Rosie The Roosevelt Island Wild Turkey Featured On ABC TV News Report - Some Concerned Rosie Will Not Be Able To Find Food And Water This Winter, Don't Worry Says Local Wildlife Expert

A few days before Thanksgiving, ABC news profiled Rosie the Roosevelt Island Turkey, a/k/a Astoria, A Roosevelt Island Tipster reported last Thursday:

At 4:00 this morning the final feature on Good Morning America First Look was a great piece on our Turkey & our Island.

Downside — which, unfortunately might result in even more Overcrowding Tram tourism ...

The Manhattan Bird Alert and Hanabi have been chronicling the exploits of Rosie and are concerned that the Turkey will not be able to find food and water on its own as the weather gets colder this winter.

According to the Manhattan Bird Alert: 

 It's time to encourage Rosie's friends to feed her! We think that she is running out of insects to eat and there is little or no tree fruit or seeds for her.

Wild Turkeys in nature can rely on nearby streams and water bodies to get them through dry spells, but Roosevelt Island has none, and the East River is a saltwater estuary.

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) November 25, 2024

I asked Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi, a NY State and Federal licensed Animal Rehabilitator and President of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation about people feeding Rosie for the winter. Ms. Ceruzzi answered:

It's a wild bird. Turkeys have over 5,000 feathers that provide excellent insulation. They can store fat in the spring, summer and fall by eating fruits, nuts, berries, plants and seeds. Wild Turkeys can survive and thrive eating natural foods and do not need food from people.

Snow storms? Turkey stay in trees during severe storms. Winter is for all wildlife.

Rosie looks well fed.

“I am not a pigeon”#birdcpp pic.twitter.com/CvNpr3hPWg

— Hanabi (@Hanabi_NYC) November 26, 2024

November 27,
Astoria the Roosevelt Island Turkey.

“I need to go on a diet”#birdcpp pic.twitter.com/sw1h3EEzD0

— Hanabi (@Hanabi_NYC) November 27, 2024

Here's more on the continuing adventures of Rosie, the Roosevelt Island Turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Roosevelt Island Wildlife Kingdom Has New Member, A Turkey Vulture Spotted Visiting Southpoint Park Yesterday - What's For Dinner?

Roosevelt Island has a new member to its wildlife kingdom. A Turkey Vulture was spotted yesterday visiting Southpoint Park near the Cat Sanctuary by Wildlife Freedom Foundation President Rossana Ceruzzi.

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Ms Ceruzzi adds that the Turkey Vulture soon flew away. Perhaps the Turkey Vulture will return to Roosevelt Island but don't get too close.

According to the Cornell Lab All About Birds:

... your heart has probably leaped at the sight of a large, soaring bird in the distance– perhaps an eagle or osprey. But if it's soaring with its wings raised in a V and making wobbly circles, it's likely a Turkey Vulture. These birds ride thermals in the sky and use their keen sense of smell to find fresh carcasses. They are a consummate scavenger, cleaning up the countryside one bite of their sharply hooked bill at a time, and never mussing a feather on their bald heads....

... Turkey Vultures are accustomed to living near humans and snacking off of our leavings. You will often see them in farm fields or hanging out next to the road. However, they are not likely to be in your backyard unless something has died or else you have a very large backyard.

The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors—it can detect just a few parts per trillion—allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy. The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals....

... As a defense mechanism, Turkey Vultures may vomit on a bird, animal, or human that gets too close. Considering what they eat, this can be a powerful weapon...

Here's more on the Turkey Vulture.

 

Learn more about the Wildlife Freedom Foundation at its website and Instagram Page.

Hanging Out On Roosevelt Island With Pet Sheep, No Big Whoop

Just sitting on a city park bench with my pet sheep - no big whoop. #citysheep #rooseveltisland #farmanimals #sheep @ Roosevelt Island https://t.co/d1njZlAtD0

— Gunna W Z (@GunnaWilson) July 10, 2019

View this post on Instagram

Just sitting on a city park bench with my pet sheep - no big whoop. #citysheep #rooseveltisland #farmanimals #sheep

A post shared by Gunna Wilson Zimmerman (@eventstagramgunna) on Jul 10, 2019 at 9:59am PDT

UPDATE 7/11- The sheep is part of Clifford The Big Red Dog movie shoot on Cornell Tech campus.

Roosevelt Island Wild Kingdom - Watch Hawk Swoop Above Community Garden Hunting For Prey In Our Local Urban Nature Paradise

The Roosevelt Island Garden Club (RIGC):

... is a community of gardening enthusiasts who work together to beautify our Roosevelt Island home, to increase gardening knowledge, and to impart an appreciation for gardening, nature, and environmental stewardship among our members and our neighbors....

Also:

... we have an eco-system where we can see beautiful birds at spots across the Island. Birds are especially abundant at the Roosevelt Island Garden Club. Let's work together to keep pesticides off our Island plants as we do at RIGC. Let's keep RI, our beautiful urban nature paradise, as a healthy home for all our living neighbors.

According to RIGC's Julia Ferguson:

One of our many local birds at the Roosevelt Island Garden Club. This handsome hawk swoops by regularly and Anthony Longo made this film. Native plantings, garden plots, and trees keep the birds healthy with plenty of insects for their food.

Click on the full screen icon at bottom right of video for a great view of the Hawk soaring above the Roosevelt Island Community Garden.

The Roosevelt Island Community Garden opens:

FOR VISITORS:

Come Back & See Us in Spring!

Saturdays & Sundays 9am-7pm

April 15 through October 15

More info on the RIGC at their web site and check out Outdoors On Roosevelt Island - stories about Roosevelt Island residents favorite spots

Geese Making Home For Themselves At Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Campus & Adjacent Road - Rider Gets Off Red Bus To Shoo Away Huge Geese On Street So Bus May Pass

The new Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech school has not only attracted residents, tourists and Tech Leaders to it's beautiful new campus, but a large number of Canadian Geese appear to have found a new home there too. Here's just a few of the Geese I saw on the Cornell Tech campus last Saturday.

Roosevelt Island long-timer, Nina Lublin, who has:

... likely seen & heard just about everything transportation &/or pedestrian safety-related issue here on RI...

shares this message she sent to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Transportation Director Cy Opperman last Saturday evening about the geese:

Well, thought you could use a good laugh tonight -- and please do not get mad at either the driver or me. Everything we did was careful & safe.

Coming north on the West Channel Rd just north of Southpoint Park & before the Cornell Cafe, the road was blocked by about 15-20 or so of the biggest Canadian geese I've ever seen on RI.

Our driver slowed to a crawl, then stopped completely, & honked his horn gently a few times, but the geese would not budge to either side.

He then carefully stopped the bus, I jumped off & started shooing them to one side. Easier said than done. But after about 2 minutes, I cleared the roadway, got back on the bus, he thanked me& we proceeded.

It being RI, of course there were visitors on the promenade watching & taking pix w. their phones, but not helping. I may be somewhere in the Twitterverse -- or worse.

Also, be careful where you walk on the Cornell Tech campus grounds, particularly the hilly meadow area - goose droppings everywhere.

Baby Raccoon Spotted At Roosevelt Island Community Garden - Feasts On Grapes, Takes A Dip In Pond And Relaxes With A Sunday Afternoon Nap

Roosevelt Island resident Joyce Short shares this photo and reports on a new member of the Roosevelt Island Co:mmunity Garden.

At first I thought it was a cat as it rustled over my head in my grape arbor at the Roosevelt Island Community Garden last Sunday afternoon.

The rings on its tail signaled "alarm" and I skedaddled out from underneath.

Content with its fill of grapes, it descended for a dip in my pond, then sidled over to a neighboring cottonwood, at the middle of the community garden, to settle down for a midday nap.

Some gardeners explained that it lost its habitat when two trees were felled to make way for the new water tunnel roadway. What better alternative than a veritable fresh pantry with no natural predators!

Others I spoke to were aware we have raccoons. I was not, but I'm not shocked by it. I'd seen a big raccoon diving into a dumpster at Costco and actually had one sit under the table next to me at an outdoor restaurant in Astoria. Little wonder we have them here on Roosevelt Island!

This raccoon looks very healthy.... has a pretty, dense coat. I'm told it's a female, about 6 months old, who lost her mother.

Possum Seen Wandering Around Roosevelt Island - Was It The OctoPossum Mom From Astoria?

We have all seen the increased interest and growing popularity of Roosevelt Island recently with many more people visiting our little island in the East River.

Apparently, Roosevelt Island may also become a destination for animals from the Wild Kingdom. Late Sunday night, Monday morning, a Riverwalk concierge reports seeing a possum coming from Firefighters Field, crossing Main Street and trying to enter the building's revolving doors. Unable to enter the building, the possum scooted quickly towards the Tram.

Perhaps the Possum visiting Roosevelt Island was the same one seen in Astoria as reported recently by ABC7 News, Gothamist and in this video.



According to ABC 7 News:

A couple from Queens captured video of a remarkable sight -- something they're calling "OctoPossum." And it's not something you'd expect to see in New York City....

and:

... The couple looked a little closer and realized it was an opossum, carrying eight young joeys - the name for baby opossums....

Have you seen the Roosevelt Island Possum? Take a picture next time and send it in.

Many Spring Migratory Birds Stunned, Injured Or Killed Each Year Colliding With Roosevelt Island Buildings - You Can Help Prevent By Making Your Windows Visible To Birds Says Wildlife Freedom Foundation President

Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi is the founder and President of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation Inc. (WFF):

...a non profit organization (501(c)(3) formed for the purpose of protecting and conserving wildlife and caring for stray animal populations in NYC.

Ms. Ceruzzi reports:

 Image From Wildlife Freedom Foundation

SPRING MIGRATION IS HERE (March 15TH --- Early June)

Each migration season, twice a year, nearly one-third of the bird species found in the United States, from 30 Warblers species to raptors, die by colliding with building. Roosevelt Island is not immune from this problem.

Every year on Roosevelt Island, dozens and dozens of birds are either stunned, seriously injured or killed by these collisions.

MAKE YOUR WINDOWS VISIBLE TO BIRDS!!

Glass windows are the greatest threat to migratory birds.

It is vital that we do what we can to minimize/eliminate these dangers whenever possible. Birds collide with every size of glass window, door and lobby. Reflective glass windows present deceptive images of trees, water etc. that a bird may fly towards.

PLEASE DRAW BLINDS AND CURTAINS. IT SAVES LIVES.

MOVE INDOOR PLANTS AWAY from windows and clear glass lobbies. (This will not work if there are strong reflections of the landscape in the window.) REMEMBER — leave no uncovered area of glass that is larger than the palm of your hand. Birds will try to fly through any space larger than this!

Use easy DECALS, TAPE, MARKERS, or whatever other type of markings on the windows. You can also hang wind chimes, CDs or other decorative items inside/outside the windows. You can use strips of paper garlands, ribbons and anything that makes your window glass visible to the birds.

If you don’t have any of the above items, use a simple BAR SOAP to draw streaks (after spring migration, you just wash it out.)

Most of the smaller birds species migrate at night, using the moon, the stars and natural landmarks to navigate.

They are dangerously attracted to the lights left on in office and/or apartment buildings. Please TURN OFF unnecessary interior lights during spring migration season.

Important - SHOULD YOU SEE A BABY BIRD ON THE GROUND, DO NOT PICK IT UP!

Stand back 20 feet and if possible monitor it without approaching to see if parents are feeding it. In general, parents are aware that the baby has fallen, and they are taking care of it. If parents do not appear in one hour, gently place the baby bird in a box with air holes and immediately contact WFF at: 1-855-WFF-NYNY (933-6969) or email us at: wffny.info@gmail.com.

We are deeply grateful for any Donation you can make to help our efforts.

Thank you.

The National Geographic shows efforts to stop migrating birds from crashing into building windows.



Last October, Ms Ceruzzi nursed back to health an injured Kestrel Bird and released it back into the wild.



Check out more about the Wildlife Freedom Foundation at its website.

Injured Kestrel Bird Healed And Released On Roosevelt Island By Wildlife Rehab Specialist Rossana Ceruzzi, President Of Wildlife Freedom Foundation - Shows How To Protect Migrating Birds From Crashing Into Hi Rise Buildings Too

An injured Kestrel bird was nursed back to health

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

by Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi, a NY State and Federal licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Upon the Kestrel regaining its health, Ms Ceruzzi released the bird at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park on Tuesday September 29.



Ms Ceruzzi is the founder and President of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation Inc. (WFF), a non profit organization (501(c)(3) formed for the purpose of protecting and conserving wildlife and caring for stray animal populations in NYC.

According to Ms. Ceruzzi:

Among other causes, WFF works to control and reduce the population of stray cats in NYC through the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR)  program, to get the cats adopted when possible, to provide care for stray cats who are not adopted or adoptable and advocate to prevent and end ALL forms of cruelty toward animals.

The video shows the release into the wild, after 3 days of cage rest, of an American Kestrel. Scientific Name: Falco Sparverius.

The raptor was found in distress and disoriented in the lobby of a residential building on Roosevelt Island. Many thanks to Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department for calling me promptly.

The American Kestrel was once one of the most common raptors in North America. It is in fact, the smallest and most common falcon in North America. These birds feed mainly on insects, mice and snakes, making this bird a very good friend to farmers! :)

See more about American Kestrels.

Reminder - This is Fall migration season!!

Roosevelt Island is part of The Atlantic Flyway, which many migrating birds use to reach warmer climates.

Please put decals on your windows or please draw blinds. Please make your windows visible to birds.

Some (sad) Facts:
Each migration season, twice a year, nearly one third of the bird species found in the United States, from 30 Warblers species to raptors, die by colliding with building. Roosevelt Island is not immune from this problem. Every year on RI, dozens and dozens of birds are either stunned by these collisions, seriously injured or killed.

Read more:

Architects around the world have created fantastic bird friendly structures that incorporate little or no exposed glass i.e. NYTimes building in NYC (by FX Fowle and Renzo Piano). However, designing a new structure to be bird friendly does not need to add much to the cost of construction. There are many different solutions. I am planning to submit some suggestions to both Cornell and Related in order to promote sustainable bird-friendly construction on Roosevelt Island.

An immediate "Quick Fix" for everyone:

• ABC BirdTape to make home windows safer for birds. Decals.
• It is an easy-to-apply tape that lets birds see glass while letting you see out, is easily applied.
• Visit: www.ABCBirdTape.org/

Check out more about the Wildlife Freedom Foundation at its website.

Red Tailed Hawk Rescued Inside Big Allis Ravenswood Power Plant Across East River From Roosevelt Island - Chases Pigeon Down Smokestack And Got Stuck

Roosevelt Island has had its share of Red Tail Hawks sightings, but so far none have required rescuing like this Hawk

Image From JPhillipOBrien2006 The Origin Of Species Blog

that got trapped inside the Big Allis TransCanada Ranvenswood Power Plant across the East River from Roosevelt Island.

Image Of Big Allis Ravenswood Power Plant Seen From Roosevelt Island

Watch A Red-Tailed Hawk Get Rescued From Inside of A Queens Power Plant http://t.co/keIZoy5hXs
— ANIMALNewYork (@ANIMALNewYork) March 31, 2015

Animal New York reports today:

... bird blogger Yojimbot recently rescued a red-tailed hawk that got trapped inside of the Ravenswood Generating Station, also known as Big Allis, on Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City. It’s a power plant capable of generating 2,480 megawatts of electricity, and no place for a hawk.

The adult male red-tail chased a pigeon down a smokestack and became trapped in a small room near the exhaust turbine...

According to Yojimbot's March 27 The Origin of Species blog report:

... As we scale up and approach the bird, it was extremely agitated. Instead of trying to chase the bird around the small enclosure, I just waited for it to flop in front of me and threw a towel over it. This worked but the sly bird squirmed between the planks and down into the enclosure beneath us. Damn! After composing myself, we looked for a way into that area but there was none, so I squeezed in between the same gap and got down to where the now furious bird was. Again I got the towel and threw it at the bird, which was now on its back. It tried to foot the towel but missed and instead grabbed its own wing. I then quickly corralled the bird but it wouldnt release its own body. Not wanting to risk further injury I climbed back up and put the hawk in the box we had. Whew...now to get down without injuring ourselves or the bird. We took our time and all 4 of us worked together to safely get back outside....

Click here to read the full Big Allis Hawk Rescue account from Yojimbot.

Here's video of the Hawk's rescue and release.

Red Tail Hawk Lunches On Rat At Roosevelt Island Pier Today - Great Place To Eat For Humans And Hawks

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Received a tip on Wednesday of a Red Tail Hawk seen in tree at southern tip of Rivercross lawn.

Image Of Hawk In Rivercross Tree Branch From Denise Shull

This afternoon, NY State Wildlife Rehabilitator Rossane Ceruzzi spotted the Red Tail Hawk

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

lunching on a rat

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

at the Roosevelt Island Pier (summer home of Eleanor's Pier Outdoor Eating Area)



(Video from Ms. Ceruzzi).

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) issued this November 7 Waterfront Concession Request For Proposals for the Pier due December 22. The Pier is a great place to enjoy the East River waterfront view and have a bite to eat.

Just ask the Hawk.

UPDATE 11/17 - Ms. Ceruzzi sends an up close and personal view of the Hawk lunching on rat at the Roosevelt Island East River Pier before flying away.

Wild Animal Found Roaming Roosevelt Island - Secured By Public Safety Without Struggle, No Injuries

According to this Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident (PSD) incident report.

3/2/14 - 24:00 - 560 Main Street - Wild Animal - PSD responded - ASPCA Notified.

What was this wild animal found on Roosevelt Island - a lion, tiger or bear?

Image From Huffington Post

No. PSD Director Jack McManus advises that a chicken

 Roosevelt Island Chicken Roaming Behind 560 Main Street

was found roaming behind Roosevelt Landings at 560 Main Street.

Fortunately, the chicken was secured without struggle by Public Safety Officers and then fed by the Officers before being turned over to Wildlife rehab specialists.

UPDATE 3/4 - The Public Safety Department asked NY State Wildlife Rehabilitator Rossana Ceruzzi for assistance with rescue of the Roosevelt Island chicken. Ms. Ceruzzi shares these pictures

 Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

of the Roosevelt Island

Image From Rossana Ceruzzi

Chicken.

According to the NY State Department Of Environmental Conservation:

Wildlife rehabilitators aid in the care and recuperation of injured or sick wild animals. All wildlife rehabilitators are licensed by the DEC. If you find a wild animal in need of assistance, a contact list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators is offered here for your convenience.

Keep in mind:

• Rehabilitators volunteer their time to provide services to wildlife.
• Not all rehabilitators may be able to accept every injured or orphaned animal.
• No state funding is available for animal caging, veterinary care, medicine or food...

Baby Squirrel Rescued By Roosevelt Island Wildlife Rehabilitator

Image From Frank Farance

Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance reports on a baby squirrel tended to recently. From Mr. Farance:

Rossana Ceruzzi, Island House resident and wildlife specialist, helped rescue a baby squirrel who fell from a nest in the trees behind the church.  I don't remember the name of the man who helped her, but the two of them climbed the tree and put the squirrel back home while the baby's mother watched from a distance.  They said the family was reunited afterward.

Ms. Ceruzzi adds:

Alex is the name of the man who helped me returning the baby to the nest.

In a nutshell...this is the story.

In addition to warmth, the most important first treatment the baby squirrel needed was rehydration. The baby was about 4 weeks old.

I re-hydrated him with electrolyte fluids. Electrolyte fluids are administered to repair damage from dehydration, refill reserves, and re-establish body chemistry.

Any baby has encountered trauma by being separated from Mama: the separation may have been just a few hours but even the healthiest looking baby should first be rehydrated.

As a general advise to the readers:
When a wild baby loses its mother it is in desperate trouble. Its best chance for survival will be for a rescuer to find a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Wildlife rehabilitators are community volunteers, licensed by State Government Wildlife Agencies.

I am very happy to be one of them!

More information on NY State Wildlife Rehabilitators available here.

What Kind Of Animals Were Removed From Roosevelt Island Apartments By Public Safety Department - Calling Doctor Doolittle?

Animal removed from apartment. That was the description of two incidents this past week from the Roosevelt Island 24 Hour Public Safety Reports. (Weekly list of current daily Public Safety Reports are posted on blog's middle sidebar)

From the 9/24 - 9/25 Public Safety Report:

Animal in apt- UA removed animal from apt.

and 9/26 -27 Report:

Animal- PSD removed animal from building.

I wondered what kind of animals were removed from Roosevelt Island apartments? Are there giant rabbits making a home in Roosevelt Island apartments?

Image From 2010 Roosevelt Island Egg Hunt

Is there some secret zoo or menagerie of exotic animals hidden away someplace on Roosevelt Island? Do we have our own Roosevelt Island Doctor Doolittle talking to the animals?

Image of Eddie Murphy as Doctor Doolittle From Horseframe

I asked Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra about these incidents:

Can you provide any additional details about these incidents? What type of animals. are they dangerous, which building, are there other animals being kept in Roosevelt Island apartments that should not be there, etc?

Mr.Guerra replied:

In the first incident, a small garden snake was removed, and in the second incident a squirrel was removed. Both from Roosevelt Landings.

Oh well, not very exotic. I guess squirrels and snakes belong outdoors like this guy.

You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Black Squirrel (not the one removed from apt.)

Dead Baby Goose Observed In Middle Of Roosevelt Island Road - Not Shot With An Arrow But Remains Eaten By Large Seagull

Prospect Park Goose With Arrow Shot In Neck Image From NY Times

Not a good week to be a goose in New York City. Earlier this week it was reported that a Prospect Park Goose, Sticky, was shot through the neck with an arrow and today we learn of a Roosevelt Island baby goose not only found dead in the middle of a Roosevelt Island road but devoured by a large seagull.

From the 6/22 -23 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Report:

Dead Goose - PSD observed dead baby goose in the middle of road. While waiting for grounds to remove carcass, a large seagull landed and dragged the carcass to the side of the road and devoured the remains.

I have heard from several residents who were worried about a family of Geese that have made the area just north of the Southpoint Park construction site a home and are concerned that the geese may be hit by speeding vehicles on the East Channel Road by Goldwater Hospital, though don't know if that is what happened to this particular baby goose.

The June 5 2010 Main Street WIRE interview with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. (RIOC) President Steve Shane touched on the Goose Issue.

... Did you hear about the geese? There’s a family of geese. What happened, apparently, was that they were behind the fence in the Southpoint area and, for reasons best known to them, they led their goslings outside [north of] the fenced area, because there’s a lot of construction activity down there, and now they can’t get back to get in the water. There’s no place for the goslings to get in the water, so the tenderhearted goose lovers now want to make some special arrangements for them in our wildlife sanctuary. Unfortunately, our wilderness out here is passing as we do our development. And to encourage this family of geese to reestablish their nest next year – that would probably be a mistake, because they always come back.
That’s the goose story....

Not geese, but here's a family of Roosevelt Island Ducks out for a stroll last night.


Hope they watch out for cars, and hungry seagulls.

Wild Animal Rescue on Roosevelt Island - Beaver Update, Unhappy Ending

Groundhog Image from ozoni11

An earlier post reporting on a loose beaver roaming around the Motorgate Garage led fellow blogger Roosevelt Island 360 to speculate that:

I wonder if the beaver found by the NYPD while patrolling the East River in prep for the Pope’s visit to the UN was the same animal? We don’t get too many beaver sightings around here so perhaps it was the same animal. Either way we are sorry to hear of the beaver’s passing.

It turns out that what some thought was a beaver wandering Motorgate turned out to be a sick ground hog. According to the March 30-31 Public Safety Report:

Wild Animal Rescue- Adj 684 Main Street a ground hog was taken to R.I. Resident after ASPCA and Animal Care and control could not pick it up. The resident is licensed through NYS for Wild Life rehabilitation.

I asked Public Safety Director Keith Guerra about the Roosevelt Island "Wild Animal Rescue" and if there were any other wild animals in the apartment of the tenant with the Wild Life rehabilitation license, recalling an incident several years ago where a tiger was being kept in a Manhattan apartment. Mr. Guerra responded:

It was a sick ground hog that was reported stumbling around. It actually died, from what one of my officers told me. To my knowledge, the tenant with the Wild life rehabilitation license does not have wild animals in her apartment.

For an incredible view of a life and death wild life battle between lions, buffaloes and a crocodile take a look at the Battle at Kruger in South Africa. The video is a bit longer than eight minutes but well worth it.

You Tube video of Battle at Kruger

In other East River wild animal news, earlier this spring a harbor seal was found lounging on the rocks in Red Hook. Not known if it made its way to Roosevelt Island.

You Tube video of Red Hook Harbor Seal