Tag:

Department of Environmental Conservation

South Orange
Police & Fire
Greenwood Lake Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence Greenwood Lake Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence
Greenwood Lake Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence 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…

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by Kathy Reakes
Ulster Sullivan
Police & Fire
Lost Hikers Rescued By Forest Rangers In Shandaken Lost Hikers Rescued By Forest Rangers In Shandaken
Lost Hikers Rescued By Forest Rangers In Shandaken Two lost hikers in the region were guided to safety by forest rangers as darkness set in the region. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11 in Ulster County in the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area in the town of Shandaken. According to officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the two hikers, ages 28, and 31, lost the trail and called 911 as darkness began to fall. Forest Ranger Horn called one hiker’s cell phone and helped guide the pair a short distance back to the trail. The hikers shared tracking information with Ranger Horn to en…

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by Kathy Reakes
Nassau
Police & Fire
North Bellmore Man Busted With More Than 100 Animals Inside Home North Bellmore Man Busted With More Than 100 Animals Inside Home
North Bellmore Man Busted With More Than 100 Animals Inside Home A Long Island man was charged with illegal possession of endangered wildlife after officials uncovered more than 100 animals, many endangered, inside his home. The unnamed North Bellmore resident's home was raided on Tuesday, Jan. 23 by officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Responding officers discovered the resident illegally possessed several regulated species including an endangered tiger salamander, two monitor lizards (venomous reptiles), and protected diamondback terrapin.  The re…

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by Kathy Reakes
Capital District
News
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists With the arrival of fall, there is an increased risk of crashes involving deer, both the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are warning motorists. Deer are most active and more likely to enter public roadways this time of year as they search for mates during their breeding season, which is the months of October, November, and December. According to the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, in 2022, 41.5 percent of the crashes between deer and vehicles occurred during this three-month…

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by Joe Lombardi
Capital District
Police & Fire
Taxidermist Admits Improperly Disposing Of Animals, Other Violations At Glenville Business Taxidermist Admits Improperly Disposing Of Animals, Other Violations At Glenville Business
Taxidermist Admits Improperly Disposing Of Animals, Other Violations At Glenville Business A taxidermist in the region has admitted to improperly disposing of animal parts and other violations. The Schenectady County business owner, who operates a taxidermy company in Glenville on Scotch Bush Road, pleaded guilty and paid a fine for Environmental Conservation Law violations on Monday, Oct. 3. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), officers executed a search warrant at the business in April 2023. Inside, they reportedly found animal parts that were improperly disposed of and susceptible to Chronic Wasting Disease, which affects deer, elk, reindeer, and m…

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by Michael Mashburn
Suffolk NY
News
Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former Brentwood Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands: DA Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former Brentwood Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands: DA
Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former Brentwood Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands: DA A Long Island man’s decision to dump hazardous waste at a former psychiatric center left the property owner and taxpayers on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs, prosecutors said. Carleton Pulley, age 48, of Bay Shore, was arraigned on charges of endangering public health and related offenses in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Aug. 30. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, a police officer witnessed Pulley unloading tires from a tractor trailer on the grounds of the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center in Brentwood on Sunday, April 23. Th…

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by Michael Mashburn
Ulster Sullivan
Police & Fire
Hikers Ticketed For Leaving Chairs At Summit Of Ulster County Mountain In Shandaken Hikers Ticketed For Leaving Chairs At Summit Of Ulster County Mountain In Shandaken
Hikers Ticketed For Leaving Chairs At Summit Of Ulster County Mountain In Shandaken A group of hikers was ticketed for allegedly taking three Adirondack chairs to the summit of Slide Mountain and then refusing to bring them down. The incident took place in Ulster County on Saturday, July 8 after the Catskill 3500 Club notified Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Martin about a group of hikers carrying three Adirondack chairs toward the summit of Slide Mountain in the town of Shandaken, said DEC officials. The hikers from New Jersey indicated they intended to leave the chairs at the summit for public use. Slide Mountain is located in the Slide Mountain Wi…

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by Kathy Reakes
East Dutchess
News
Dover Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear Dover Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear
Dover Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear A Hudson Valley homeowner has been accused of allegedly killing a black bear without provocation.  The incident took place in Dutchess County on Saturday, April 22 in the town of Dover.  According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call for shots fired and witnessed an individual dragging the bear back to his residence when they arrived at the location. The sheriff's office contacted State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Kevin Wamsley who responded to the scene and interviewed the homeowner wh…

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by Kathy Reakes
Capital District
News
Coops! Driver Ticketed After Mini Cooper Gets Stuck At Albany Pine Bush Preserve Coops! Driver Ticketed After Mini Cooper Gets Stuck At Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Coops! Driver Ticketed After Mini Cooper Gets Stuck At Albany Pine Bush Preserve A man is facing several tickets after driving his car onto a popular hiking trail in the region and then getting stuck, authorities said. Forest rangers in Albany County were called Tuesday, Feb. 21 with reports of an abandoned vehicle in the woods approximately a half mile from the Albany Pine Bush Madison Avenue Pinelands trailhead, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). An investigation by rangers and Albany Police determined that a 42-year-old Troy man had driven a Mini Cooper through a split rail fence at the trailhead. He then proceeded to drive down the hik…

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by Michael Mashburn
Suffolk NY
News
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of Medford Road Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of Medford Road
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of Medford Road Wildlife officers in New York got a slithery surprise on Valentine’s Day when a massive reticulated python was found on the side of a Long Island road. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers were called Tuesday, Feb. 14, with reports that a large snake had been found on the side of the road in the town of Medford, according to the agency. When officers arrived, they found the python curled up in a ball. They quickly determined that the reptile, which measured 14 feet long, was dead. Officers removed the snake from the roadway to “appropriately dispose of it,” the agency s…

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by Michael Mashburn
Columbia Greene
News
Mountain Rescue: Rangers Carry Injured Hiker Mile To Safety In Catskills Mountain Rescue: Rangers Carry Injured Hiker Mile To Safety In Catskills
Mountain Rescue: Rangers Carry Injured Hiker Mile To Safety In Catskills Forest rangers carried an injured hiker a mile to safety after the hiker suffered an ankle injury in the Catskill Mountains. The hours-long rescue operation began at around 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 in Greene County, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  Crews were told that a hiker had been injured on the west side of Sugarloaf Mountain, near the town of Hunter. After reaching the 65-year-old hiker, who is from Connecticut, a ranger determined that additional crews would be needed to carry the hiker the one mile down the mountain in icy condition…

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by Michael Mashburn
Scarsdale
Police & Fire
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Truck Hits Overpass On Hutchinson River Parkway In Scarsdale Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Truck Hits Overpass On Hutchinson River Parkway In Scarsdale
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Truck Hits Overpass On Hutchinson River Parkway In Scarsdale This story has been updated. A truck carrying 42,000 pounds of frozen french fries struck an overpass on a Westchester County parkway, causing a fuel spill and a closure of the roadway's lanes in one direction.   The incident happened on Wednesday morning, Feb. 1 around 6:50 a.m., when a tractor-trailer traveling south on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale hit the Mamaroneck Road bridge, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary said.  As a result of the crash, 75 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the trailer's refrigeration unit onto the parkway and int…

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by Ben Crnic
Nassau
Police & Fire
Video: Crews Responding To Boat Fire At Wantagh Home (Developing) Video: Crews Responding To Boat Fire At Wantagh Home (Developing)
Video: Crews Responding To Boat Fire At Wantagh Home (Developing) Emergency crews responded to reports of a boat fire at a home on Long Island Thursday afternoon, Dec. 29. The incident was reported at around 3 p.m. at a home in Wantagh, located near Riverside Drive and Hemlock Place. Video posted on Twitter shows a small boat fully engulfed in flames with a large plume of black smoke visible for miles. If you’re in the Bellmore area & see this cloud of smoke, it’s not a house fire but a boat fire. pic.twitter.com/qypjJlN5yV — Will Chiarucci (@WillChiarucci) December 29, 2022 Multiple agencies were called to the scene, including the state Depart…

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by Michael Mashburn
Columbia Greene
News
Deerly Departed: Hunter's Buck From Greene County Confiscated After Facebook Post Deerly Departed: Hunter's Buck From Greene County Confiscated After Facebook Post
Deerly Departed: Hunter's Buck From Greene County Confiscated After Facebook Post A New York hunter learned the hard way that if you’re going to break the rules, it’s probably best not to announce it on social media. Department of Environmental Conservation officers in Greene County were tipped off on Wednesday, Dec. 7, about a Facebook post showing a man with a deer that had been taken illegally, the department said. Officers learned that the man had moved from the Capital Region to the town of Hope in Hamilton County. Investigators there were able to track down the man’s location, where they spotted the prized buck hanging on a property. While interviewing the man, h…

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by Michael Mashburn
Ulster Sullivan
News
Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Town Of Rochester Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Town Of Rochester
Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Town Of Rochester 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 …

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by Kathy Reakes
Somers
News
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester The invasive spotted lanternfly continues its invasion of New York. A state effort to track the spread and prevalence of the insect using community reports and digital mapping shows it has now been spotted in all five boroughs of New York City, across Long Island, and throughout the Hudson Valley. Earlier Report: Capital District Among Regions In NY That Have Been 'Infested' By Invasive Insect, Schumer Says As of November 2022, the insect, also known as Chinese blistering cicada, has been confirmed in 16 New York counties, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, …

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by Michael Mashburn
North Salem
News
Coyote Attacks 2 Local Residents On Walk In North Salem Coyote Attacks 2 Local Residents On Walk In North Salem
Coyote Attacks 2 Local Residents On Walk In North Salem A town in the region is warning residents to be on the lookout for a rabid coyote after two residents were attacked while walking. The incident took place in Northern Westchester on Thursday, Nov. 17 shortly after 5 p.m. in North Salem on Turkey Hill Road. One person was bitten with a puncture wound on their leg. The second person was not injured, North Salem Town Supervisor Warren Lucas said. "The person with the puncture wound is on their way to the hospital likely for rabies shots," Lucas said in a Facebook post. "The presumption is that the coyote is rabid. It attacked the tires of a c…

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by Kathy Reakes
Ulster Sullivan
News
Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Ulster County, DEC Says Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Ulster County, DEC Says
Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Ulster County, 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…

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by Kathy Reakes
Saratoga
News
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks 'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks Two college students in New York had to be rescued by state Forest Rangers after getting left behind in the woods of the Adirondacks while on a day retreat. Emergency crews in Warren County were called at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, with reports that two students were lost near Dippikill Pond, located about 10 miles northwest of the town of Warrensburg. A Forest Ranger contacted the students via phone and responded to the area, where he was able to make voice contact with them, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said.  He then made his way to them a short time …

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by Michael Mashburn
Suffolk NY
News
Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car In Manorville Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car In Manorville
Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car In Manorville 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
Columbia Greene
News
Fuel Spill In Catskill Draws Large Response Fuel Spill In Catskill Draws Large Response
Fuel Spill In Catskill Draws Large Response Emergency crews responded after a fuel spill was discovered in a creek in the area. Greene County 911 was first alerted of trouble at around 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 20, with reports of a diesel spill in Catskill Creek in the village of Catskill, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Several of the department’s officers, along with a team of its Spill Responders and local police, were called to the scene. Crews deployed approximately 150 feet of boom floats and 75 feet of absorbent boom to contain the spill, according to officials. Investigators determined that t…

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by Michael Mashburn
Capital District
News
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage Lifeguards in New York are getting a pay raise. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new directive Wednesday, June 22, increasing the starting pay rates for lifeguards at state park beaches and pools, as well as campgrounds and day-use area beaches. Newly hired lifeguards at upstate facilities will see a 34-percent increase in pay from $14.95 per hour to $20 per hour. And starting pay at downstate facilities will go up 21 percent from $18.15 per hour to $22 per hour. Hochul said the idea is to better attract qualified candidates amid a staffing shortage at New York State Park and Department of E…

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by Michael Mashburn
Capital District
News
Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Albany Cemetery Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Albany Cemetery
Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Albany Cemetery Authorities are warning people to be on the lookout after a black bear was spotted hanging around a cemetery in the Capital District. Several people spotted the bear in Albany, at Graceland Cemetery on Delaware Avenue, at around 2 p.m. Friday, May 27, Albany Police said. Those in the area should exercise caution and keep pets on a leash, police said. They advised anyone who sees the bear to not approach the animal and call 911. Black bears are rarely seen by most New Yorkers, but have increasingly been spotted in semi-rural environments, agricultural areas, and sometimes urban centers, ac…

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by Michael Mashburn
Armonk
Lifestyle
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk A Northern Westchester family received an unexpected visitor when a black bear took a tour of the neighborhood. In Armonk, a Chestnut Ridge Road resident captured video of the four-legged visitor who was taking in the sights while wandering in his backyard at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24. During the short video, the bear can be seen peacefully walking up the driveway, setting off a security light before making its way toward a nearby wooded area. Related story - Coyote, Bear Sightings Reported Within Days In This Northern Westchester Town The Department of Environment…

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by Zak Failla
Columbia Greene
News
Hiker Dies After Fall Near Hunter Hiker Dies After Fall Near Hunter
Hiker Dies After Fall Near Hunter A Hudson Valley woman has died after she reportedly fell while hiking in the Catskill Forest Preserve. Forest Rangers were first alerted of trouble at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, with reports of a fallen hiker in Greene County, near Platte Clove Road in the Town of Hunter, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The woman, identified as a resident of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Rangers conducted a technical rope to retrieve her body, DEC officials said. Her body was turned over to the Greene County Coroner, who wil…

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by Michael Mashburn
Orangetown
News
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Harriman State Park 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Harriman State Park
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Harriman State Park A 12-year-old Boy Scout is on the mend after an encounter with a black bear left him with minor injuries, ABC7 reports. Henry Ayers told the outlet he was with his troop from Cooperstown camping at Harriman State Park, located in both Rockland and Orange counties, Sunday, May 1, when he awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. "I look up and it was a giant bear,” Ayers told ABC7. “I thought it was a nightmare. It was honestly crazy. I didn't think I was awake." The Scoutmaster, Diana Nicols, told the outlet the bear bit through the boy’s sleeping bag, leaving him with minor cuts and bruises. He…

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by Michael Mashburn
Capital District
News
VIDEO: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Schenectady VIDEO: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Schenectady
Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Schenectady A moose is on the loose no longer, at least not in the region. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said a young cow moose was successfully immobilized in the Capital District in downtown Schenectady over the weekend and released back into the wilds of the southern Adirondacks. View the video here. The transient moose had been spotted around town several times this month, including near Schenectady Community College on Friday, May 13, the DEC said. “Immobilizing a large animal (or any animal) is also a risky endeavor and is reserved for when it is truly a last resort and th…

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by Michael Mashburn
Nassau
Lifestyle
Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park
Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park Some improvements have been completed at one of Long Island’s most popular parks. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a near $4 million improvement project at the Hempstead Lake State Park to enhance public access to the park and lake, which represents the largest body of freshwater in Nassau County. The project includes the creation of nearly five miles of trails that can be used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as improved connections to the lake and ponds with a new kayak launch and fishing pier. The fishing pier at Hempstead Lake State Park.Flic…

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by Zak Failla
Gloucester
News
NJ Closes These Wildlife Areas To Block Partiers, ATVs, Illegal Swimmers: Report NJ Closes These Wildlife Areas To Block Partiers, ATVs, Illegal Swimmers: Report
NJ Closes These Wildlife Areas To Block Partiers, ATVs, Illegal Swimmers: Report Six New Jersey wildlife areas are being closed to the public for the summer to limit illegal behavior, NJ Advance Media reports. They have become problem areas for partying, all-terrain vehicles and illegal swimming, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The following state-owned land will be off-limits beginning Wednesday through Labor Day: Cedar Lake Wildlife Management Area in Monroe Township, Gloucester County; Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area (Two spots: Parker's Pit and Clay Holes, both in Ocean County);  Manantico Ponds Wildlife Management A…

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by Jon Craig
Mount Vernon
News
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Mount Vernon, Police Say Dog Attacked By Coyote In Mount Vernon, Police Say
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Mount Vernon, Police Say Residents in Westchester have been advised to be on alert after a coyote attacked a dog in the area. In Mount Vernon, the police department issued an advisory cautioning that a small dog was recently attacked near North Columbus Avenue and California Road by what was reported to be a coyote. It is the latest sighting in the area, and the first reported attack. Earlier story - Coyote Advisory Issued In Westchester After Multiple Sightings “Please remember that we share our environment with wild animals, so while it is rare that they appear in Mount Vernon, they do appear from time to time…

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by Zak Failla
Capital District
News
Pittstown State Forest Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Say Pittstown State Forest Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Say
Pittstown State Forest Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Say New York State officials announced the acquisition of 1,175 acres of land, more than doubling the size of a a state forest in the region. Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement about the acquisition of the lands in Rensselaer County adjoining Pittstown State Forest on the Rensselaer Plateau in Grafton on Wednesday, April 20. "New York State is laser focused on preserving and enhancing open space, and the Rensselaer Plateau, just a short visit from the Capitol, provides a spectacular outdoor escape from Albany's bustling downtown," Hochul said. "Today's addition to the Pittstown State …

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by Nicole Valinote