Connecticut

Chappy, a beloved gray seal, dies weeks after rescue on Connecticut street

Published

3 months ago

March 4, 2025

Chappy, a beloved gray seal, dies weeks after rescue on Connecticut street

A seal pup whose urban rescue tugged at the nation’s heartstrings on social media in mid-February has died, a Connecticut aquarium said Monday.

The New Haven Police Department found Chappy, a gray seal pup, roaming the streets of the city in mid-February, a long way from the safe waters off the Atlantic coast. The pup was promptly treated at Mystic Aquarium for dehydration, malnutrition and mild pneumonia but died as his gastrointestinal issues became too severe, the aquarium said.

“A complete necropsy was conducted, and findings are consistent with mesenteric torsion, meaning that his intestines were twisted around the mesentery, cutting off blood supply to a large portion of the gastrointestinal tract,” according to the aquarium. “This condition can be challenging to diagnose and has a poor prognosis.”

The seal pup is one of many animals whose mysterious discoveries far afield from their natural habitats puzzled veterinarians. Among the cases are an alligator in New York State, a loose bobcat in Georgia and flamingos west of the Mississippi River.

“The reality of working with stranded animals can be tough sometimes, but Chappy was surrounded by love until the very end,” Mystic Aquarium wrote.

‘Chappy’ roamed city looking for pizza – maybe

Police found Chappy in downtown New Haven after getting a call for a possibly injured seal pup, Officer Christian Bruckhart previously told USA TODAY. He joked the aquatic animal was searching for clam pizza, and later said the pup was transported to Mystic, about 55 miles east of New Haven for rehabilitation.

The police department enlisted the public’s help to name the pup. It was affectionately named Chappy after it was reported the seal was found on Chapel Street, NBC Connecticut reported.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that a gray seal is native to the North Atlantic and can be found in coastal waters. It’s also a federally protected animal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Aquarium staff estimated Chappy to be a few weeks old and was seen roaming in several other towns before being picked up in New Haven. According to the aquarium, Chappy weighed 28 pounds, just 7 pounds less than what a newborn gray seal typically weighs.

“The goal for this seal, along with every other rescued marine mammal and sea turtle patient, is to release the seal back to its ocean home once he is healthy and strong,” the aquarium previously said on Facebook.

The aquarium shared Chappy’s health updates on Facebook. Staff said his immune system had signs of weakness and that he would be on a long road to recovery as he fought pneumonia and the gastrointestinal issues. The gut issues, however, became too severe and Chappy later passed away.

Staff made a troubling discovery in the necropsy, finding small pieces of plastic in Chappy’s stomach. The Center for Biological Diversity, a marine welfare nonprofit, estimated that by 2050, plastic will outweigh all fish if pollution remains at its current rate. Currently, plastic makes up nearly 40% of the world’s ocean surfaces.

Animals found far from their habitats

Chappy isn’t the only animal discovered away from its natural habitat in the U.S.

After Hurricane Idalia slammed Florida in 2023, flamingos were spotted in nearly 20 states. Scientists believe the birds migrated due to the storm’s winds but weren’t certain about the birds’ future. Some flew back to the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico, while others lingered in Florida and several other states.

Florida has also continually encouraged residents to hunt Burmese and reticulated pythons – called the Python Challenge – as the snakes are invasive to the state, threatening the Sunshine State’s wildlife. The challenge gives registered participants a monetary incentive for capturing the invasive animals.

In New York State, a man spotted an alligator in the Minisceongo Creek. Authorities relocated the reptile to Mark Perpetua’s Reptile Encounters, an educational facility focused on animals like alligators. The owner, Mark Perpetua, said the alligator isn’t native to New York and is typically found in the south.

“People are able to get them, bring them into New York without a license and when they get too big if they can’t find a home, they occasionally end up in places where they don’t belong,” Perpetua previously told USA TODAY.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.

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Connecticut

Middletown becomes first city in Connecticut to implement speed and red light cameras

Published

3 hours ago

May 29, 2025

Press Room

Middletown becomes first city in Connecticut to implement speed and red light cameras

MIDDLETOWN, CT. (WFSB) – Attention drivers, a new form of speed enforcement is coming to Middletown.

They now become the first city in the state to install speed and red-light cameras to try and cut down on dangerous driving.

“I’m so happy it’s getting done. Obviously this is a school zone. We have some of America’s most precious people over here. We need to be taking care of them,” said Kaden Powers, an employee of Spencer Elementary School.

“That’s absolutely ridiculous. I’m from the Bronx and I literally moved away because those speed cameras,” said Symphony Winborne, Middletown.

Washington and Marlborough have also implemented the cameras.

One camera will be put on Washington Street, where drivers have been clocked going as high as 70 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone.

Another will be installed on Westfield Street, where Spencer Elementary School is.

A third will be placed on Country Club Road, where there is a sharp turn by Highby Road and Knox Boulevard. Mooney Elementary School is also near the area.

“I have lost people from car accidents. God forbid a student is hurt. That would be the worst thing in the world. I don’t wanna ever see that happen,” continued Powers.

He hopes that the cameras will make people slow down, especially when so many young kids are walking around.

“If it’s in the school zone, then of course we want to keep our kids safe, but just to put it in the middle of all this,” continued Winborne. “So much traffic moving back-and-forth it’s going to be impossible.”

She’s afraid that they might cause more accidents with people slowing down to prevent getting a ticket.

“They see these cameras they stopped early and then all of a sudden you’re reducing the likelihood of a fatal accident, but you’re encouraging the likelihood of someone stopping to see and getting rear-ended,” said Dr. Kimberly Przeszlowski, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Quinnipiac University.

She stated that as long as the locations of the cameras are data driven and police departments are transparent about whether serious injury crashes or fatalities are down, the technology is doing its job.

They will also be used to catch people running red lights.

First time offenders will be hit with a $50 fee.

After that, the violation goes up to $75, and violators will also likely get an additional processing fee of $15.

The tickets will be mailed to the address on the car’s registration.

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Connecticut

The oldest tree in Connecticut is around 300 years old. Here’s how to see it

Published

20 hours ago

May 29, 2025

Press Room

The oldest tree in Connecticut is around 300 years old. Here’s how to see it

As the weather warms up in preparation for a New England summer, many people are heading back outdoors to adore Connecticut’s nature, from flowers to mountains to trees.

While Connecticut has plenty of fantastic trees to look at this time of year, many of the state’s trees are full of history as well as beauty. In fact, the oldest tree in Connecticut is estimated to be 200-300 years old. Located in Simsbury, the Pinchot Sycamore Tree is believed to be not only the state’s oldest tree, but also its largest.

Here’s the story of Connecticut’s oldest tree, as well as where you can see the landmark today.

History of the Pinchot Sycamore Tree

While the exact origins of the Pinchot Sycamore tree are unknown, it is estimated to be 200-300 years old, with some scholars saying it may be as old as 500 years.

According to Simsbury’s town website, the tree is named after Gifford Pinchot, an environmental preservationist who was born in Simsbury in 1865. Pinchot served as governor of Pennsylvania for two terms and the nation’s first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, which he was appointed to by Teddy Roosevelt. The sycamore was originally dedicated to Pinchot in 1965, and again in 1975.

Last measured in 2016, the Pinchot Sycamore tree stands at a whopping 95 feet tall with a circumference of 28 feet around, making it the largest sycamore tree in all of New England. Today, the tree stands as a symbol of the town of Simsbury, located just south of the town’s center.

How to see the Pinchot Sycamore Tree

Today, the Pinchot Sycamore Tree is at the center of Simsbury’s Pinchot Sycamore Tree Park, located near Talcott Mountain on the east side of the Farmington River. The address is 20 Hartford Rd., Simsbury.

Two markers near the tree recognize the tree’s dedication and measurements, as well as the park’s founders. The tree is accompanied by a nearby bench for viewing, as well as plenty of green space where residents often picnic under the tree’s shade.

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Connecticut

Suspect charged in Waterbury mall shooting that wounded 5 people

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2025

Press Room

Suspect charged in Waterbury mall shooting that wounded 5 people

WATERBURY, Connecticut (WABC) — Police in Connecticut have arrested a 19-year-old in the shooting of 5 people at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury on Tuesday.

Tajuan Washington, 19, of Waterbury, is charged with five counts of first-degree assault and a number of weapons violations, authorities said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Washington is being held on a $2 million bond.

Brass Mill Center Mall, located at 495 Union St., remained closed following the shooting just before 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, which prompted a massive police response and mall lockdown.

The victims, four women and one man, range in age from 20 to 26.

Three of the victims have been treated and released from the hospital. The remaining two are in stable condition and continue to receive medical care.

The most seriously wounded is a woman who suffered a gunshot to the spine.

Authorities said that the shooting was not random and appeared to have stemmed from a dispute that escalated into gunfire.

Law enforcement recovered evidence from the scene, including items connected to the firearm, which are now being analyzed by forensics teams.

No officers were posted inside the mall at the time of the incident.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement following the shooting, saying in part, “This afternoon there was a tragic mass shooting at the Bass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, a place where everyone should feel safe. We are grateful to law enforcement, who acted swiftly.”

Authorities said the Brass Mill Center, while not opened to the public as of Wednesday afternoon, has been thoroughly searched and cleared by the Waterbury Police Department in coordination with the Connecticut State Police.

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