A huge animal that can weigh up to 4,000 pounds was recently seen off the coast of New York State. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) calls this a rare sighting.
The Empire State has a lot of different kinds of natural beauty. There are many animals that will make you stop and stare, from the scary hellgrammite (which could hurt you) to real seahorses. But none of them may be as beautiful as what was seen last week.
Seasons Changing in New York State
New York may be getting ready for fall (most shops in the Hudson Valley put out Halloween decorations the day after Labor Day), but off the coast of Long Island, there was a recent sign that it was still summer.
Manta Ray Spotted in New York State
The NYS DEC’s official Facebook page made a joke on Monday, September 16th: “You ray-ly have to check out what was spotted off the coast of Long Island!” It was a long way from where the animal usually lives, which is in warm waters.
Manta Rays vs. Stingrays in New York
Another big animal in the water is the manta ray, which can be up to 25 feet wide and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Manta rays don’t have a hook on their tails like stingrays do, but big stingrays have been seen in the water off of Long Island, NY.
People have seen manta rays before, but the NYS DEC said it wasn’t impossible. Most of the time, these amazing animals live in tropical areas. However, during the warm summer months, they have been known to travel as far north as New York. Read on for more useful information from the NYS DEC.