Coyotes are invading Long Island — partly thanks to this surprising talent and NYC rats
Coyotes are increasingly popping up on Long Island — one of the few US land territories they have yet to colonize — thanks in part to a surprising talent and New York City rats.
There have been at least five breeding pairs of the non-native species found in northwest Nassau County alone this year, in addition to further sightings further east, according to Michael Bottini of the Seatuck Environmental Association.
'They're actually quite good swimmers — that's probably how they're getting over to Long Island at its west end from The Bronx,' said Bottini, who noted that one was rescued from the East River two years ago, to The Post.
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6 A coyote spotted in North Sea on Long Island on May 2, 2024.
Mike Bottini
6 A map of coyote sightings across Long Island from the Long Island Mammal Survey.
Long Island Mammal Survey
Coyotes may also subtly be part of the bridge-and-tunnel crowd, using large railway crossings to make their way eastbound.
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There had been some sporadic individual sightings in neighboring Queens and in the Island's tony Hamptons in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but a 2016 incident became one of the species' potential environmental game-changer locally, experts said.
A breeding pair with eight pups and a yearling were thriving near a LaGuardia Airport employee parking lot in Queens because of the all-you-can-eat buffet of rats it offered.
'The area is known for having a huge rat population,' Bottini said of the northwest Queens waterfront. 'Eight pups, that's a large litter — and large litters usually reflect a lot of prey resource in the area.'
6 A coyote in Calvary Cemetery in Long Island City, Queens.
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Then 'the employees started noticing these cute coyote pups, and people started tossing them food,' he said.
The coyotes soon 'lost their fear and started associating people with food.'
Soon after, things became coyote ugly.
The Port Authority 'felt it was a dangerous situation' and captured and killed all but one of the 11 coyotes, Bottini said.
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6 Coyotes have been attracted to the New York City metro area due to the large rat population.
Christopher Sadowski
But 'it's possible' the lone survivor who got away trekked east of Citi Field and a few miles over into Nassau, helping to launch a brood, he said.
A few years later, in 2021, four pups and a breeding pair were confirmed in Manhasset, and that group has since grown in the past four years.
Where coyotes have been seen on Long Island
Along with the Gold Coast, there have been several sightings of coyotes in the eastern reaches of Suffolk County, such as in the Hamptons, according to a map by the Long Island Mammal Survey.
6 A coyote seen in Floral Park, Queens in 2023.
Mike Bottini
There has also been a known solo coyote on Fire Island for a few years. Fisher's Island, a Suffolk County land mass 2 miles south of Connecticut, has also seen a coyote population swim over from the mainland.
Still, Bottini said there is a caveat to the rise of doorbell-camera sightings.
'It doesn't necessarily mean there's more than before; it means we could be seeing them on camera for the first time,' he said.
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6 A coyote seen in Suffolk County in 2024.
Mike Bottini
'It could also be the same individual around,' Bottini added, saying such is likely the case for the Southampton and Water Mill area.
He insisted that the 'fairly good-sized carnivore' rarely attacks people and is instinctively skittish of humans.
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Regardless, he said it's wise to keep pets away and use your head if you see a coyote.
'The way to maintain that natural fear is not to feed them,' he said. 'Keep the wild in wildlife.'
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New York Post
13 hours ago
- New York Post
Coyotes are invading Long Island — partly thanks to this surprising talent and NYC rats
Coyotes are increasingly popping up on Long Island — one of the few US land territories they have yet to colonize — thanks in part to a surprising talent and New York City rats. There have been at least five breeding pairs of the non-native species found in northwest Nassau County alone this year, in addition to further sightings further east, according to Michael Bottini of the Seatuck Environmental Association. 'They're actually quite good swimmers — that's probably how they're getting over to Long Island at its west end from The Bronx,' said Bottini, who noted that one was rescued from the East River two years ago, to The Post. Advertisement 6 A coyote spotted in North Sea on Long Island on May 2, 2024. Mike Bottini 6 A map of coyote sightings across Long Island from the Long Island Mammal Survey. Long Island Mammal Survey Coyotes may also subtly be part of the bridge-and-tunnel crowd, using large railway crossings to make their way eastbound. Advertisement There had been some sporadic individual sightings in neighboring Queens and in the Island's tony Hamptons in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but a 2016 incident became one of the species' potential environmental game-changer locally, experts said. A breeding pair with eight pups and a yearling were thriving near a LaGuardia Airport employee parking lot in Queens because of the all-you-can-eat buffet of rats it offered. 'The area is known for having a huge rat population,' Bottini said of the northwest Queens waterfront. 'Eight pups, that's a large litter — and large litters usually reflect a lot of prey resource in the area.' 6 A coyote in Calvary Cemetery in Long Island City, Queens. Advertisement Then 'the employees started noticing these cute coyote pups, and people started tossing them food,' he said. The coyotes soon 'lost their fear and started associating people with food.' Soon after, things became coyote ugly. The Port Authority 'felt it was a dangerous situation' and captured and killed all but one of the 11 coyotes, Bottini said. Advertisement 6 Coyotes have been attracted to the New York City metro area due to the large rat population. Christopher Sadowski But 'it's possible' the lone survivor who got away trekked east of Citi Field and a few miles over into Nassau, helping to launch a brood, he said. A few years later, in 2021, four pups and a breeding pair were confirmed in Manhasset, and that group has since grown in the past four years. Where coyotes have been seen on Long Island Along with the Gold Coast, there have been several sightings of coyotes in the eastern reaches of Suffolk County, such as in the Hamptons, according to a map by the Long Island Mammal Survey. 6 A coyote seen in Floral Park, Queens in 2023. Mike Bottini There has also been a known solo coyote on Fire Island for a few years. Fisher's Island, a Suffolk County land mass 2 miles south of Connecticut, has also seen a coyote population swim over from the mainland. Still, Bottini said there is a caveat to the rise of doorbell-camera sightings. 'It doesn't necessarily mean there's more than before; it means we could be seeing them on camera for the first time,' he said. Advertisement 6 A coyote seen in Suffolk County in 2024. Mike Bottini 'It could also be the same individual around,' Bottini added, saying such is likely the case for the Southampton and Water Mill area. He insisted that the 'fairly good-sized carnivore' rarely attacks people and is instinctively skittish of humans. Advertisement Regardless, he said it's wise to keep pets away and use your head if you see a coyote. 'The way to maintain that natural fear is not to feed them,' he said. 'Keep the wild in wildlife.'
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
I traded alcohol for these infused drinks and haven't looked back
My mom used to call anything 'infused' a scam. You know the products — CBD pillow sprays, adaptogen teas, vibey seltzers that cost $9 and taste like…static. She's the most grounded person I know, and not just because she insists on mowing our ranch's pasture herself in 101-degree Texas heat. While I'm in the garden talking to cherry tomatoes, she's out there doing the kind of manual labor that would send most people (me) to urgent care, drinking convenience store energy drinks like they're green juice. So when we both stopped drinking alcohol this year, it left a little gap in the ritual. We don't miss the effects, but we do miss having a beverage that feels like a reward. Something you sip at the end of the day that says I did things and I deserve bubbles. Enter: Cornbread Hemp's new sparkling infused drinks. Now, you already know how I feel about Cornbread Hemp. What started as product testing a new brand for The Post quickly turned into a personal obsession (and turned me into a CBD believer). So, I had a few of the brand's new bevs in the fridge for myself, but on one especially brutal day (limping horse, garden hose explosion, dead snake incident — classic Tuesday), I handed mom a cold can of Cornbread and said, 'Just try it.' Advertisement She gave it the look. 'What is this? Am I going to get loopy? Am I going to taste it?' 'Nope. Trust me, you'll like it.' And as though I were Aladdin, she actually grabbed the can from my outstretched arm, squinted at the label, and cracked it open. 'It smells better than LaCroix,' which is high praise coming from a woman who once said sparkling water 'wasted refrigerator space.' She took a sip. Then another. Then, the most aftertaste-sensitive woman in America silently wandered off to do her next chore. Twenty minutes later, I walked over to the horse pasture to find her softly humming Katy Perry and going about her work like it wasn't excruciating labor. That's how I knew she liked it. She didn't want to give me the satisfaction (love you, mom), but I know a good sparkling beverage when I have one. We've since developed a new ritual: garden-tending and chaos-wrangling by day, clean cans and back porch debriefs by night. And she'll never admit it, but she now calls them 'my drinks.' Cornbread Hemp Pros: No detectable hemp aftertaste Sugar-free and made with clean, all-natural ingredients Subtle, grown-up flavors with perfect light carbonation Sleek, minimal packaging that blends in anywhere Cons: Limited retail availability depending on your state's legislation Cornbread Hemp's infused sparkling drinks are 12-ounce cans of lightly flavored, all-natural sourced refreshment, made with active ingredients sourced from the hemp plant from Kentucky. Available in four subtly sweet flavors, these beverages are sugar-free, stevia-free, and non-caffeinated, offering a clean, fizzy alternative to alcohol, energy drinks, or overly sweet mocktails. The carbonation is soft but satisfying, and the flavors are refreshingly natural— no synthetic aftertaste or mystery ingredients here. They're designed for adults 21+ and only ship across the US (except Idaho and Utah), so double-check your local laws before you try to stock up. Size: 12 fl oz per can | Flavors: Raspberry Limeade, Peach Iced Tea, Salted Watermelon, Blueberry Breeze | Sweeteners: None (no added sugar or stevia) | Hemp: all-natural Kentucky-grown extract | Age Requirement: 21+ | Shipping: Varies by state (check local legislation) Why Cornbread Hemp's drinks work (for both of us) Cornbread Hemp's infused sparkling beverages are surprisingly elegant. Not in a pearls-and-white-tablecloth kind of way, but in the sense that everything in them just…works. The flavors are understated and fresh — no fake sugar or vegetal aftertaste and none of that bitter, over-extracted hemp taste that wrecks most drinks in this category. The Raspberry Lime flavor is crisp and bright, and the Blueberry one tastes like summer in a can. Think fresh-picked, not candy-shelved. Each 12-ounce can is made from all-natural ingredients, including Kentucky-grown hemp extract — clean, no-nonsense, and designed for grown-ups who care about ingredient lists (or maybe even grow their own cherry tomatoes). There's no caffeine, no added sugar, and just the right amount of fizz. Not the kind that burns your throat. More like a tiny celebration. I've tried a lot of infused drinks over the past couple of years, and this one is easily the best-tasting. No, I'm not kidding. Some of them feel like you have to endure the taste for the reward. This one? The taste is the reward. 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3 days ago
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Summer Solstice 2025 horoscopes for every zodiac sign
All hail the longest day of the year as the Summer Solstice arrives on Jun 20, 2025, at 10:42 p.m. As daylight edges out darkness, the world blooms, pollen drifts and fruit ripens, we look forward to warmth and welcome the onset of Cancer season. 'The ancient Sumerians began planting during the Summer Solstice — a time that symbolizes new beginnings, when nothing is yet defined and everything is coming into being. Summer Solstice 2025 Today, the Summer Solstice is a time when we plant the seeds of things we want to grow,' Polina Arutiunian, an astrologer at Nebula, a spiritual guidance platform, told The Post. Arutiunian sheds light on the areas of our lives primed to flourish under the zenith of our favorite death star. Read for your sun and rising sign. 12 KseniaKrop – 'You may find yourself focusing more on your emotional state and domestic life, Aries. This is the perfect time to make changes in your home, reframe relationships with family members, or even alter your living situation,' said Arutiunian. She told The Post the sun's standstill could dredge up long-buried fears, experiences, and emotions for Aries folk. Trust that whatever comes up is looking to change form — for the brighter and better. 12 KseniaKrop – For the bull brigade, the Summer Solstice lights up your third house of language, cognition, expression, and exchange. 'The Summer Solstice may highlight new beginnings in communication, Taurus. For some of you, this transit could bring up heartfelt conversations that will mark the start of a new cycle,' said Arutiunian. She advises Taurus folk to avoid arguments on this day — and focus instead on olive branches and peaceful bedrock. 12 KseniaKrop – Happy Solstice Gemini! The peaking sun shines a light on your second house of wealth and worth, encouraging you to bring your finances and the feelings they are tied to out of the dark. You're advised to avoid spending when you're feeling low or risking it all when you're feeling lucky. When you're trying to decide on the necessity of a bet or purchase, consider this Swedish proverb. 'He who buys what he does not need, steals from himself.' 12 KseniaKrop – Happy return of the sun to you, Cancer! 'The Summer Solstice is your time to shine. All your actions could lead to a new beginning for the next six months, so make sure you approach every precipice with confidence. It's a great time to start a new project, take on new work, or make a change to your appearance,' said Arutiunian. 12 KseniaKrop – The Summer Solstice lends light to your twelfth house of the unconscious, Leo — the domain of dreams, dissolution, and ghosts. 'This is truly a magical time for you. Hidden feelings and wishes may arise, possibly even from the past. It's time for deep self-reflection to separate your true desires from illusions,' said Arutiunian. She notes that big cats can get big downloads from their dreams during the days surrounding the Solstice. Pay mind to what catches light when you power down. 12 KseniaKrop – Ahoy, Virgo! The sun stands still and ingresses into Cancer, illuminating your tenth house of community. Your future is coming into focus and fruition. 'You have all the opportunities to start something new, especially in collaborative work projects, within your team, or in friendships. The most beneficial practice for you will be writing down all your plans for the next six months – this is your way to start a new cycle,' said Arutiunian. 12 KseniaKrop – 'The peak of the Sun's energy fills your 10th house, Libra. You might notice a new beginning in your career, public image, or even feel like your ambitions are growing,' said Arutiunian. 'This is the time to focus your forces on a work promotion, new job, or even an opportunity to move abroad — dream boldly and manifest broadly.' 12 KseniaKrop – Scorpions will feel a surge of exploratory energy in their ninth house of ideals and horizons. 'You might feel some fundamental changes in what you believe, even if those changes seem small at first, Scorpio. The Sun highlights the importance of higher education, your views, and values, and may even challenge them through emotional situations,' said Arutiunian. To paraphrase Denis Waitley, we don't find fulfillment in the pursuit of happiness — but in the happiness of pursuit. 12 KseniaKrop – Happy Solstice to you, Sagittarius. The sun is shining in your shadowy eighth house of sex, death, resources, and regeneration. 'This transit may shift your focus to what needs to change, especially in your business, work projects, or partnerships. Don't be afraid to invite deeper transformations,' said Arutiunian. To spur your metamorphosis, I offer you the words of Leon C. Megginson: 'It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.' 12 KseniaKrop – Arutiunian says the Summer Solstice and the onset of Cancer season will deepen relationships for Capricorn folk. With the sun beaming into your seventh house of trusted partnership, you can magnetize what you want by acting like you deserve it fully and trust wholly that it is on its way to you. Whether you're looking to call in a partner or cement a commitment, now is the hour. 12 KseniaKrop – Happy solstice, Aquarius! The energy of the solstice encourages you to turn your attention to bodily health, daily routine, and habitual rituals. 'It's a good time to start a new discipline or system in your routine, or even take on a new responsibility, like caring for a pet,' said Arutiunian. Whatever you initiate on or around the solstice is imbued with the fire power of the sun at its peak, a solar boon that bolsters success. Get to it! 12 KseniaKrop – 'You may experience a beautiful new cycle forming in your life, Pisces, especially when it comes to love,' shared Arutiunian. 'It's a great time to start an artistic project, go public with a pursuit, or even begin planning for children if that's your wish.' Regardless of how creation takes form for you under the standstill sun, Pisces, you are poised for a bountiful ROI. Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
