The Woods

NY lawmakers propose bill limiting artificial light at night

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NY lawmakers propose bill limiting artificial light at night

Two state lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation meant to limit outdoor lighting at night in order to better protect migrating birds.

The measure backed by Manhattan Sen. Brad Hoylman and Albany Assemblywoman Pat Fahy would require most non-essential outdoor lighting be turned off by 11 p.m., be motion activated or covered by an external shield.

The bill is meant to prevent birds who travel at night from becoming disoriented by bright nighttime lights and striking buildings

“Buildings don’t have to be bird killers,” Hoylman said. “On just one night this autumn, building workers found over 200 migratory birds dead at the base of two buildings in Manhattan. While Albany enacted legislation in 2014 to reduce excess light from state-owned buildings to help prevent migratory bird collisions, we must build on this success and reduce the impacts of artificial light throughout the state."

In New York City alone, it's estimated 90,000 to 230,000 birds are killed every year by striking buildings.

I haven’t hunted in two years now 🦌 

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I haven’t hunted in two years now 🦌 

For a while I got my hunting license every year and headed out to the field in search of small game. It’s kind of tough to do regularly as I live in the city and nearby public lands are a ways away and many of them have a lot of hunting pressure. I hate sitting out on a ridge and peering down onto another ridge and seeing another hunter with his or her gun. Before and after deer season, it’s not so bad, but still obnoxious.

I know the big treasure is a big buck or a turkey in their respective seasons. But I have no place to hang or quarter a deer where I live plus my freezer is pretty small in my apartment. And what to do with the guts or entrails? I don’t have trash service and I would hate to put good organic material like that in the landfill.

I’d be better if I spent more time in the field. Podcasts and videos are great but they could only teach you so much. I probably would benefit from using a guide service. But it’s kind of hard not being a landowner and living in the city. Sure I don’t mind nights in the woods this time of year but even thru don’t happen all that often. Maybe when I own my own land.

Goats and Soda : NPR

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How SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer could alter the course of the pandemic : Goats and Soda : NPR

Scientists have evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spreads explosively in white-tailed deer, and the virus is widespread in this deer population across the U.S.

Researchers say the findings are quite concerning and could have vast implications for the long-term course of the global pandemic.

Since SARS-CoV-2 first emerged, there have been several signs that white-tailed deer would be highly susceptible to the virus — and that many of these animals were catching it across the country.