michael Mashburn
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
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester The invasive spotted lanternfly continues its invasion of New York. A state effort to track the spread and prevalence of the insect using community reports and digital mapping shows it has now been spotted in all five boroughs of New York City, across Long Island, and throughout the Hudson Valley. Earlier Report: Capital District Among Regions In NY That Have Been 'Infested' By Invasive Insect, Schumer Says As of November 2022, the insect, also known as Chinese blistering cicada, has been confirmed in 16 New York counties, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Coyote Attacks 2 In Westchester Coyote Attacks 2 In Westchester
Coyote Attacks 2 In Westchester A town in the region is warning residents to be on the lookout for a rabid coyote after two residents were attacked while walking. The incident took place in Northern Westchester on Thursday, Nov. 17 shortly after 5 p.m. in North Salem on Turkey Hill Road. One person was bitten with a puncture wound on their leg. The second person was not injured, North Salem Town Supervisor Warren Lucas said. "The person with the puncture wound is on their way to the hospital likely for rabies shots," Lucas said in a Facebook post. "The presumption is that the coyote is rabid. It attacked the tires of a c…

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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
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks 'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks Two college students in New York had to be rescued by state Forest Rangers after getting left behind in the woods of the Adirondacks while on a day retreat. Emergency crews in Warren County were called at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, with reports that two students were lost near Dippikill Pond, located about 10 miles northwest of the town of Warrensburg. A Forest Ranger contacted the students via phone and responded to the area, where he was able to make voice contact with them, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said.  He then made his way to them a short time …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage Lifeguards in New York are getting a pay raise. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new directive Wednesday, June 22, increasing the starting pay rates for lifeguards at state park beaches and pools, as well as campgrounds and day-use area beaches. Newly hired lifeguards at upstate facilities will see a 34-percent increase in pay from $14.95 per hour to $20 per hour. And starting pay at downstate facilities will go up 21 percent from $18.15 per hour to $22 per hour. Hochul said the idea is to better attract qualified candidates amid a staffing shortage at New York State Park and Department of E…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Westchester Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Westchester
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Westchester A Northern Westchester family received an unexpected visitor when a black bear took a tour of the neighborhood. In Armonk, a Chestnut Ridge Road resident captured video of the four-legged visitor who was taking in the sights while wandering in his backyard at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24. During the short video, the bear can be seen peacefully walking up the driveway, setting off a security light before making its way toward a nearby wooded area. Related story - Coyote, Bear Sightings Reported Within Days In This Northern Westchester Town The Department of Environment…

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by Zak Failla
News
Hiker From Hudson Valley Killed In Fall Hiker From Hudson Valley Killed In Fall
Hiker From Hudson Valley Killed In Fall A Hudson Valley woman has died after she reportedly fell while hiking in the Catskill Forest Preserve. Forest Rangers were first alerted of trouble at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, with reports of a fallen hiker in Greene County, near Platte Clove Road in the Town of Hunter, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The woman, identified as a resident of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Rangers conducted a technical rope to retrieve her body, DEC officials said. Her body was turned over to the Greene County Coroner, who wil…

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by Michael Mashburn
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
News
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester, Police Say Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester, Police Say
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester, Police Say Residents in Westchester have been advised to be on alert after a coyote attacked a dog in the area. In Mount Vernon, the police department issued an advisory cautioning that a small dog was recently attacked near North Columbus Avenue and California Road by what was reported to be a coyote. It is the latest sighting in the area, and the first reported attack. Earlier story - Coyote Advisory Issued In Westchester After Multiple Sightings “Please remember that we share our environment with wild animals, so while it is rare that they appear in Mount Vernon, they do appear from time to time…

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by Zak Failla
News
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway A national study is measuring the effects of contaminated drinking water in nearly a dozen regions of the country including towns near a Hudson Valley National Guard base. The contaminants, known as PFAS, are also called “forever” chemicals because they stay in bodies for many years and have been linked to potentially serious health problems. In many cases, the source of PFAS in the groundwater is likely past use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in the area. At airports and military bases, the foam is used as a fire suppressant to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. Th…

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by Jon Craig
News
NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter
NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter New York State agencies have prepared emergency response assets ahead of a winter storm that could bring more than a foot of snow to parts of the state. The storm could bring heavy snow to parts of Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley regions beginning in the evening of Friday, Jan. 28, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Some areas could see between 6 and 12 inches of snow by the night of Saturday, Jan. 29. "A winter storm system moving up the coast has the potential to deliver heavy snow, gusty winds, and create dangerous travel conditions across downstate l…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
New Details: Hundreds Of Vehicles Involved In Crashes On Icy Roadways In Westchester, Rockland New Details: Hundreds Of Vehicles Involved In Crashes On Icy Roadways In Westchester, Rockland
New Details: Hundreds Of Vehicles Involved In Crashes On Icy Roadways In Westchester, Rockland Police have provided an update on the string of crashes amid icy conditions on major roadways in the region during the height of the morning commute on Wednesday, Jan. 5. Shortly before 6:00 a.m., state police began responding to a multitude of weather-related crashes involving hundreds of vehicles. The majority of the crashes involved multi-vehicles and were property damage only, police said, but one was fatal. One person was killed at about 6:30 a.m. in a crash on the ramp connecting the eastbound Cross County Parkway to the northbound Bronx River Parkway, according to Westchester County…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California
Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California The final four New York State wildland firefighters who were battling blazes in Oregon and California have returned home after completing their two-week assignments. The four firefighters are all Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul said Ranger Bryan Gallagher, who is from Suffolk County, was a facility unit leader at the Dixie Fire in California.  Ranger Charles Kabrehl, of Warren County, also worked at the Dixie Fire as a task force leader.  Ranger Joseph Hess, from Saratoga County, worked as …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency
Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency After Tropical Depression Ida brought historic rainfall to parts of the region, flash flooding, and scores of power outages, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is directing additional state agency assets to respond to the areas impacted. The storm, which began moving through the area on Wednesday, Sept. 1, caused flooding on a number of roadways across Long Island, the lower Mid-Hudson and New York City, the state said. In Westchester and Rockland counties, New York State Fire and State Police, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation participated in about 100 rescues, the state…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida
NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida New York State agencies are preparing emergency response assets as Tropical Depression Ida is set to impact the region with heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding in some areas. The storm arrived on Wednesday, Sept. 1, and is expected to pass through by late Thursday afternoon, Sept. 2. Related story: Ida Arrives With Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds, Flash Flooding; Isolated Tornadoes Possible "The remnants of Hurricane Ida are forecast to impact downstate and eastern parts of the state, including New York City, Long Island, and parts of the Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson Valley, and Capital r…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
New Black Bear Sighting Reported On Westchester Roadway New Black Bear Sighting Reported On Westchester Roadway
New Black Bear Sighting Reported On Westchester Roadway A busy Northern Westchester roadway may want to consider a name change after a black bear was spotted there making the rounds for the second time in three weeks. The New Castle Police Department issued an alert on Saturday, Aug. 28 after the brand-new sighting on Roaring Brook Road near the Chappaqua Crossing. The last sighting was reported on Monday, Aug. 9, also on Roaring Brook Road near the Chappaqua Crossing. At this rate, maybe that stretch of the road may become known as "Black Bear Way." "If a bear creates any problem, the New Castle Police will respond, and, if necessar…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley A new invasive insect that has been a point of consternation for farmers for years has been discovered in the Hudson Valley. The spotted lanternfly, which hails from southeast Asia before it made its way stateside in 2014 has reportedly been found in Orange and Rockland counties in recent weeks, causing concern for some. Lanternflies target the sap of certain trees, including grapevines, fruit trees, and other plants, devastating them. According to officials, if one spots a lanternfly, they should kill it, then send it to the state Department of Environmental Conservation for evaluation. …

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by Zak Failla
News
NY Agencies Preparing For Rain, Flash Flooding Conditions Ahead Of Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred NY Agencies Preparing For Rain, Flash Flooding Conditions Ahead Of Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred
NY Agencies Preparing For Rain, Flash Flooding Conditions Ahead Of Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred New York State agencies are preparing for widespread rain and possible flash flooding conditions as Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred is set to move through the state. The storm is expected to begin moving through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 18, and exit by midday Thursday, Aug. 19. The State Department of Transportation is preparing to patrol areas that are susceptible to flooding, and personnel are set to respond with equipment to remove debris and set up temporary closures and detours. The state said the Department of Public Service has about 5,500 workers ready to engage in damage assessment,…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
New Yorkers Encouraged To Report Sick Or Dead Deer To DEC New Yorkers Encouraged To Report Sick Or Dead Deer To DEC
New Yorkers Encouraged To Report Sick Or Dead Deer To DEC After two white-tailed deer in Ulster County died from  Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), the state Department of Environmental Conservation is asking residents to report sick deer. The deers were found in the town of Esopus, said the DEC on Wednesday, Aug. 4. DEC is currently following up on reports of several other dead deer in Westchester, Dutchess, and Ulster counties. EHD virus is an often fatal disease of deer that is transmitted by biting midges, small bugs often called no-see-ums or "punkies." The disease is not spread from deer to deer and humans cannot be infected by dee…

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by Kathy Reakes