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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Capital District
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
Ulster Sullivan
Police & Fire
57-Year-Old Man Found Dead On Wilderness Trail In Narrowsburg 57-Year-Old Man Found Dead On Wilderness Trail In Narrowsburg
57-Year-Old Man Found Dead On Wilderness Trail In Narrowsburg A 57-year-old man was found dead on a mountain trail in the region after being reported missing by his wife. The incident occurred in Sullivan County around 1 a.m. Tuesday, March 12, in Narrowsburg on the Tusten Mountain Trail. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Schweider was alerted to a search for the missing man from Queens County in Maspeth who had last been seen two nights earlier by his wife, said DEC officials. The man had left a note saying he was driving to New Jersey to get a part for their furnace. On March 12 at 1 a.m., the man's family p…

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by Kathy Reakes
Capital District
News
Driver Killed In Head-On Colonie Crash That Injured Second Motorist Driver Killed In Head-On Colonie Crash That Injured Second Motorist
Driver Killed In Head-On Colonie Crash That Injured Second Motorist A head-on crash on a busy roadway in the region left one man dead and another motorist injured during the morning commute. The Albany County wreck happened at around 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Colonie, on State Route 9 near Old Loudon Road. Colonie Police said a Subaru was heading northbound on State Route 9 when the driver crossed over the median and struck a southbound Volkswagen head on. Following the collision, the Subaru ended up on its side in a ditch. The driver, 52-year-old Ak Ahmed, of Colonie, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The driver of the Volkswagen,…

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by Michael Mashburn
Capital District
News
Freight Train Derailment Shuts Down Valley Falls Highway; 2 Cars Plunge Into River Freight Train Derailment Shuts Down Valley Falls Highway; 2 Cars Plunge Into River
Freight Train Derailment Shuts Down Valley Falls Highway; 2 Cars Plunge Into River Cleanup efforts are underway following a freight train derailment that shut down a major highway in the region. The Rensselaer County incident happened just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, near Route 67 in Valley Falls. County officials said a Norfolk Southern train was carrying a total of 94 cars when 10 of them derailed near the Hoosic River. Of the 10 cars that left the tracks, two went into the river. Nobody was injured and it’s not believed that any hazardous materials were involved, officials said. The train was carrying plastic pellets and vegetable oil. Emergency crews now on …

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by Michael Mashburn
Greenburgh
News
Officials To Study Flood-Prone Area In Greenburgh, Provide Recommendations For Prevention Officials To Study Flood-Prone Area In Greenburgh, Provide Recommendations For Prevention
Officials To Study Flood-Prone Area In Greenburgh, Provide Recommendations For Prevention In an effort to reduce flooding, New York state officials will soon be studying a watershed in Westchester to provide town officials with recommendations on how to make the area more resilient to rain events.  The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will be commencing a study of the flood-prone Saw Mill River watershed in April 2024, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said on Thursday, Dec. 28.  The study, which is being undertaken by "expert consultants" and will come at no cost to local municipalities, is part of the DEC's Resilient NY program and wi…

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by Ben Crnic
Armonk
News
New Update: Bear Killed After Attacking Child In North Castle Tests Negative For Rabies New Update: Bear Killed After Attacking Child In North Castle Tests Negative For Rabies
New Update: Bear Killed After Attacking Child In North Castle Tests Negative For Rabies A bear that was shot and killed after attacking a 7-year-old child in Northern Westchester has tested negative for rabies, officials said.  The Westchester County Department of Health confirmed the results on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 23, a day after the bear's remains were brought in for testing by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Earlier Report - Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home The male bear was killed by North Castle Police following the attack, which happened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 ju…

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by Ben Crnic
Armonk
News
Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home
Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home New, updated report: Brand-New Update: Bear Tests Negative For Rabies After Attacking Child In North Castle Authorities have released more details about a bear attack outside of a Northern Westchester residence that left a 7-year-old child hospitalized.  The attack, which happened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 just after 11:15 a.m., occurred outside a North Castle home at 75 Hickory Kingdom Rd., where the boy had been playing in the woods before running into the bear, according to a report by NBC New York.  Earlier Report - New Update: Bear Attacks Child In North Ca…

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by Ben Crnic
Armonk
Police & Fire
New Update: Bear Attacks Child In North Castle New Update: Bear Attacks Child In North Castle
New Update: Bear Attacks Child In North Castle New, updated report: Latest Update: 7-Year-Old ID'd As Victim Of Bear Attack Outside North Castle Home This story has been updated. A child was hospitalized after being attacked by a bear at a Northern Westchester County residence. The rare incident happened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 just after 11:15 a.m., when police in the town of North Castle received a report of the incident at 75 Hickory Kingdom Rd. According to North Castle Police, numerous emergency organizations responded to the scene and treated the child, who was later sent to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries…

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by Ben Crnic
West Orange
News
Orange County Fisherman On Hook After Making Hundreds Off Illegally Sold Trout, Police Say Orange County Fisherman On Hook After Making Hundreds Off Illegally Sold Trout, Police Say
Orange County Fisherman On Hook After Making Hundreds Off Illegally Sold Trout, Police Say A Hudson Valley man is facing criminal charges after he allegedly made hundreds of dollars by illegally selling wild caught trout. Orange County resident Robert Everett, age 55, of Cuddebackville, was arrested in July 2023 for allegedly violating the state’s Environmental Conservation Law. According to the Orange County DA’s office, Everett sold the trout on multiple dates in May 2023.  When the Department of Environmental Conservation Police executed a search warrant at his Cuddebackville home, they reportedly discovered nearly 40 pounds of trout valued at more than $700. The arrest…

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by Michael Mashburn
Mamaroneck
Police & Fire
Spilled Mercury From Antique Clock Causes Hazmat Cleanup In Larchmont Spilled Mercury From Antique Clock Causes Hazmat Cleanup In Larchmont
Spilled Mercury From Antique Clock Causes Hazmat Cleanup In Larchmont Emergency cleanup crews were called into action after a large amount of mercury spilled from an antique clock in Westchester, creating a hazardous situation.  The incident happened on Monday, Aug. 14 just after 12:30 p.m., when the Larchmont Fire Department responded to an undisclosed location in the village for a reported hazardous materials leak.  According to the department, an investigation determined that a "significant quantity" of mercury had accidentally been spilled from an antique clock.  After this discovery, a perimeter was created to make sure no one entered the…

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by Ben Crnic
Ulster Sullivan
Police & Fire
Forest Rangers Rescue Lost Hiker In Olive After Hours-Long Search Forest Rangers Rescue Lost Hiker In Olive After Hours-Long Search
Forest Rangers Rescue Lost Hiker In Olive After Hours-Long Search A lost hiker in the Hudson Valley was rescued by forest rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation after a search that took several hours. The incident took place in Ulster County around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, July 31 in the Slide Mountain Wilderness area in the town of Olive. The search began when Forest Ranger Horn overheard radio traffic on the Ulster County 911 channel about a lost hiker with early signs of dementia near Bradkin Road in the Slide Mountain Wilderness, DEC officials said. A 73-year-old had last been seen by her husband while hiking an unmarked tra…

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by Kathy Reakes
Nassau
News
‘Critically’ Endangered Sea Turtle Washes Up On Atlantic Beach; Here’s Where It Will Go Next ‘Critically’ Endangered Sea Turtle Washes Up On Atlantic Beach; Here’s Where It Will Go Next
‘Critically’ Endangered Sea Turtle Washes Up On Atlantic Beach; Here’s Where It Will Go Next One of the most endangered sea turtles in the world is on the road to rehabilitation after washing up on a Long Island beach. The rare Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle was discovered on the evening of Saturday, July 1, on the South Shore of Long Island at Atlantic Beach, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said. Kemp’s Ridley is the most critically endangered species of sea turtle, according to wildlife experts. They are typically found in the Gulf of Mexico but occasionally make their way as far north as Nova Scotia. An Environmental Conservation Police Officer arrived a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Ulster Sullivan
Weather
Smoky Skies Ahead: New Yorkers Advised To Prepare For Hazardous Air From Canadian Wildfires Smoky Skies Ahead: New Yorkers Advised To Prepare For Hazardous Air From Canadian Wildfires
Smoky Skies Ahead: New Yorkers Advised To Prepare For Hazardous Air From Canadian Wildfires Click here for a new, updated story: Air Quality To Worsen In Coming Days: Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area A new air quality forecast predicted a large amount of near-surface smoke that will cover most of the state of New York, according to an announcement by the governor. Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers of a potentially thick blanket of smoke expected to cover the state starting Wednesday, June 28 as the Canadian wildfires continue to burn. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s forecast predicts that, due to a cold front entering the no…

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by Sophie Grieser
Pleasantville
News
Bear Spotted Near Pace University Campus In Pleasantville Bear Spotted Near Pace University Campus In Pleasantville
Bear Spotted Near Pace University Campus In Pleasantville Officials are warning residents to take precautions after a black bear was sighted multiple times near a university campus in Northern Westchester.  The sightings occurred in the village of Pleasantville on Choate Lane near the campus of Pace University, Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi announced on Wednesday, June 7.  In response to the sightings, Fulgenzi warned residents to take the following precautions to avoid attracting the bear again:  Removing bird feeders; Keeping pet food inside; Keeping garbage containers inside. According to the New York S…

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by Ben Crnic
Yonkers
News
Canadian Wildfires: Poor Air Quality Forces Yonkers To Close Schools Canadian Wildfires: Poor Air Quality Forces Yonkers To Close Schools
Canadian Wildfires: Poor Air Quality Forces Yonkers To Close Schools A blanket of unhealthy air covering much of New York as a result of Canadian wildfires has caused a city in Westchester to close its schools.  Yonkers Public Schools announced that it would be closing all schools on Thursday, June 8 as a result of the poor air quality and the unhealthy conditions in the city.  Related Story - Canadian Wildfires Still Producing Unhealthy Air: Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area The announcement comes after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for the New York City metro area and lower Hud…

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by Ben Crnic
White Plains
News
Canadian Fires: Westchester Cancels Outdoor Activities, Urges Precautions As Smoke Fills Air Canadian Fires: Westchester Cancels Outdoor Activities, Urges Precautions As Smoke Fills Air
Canadian Fires: Westchester Cancels Outdoor Activities, Urges Precautions As Smoke Fills Air As smoky skies cover the Hudson Valley as a result of Canadian wildfires, Westchester government officials are canceling outdoor activities and urging residents to take measures to protect their health.  In response to the poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke making its way to the Northeast, Westchester officials are canceling all county-sponsored outdoor events on Wednesday, June 7.  Additionally, officials are also urging all organizations within the county to also cancel their outdoor events.  As a third response measure, officials are also asking all county employee…

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by Ben Crnic
North Rockland
News
'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment 'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment
'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment This story has been updated. Environmental officials in New York are investigating multiple reports of strange odors in the air, sparking concerns they may be tied to the chemical train derailment in eastern Ohio, about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, and its subsequent fire. In a statement to Daily Voice on Friday, Feb. 17, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said it is responding to reports in the Hudson Valley of an “unusual odor in the air.” “DEC has not received any reports from regulated emissions sources about releases that could contribute to the odors describe…

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by Michael Mashburn
Southwest Dutchess
Schools
Marist College Student Bitten By Animal Believed To Be Coyote Marist College Student Bitten By Animal Believed To Be Coyote
Marist College Student Bitten By Animal Believed To Be Coyote A student at a Hudson Valley college was bitten by what is believed to be a coyote. The incident took place in Dutchess County at Marist College in the town of Poughkeepsie around midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 7 near Leo Hall, according to the college's office of Safety of Security in a statement to students. Following the incident, the Dutchess County Health Department issued a warning alerting residents, including Marist College students, that an aggressive coyote was spotted on the college campus in the town of Poughkeepsie. It is unknown at this time if the animal is rabid, the department…

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by Kathy Reakes
Capital District
Police & Fire
New Details: Body Of Missing 59-Year-Old NY Woman Was Found In Gorge, DEC Reports New Details: Body Of Missing 59-Year-Old NY Woman Was Found In Gorge, DEC Reports
New Details: Body Of Missing 59-Year-Old NY Woman Was Found In Gorge, DEC Reports The body of a 59-year-old New York woman who went missing for days was located in a gorge after her car was found parked at a trailhead, officials reported. Onondaga County resident Susan Mills' body was located in the area of Carpenter Falls, a waterfall located in the Cayuga County town of Niles, police reported on Sunday, Dec. 18. Earlier report - New York Woman Found Dead Days After Reported Missing, Police Say Mills was reported missing on Wednesday, Dec. 14, after she had last been seen leaving her home in Elbridge, a village located about 20 miles from Syracuse, on Monday, Dec.…

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by Nicole Valinote
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
Peekskill
News
'A Beautiful View': Route 202 Property In Peekskill Overlooking Hudson River To Be Preserved 'A Beautiful View': Route 202 Property In Peekskill Overlooking Hudson River To Be Preserved
'A Beautiful View': Route 202 Property In Peekskill Overlooking Hudson River To Be Preserved A scenic property in Northern Westchester that overlooks the Hudson River will now be permanently preserved for the public.  The property, located in Peekskill on Crompond Road (Route 202), was bought by the city from a private owner with the help of the Westchester Land Trust, which sourced donations for the purchase, according to an announcement from the organization from Friday, Nov. 4.  "The preservation of this property ensures that a beautiful view of the City of Peekskill and scenic Hudson River will be preserved forever," Westchester Land Trust President Kara Whelan s…

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by Ben Crnic
Columbia Greene
News
Brazen Black Bear Kills Miniature Donkey In Columbia County Brazen Black Bear Kills Miniature Donkey In Columbia County
Brazen Black Bear Kills Miniature Donkey In Columbia County A New York woman is mourning the loss of her beloved pet donkey after the animal was killed by a bear. Columbia County resident Laura-Ann Camissa told News10 ABC in Albany that the attack happened sometime overnight Monday, Oct. 3, at her home in the town of Claverack, where she frequently takes in unwanted donkeys. She told the outlet that she last saw the miniature donkey, named Lucy, late Monday night in her pen that she shared with her companion, Ricky, and two other donkeys. Camissa made the horrifying discovery the next morning. Officials with the New York State Department of Envir…

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by Michael Mashburn
Greenburgh
News
Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties
Drought Watch Remains In Effect For These NY Counties Drought conditions have improved in New York State since the summer but a drought watch remains in effect in seven counties. The State's Drought Management Task Force updated the drought status to "Normal" from "Drought Watch" for multiple regions including most of upstate New York because of recent rainfall and higher levels of ground and surface water.  "Despite the encouraging hydrological conditions, all New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water waste, fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures," the New York State Department of Environmental Conservatio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Ulster Sullivan
Police & Fire
Tanker With Thousands Of Gallons Of Tar Crashes In Esopus Tanker With Thousands Of Gallons Of Tar Crashes In Esopus
Tanker With Thousands Of Gallons Of Tar Crashes In Esopus A sticky situation was averted when a tanker truck carrying 8,000 gallons of tar overturned on a Hudson Valley roadway. Emergency crews in Ulster County were called just after 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, with reports of an overturned semi-truck with a tanker trailer in the Town of Esopus, at the intersection of Old Post Road and Maple Street. By the time deputies arrived the truck driver, identified as a 58-year-old man from Freehold in Greene County, had extricated himself from the cab, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said. He was treated by medics at the scene before being transported b…

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by Michael Mashburn
Ramapo
Police & Fire
Harriman State Park Fire Spreads To More Than 12 Acres Before Being Contained Harriman State Park Fire Spreads To More Than 12 Acres Before Being Contained
Harriman State Park Fire Spreads To More Than 12 Acres Before Being Contained A fire that broke out at Harriman State Park last week spread across more than 12 acres before it was contained.  Forest rangers and members of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation responded to the blaze at the portion of the state park in both Rockland and Orange counties located in the town of Ramapo at 6:40 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reported. The fire had spread to 12 acres by 11 p.m., and rangers began burning a control line to keep it contained to a 34-acre area, officials sa…

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by Nicole Valinote
East Dutchess
News
Oh, Deer: Dover Plains Case Of Deadly Virus Is NY's First Of 2022 Oh, Deer: Dover Plains Case Of Deadly Virus Is NY's First Of 2022
Oh, Deer: Dover Plains Case Of Deadly Virus Is NY's First Of 2022 The first 2022 case of an often-fatal disease of deer has been confirmed in New York. A white-tailed deer in Dutchess County, in the hamlet of Dover Plains, died after contracting Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has just announced. The disease is not spread directly from deer to deer and humans cannot be infected by deer or bites from midges, small bugs often called "no-see-ums," who spread the virrus. The EHD virus was first confirmed in New York in 2007 with relatively small outbreaks in Albany, Rensselaer, and Niagar…

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by Joe Lombardi
Suffolk NY
News
'They Do Not Make Good Pets': 9-Year-Old Alligator Surrenders To Suffolk County SPCA 'They Do Not Make Good Pets': 9-Year-Old Alligator Surrenders To Suffolk County SPCA
'They Do Not Make Good Pets': 9-Year-Old Alligator Surrenders To Suffolk County SPCA A 9-year-old alligator named Zachary was turned over to authorities on Long Island by an owner who purchased the reptile in another state. The 5-foot-long American alligator was surrendered to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Suffolk County SPCA, the SPCA announced on Thursday, Aug. 4. The owner did not have a permit to own the animal in New York and could no longer care for the alligator, the authorities said.  The SPCA said Zachary will be taken to a licensed wildlife sanctuary. "Alligators do not make good pets, are a danger to the public, a…

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by Nicole Valinote
Nassau
News
State Agencies Increase Patrols, Surveillance At Long Island Beaches Due To Shark Attacks State Agencies Increase Patrols, Surveillance At Long Island Beaches Due To Shark Attacks
State Agencies Increase Patrols, Surveillance At Long Island Beaches Due To Shark Attacks State officials have ordered heightened patrols and surveillance of shark activity at Long Island State Park beaches amid an increase in sightings and reports of swimmers getting bit.  Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Monday morning, July 18, that she has directed State Parks to increase lifeguard staffing at ocean beaches by 25 percent. Hochul also ordered expanded drone availability at Long Island State Park, Jones Beach State Pakr, Robert Moses State Park, and Hither Hills State Park. "As New Yorkers and visitors alike head to our beautiful Long Island beaches to enjoy the summer, our top…

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by Nicole Valinote
Ulster Sullivan
News
Reports Of Mountain Lion Sighting Prompt NY DEC Investigation Reports Of Mountain Lion Sighting Prompt NY DEC Investigation
Reports Of Mountain Lion Sighting Prompt NY DEC Investigation New York State officials shared the results of an investigation prompted by reports that a mountain lion was caught on a trail camera in the region. In an announcement on Thursday, July 14, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said it received a number of calls to investigate after a trail camera in Western New York showed what was believed to be a mountain lion. The DEC said its environmental conservation officers and wildlife staff worked with the homeowner to place a cutout of an average-sized mountain lion in the same location. Officials shared photos from the in…

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by Nicole Valinote
Suffolk NY
Lifestyle
Bird With Fishing Lure Stuck In Beak Rescued In Babylon Bird With Fishing Lure Stuck In Beak Rescued In Babylon
Bird With Fishing Lure Stuck In Beak Rescued In Babylon Authorities rescued an injured gosling that was found with a fishing lure stuck in its beak on Long Island. Environmental Conservation Police Officer Dickson received a report about the injured bird in Argyle Lake in Babylon on Thursday, June 16, according to The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Dickson found the gosling swimming near the shore by a bridge and contacted Wildlife Rehabilitator Bobby Horvath to help with the rescue. Dickson and Horvath caught the gosling, clipped the hook, and released the animal back into the lake, the DEC reported.

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by Nicole Valinote
Nassau
News
Undersized Fish DIscovered On Two Different Boats In Nassau, DEC Says Undersized Fish DIscovered On Two Different Boats In Nassau, DEC Says
Undersized Fish DIscovered On Two Different Boats In Nassau, DEC Says Authorities issued tickets after discovering undersized fish on boats during a marine fishing enforcement on Long Island. Environmental Conservation Police officers conducted the enforcement on Hempstead Bay in Nassau County on Friday, June 17, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Officers checked vessels for required safety gear and inspected the fish on board to ensure that anglers followed the state's fishing guidelines. During the patrol, the officers found 10 undersized flukes on two boats and issued tickets for possessing flukes under the legal li…

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by Nicole Valinote