12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley A 12-year-old Boy Scout is on the mend after an encounter with a black bear left him with minor injuries, ABC7 reports. Henry Ayers told the outlet he was with his troop from Cooperstown camping at Harriman State Park, located in both Rockland and Orange counties, Sunday, May 1, when he awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. "I look up and it was a giant bear,” Ayers told ABC7. “I thought it was a nightmare. It was honestly crazy. I didn't think I was awake." The Scoutmaster, Diana Nicols, told the outlet the bear bit through the boy’s sleeping bag, leaving him with minor cuts and bruises. He…
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…
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Do not release your pet goldfish in lakes or ponds. That's what officials are saying after a huge goldfish was recently pulled from a Minnesota lake, an issue that has been seen across the United States in recent years. National Geographic said while a goldfish typically weighs just 0.2 to 0.6 pounds, they can weigh more than five pounds in the wild, CBS News reported. "They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants," the City of Burnsville, Minnesota, tweeted on Friday, July 9.  In recent years, huge g…
Hudson Valley Man Convicted Of Shark Trafficking Hudson Valley Man Convicted Of Shark Trafficking
Hudson Valley Man Convicted Of Shark Trafficking The tide has turned on a Hudson Valley man who was convicted of shark trafficking protected species that he kept in his pool with the intent to sell, the Attorney General announced. Dutchess County resident Joshua Seguine, age 40, of Lagrangeville, pleaded guilty to illegal commercialization of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and wildlife, for the illegal possession with intent to sell seven sandbar sharks, a protected species under New York law New York AG Letitia James and the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation Commissioner (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that…
Rise In Ramapo Bear Sightings Sparks Concerns Rise In Ramapo Bear Sightings Sparks Concerns
Rise In Ramapo Bear Sightings Sparks Concerns After a recent rise in the number of reported bear sightings in Ramapo neighborhoods, the town's supervisor is advising residents to take precautions. "My office has received multiple calls from residents who are rightfully concerned about recent bear sightings," said Supervisor Michael Specht.  In an effort to help, Specht offered some tips to help deter bears from entering local properties courtesy of the state Department of Conservation. Black bears have been raiding area garbage cans in Ramapo and the surrounding area.NY Department of Conservation According to the Department of Con…
Prominent Morris County Photographer, Nature-Lover Jill Homcy Dies, 54 Prominent Morris County Photographer, Nature-Lover Jill Homcy Dies, 54
Prominent Morris County Photographer, Nature-Lover Jill Homcy Dies, 54 Jill Marie Homcy of Lincoln Park, a nature-lover who founded a massive Facebook page dedicated to wildlife, died on Sept. 30. She was 54. Born in Passaic, Homcy was a Montclair State graduate known for her love of art and nature, her obituary says. She worked as a Production Manager for Strategic Content Imaging, a digital printing company in Secaucus, for 13 years. Homcy was also known for creating and running a Facebook group called NJ Nature and Wildlife, which had more than 10,000 members to date. Her photography projects have helped raise awareness of local environmental issues, such …
Rattlesnake Discovered In Driveway Of Rockland Residence Rattlesnake Discovered In Driveway Of Rockland Residence
Rattlesnake Discovered In Driveway Of Rockland Residence A Rockland County resident received an unexpected visitor when a rattlesnake made its way up an area driveway. A Hillburn resident reported to police over the weekend that a rattlesnake made a surprise guest appearance on his property, prompting an emergency response from police in Ramapo. According to police, a local snake handler and expert responded to the Blakslee Place home and safely removed the rattlesnake from the driveway, who has been relocated to a safe place. The New York State Department of Health said that rattlesnakes are generally found in deciduous forests in rugged terra…
Humpback Whale Washes Up On Long Island Shore Humpback Whale Washes Up On Long Island Shore
Humpback Whale Washes Up On Long Island Shore A massive humpback whale washed up off a Long Island shore over the weekend. The carcass of the 27-foot female whale was found near Montauk at approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, officials said. The latest sighting is the seventh stranding of a whale off a Long Island shore this year, and 52nd since 2017. According to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the whale has been tagged, and no necropsy examination has taken place. “Due to ocean conditions and location, towing the whale would be a lengthy and difficult process,” they said. “A location tag has been placed on the carca…
Boaters Urged To Avoid Portion Of NJ River Where Humpback Whale Spotted Swimming Boaters Urged To Avoid Portion Of NJ River Where Humpback Whale Spotted Swimming
Boaters Urged To Avoid Portion Of NJ River Where Humpback Whale Spotted Swimming Boaters are urged to avoid a portion of the Shrewsbury River where a humpback whale was spotted Friday morning. New Jersey State Troopers from the Marine Services Bureau responded to the Route 36 bridge over the Shrewsbury River for the report of the whale around 9:25 a.m., police said. Additional NJSP officials arrived to assess the whale's condition. "Preliminarily, the whale appears to be healthy and feeding," state police said. "We understand it may be tempting to get close for a better look or picture, but at this time, we are advising boaters to avoid the area." Additional boat…
Injured Miniature Horse Likely Attacked By Black Bear Injured Miniature Horse Likely Attacked By Black Bear
Injured Miniature Horse Likely Attacked By Black Bear State wildlife officials believe a miniature horse may have been attacked by a black bear due to the nature of the injuries. The incident was reported in Fairfield County on Wednesday, May 20, when a Wilton resident called the police department to report the attack, said Wilton Police Lt. Robert Kluk. Wilton Animal Control, as well as an officer from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), responded to the home on Kellogg Drive and determined the horse had been attacked sometime during the overnight hours. "It was determined from the wounds to the animal that it…
Reward Offered For Help Nabbing Long Island Goose Shooter Reward Offered For Help Nabbing Long Island Goose Shooter
Reward Offered For Help Nabbing Long Island Goose Shooter A reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of a person who shot a goose in the neck with a crossbow on Long Island. PETA and the Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) are each offering up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest and animal cruelty conviction of whoever shot a goose at Mill Pond in Wantagh. PETA and LION began efforts to assist the goose on Saturday, April 11, and they were able to gently grab the bird on Monday, April 13 to treat him. The goose was rushed to a rehabilitation center, where he underwent surgery to remove the arrow. Whe…
Bear Sighting Reports On Rise In Connecticut Bear Sighting Reports On Rise In Connecticut
Bear Sighting Reports On Rise In Connecticut With warmer weather reaching the region as spring begins anew, there has been a reported uptick in black bear sightings in Connecticut, officials said. The New York State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said that there have been more bear activity since the weather broke, with many waking from hibernation and looking for sustenance. Officials warned that bears are attracted to bird feeders and garbage, and are more likely to revisit places they’ve found food in the past.  It was advised that bird feeders shouldn’t be out at this point of the year, garbage containers …