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

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

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

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Dead Whale Found At Long Island Beach Dead Whale Found At Long Island Beach
Dead Whale Found At Long Island Beach An investigation is underway after a dead whale was found beached on Long Island. Emergency crews in Lido Beach were called at around 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, with reports of a beached whale at Lido Beach West Town Park. The male humpback is about 35 feet long and weighs several tons, ABC 7 reports.  A 35ft humpback whale has washed shore at Lido Beach. A necropsy is set for tomorrow @News12LI pic.twitter.com/NBGe4COuoG — Tara Joyce (@tarajoycetv) January 30, 2023 Officials told the outlet the animal washed ashore overnight and was dead by the time crews arrived Monday morning. Video …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car On Long Island Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car On Long Island
Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car On Long Island A bald eagle has died after being struck by a car on Long Island, state wildlife officials announced. Suffolk County Police were called Thursday, Sept. 22, with reports of a bald eagle that had been struck by a vehicle in Manorville on the Sunrise Highway. Police requested additional support from officers with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), who helped safely capture the juvenile bird and place it in a cage, the agency said. The animal was then taken to a local rehabilitator for an X-ray and further treatment. Upon closer examination, however, the rehabilitator disco…

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

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

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Humpback Whale Washes Up On Long Island Shore Humpback Whale Washes Up On Long Island Shore
Humpback Whale Washes Up On Long Island Shore A massive humpback whale washed up off a Long Island shore over the weekend. The carcass of the 27-foot female whale was found near Montauk at approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, officials said. The latest sighting is the seventh stranding of a whale off a Long Island shore this year, and 52nd since 2017. According to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the whale has been tagged, and no necropsy examination has taken place. “Due to ocean conditions and location, towing the whale would be a lengthy and difficult process,” they said. “A location tag has been placed on the carca…

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by Zak Failla
News
Reward Offered For Help Nabbing Long Island Goose Shooter Reward Offered For Help Nabbing Long Island Goose Shooter
Reward Offered For Help Nabbing Long Island Goose Shooter A reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of a person who shot a goose in the neck with a crossbow on Long Island. PETA and the Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) are each offering up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest and animal cruelty conviction of whoever shot a goose at Mill Pond in Wantagh. PETA and LION began efforts to assist the goose on Saturday, April 11, and they were able to gently grab the bird on Monday, April 13 to treat him. The goose was rushed to a rehabilitation center, where he underwent surgery to remove the arrow. Whe…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Pelicans Rescued In Montauk Could Soon Be On Their Way To Bask In Florida Sun Pelicans Rescued In Montauk Could Soon Be On Their Way To Bask In Florida Sun
Pelicans Rescued In Montauk Could Soon Be On Their Way To Bask In Florida Sun It has taken a village of volunteers to help two wayward pelicans survive after the duo failed to fly south and were stranded on Long Island. The two young brown pelicans currently are safely tucked in at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Center in Hampton Bays, but both are a little worse for the wear after getting too cold when they were hanging out in Montauk near the fishing docks. Banded on July 19 in North Carolina, the two were spotted several weeks ago by fishermen and locals in Montauk who kept waiting for them to fly south, said Amanda Daley manager of the wildlife center. Daley sai…

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

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

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

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by Zak Failla
News
Bald Eagle Stolen From Quogue Wildlife Refuge Bald Eagle Stolen From Quogue Wildlife Refuge
Bald Eagle Stolen From Quogue Wildlife Refuge A bald eagle was stolen from a wildlife refuge on Long Island, according to police. Officers responded to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge at 3 Old County Road Tuesday, July 16 on a report of a missing bald eagle, according to the Quogue Village Police Department. This allegedly occurred between 3 and 4 p.m., said the report. Refuge staff reportedly told officers that a male bald eagle approximately 35 years old with a partially amputated right wing had been removed from its cage and was unable to be located, said police. Officers investigated and saw that the eagle's enclosure had bee…

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by Donna Christopher
News
Whale Frees Itself From Fishing Net Off Southampton Coast Whale Frees Itself From Fishing Net Off Southampton Coast
Whale Frees Itself From Fishing Net Off Southampton Coast A humpback whale is now free and roaming the waters off the Long Coast after getting entangled in a fishing net. At approximately 1:15 p.m. Monday, July 15, Southampton Town Police Bay Constables responded to a report of a humpback whale entangled in a fishing net approximately one-quarter mile southwest of the TownlineBeach in Sagaponack.  Bay Constables protected the animal while working with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, DEC and federal authorities including NOAA and USCG.  Town Police, using their UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), monitored and videotaped th…

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

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Photos: Egret Unable To Fly Or Walk Rescued In West Babylon Photos: Egret Unable To Fly Or Walk Rescued In West Babylon
Photos: Egret Unable To Fly Or Walk Rescued In West Babylon Armed with a pool skimmer and a recycling bin, Suffolk County Police were able to rescue an injured egret that was unable to fly or walk in West Babylon. The bird was found on the front lawn of a home on West Ninth Street, around 6:40 p.m., Monday, June 17, by a resident who called 911 to report the bird was limping and unable to fly, said the Suffolk County Police.  The injured bird.Suffolk County Police Department When First Precinct Officer Matthew Garcia, along with Emergency Service Officers Dave Katzen and Keith Charley, responded they were able to secure the egret with a pool ski…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
These Suffolk Towns Rank Among Highest In State For Most Deer Taken In 2018 These Suffolk Towns Rank Among Highest In State For Most Deer Taken In 2018
These Suffolk Towns Rank Among Highest In State For Most Deer Taken In 2018 Hunters from several towns on Long Island, all in Suffolk County, ranked among the best in the state during a busy deer hunting season. During the 2018-2019 deer hunting season, an estimated 227,787 white-tailed deer were killed, according to new numbers released by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, marking a 12 percent increase over the previous year. The estimated state deer take included 114,402 antler-less deer and 113,385 antlered bucks. Statewide, this represents a 20 percent increase in antler-less harvest and a 5 percent increase in buck harvest from last …

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

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by Zak Failla