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New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Capital District
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
Suffolk NY
News
Emergency Federal Action Approved To Fix Coastal Damage On Fire Island Emergency Federal Action Approved To Fix Coastal Damage On Fire Island
Emergency Federal Action Approved To Fix Coastal Damage On Fire Island Elected officials have announced the approval of emergency federal action that will allow engineers to assess and repair damaged coastal areas of Long Island's Fire Island.  According to an announcement by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, Jan. 26, the many extreme storms that have slammed into Suffolk County's Fire Island over the last few years make the island eligible for a process that will assess, fund, and repair damaged coastal areas.  This means that the US Army Corps of Engineers will be allowed to begin an expedited evaluation of needed repairs on the …

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by Ben Crnic
Bedford
News
Bear Spotted In Bedford Backyard: Here's Where Bear Spotted In Bedford Backyard: Here's Where
Bear Spotted In Bedford Backyard: Here's Where A large black bear was spotted sauntering through a Northern Westchester backyard by a local resident.  The bear was seen by a Bedford resident on Wednesday evening, Oct. 18 around 5:30 p.m. in a backyard in the area of Indian Hill Road and Cliffield Road.  In one of the images submitted by the resident, the bear can be seen standing on its hind legs.  Although the animals may look imposing, residents can avoid any conflicts with bears by following this advice from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation: Make sure food, garbage, and recycling are secured; Re…

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by Ben Crnic
Ulster Sullivan
Police & Fire
Night Of Drugs, Drinking Leads To Rescue Of 2 In Shandaken By Forest Rangers, DEC Says Night Of Drugs, Drinking Leads To Rescue Of 2 In Shandaken By Forest Rangers, DEC Says
Night Of Drugs, Drinking Leads To Rescue Of 2 In Shandaken 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
Ulster Sullivan
News
Leapin' Lizard! Online Ad Leads To Seizure Of Illegally Possessed Reptile In Sullivan County Leapin' Lizard! Online Ad Leads To Seizure Of Illegally Possessed Reptile In Sullivan County
Leapin' Lizard! Online Ad Leads To Seizure Of Illegally Possessed Reptile In Sullivan County 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
Armonk
News
Bobcat Sighting Reported In Armonk Bobcat Sighting Reported In Armonk
Bobcat Sighting Reported In Armonk 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
Putnam
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
Rye
News
State Grants More Than $100,000 To Go Towards Dam Removal Study In Rye To Help Fish State Grants More Than $100,000 To Go Towards Dam Removal Study In Rye To Help Fish
State Grants More Than $100,000 To Go Towards Dam Removal Study In Rye To Help Fish With the help of a more than $100,000 grant, a nonprofit will team up with a Westchester County school district to look into removing a dam in order to benefit migratory fish.  The $109,984 grant will fund a study to look into the removal of the Blind Brook Dam in Rye, which will be completed by both the Save the Sound nonprofit and students from Rye High School, according to an announcement from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation from Monday, Oct. 31.  The removal of the dam could possibly reconnect 3.5 miles of migratory fish habitat for bo…

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by Ben Crnic
Suffolk NY
News
Bluetongue Found In Southampton Deer, First Time Fatal Virus Confirmed In NY Bluetongue Found In Southampton Deer, First Time Fatal Virus Confirmed In NY
Bluetongue Found In Southampton Deer, First Time Fatal Virus Confirmed In NY 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
Nassau
News
Silly Goose: Nassau County Woman Ticketed After Illegal 'Pet' Bird Found Caged Silly Goose: Nassau County Woman Ticketed After Illegal 'Pet' Bird Found Caged
Silly Goose: Nassau County 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
Yonkers
News
Bear Spotted Near Golf Course In Yonkers Bear Spotted Near Golf Course In Yonkers
Bear Spotted Near Golf Course In Yonkers A curious black bear took in the sights around a golf course in Westchester County before retreating back into the woods, officials reported. In Westchester, police in Yonkers received multiple reports over the weekend regarding a bear - or bears - that were spotted in the Fox Terrace area near the Dunwoodie Golf Course on Wasylenko Lane. It marks the latest bear sighting reported in Westchester this spring. Earlier story - Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk “Don’t panic. Bears are more likely to be afraid of you than you are of them,” New York Department of Environment…

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by Zak Failla
Orangetown
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
Mount Pleasant
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
Putnam
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
North Rockland
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
Mount Pleasant
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
Mount Pleasant
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
Mount Pleasant
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
Mount Pleasant
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
Cortlandt
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
Mount Pleasant
News
New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Westchester New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Westchester
New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Westchester A new black bear sighting has been reported in Northern Westchester. The Bedford Police Department issued an alert to area residents warning that the bear was seen in the Bedford Village area of town. Other recent sightings in the area have happened in North Castle, Danbury, Beekman, Poughkeepsie, Ramapo, Ossining, and Clarkstown. According to police, residents should not leave garbage cans or any food outside. Bears should never be approached, surrounded or cornered, as bears will “aggressively defend themselves if they feel threatened. “Be especially cautious around cubs, as mother bears…

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by Zak Failla
Bronxville
Lifestyle
Grin, Bear It: Police Warn Of Latest Black Bear Sighting In Westchester Grin, Bear It: Police Warn Of Latest Black Bear Sighting In Westchester
Grin, Bear It: Police Warn Of Latest Black Bear Sighting In Westchester Let's bear down. The Rye Brook Police Department has issued an alert to local residents after a black bear was spotted in an area backyard, trying to take a peek over a fence as it looked around. Police said that there have been several sightings of a black bear over the weekend. On Saturday, it was in the County Ridge area, and on Sunday afternoon, it was in the vicinity of the Rye Ridge Shopping Center. According to police, residents should not leave garbage cans or any food outside. Bears should never be approached, surrounded or cornered, as bears will “aggressively defend themselves i…

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by Zak Failla
Putnam
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
Mount Pleasant
News
New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Northern Westchester New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Northern Westchester
New Black Bear Sighting Reported In Northern Westchester With the weather warming up, black bears continue making the rounds in the area, with the .latest sighting coming in Northern Westchester. The North Castle Police Department issued a warning after a bear was spotted between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, July 1 in the Long Pond area of town. There were no further sightings after 11 a.m. Police say that area residents should not approach or feed bears. “If you’re aware of a bear in your area, try to remove things they may hone in on such as bird feeders and garbage pails,” they noted. “Keep pets inside while the bear is in sight.” The…

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by Zak Failla
East Dutchess
Lifestyle
Video: Bear Meets Bird Feeder In Beekman Video: Bear Meets Bird Feeder In Beekman
Video: Bear Meets Bird Feeder In Beekman A playful black bear was caught on camera playing with a bird feeder in a backyard in Dutchess County. In the video, the bear can be seen looking around the yard in Beekman before getting on two paws, grabbing the bird feeder and sniffing around. He then slinks off and began his trip back into the woods. 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 has been making the rounds in Clarkstown. One bear was tranquilized in a tree and taken into custody and another…

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by Zak Failla
Putnam
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
Clarkstown
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
Armonk
News
Police Increase Patrols Near School Following Bear Sighting In Northern Westchester Police Increase Patrols Near School Following Bear Sighting In Northern Westchester
Police Increase Patrols Near School Following Bear Sighting In Northern Westchester Police in Westchester are beefing up patrols at a nearby elementary school after a black bear was spotted making the rounds in the front yard of an area home. The Ossining Police Department released a video that was shot in the morning on Thursday, June 20 on Oakbrook Road. In the video, the small bear can be seen curiously walking across the front lawn of the property, looking around. In response, the Ossining Police Department announced it would be adding some officers in the area around school dismissal “to make sure the kids and bear don’t mix,” adding, “everyone’s going home safe today…

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by Zak Failla
Peekskill
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
DV Plus - Westchester
Lifestyle
Are Deer A Threat To Westchester Wilderness? State Parks Department Apparently Thinks So Are Deer A Threat To Westchester Wilderness? State Parks Department Apparently Thinks So
Are Deer A Threat To Westchester Wilderness? State Parks Department Apparently Thinks So Suburban vehicles and wildlife don't mix on Westchester roadways. Deer-car collisions in the region are on the rise, according to state officials. But does wildlife pose a "threat" even in the area's state parks? Apparently so, according to signs warning hikers and runners of the deer invasion at Rockefeller State Park in Pocantico Hills. Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW) has initiated legal action to have the signs taken down. ADOW is the same non-profit organization that fought Mamaroneck over its plan to kill geese in the village, the state on plans to hunt deer and coyotes by hiri…

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by Jon Craig
Ossining
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