Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 31, 2006
No. 19
www.nyc.gov/parks

Statement On Death Of Hal The Coyote From Parks & Recreation With Information From State Department Of Environmental Conservation

After a very public capture and rescue mission, we are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Hal the coyote. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) took possession of Hal from a State and Federally-licensed wildlife rehabilitator yesterday to transport him for release last night.

During a routine tagging procedure prior to his release into California Hill State Forest in Putnam County, Hal stopped breathing and could not be resuscitated despite the best attempts of DEC biologists and Cornell University graduate researchers. Hal was transported from their facility at California State Forest this morning to their pathology lab for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

For more information, contact DEC at (518) 402-8000.