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New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Police & Fire
Smoke from the Jennings Creek Wildfire Wafts Over Region Smoke from the Jennings Creek Wildfire Wafts Over Region
Smoke from the Jennings Creek Wildfire Wafts Over Region Smoke from the Jennings Creek Wildfire was wafting over portions of North Jersey, causing a rapid decline in air quality Friday, Nov. 15. The Jennings Creek Wildfire, which has scorched 2,283 acres across Passaic County, NJ, and Orange County, NY, was 90% contained Friday, Nov. 15, a week after it broke out, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  Residents in Bergen County, from Oakland to Fort Lee, reported smoke drifting from the wildfire (is smoke in your town? see the Daily Voice Instagram story to report where you live). A smoke map from AirNow.Gov shows the Air Q…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later
Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later After almost one whole week, the Jennings Creek Wildfire had been 75% contained on Thursday, Nov. 14, officials said. The wildfire continues to burn across Passaic County, NJ, and into Orange County, NY, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and New York Department of Environmental Conservation leading containment efforts. The fire has burned 2,283 acres in New Jersey. While no structures are currently threatened or evacuated in New Jersey, residents are advised to avoid the area. Road closures remain in effect on East Shore Road from Awosting Road to Greenwood Lake Turnpike, as well as B…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Total Solar Eclipse Rescue: Injured NY Woman Pulled To Safety From Mountain In Path Of Totality Total Solar Eclipse Rescue: Injured NY Woman Pulled To Safety From Mountain In Path Of Totality
Total Solar Eclipse Rescue: Injured NY Woman Pulled To Safety From Mountain In Path Of Totality An injured woman was rescued during the height of the solar eclipse in an area in upstate New York that was in the path of totality. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the incident began in the middle of the afternoon on Monday, April 8, at Adirondack trailheads in Franklin County, in the town of Santa Clara. Just after 4:30 p.m., authorities received a call about a hiker with a lower leg injury near the summit of Mount Saint Regis.  Due to the terrain and trail conditions, Forest Rangers called for assistance from the New York State Police (NYSP) Avia…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Night Of Drugs, Drinking Leads To Rescue Of 2 In Hudson Valley By Forest Rangers, DEC Says Night Of Drugs, Drinking Leads To Rescue Of 2 In Hudson Valley By Forest Rangers, DEC Says
Night Of Drugs, Drinking Leads To Rescue Of 2 In Hudson Valley By Forest Rangers, DEC Says An alleged night of drugs and drinking led to a dispute between two hiking companions by New York State forest rangers after one man told officials he was "being hunted like in 'Predator.'" The incident occurred in Ulster County on Mount Tremper in the town of Shandaken on Monday, Aug. 21 around 2:45 a.m. According to officials with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Forest Ranger Martin received a call about an injured person on Mount Tremper.  Martin made phone contact with the 36-year-old from Connecticut who claimed he got into an altercation with his hiking co…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Leapin' Lizard! Online Ad Leads To Seizure Of Illegally Possessed Massive Reptile In Region Leapin' Lizard! Online Ad Leads To Seizure Of Illegally Possessed Massive Reptile In Region
Leapin' Lizard! Online Ad Leads To Seizure Of Illegally Possessed Massive Reptile In Region An online ad led to the discovery of a massive reptile that a resident in the region was looking to sell. An inspector with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation located the ad offering a five-and-a-half-foot Asian water monitor lizard for sale in mid-May.  The seller, who initially listed the unusual animal for $1,400, stated he would negotiate down to $1,000, the DEC said.  The investigator reached out to the seller via email, posing as an interested purchaser, and made plans to meet the seller in Sullivan County on Tuesday, May 16.  On that date…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Bobcat Sighting Reported In Northern Westchester Bobcat Sighting Reported In Northern Westchester
Bobcat Sighting Reported In Northern Westchester A resident of Northern Westchester received a rare visit from a wild feline.  Armonk resident John Dunn sighted a bobcat in his front yard at his home on Byram Brook Place on Sunday, Nov. 27, he said.  The sighting is unusual, as bobcats prefer areas without continuous human population centers, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). However, the organization notes that sometimes the cats will use habitats located by humans if it is not isolated by urban development.  According to the NY DEC, bobcats occupy around 13,500 square miles of New …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Deer, Moose On, Near Roadways Pose Increased Crash Risk Months During Fall, NY DEC Says Deer, Moose On, Near Roadways Pose Increased Crash Risk Months During Fall, NY DEC Says
Deer, Moose On, Near Roadways Pose Increased Crash Risk Months During Fall, NY DEC Says Although it may be easy to get distracted by beautiful foliage while driving in the fall, New York officials are warning motorists to keep an eye on the road for deer -- and even moose -- as the weather gets colder.  Deer and moose are more likely to enter roadways in the months of October, November, and December, as it is breeding season for the animals which can cause them to be more active and visible, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.  According to the University at Albany's Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, 41 percent of c…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Bluetongue Found In NY Deer, First Time Fatal Virus Confirmed In State Bluetongue Found In NY Deer, First Time Fatal Virus Confirmed In State
Bluetongue Found In NY Deer, First Time Fatal Virus Confirmed In State Wildlife officials have confirmed the first case of bluetongue virus in New York deer. Testing revealed the virus was present in three deer on Long Island, in Southampton, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said. Bluetongue (BT) virus is closely related to the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) virus and is transmitted in the same way, through the bites of insects called midges, according to wildlife officials. Transmission usually occurs in late summer and early fall. Both viruses are often fatal to deer, with many animals dying within 36 hours of showing symp…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Silly Goose: NY Woman Ticketed After Illegal 'Pet' Bird Found Caged Silly Goose: NY Woman Ticketed After Illegal 'Pet' Bird Found Caged
Silly Goose: NY Woman Ticketed After Illegal 'Pet' Bird Found Caged A New York woman’s goose is cooked, metaphorically, after she was allegedly caught housing a Canadian Goose in her backyard. Officers with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Long Island were contacted on Saturday, July 30, with a complaint from a Nassau County resident claiming their neighbor was keeping a Canadian Goose in a cage. The caller told officers they were concerned that the animal did not have enough room to move around and did not have ample food and water, the department said. When officers arrived at the home, they found the goose in a wire dog cra…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Detected In New York's Wild Birds, DEC Says Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Detected In New York's Wild Birds, DEC Says
Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Detected In New York's Wild Birds, DEC Says State officials are cautioning about a new wave of bird flu that is being reported across New York. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus has been detected in multiple wild bird species in several areas of the state. While cases have been reported in birds statewide, there have been no known HPAI human infections documented in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the new cases in New York “do not present an immediate public concern.” DEC cautioned that HPAI out…

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by Zak Failla
News
Alligator Caught Near School In Hudson Valley Alligator Caught Near School In Hudson Valley
Alligator Caught Near School In Hudson Valley You never know where you'll find an alligator, this week it was in the Hudson Valley at a local unior high school. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, this time it was Dutchess County when on Tuesday, Sept. 14, around 1:20 p.m., East Fishkill Police reported a four-to-five-foot alligator roaming around the Van Wyck Junior High School, the department said. A next-door neighbor, who just happened to look out her living room window, saw the 50-pound animal scurrying from a culvert and into the parking lot of the nearby school and immediately called 911.  W…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
NYSDEC, SPCA Looking For Crossbow Hunter Who Illegally Shot Red-Tailed Hawk In Putnam NYSDEC, SPCA Looking For Crossbow Hunter Who Illegally Shot Red-Tailed Hawk In Putnam
Nysdec, SPCA Looking For Crossbow Hunter Who Illegally Shot Red-Tailed Hawk In Putnam The Department of Environmental Conservation and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department are searching for a crossbow hunter who illegally shot a fledgling red-tailed hawk that managed to live with an arrow lodged in its body for weeks before passing away, despite the best efforts of environmental rehabilitators. "It's so difficult for wildlife to survive in the first year [of their lives]," said Wildlife Rehabilitator Annemarie Lucas, who took part in the capture and care of the injured bird. "To have their life taken away for something as disgusting as this makes everyone so angry.... to ta…

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by Christina Coulter
News
Grin, Bear It: Recent Rise In Hudson Valley Sightings Prompts Warning From Officials Grin, Bear It: Recent Rise In Hudson Valley Sightings Prompts Warning From Officials
Grin, Bear It: Recent Rise In Hudson Valley Sightings Prompts Warning From Officials A recent rise in bear sightings in Rockland County has caused concern for some elected officials who are warning area residents to be safe. Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht issued an alert on Monday, Sept. 21 warning that his office has received multiple calls from residents regarding the recent uptick in sightings. It is unclear whether it is one bear, a family, or a group making the rounds in Rockland. “My office has received multiple calls from residents who are rightfully concerned about recent bear sightings,” Specht said. “This is the first in a series of updates with tips for…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
The Bucks Stop Here: Photo Shows Five Of Them Together In Northern Westchester The Bucks Stop Here: Photo Shows Five Of Them Together In Northern Westchester
The Bucks Stop Here: Photo Shows Five Of Them Together In Northern Westchester A rare congregation of bucks was spotted during the recent heatwave. Five bucks were spotted roaming the grounds of the Baxter Preserve in North Salem, taking in the sights before taking off. Baxter South land was donated to the North Salem Open Land Foundation (NSOLF) in 1979 by "The Baxter Road Group.” Baxter South includes a large pond surrounded by the remains of a racetrack, and many trails, which are traveled by people on foot and horseback. Many of the trails are lined with apple, black cherry, cottonwood, and maple trees. According to the state Department of Environmen…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Brand-New Sighting: Black Bear Finds Its Own Way To Enjoy Sunday Brunch Brand-New Sighting: Black Bear Finds Its Own Way To Enjoy Sunday Brunch
Brand-New Sighting: Black Bear Finds Its Own Way To Enjoy Sunday Brunch There have been dozens of reported black bear sightings in the area the last month. Including at a golf course. Even a cemetery. And now, most recently, a bear in the Hudson Valley making its own morning meal with the contents of garbage cans. The bear was captured on camera in the Dutchess County town of Union Vale on Sunday morning, July 26. (See first image above.) Another bear, seen in Northern Westchester outside Peekskill Towers, looks like it may be apartment hunting. (See second image above.) Related story - Bear Sighting Forces Temporary Closure Of Golf Course  Here …

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Brand-New Sighting: See Photo Of Bear Talking Trash In Northern Westchester Brand-New Sighting: See Photo Of Bear Talking Trash In Northern Westchester
Brand-New Sighting: See Photo Of Bear Talking Trash In Northern Westchester This month alone, there have been more than a dozen reported black bear sightings in the area. Including at a golf course. And now, even a cemetery. The sighting, reported on Saturday, June 27, happened in Northern Westchester in the area of Croton Dam Road, said New Castle Police, who captured the bear next to a turned-over garbage can. A couple in Lewisboro reported two bears checking out their trash can outside their home on Kitchawan Road after nightfall earlier this month. They returned two nights later, scattering cans in a plastic bag for recycling. Another bear, captured on camer…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area
Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area Groups of black bears have been making the rounds throughout Hudson Valley neighborhoods, with some getting caught on camera a little too close for comfort. There were multiple sightings of black bears and cubs reported in Rockland County in the past week, with some roaming through area backyards in Pomona, while others took leisurely strolls through quiet streets. One bear even got up close and personal, perusing the sights on one resident’s backyard deck. According to environment officials, residents should not leave garbage cans or any food outside to help avoid an encounter with a bear…

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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 …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In Putnam Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In Putnam
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In Putnam A  family enjoyed an unexpected guest when a black bear was caught taking an afternoon stroll through their backyard and into the woods. The bear was caught on surveillance camera in Putnam County at approximately 8:11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, in the backyard of a home in the Millpond Lane area in Kent, the family said. It could be seen sniffing along the ground as it made its way through the yard. In the video, the bear leisurely takes in the lay of the land, looking around while heading towards the trees in the backyard. Other recent sightings in the area have happened in North Cas…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Bear Tranquilized After Climbing Tree In Town Of Poughkeepsie Bear Tranquilized After Climbing Tree In Town Of Poughkeepsie
Bear Tranquilized After Climbing Tree In Town Of Poughkeepsie A black bear had to be tranquilized and pushed out of a tree by police in the Town of Poughkeepsie after drawing the attention of area residents. Officers received reports from the Arlington section of town at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 28, when the bear was spotted in a tree between Taft Avenue and the Raymond Avenue extension. Police tranquilized the bear while it was in the tree and an officer climbed up and pushed it onto a safe pad on the ground below. The bear was taken away by wildlife officials at approximately 10:45 a.m. The sighting is just the latest in the Hudson …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
No One Interrupted This Massive Black Bear's Feast In Rockland No One Interrupted This Massive Black Bear's Feast In Rockland
No One Interrupted This Massive Black Bear's Feast In Rockland Summer is here, and so are the bears in Rockland County. A massive black bear was spotted in Hillburn, snacking on the scraps of some garbage it gained access to near the intersection of 5th Street and Hickory Avenue, Ramapo Police said. The bear gave some residents a small scare before taking back off into the woods without any incident, police said, though some were startled by the sheer size of the black bear. The sighting is just the latest in the Hudson Valley in recent weeks. A bear on the prowl in Ossining forced police to increase patrols near an elementary school, while another ha…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Photos: Residents Bear Down As Mama, Cub, Rummage Through Trash Cans In Area Photos: Residents Bear Down As Mama, Cub, Rummage Through Trash Cans In Area
Photos: Residents Bear Down As Mama, Cub, Rummage Through Trash Cans In Area With the weather continuing to warm up, more and more black bears are making their way out of the woods and onto area properties in the area. The latest black bear sighting came in Pine Plains, when a Cedar Knolls Road resident caught what appears to be a mother and its cub marching through his backyard on multiple occasions in the past few weeks. The resident said that he noticed that something was getting into the trash in the rear of the house and set up deer cameras as a response. It turns out that it wasn’t deer feasting on his leftovers, and was instead a paper of bears making the rou…

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by Zak Failla
News
Here's How Many Deer NY Hunters Killed This Fall, Marking Increase For Third Straight Year Here's How Many Deer NY Hunters Killed This Fall, Marking Increase For Third Straight Year
Here's How Many Deer NY Hunters Killed This Fall, Marking Increase For Third Straight Year New York continues to be a hotspot for deer hunters, with 2018 marking the third consecutive year that the kill count has increased. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation announced that hunters killed approximately 109,000 deer during hunting season, up from 98,000 last year and 86,000 in 2016. The number represents a 14 percent increase in the Northern Zone and 11 percent increase in the Southern Zone. A final tally of the seasons' deer and bear harvests will be released early next year. According to the NYSDEC, through the final weekend of the Southern Zone late bow and m…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Bear With Us: Latest Sighting Comes Outside Garage At Putnam Home Bear With Us: Latest Sighting Comes Outside Garage At Putnam Home
Bear With Us: Latest Sighting Comes Outside Garage At Putnam Home A black bear got up close and personal on Tuesday morning, walking up to a Putnam County garage and taking a look around before heading back into the woods. The bear was spotted outside the front yard of a Travis Corners Road home in Garrison, perusing some bird feeders in front of the home. The bear was described as “quiet as a cat and very calm,” and left without incident after his detour. The sighting comes after a flurry of others in Northern Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland and Orange counties. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, “though rarely s…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Taking A Stand: Black Bear Makes Rounds In Ramapo Taking A Stand: Black Bear Makes Rounds In Ramapo
Taking A Stand: Black Bear Makes Rounds In Ramapo Standing tall. A black bear was spotted in Ramapo backyard late last week, taking a leisurely stroll and standing on its hind legs to peer over a fence. The photo above shows the bear on Wilbur Road. This is the latest Hudson Valley bear sighting, including several recent sightings in Poughkeepsie and Warwick. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, “though rarely seen by most New Yorkers, black bears are valued by hunters, photographers, and wildlife watchers.  "Many people enjoy just knowing that bears are present in New York. For many, black bears symb…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
World War II Tanker Off LI Coast Sunk by U-Boat Could Be Leaking Oil World War II Tanker Off LI Coast Sunk by U-Boat Could Be Leaking Oil
World War II Tanker Off LI Coast Sunk by U-Boat Could Be Leaking Oil A British tanker torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Long Island during World War II may still be leaking oil. The Coast Guard said it has contracted Resolve Marine to conduct an underwater assessment of the tanker Coimbra, from June 19 to June 27. The Coimbra is located approximately 30 miles southeast of Shinnecock. The operation will assess the condition of the tanker and potential environmental impact. During the assessment, boaters are requested to keep a safe distance of 500 yards from the dive operation. “We have assembled a team including members of the Navy Sup…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Brush Fire Burns 20 Acres In Arlington Brush Fire Burns 20 Acres In Arlington
Brush Fire Burns 20 Acres In Arlington One firefighter was slightly injured and more than 30 firefighters battled a brush fire that burned more than 20 acres near Van Wagner Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie, according to Arlington Fire Chief Tory Gallante. Arlington firefighters responded to the fire around 5 p.m. Saturday for a report of black smoke from the woods behind the home at 342 Van Wagner Road, Gallante said. The first fire department unit arrived on the scene within five minutes of the initial call and found about 10 acres on fire, which with the wind, grew to about 15 to 20 acres. To help access the difficult terrai…

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by Kathy Reakes