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Wildlife Conservation

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…
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…
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…
Rockland County Man Admits Selling $70K In Elephant Ivory Pool Cues, DA Says Rockland County Man Admits Selling $70K In Elephant Ivory Pool Cues, DA Says
Rockland County 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…
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 …
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 …
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…
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Harriman State Park 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Harriman State Park
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Harriman State Park 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…
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…
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…
Rise In Ramapo Bear Sightings Sparks Concerns Rise In Ramapo Bear Sightings Sparks Concerns
Rise In Ramapo Bear Sightings Sparks Concerns After a recent rise in the number of reported bear sightings in Ramapo neighborhoods, the town's supervisor is advising residents to take precautions. "My office has received multiple calls from residents who are rightfully concerned about recent bear sightings," said Supervisor Michael Specht.  In an effort to help, Specht offered some tips to help deter bears from entering local properties courtesy of the state Department of Conservation. Black bears have been raiding area garbage cans in Ramapo and the surrounding area.NY Department of Conservation According to the Department of Con…
Rattlesnake Discovered In Driveway Of Rockland Residence Rattlesnake Discovered In Driveway Of Rockland Residence
Rattlesnake Discovered In Driveway Of Rockland Residence A Rockland County resident received an unexpected visitor when a rattlesnake made its way up an area driveway. A Hillburn resident reported to police over the weekend that a rattlesnake made a surprise guest appearance on his property, prompting an emergency response from police in Ramapo. According to police, a local snake handler and expert responded to the Blakslee Place home and safely removed the rattlesnake from the driveway, who has been relocated to a safe place. The New York State Department of Health said that rattlesnakes are generally found in deciduous forests in rugged terra…
Area Man Admits To Illegally Hunting Deer Area Man Admits To Illegally Hunting Deer
Area Man Admits To Illegally Hunting Deer An Ulster man paid $605 in fines and surcharges after he admitted to baiting and illegally hunting deer. Ulster County resident Robert Nelson, of Esopus, was charged with the misdemeanor of illegally taking a deer and a violation of hunting with the aid of bait in November 2019, after the state Department of Environmental Conservation received a tip, the state DEC said on Thursday, Jan. 9. After receiving the tip, EC Officer Jeannette Bastedo responded to the area, that was known to be baited in the past, and located a pile of feed approximately 15 yards from a tree stand, as well as a bloo…
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 …
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…
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.…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Deaths Of Two Female Black Bears Found In Area Under Investigation Deaths Of Two Female Black Bears Found In Area Under Investigation
Deaths Of Two Female Black Bears Found In Area Under Investigation The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has launched an investigation into the deaths of two female black bears whose bodies were found in the Fuller Mountain Preservice in Warwick last week. Members of the NYSDEC responded to the Conservation on Wednesday, Jan. 2, when the two bears were found in the park. Officials said the bears were then taken and transported to the DEC’s Wildlife Pathology Lab near Albany for evaluation. No cause of death has been provided for the bears. It is not clear if foul play is suspected. According to the New York Department of Environmenta…
Video: Reports Of Fox Sightings On Rise In Area Video: Reports Of Fox Sightings On Rise In Area
Video: Reports Of Fox Sightings On Rise In Area Winter is coming, and with it will come a rash of red fox sightings in suburban areas of New York and Connecticut. Foxes commonly live in close quarters with human residents in certain communities where they can find food, water and cover, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. They frequently take shelter in yards, parks, and golf courses, especially areas that are nearby suitable, undeveloped habitat. During the winter months, foxes expand their territories, primarily due to the decreased availability of prey and extreme weather in open spaces. Thi…
PETA Celebrates Police Department In Hudson Valley For Rescuing Deer PETA Celebrates Police Department In Hudson Valley For Rescuing Deer
PETA Celebrates Police Department In Hudson Valley For Rescuing Deer A police department in the area will be receiving an award from PETA after two officers rescued a deer that found itself caught in a makeshift hammock. A Compassionate Police Department Award is on its way from PETA to the Yonkers Police Department after officers Matthew Donaldson and David MacDonald rescued the buck, whose antlers were caught in a makeshift hammock outside a home on Arthur Place on Monday morning. The two were able to tranquilize the animal and free him from his confinement behind an Arthur Place home.  On a video released by the department, the officers can be seen assis…
Venomous Snake Found In Hudson Valley Venomous Snake Found In Hudson Valley
Venomous Snake Found In Hudson Valley A Hudson Valley resident wasn't sure what type of snake he stumbled upon that was close to his home earlier this month. Concerned the snake might be venomous and a danger to his family, the resident of Woodstock in Ulster County called the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the ECO reported. ECO Officer Jason Smith met the man at his home and found the snake in a small rock pile next to the back door. He identified the snake as a northern copperhead, one of New York State's three venomous species, the department said. After coaxing the snake into a bucket, Smith released the s…
Brand-New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Hudson Valley Brand-New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Hudson Valley
Brand-New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Hudson Valley There's been a brand-new black bear sighting to start the workweek. It comes from Northern Westchester, where more than a half dozen such sightings have been reported since the start of the month. The bear was observed near the intersection of Vails Lane and Inningwood Road in Ossining, New Castle Police said in an advisory issued Monday morning. "Be cautious and stay alert," the advisory stated. Here are some tips in case you have a close encounter with a bear: Remain calm and avoid sudden movements; Give the bear plenty of room, allowing it to continue its activities undistu…
Videos: Great White Caught Off RI Coast During 'Shark Week' Videos: Great White Caught Off RI Coast During 'Shark Week'
Videos: Great White Caught Off RI Coast During 'Shark Week' "Shark Week" took a very real turn for a fisherman in Rhode Island. A 6-foot great white was captured at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Sunday by a fisherman off the coast of Rhode Island, according to a social media post by Michael Lorello. The shark was corraled approximately three-quarters of a mile off Miquamicut Beach. Lorello posted pictures of the shark on Facebook, showing it on a bed of other fish as it flopped about. “He’s still alive,” he can be heard saying in the videos, before releasing the shark back into the water. The videos can be seen above. (Warning: there is gra…
Coyote Sighting Reported Near Congers Elementary School Coyote Sighting Reported Near Congers Elementary School
Coyote Sighting Reported Near Congers Elementary School Residents have been cautioned to be on high alert after a coyote was spotted at the Lakewood Elementary School in Congers. The Clarkstown Police Department issued an alert this week following the spotting, cautioning that “coyotes are wild animals and (one) should never approach them.” No children were near the animal at the time of the sighting, and it was dispatched without incident. According to officials, “with the onset of warmer weather, many of New York's resident coyotes will set up dens for pups that will arrive this spring. Coyotes are well adapted to suburban and even some urban …
Bear, Cub Found Dead On Area Parkway Bear, Cub Found Dead On Area Parkway
Bear, Cub Found Dead On Area Parkway An adult bear and her cub that were apparently struck by a vehicle on the Taconic Parkway in Putnam Valley will be removed from the roadway by the Department of Transportation.The pair, first noticed by Daily Voice reader John Askildsen of Millbrook, has been on the southbound side of the highway, immediately south of the entrance at Peekskill Hollow Road, since Monday.  "When I first noticed them down an embankment I thought maybe it was a piece of carpet or something," he said. "But then I realized it was a bear and her cub." Officials with the state Department of Cons…
New Video: Rescued Ramapo Raptor Transported For Treatment New Video: Rescued Ramapo Raptor Transported For Treatment
New Video: Rescued Ramapo Raptor Transported For Treatment A defenseless hawk with a broken wing that was rescued by police a Ramapo Police Officer this week in New Square has been transported to a “one-of-a-kind sanctuary” to be treated by an avian veterinarian who will release it back into the wild. On Monday, Ramapo Police Officer Andres offered wildlife experts a hand in capturing a raptor, which had suffered a broken wing from an unknown incident. According to officials, following the incident, there were also children in the area throwing rocks at the defenseless bird. After being taken into custody safely, the raptor was transported to The R…