Tag:

Conservation

A Beary Good Ending: Smithsonian Zoo Welcomes First Sloth Bear Cubs Since 2014 (PHOTOS) A Beary Good Ending: Smithsonian Zoo Welcomes First Sloth Bear Cubs Since 2014 (PHOTOS)
A Beary Good Ending: Smithsonian Zoo Welcomes First Sloth Bear Cubs Since 2014 (Photos) Talk about ending the year on a high note. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo closed out 2025 with a rare double dose of good news, welcoming two sloth bear cubs for the first time in more than a decade. Two cubs were born to 6-year-old first-time mother Molly at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, last month. The births are especially notable because they mark the Zoo’s first sloth bear cubs since 2014, a milestone for a species considered vulnerable to extinction. “The birth of two sloth bear cubs at Smithsonian’s National Zoo is a significant …
NY Expands Crossbow Use To Battle 'Overgrown' Deer Herds: Here's What To Know NY Expands Crossbow Use To Battle 'Overgrown' Deer Herds: Here's What To Know
NY Expands Crossbow Use To Battle 'Overgrown' Deer Herds: Here's What To Know New York hunters will soon have more access to crossbows to help manage what state officials say is a skyrocketing deer population.  Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill sponsored by State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Carrie Woerner that legalizes crossbows for big game hunting anywhere longbows are permitted.  The new law, which took effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature on Tuesday, Aug. 26, also reforms outdated equipment standards and establishes safety buffer zones around homes and other occupied buildings, according to Harckham and Woe…
Too Golden To Boil: Rare Lobster Found At Carmel ShopRite Goes From Seafood To Stardom Too Golden To Boil: Rare Lobster Found At Carmel ShopRite Goes From Seafood To Stardom
Too Golden To Boil: Rare Lobster Found At Carmel ShopRite Goes From Seafood To Stardom A once-in-a-lifetime sea creature made a surprise appearance at a Hudson Valley, NY supermarket—and now he’s headed for a permanent home at a popular Connecticut aquarium.  A rare golden lobster, estimated to occur only once in every 30 million lobsters, was discovered at the ShopRite in the Putnam County town of Carmel, the store announced in a Facebook post on Monday, June 30. The store affectionately named the crustacean Jerry, and instead of landing on someone’s dinner plate, he’ll be transferred to the Mystic Aquarium in New London County, Connecticut, where he’ll live out his lif…
‘Super Chill And Funny’: Tyler State Park Ranger Alec Campbell Remembered After Tragic Drowning ‘Super Chill And Funny’: Tyler State Park Ranger Alec Campbell Remembered After Tragic Drowning
‘Super Chill And Funny’: Tyler State Park Ranger Alec Campbell Remembered After Tragic Drowning A popular Pennsylvania park ranger who vanished during a Memorial Day weekend patrol has been found dead, authorities and colleagues announced. Alec Campbell, 38, of Delaware County, was identified as the ranger whose body was recovered from the Neshaminy Creek at Tyler State Park after a days-long search. He went missing on Saturday, May 24, when his kayak capsized during routine patrol duties, Pennsylvania State Police said. His body was located on Sunday, May 25, following a large multi-agency search effort involving DCNR, PSP Aviation and Maritime Units, local fire departments, emergenc…
Dire Wolf Brought Back To Life, Scientists Claim In Historic First Species De-Extinction Dire Wolf Brought Back To Life, Scientists Claim In Historic First Species De-Extinction
Dire Wolf Brought Back To Life, Scientists Claim In Historic First Species De-Extinction For the first time in thousands of years, dire wolves are alive – or at least a close approximation to them – as scientists claim to have achieved the world's first successful animal de-extinction. Colossal Biosciences announced the revival of the long-extinct wolf species in a news release on Monday, April 7. Three dire wolf pups were born at a private ecological preserve in Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The wolves are named Romulus and Remus – mythological figures in the city of Rome's origin story – and Khaleesi, the "Mother of Dragons" from the HBO TV series "Game of Thrones". T…
Berkshires Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty Berkshires Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty
Berkshires Featured In New Stamp Series Honoring Appalachian Trail's Beauty A new set of stamps celebrating the Appalachian Trail has been released, showcasing breathtaking landscapes across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the Forever stamps during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia on Friday, Feb. 28. The stamps honor the nearly 2,200-mile trail that stretches through 14 states. The collection highlights key locations along the trail, from New England's rugged peaks to historic sites in the mid-Atlantic. "The natural beauty of the Appalachian Trail has delighted millions throughout the…
Biden Blocks Offshore Drilling Along Many US Coastal Areas, Citing Environmental Risks Biden Blocks Offshore Drilling Along Many US Coastal Areas, Citing Environmental Risks
Biden Blocks Offshore Drilling Along Many US Coastal Areas, Citing Environmental Risks President Joe Biden announced sweeping protections against offshore oil and gas drilling along key US coastlines, including the east and west coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska. President Biden has taken decisive action to protect about 625 million acres along the U.S. coastlines from the risks of offshore oil and gas drilling, according to a White House statement on Monday, Jan. 6.  The move withdraws areas along the east and west coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future drilling, citing potential environmental, economic, and public …
Ultra Rare Orange Lobster Rescued From Southampton Stop & Shop Ultra Rare Orange Lobster Rescued From Southampton Stop & Shop
Ultra Rare Orange Lobster Rescued From Southampton Stop & Shop This lucky crustacean is officially 86’d from the menu. An ultra rare orange lobster was saved from becoming someone’s dinner after being rescued from a New York Stop & Shop. “Clementine” – as she’s now affectionately known – arrived on Long Island at a Stop & Shop store in Southampton with a shipment of traditional brown lobsters sometime before Thursday, July 4. Her 1-in-30-million amber glow made her an instant celebrity at the store, where she was fed shrimp by management and given the name “Pinky” by the manager’s daughter, according to Humane Long Island. When the store’s o…
Cheetah Dies At Jersey Shore Zoo, Remembered For 'Sass' And Boldness Cheetah Dies At Jersey Shore Zoo, Remembered For 'Sass' And Boldness
Cheetah Dies At Jersey Shore Zoo, Remembered For 'Sass' And Boldness A cheetah has died after living at the Cape May County Park and Zoo for more than a decade, officials said. Buju, a 12-year-old cheetah, died from kidney disease, the zoo said in a Facebook post on Monday, July 29. He and his brother Beenie arrived at the Cape May Court House park in November 2013. The zoo said staff members will miss Buju's "sass." "Buju’s favorite activity was lying in the shade in the middle of the yard with his brother, Beenie," the zoo posted. "They often mirrored each other, looking like bookends. As the bolder cheetah brother, he would often be first to investigate …
Harrowing Rescue Saves Fairfield Woman Hiking In New Hampshire After Injury Harrowing Rescue Saves Fairfield Woman Hiking In New Hampshire After Injury
Harrowing Rescue Saves Fairfield Woman Hiking In New Hampshire After Injury Good Samaritans and conservation officers saved a Fairfield County woman hiking in New Hampshire after injuring her leg. The incident occurred in New Hampshire on Saturday, July 13, on the 19 Mile Brook Trail in Green's Grant. According to Sgt. Glen Lucas with New Hampshire Fish & Game, Carrie Euring, age unknown, of Fairfield, was planning to hike the 19 Mile Brook Trail to the Carter Dome Trail in an effort to summit Mt. Hight.  After summiting Mt. Hight, Euring hiked to Carter Dome and began to hike down the Carter Moriah Trail when she injured her leg on the steep terrain…
Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds
Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds A 39-year-old Reading man is accused of helping smuggle the skulls, skins, and other parts of animals — many of them endangered — into the United States to sell on the black market, federal authorities said.  Adam Bied is charged with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and three counts of violating the Lacey Act which prohibits trafficking in wildlife, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The indictment said Bied brought in more than 100 animal parts from January 2018 through June 2021, knowin…
Slain GW Student's Memory Lives On In Galapagos Slain GW Student's Memory Lives On In Galapagos
Slain GW Student's Memory Lives On In Galapagos The memory of a George Washington University student killed while studying abroad will live on in the Galapagos Islands. Antonella Galindo Merlo died in a car accident while studying at the University of Melbourne earlier this month, the GW Hatchet says citing university officials. Antonella's family is raising money to save the Giant Manta Rays of Ecuador, specifically through an organization dedicated to protecting the species — a cause Antonella cared about deeply. "Antonella was a brilliant soul who left us too soon," reads the campaign. "She was passionate about the conservation of th…
2 Penguin Chicks Born At CT Aquarium: Part Of Effort To Protect Critically Endangered Species 2 Penguin Chicks Born At CT Aquarium: Part Of Effort To Protect Critically Endangered Species
2 Penguin Chicks Born At CT Aquarium: Part Of Effort To Protect Critically Endangered Species As part of a careful plan to ensure the future of a critically endangered species, a beloved Connecticut aquarium has announced the birth of two adorable penguin chicks.  New London County's Mystic Aquarium announced the birth of the two African penguin chicks on Monday, March 25, adding that the "fluffy additions" were part of the Species Survival Plan to ensure the species' survival and wellbeing.  The first of the chicks hatched on Wednesday, Feb. 28, and has since grown to a healthy weight of 1.5 kilograms. Meanwhile, the second chick was born on Saturday, March 2 weighing 1.3…
Street Turns To River After 107-Year-Old Water Main Ruptures In Capital Region (Developing) Street Turns To River After 107-Year-Old Water Main Ruptures In Capital Region (Developing)
Street Turns To River After 107-Year-Old Water Main Ruptures In Capital Region (Developing) Crews are responding to a “substantial” water main break in the region that has inundated a residential neighborhood with a torrent of flood water. The Rensselaer County incident happened at around 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18 in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood, near 7th Avenue and 124th Street. According to city officials, a 30-inch cast iron water main running along 124th Street broke somewhere between 6th and 7th avenues. The water main was installed in 1916 and is one of the two major distribution lines flowing from the water treatment plant. In a photo shared by the city, a significan…
Private Darien Island To Sell For Record-Breaking $85 Million Private Darien Island To Sell For Record-Breaking $85 Million
Private Darien Island To Sell For Record-Breaking $85 Million One of New England's most expensive properties is now off the market, officials announced. Off the gold coast of Fairfield County, the town of Darien said it reached a final amended agreement on the Great Island earlier this month, the town said in a statement. The property was originally listed at $100,000 million but was sold for a final price of $85 million. “Great Island is a pristine landscape with approximately one and a half miles of coastline in an environmentally sensitive cove on Long Island Sound," Darien’s First Selectman Monica McNally said. "With this purchase, we have priori…
174-Acre Wilderness That Includes 'Great Swamp' To Be Protected In Hudson Valley 174-Acre Wilderness That Includes 'Great Swamp' To Be Protected In Hudson Valley
174-Acre Wilderness That Includes 'Great Swamp' To Be Protected In Hudson Valley A 174-acre parcel of conserved open space in the Hudson Valley will now be permanently protected. The Putnam County property, contained in Patterson, is located next to the already-protected Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area and includes ecologically important habitat and rare plants, the Westchester Land Trust announced.  One of these habitats is the 6,000-acre "Great Swamp," which is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the state and serves as an important water source for New York City's water supply, according to the Westchester Land Trust, which now owns the propert…
Five New Tiger Cubs Born At Six Flags Wild Safari Five New Tiger Cubs Born At Six Flags Wild Safari
Five New Tiger Cubs Born At Six Flags Wild Safari Siberian tiger Nadya gave birth to an extremely rare litter of five furry cubs at Six Flags Wild Safari. While most tiger births range from two to four cubs, this uncommon birth is also significant because as an endangered species, Nadya’s litter is equivalent to 1 percent of the world’s wild Siberian tiger population, park officials said. Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, are critically endangered with an estimated wild population of only 500 due to poaching, hunting and habitat loss. As the largest cats in the world, they average 11 feet long with a three-foot tail. Despite orig…
NY Officials Announce Addition Of 1,200 Acres To Three Hudson Valley State Parks NY Officials Announce Addition Of 1,200 Acres To Three Hudson Valley State Parks
NY Officials Announce Addition Of 1,200 Acres To Three Hudson Valley State Parks New York officials announced that a total of about 1,200 acres of parkland will be added to three state parks in the Hudson Valley. According to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, March 3, the new parkland will be added to Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve in Dutchess and Putnam counties, Schunnemunk State Park in Orange County, and Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park in Putnam County. Hochul said $9.7 million in funds from the state's Environmental Protection Fund and the federal Highlands Conservation Act Fund were used to purchase the properties. O…
$23.6 Bridge Replacement Project Completed In Area $23.6 Bridge Replacement Project Completed In Area
$23.6 Bridge Replacement Project Completed In Area A $23.6 million project to replace a bridge in the Hudson Valley is now complete. The State Route 28 bridge in Ulster County over the Esopus Creek in the Hamlet of Mount Tremper has been redesigned, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Nov. 3. "As we continue to recover from the pandemic, more and more New Yorkers and tourists are seeking outdoor activities, especially in areas like beautiful Ulster County," Hochul said. "This project maintains uninterrupted access to fishing sites, hiking trails, and other area destinations and is yet another example of pr…
850-Pound Shark Spotted Swimming Along Jersey Shore Last Weekend 850-Pound Shark Spotted Swimming Along Jersey Shore Last Weekend
850-Pound Shark Spotted Swimming Along Jersey Shore Last Weekend An 850-pound shark was spotted swimming along the Jersey Shore last weekend. Freya -- a sub-adult female white shark -- "pinged" in off the coast of Atlantic City on June 18 around 11:35 a.m., according to shark-tracking organization OCEARCH. 11ft, 850lb white shark Freya is swimming tight to @AtlanticCityGov. Be advised. Track her movements here: https://t.co/0AwJIuFQeM#whiteshark #atlanticcity #shark pic.twitter.com/bXbCn7ruB0 — OCEARCH (@OCEARCH) June 18, 2021 Sharks will "ping" when their dorsal fin is above the surface long enough to be detected by a satellite. Researches at OCEA…
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…
Turtle Back Zoo Welcomes Endangered Leopard Cub Nadya Turtle Back Zoo Welcomes Endangered Leopard Cub Nadya
Turtle Back Zoo Welcomes Endangered Leopard Cub Nadya No, this isn't "Tiger King," -- it's better. The Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange welcome a female Amur leopard cub Nadya on Friday, March 13, to mom Annika and dad Valeri. Her name means "filled with hope" in Russian. "Nadya’s birth has great importance since her species is classified as critically endangered," according to the zoo, noting that there are estimated to be about 84 Amur leopards in their native habitat. Mom Annika had been under baby watch for months, the zoo said. Cameras in her den monitored the cub closely after birth.  "When Annika did not nurse the newborn…
THROW 'EM BACK: Fishing Rule Bans Trophy Stripers In New Jersey THROW 'EM BACK: Fishing Rule Bans Trophy Stripers In New Jersey
Throw 'EM Back: Fishing Rule Bans Trophy Stripers In New Jersey Tighter statewide regulations for striped bass fishing will soon be approved by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. The new standards will change the slot limit to one fish between 28 and 38 inches long per trip for anglers. Starting May 15, the state will make 27,000 bonus permits available to allow one extra striped bass between 24 and 28 inches long, as per the popular striped bass bonus permit program. Regulations that would allow the issuing of a small number of trophy permits for fish longer than 43 inches were rejected. The decision was prompted by the Atlantic States Marine F…
Bill, Hillary Clinton Honored As John D. Rockefeller Jr.  Park Preservation Award Winners Bill, Hillary Clinton Honored As John D. Rockefeller Jr.  Park Preservation Award Winners
Bill, Hillary Clinton Honored As John D. Rockefeller Jr. Park Preservation Award Winners The Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve presented the inaugural John D. Rockefeller Jr. Park Preservation Award to former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton of Chappaqua. The Clintons were honored in June during the Friends Annual Gala at the Rockefeller Estate in Pocantico Hills. They were recognized for their contributions and countless endeavors, including the Clinton Foundation. According to the Friends of the historic state park, the Clintons "carry out their longstanding work of safeguarding our natural resources and building a sustainable future. The Westchester C…
Can Oysters Solve This Long Island Town's Water Problems? Can Oysters Solve This Long Island Town's Water Problems?
Can Oysters Solve This Long Island Town's Water Problems? The Town of Oyster Bay is looking to oysters to solve its water problems. The Town designated three parcels of underground land as conservation management areas for the preservation, seeding, rehabilitation of shellfish including the use of community oyster gardens, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced Thursday, Aug. 1. The areas in Town waters include one along West Shore Road in Bayville, one at Laurel Hollow Beach, and one in Oyster Bay Cove. The locations throughout Oyster Bay Harbor come to about 50 acres total, and will eventually lead to the creation of a self-sustai…
Westchester's Hilltop Hanover Farm Gets Grant To Start Nursery Westchester's Hilltop Hanover Farm Gets Grant To Start Nursery
Westchester's Hilltop Hanover Farm Gets Grant To Start Nursery Northern Westchester’s Hilltop Hanover Farm is receiving a grant to start a native plant nursery. The grant, which totals $4,375, comes from the Bedford Garden Club and will fund the volunteer-run nursery intended to cultivate plants that are native to Westchester County, like swamp milkweed, New York ironweed and bee balm. All of the nursery's plants will be low-maintenance and able to flourish naturally in the area, helping local ecosystems to thrive near the farm's location in Yorktown Heights. “This grant will strengthen the ecosystems of Westchester County as we move towards our goal …
Long Island Aquarium Mourns Deaths Of Popular Snow Monkeys Peeko, Ozzie Long Island Aquarium Mourns Deaths Of Popular Snow Monkeys Peeko, Ozzie
Long Island Aquarium Mourns Deaths Of Popular Snow Monkeys Peeko, Ozzie The deaths of Peeko and Ozzie, a pair of beloved snow monkeys at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, are being mourned throughout the area. Peeko, described by the aquarium as its "alpha male," died of congestive heart failure just a few weeks before his 24th birthday. Ozzie, the aquarium's youngest monkey who underwent surgery to remove a stomach tumor, died from postoperative complications, the aquarium said. "Peeko was a very special member of our troop," the aquarium wrote in a Facebook post. "He was a kind, patient animal and was often the first primate our apprentice staff would b…
Montclair Mom Making Waves In Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Montclair Mom Making Waves In Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Montclair Mom Making Waves In Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Curve model Tara Lynn is gracing this year’s edition of the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The Montclair mom learned of the honor when she got a call while picking up her two sons. “That’s a mind-blowing piece of news to get. I started laughing hysterically for a couple of minutes. It was pure joy,” she told The New York Post. Her shoot for the magazine was last November, about a year after she gave birth to her second son. Her debut appearance in the magazine’s beloved annual swimwear edition at the age of 36 makes Lynn the magazine’s “oldest rookie.” That’s…
This Hudson Valley Town Ranks Among Highest In State For Most Deer Taken In 2018 This Hudson Valley Town Ranks Among Highest In State For Most Deer Taken In 2018
This Hudson Valley Town Ranks Among Highest In State For Most Deer Taken In 2018 Hunters in a Hudson Valley town ranked among the best in the state during a busy deer hunting season. During the 2018-2019 deer hunting season, an estimated 227,787 white-tailed deer were killed, according to new numbers released by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, marking a 12 percent increase over the previous year. The estimated state deer take included 114,402 antler-less deer and 113,385 antlered bucks. Statewide, this represents a 20 percent increase in antler-less harvest and a 5 percent increase in buck harvest from last season. According to the 2018 N…
Cause Of Death Unknown For Rare, 7-Foot Black Dragon At Maritime Aquarium In Norwalk Cause Of Death Unknown For Rare, 7-Foot Black Dragon At Maritime Aquarium In Norwalk
Cause Of Death Unknown For Rare, 7-Foot Black Dragon At Maritime Aquarium In Norwalk The staff of The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is mourning the death of its Asian water monitor lizard, more commonly known as its black dragon. The 7-foot lizard died overnight Monday, April 22. “We’re always saddened by the death of any animal at the Aquarium, but the black dragon was appreciated as a very special creature by staff as well as by our guests,” said Barrett Christie, the Aquarium’s director of Animal Husbandry. The cause of death is unknown. A necropsy will be performed at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at UConn. Although the 6-year-old lizard had …
Here's How Many More Deer NY Hunters Killed Last Year Compared To 2017 Here's How Many More Deer NY Hunters Killed Last Year Compared To 2017
Here's How Many More Deer NY Hunters Killed Last Year Compared To 2017 New York hunters enjoyed a fruitful and busy deer hunting season, taking down 12 percent more deer statewide compared to the previous year. During the 2018-2019 deer hunting season, an estimated 227,787 white-tailed deer were killed, according to new numbers released by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In the previous deer hunting season, hunters harvested 203,427 deer, which had been a 4.5 percent decrease from 2016, the NYSDEC noted. Regionally, hunters killed 28,642 deer in the Northern Zone and 199,145 deer in the Southern Zone. Approximately 60 percent of th…