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Big Cat Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Mauled To Death Big Cat Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Mauled To Death
Big Cat Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Mauled To Death A big cat trainer and former associate of "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic was killed by a tiger during a performance. Ryan Easley died at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 20, the southeastern Oklahoma facility said in a Facebook post. He ran ShowMe Tigers and had worked with animals from Joe Exotic and Bhagavan "Doc" Antle. Easley was performing "an act with the tiger when something went wrong, resulting in him being attacked," Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park told KXII 12 News. Deputies said Easley wasn't breathing when they arrived. Growler Pines said Easley's dea…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus
Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus Two students skinned and butchered a legally hunted black bear in a campus dorm kitchen at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, prompting outcry but no charges. On Thursday, Sept. 11, university and state officials confirmed the hunt and the on-campus processing but said no laws were broken. NBC News reported the pair killed the 120-pound black bear over the weekend and brought the carcass into a residence hall to process it on Saturday, Sept. 6.  The students held valid New York State hunting licenses, a Cornell spokesperson said, adding that a police report was filed after a comp…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
VIDEO: Shark Shows Up At NJ Beach Club During Hurricane Erin — And Won't Leave: Report VIDEO: Shark Shows Up At NJ Beach Club During Hurricane Erin — And Won't Leave: Report
Video: Shark Shows Up At NJ Beach Club During Hurricane Erin — And Won't Leave: Report A small sand shark swam up to the outdoor host stand at Bird & Betty’s in Beach Haven late Thursday night, Aug. 21, after flooding from the storm pushed it out of the bay, NJ Advance Media reported. “Fish are friends… but not usually our customers,” the club joked in an Instagram post, adding that Beach Haven police “had to save the local wildlife tonight instead of verifying ID.”  Video shows an officer scooping up the shark and carrying it back to the water. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bird and Betty’s (@birdandbet…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Rare Manatee Sighting Off Northeast Coast Is First Time In A Decade Rare Manatee Sighting Off Northeast Coast Is First Time In A Decade
Rare Manatee Sighting Off Northeast Coast Is First Time In A Decade A rare sighting of a manatee off Cape Cod has locals buzzing, marking the first time the gentle sea creature has been spotted off the Massachusetts coast since 2016. The manatee was first seen in Popponesset Bay off Mashpee on July 26, then again on July 29 in Mattapoisett. In Mattapoisett, the manatee briefly got stranded on tidal flats, but quick-thinking locals helped it back into the water, ensuring its safety, according to the Cape Cod Times.  Manatees, known for their large size and gentle nature, usually live in warmer waters like those off Florida and the Gulf Coast, according …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Hit-Run Driver Who Mowed Down 7 Geese Sought By Cops In NJ, Sparking Outrage Online Hit-Run Driver Who Mowed Down 7 Geese Sought By Cops In NJ, Sparking Outrage Online
Hit-Run Driver Who Mowed Down 7 Geese Sought By Cops In NJ, Sparking Outrage Online Police in New Jersey are searching for the driver who struck and killed seven geese crossing a road on Monday, July 14, sparking outrage from residents and animal advocates across social media. Officers responded to the Devoe Lake area of Spotswood (Middlesex County) around 6:45 p.m. and found the geese dead in the roadway, Spotswood police said. The vehicle had already fled the scene, police said. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to determine whether the act was intentional or accidental, according to authorities. Geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, an…

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by Sam Barron
News
NY Cyclist Bitten By Venomous Snake On Bike Path After Getting Too Close NY Cyclist Bitten By Venomous Snake On Bike Path After Getting Too Close
NY Cyclist Bitten By Venomous Snake On Bike Path After Getting Too Close He meant to save the snake — instead, it nearly cost him his hand. Dan Geiger was cycling on the path along the Palisades cliffs that stretches from Fort Lee into Englewood Cliffs and Alpine, when he spotted a small snake on the path near the cliffs. Geiger, a writer from New York City, didn’t want it to get crushed by a bike or car. When the snake wouldn’t move after he nudged it with a water bottle, he reached out with his hand — and that’s when the snake struck him with "precision and speed," he said in an interview with Fox News. “I knew something was wrong immediately,” Dan said. Ble…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
We’ve Got To Ditch Single-Use Plastics We’ve Got To Ditch Single-Use Plastics
We’ve Got To Ditch Single-Use Plastics We’ve got to ditch single-use plastics. We have adopted a disposable lifestyle in which around 50% of plastic is used once and then thrown away. Today, single-use plastics present some of the biggest environmental hazards because plastic can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. (A plastic water bottle takes 450 years.) And when plastic breaks down into microplastics, tiny 5mm particles, the dangers increase exponentially. When you discard plastics, they remain in landfills for decades. Contrary to popular belief, only 6% of plastic (actually) gets recycled. As plastics biodegrade, they can…

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by Camilla Calhoun
News
LI Sound Seal Pup Dies Weeks After City Street Rescue: 'Chappy Was Surrounded By Love' LI Sound Seal Pup Dies Weeks After City Street Rescue: 'Chappy Was Surrounded By Love'
LI Sound Seal Pup Dies Weeks After City Street Rescue: 'Chappy Was Surrounded By Love' A seal pup found wandering on a New Haven street has died, unable to recover from illness and malnutrition. The gray seal nicknamed "Chappy" has died, Mystic Aquarium said in an Instagram post on Monday, Mar. 3. The male pup was brought to the aquarium's Animal Rescue Clinic on Sunday, Feb. 16 after New Haven police found him stranded near the intersection of Chapel and East streets. At first, Chappy responded well to treatments for dehydration, malnutrition, and mild pneumonia, but he struggled with digestion after transitioning to eating whole fish. "The Mystic Aquarium st…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Right Whale, Calf Spotted In New York, New Jersey Shipping Lanes Right Whale, Calf Spotted In New York, New Jersey Shipping Lanes
Right Whale, Calf Spotted In New York, New Jersey Shipping Lanes A rare and unexpected sighting of a North Atlantic right whale and her newborn calf was made off the coast of New York and New Jersey, raising both excitement and concern among marine experts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced. The NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center aerial survey team spotted right whale #4150, known as “Accordion,” with her first known calf on Feb. 3 near the shipping lanes at the entrance to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Named for propeller scars on her back that resemble the musical instrument, Accordion …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported
First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported Authorities have confirmed the first human death in the United States caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1.  The announcement was made by the Louisiana Department of Health on Monday, Jan. 6.  Earlier Report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US The patient, a man over 65 with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized before succumbing to the illness after exposure to a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. The Louisiana Department of Health said it has conducted a public health investigation and found no additional cases or …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Humpback Whale Washes Ashore In Long Beach Humpback Whale Washes Ashore In Long Beach
Humpback Whale Washes Ashore In Long Beach Authorities are investigating after a deceased whale washed ashore on Long Island. The juvenile humpback whale was discovered in Long Beach, near Shore Road and Roosevelt Boulevard, early Monday morning, Dec. 30, Long Beach Police said. Local, state, and federal agencies responded to the scene, which remained cordoned off to the public Thursday afternoon. A necropsy was expected to be performed, after which the whale will be buried, police said. “Please avoid the area to allow the various agencies to conduct their work,” the agency said. Juvenile humpback whales can measure up to 16 fee…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bald Eagle Sightings To Increase In NY: Here's Best Places To Spot America's Bird Bald Eagle Sightings To Increase In NY: Here's Best Places To Spot America's Bird
Bald Eagle Sightings To Increase In NY: Here's Best Places To Spot America's Bird Winter is the best time to see bald eagles in New York, and the Hudson Valley offers some of the top spots for viewing these iconic birds of prey, according to conservation experts. Nature lovers hoping to catch a glimpse of bald eagles soaring through New York skies should head outdoors during the winter months, as December, January, and February are the top times to see these majestic birds, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced in a social media post on Monday, Dec. 23.  This is because bald eagles are most active during the winter, with peak numbers …

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by Ben Crnic
News
'Deserved Better': DA Investigating Claims Countless Animals Died From Neglect At LI Preserve 'Deserved Better': DA Investigating Claims Countless Animals Died From Neglect At LI Preserve
'Deserved Better': DA Investigating Claims Countless Animals Died From Neglect At LI Preserve A formal investigation is underway into alleged animal neglect at a Long Island wildlife preserve following allegations by former employees. The Town of Brookhaven on Monday, Dec. 23, requested that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office conduct an independent investigation into alleged neglect at the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve. It followed claims by at least eight former employees that animals at the facility endured years of mistreatment. The Holtsville site is operated by the Town of Brookhaven under its Highway Department, which has faced criticism for its mana…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
LI Native Melissa Joan Hart Shares Touching Connection To Late 'Cassius The Crocodile' LI Native Melissa Joan Hart Shares Touching Connection To Late 'Cassius The Crocodile'
LI Native Melissa Joan Hart Shares Touching Connection To Late 'Cassius The Crocodile' New York native Melissa Joan Hart revealed a special connection to the late Cassius the Crocodile. The saltwater croc, who measured 18 feet long and weighed nearly 2,870 pounds, died Saturday, Nov. 2, at an estimated age of 120, Marineland Melanesia in Australia announced on Facebook. Cassius received the Guinness World Record as the largest living captive crocodile in 2011. Marineland Melanesia said he was “very old and believed to be living beyond the years of a wild croc.” “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mate Cassius,” the organization said. “He was mor…

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by Michael Mashburn
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
Lifestyle
New Lobster Tales: 2 More Rare Orange Crustaceans Found On Long Island New Lobster Tales: 2 More Rare Orange Crustaceans Found On Long Island
New Lobster Tales: 2 More Rare Orange Crustaceans Found On Long Island 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
Protected Hawk Found Injured On Long Island, Rescued By Officers Protected Hawk Found Injured On Long Island, Rescued By Officers
Protected Hawk Found Injured On Long Island, Rescued By Officers On-duty officers from Long Island made a feathered friend when they rescued an injured bird that used to be on the endangered species list. At about 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, Nassau County Police Officers Carlson, Locher, and Gervasio were on the job in East Rockaway when they came across something unusual. The three officers found the injured osprey in a parking lot near Harbor Road. After contacting the state’s Department of Conservation and moving the bird out of the roadway, they were able to get in touch with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, who transported the osprey to the n…

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by Sophie Grieser
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