Fog/Mist 44°
Tag:

Wildlife Conservation

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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 …

SHARE

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 …

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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 …

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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.…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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 …

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Alligators, Turtles Found In Area Home Alligators, Turtles Found In Area Home
Alligators, Turtles Found In Area Home A call to the state Department of Environmental Conservation led wildlife officials to two types of alligators and more than 20 turtles living in a living room of an area home in unsanitary conditions. The animals were discovered after Environment Conservation Officer Zachary Crain received a call notifying him of two crocodilians, also known as caimans, and approximately 20 turtles at a private residence in the town of Wappingers Falls, the department said. During the initial visit and permit compliance check at the residence, Crain found a miniature Caiman, a small-type reptile similar to…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

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&…

SHARE

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…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
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…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
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…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
New Coyote Sighting In Northern Westchester: Find Out When, Where New Coyote Sighting In Northern Westchester: Find Out When, Where
New Coyote Sighting In Northern Westchester: Find Out When, Where A large coyote was spotted making the rounds in Northern Westchester.  The latest coyote sighting in Westchester came from a South Salem resident, who saw the "good-sized" animal making the rounds on the Lewisboro Elementary School property on Bouton Road in South Salem at approximately 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5. The sightings come following several others throughout Westchester in recent weeks, including Greenburgh, New Rochelle Eastchester, Mount Pleasant, Chappaqua and Pleasantville as well as Putnam, Dutchess and Rockland counties. According to the DEC, “coyotes are well adapt…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
PETA Celebrates Police Department In Westchester For Rescuing Deer PETA Celebrates Police Department In Westchester For Rescuing Deer
PETA Celebrates Police Department In Westchester 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…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
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…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Residents Report Latest Sighting Of Wild Coyote In Westchester Residents Report Latest Sighting Of Wild Coyote In Westchester
Residents Report Latest Sighting Of Wild Coyote In Westchester There have been more coyote sightings in Westchester, this time near Ward Acres Park in New Rochelle. A local resident snapped a photo of a coyote at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 9, near Saldo Circle in New Rochelle when she saw it walking in the area. Police were notified of the latest sighting, and promptly warned residents in the area to be aware and on alert. It was later spotted by neighbors crossing through several yards before making its way to the woods. Other sightings have been reported in the area near Nature Study Woods, though there has been no conflict betwe…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Westchester New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Westchester
New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Westchester 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…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi