The Hudson Valley is Wild!
Been quite a week for wildlife sightings here in the Hudson Valley. One of the best parts about living in this region is the abundance of nature, but sometimes you have to keep your eyes and ears open. You probably heard about the moose who was struck by a vehicle, and later had to be put down, just north of Route 301. You generally see moose more north, up through parts of New England and in to Canada, but they can and will wander south through this part of the Hudson Valley from time to time. A full grown male can weigh up to 1,200 lbs. This is certainly not something you want to run in to if you're driving
There have also been reports of wild boar sightings near New Paltz. Boars are an evasive species that can be very dangerous, spread disease, and can heavily damage an ecosystem. Governor Cuomo signed a bill in October banning the hunting, importation, and breeding of the animals, in an effort to stop their destruction to local farmlands.
This all goes along with the usual array of deer, foxes, coyotes, bears, and other critters. Not only can they make your commute treacherous...they can even invite themselves on to your property. We've got a family of pesky deer near our place who seem hell bent on not only eating all the plants near our front door, but antagonizing our two dogs.