Humans take pride in their unique, perhaps exalted, place among creatures. We’re the only animal that can point to triumphs like space travel, nerve gas, for-profit prisons, and plastic-filled oceans. Until recent times, we also thought we stood alone in our taste for addling our brains with drugs. Alas, we can no longer claim that distinction: Dolphins, dogs, wallabies, waxwings, and loads of other species like to get loaded. [Read more…] about Wildlife Gone Wild: Animal Intoxication
Marine Life
Recent Wildlife Rescues & Encounters: Loggerhead Turtle, NYC Pythons & Caged Whitetail Deer
In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors began serving to protect the natural resources of New York State. In 2022, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to more than 25,600 calls.
What follows are recently reported incidents involving wildlife rescues: [Read more…] about Recent Wildlife Rescues & Encounters: Loggerhead Turtle, NYC Pythons & Caged Whitetail Deer
Study: Light Pollution Threatens Coastal Marine Systems
Artificial light at night has a profound effect land-based life – from birds to fireflies to humans. But a new study suggests we need to widen our view to include light pollution‘s effect on coastal marine ecosystems, impacting everything from whales to fish, coral to plankton.
This new synthesis of marine light pollution science is published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. [Read more…] about Study: Light Pollution Threatens Coastal Marine Systems
Hudson River Whaling Industry History
Whales were always part of Hudson River life (they were spotted at Albany in 1647), and whaling was a major industry in New York, especially on the Hudson River, for over 60 years. It helped to shape the region’s economy and culture, and it left a lasting legacy. Today, there are several historical markers and museums in the Hudson Valley that commemorate the region’s whaling past and the Great Seal of the City of Hudson still includes a whale. [Read more…] about Hudson River Whaling Industry History
Report Shark Sightings in New York
Sharks that can be found in New York’s marine waters play an important role in the food chain by keeping populations of fish and marine life in check. Without sharks, a balanced ocean ecosystem can be disrupted and cause negative effects on the entire ocean food web. [Read more…] about Report Shark Sightings in New York
Sperm Whales: Gentle Goliaths
The book Sperm Whales: The Gentle Goliaths of the Ocean (Rizzoli, 2022) by Gaelin Rosenwaks with Foreward by Carl Safina tells the story of sperm whale families through photography and film. [Read more…] about Sperm Whales: Gentle Goliaths
State of the Ocean 2023 Report Released
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the State of the Ocean 2023 that provides an overview of actions taken to advance the New York Ocean Action Plan (OAP). The report highlights partnerships and achievements from the first five years of the OAP, including enhancing ecological integrity, promoting sustainable growth, adapting to change, and empowering public stewardship. [Read more…] about State of the Ocean 2023 Report Released
New Fishing Regulations to Protect Sharks Proposed
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing changes to recreational fishing regulations in New York’s Marine and Coastal District. This rulemaking is designed to improve the management and protection of sharks by establishing gear restrictions for recreational shore anglers to enhance law enforcement’s ability to protect sharks and includes new handling and release methods for anglers to improve shark and angler safety.
The proposed regulation is available for public comment until August 7th, 2023. [Read more…] about New Fishing Regulations to Protect Sharks Proposed
New York Bight Sperm Whale Behavior
Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are an endangered large whale species that live primarily in deep offshore waters at the continental shelf break. The New York Bight (NYB), an ecologically rich region off the U.S. Atlantic coast between New Jersey and Long Island, provides habitat for the species throughout most of the year. [Read more…] about New York Bight Sperm Whale Behavior
Dead Humpback Whale, Dolphin Wash Ashore On Long Island Beaches
Two marine mammals recently washed-up dead on Long Island beaches.
On Sunday, January 29, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Della Rocco, Vandenbos, and Zullo responded to a complaint of a deceased dolphin that had washed up on Egypt Beach in Easthampton, Suffolk County. [Read more…] about Dead Humpback Whale, Dolphin Wash Ashore On Long Island Beaches