Andrew Coté, NYC Beekeeper, on Urban Apiculture (And Getting Bees in His Nose!)

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Last week, the Voice brought you news of bees(!), which have been swarming New York with the onset of warm weather.

If the thought of thousands of stinging insects flying around the city en masse sounds scary, fear not! We had the chance to catch up with Andrew Coté, often billed as the city's "busiest beekeeper," via e-mail and ask him a few questions about urban apidae -- namely, whether the bees are trying to kill us.

(They're not! But if you see them swarming, you should contact him ASAP!)

Coté is a fourth-generation beekeeper and founder of The New York City Beekeepers Association and Bees Without Borders, a non-profit that teaches impoverished people in developing countries how to produce honey for income. So what did he have to say?

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BEES Swarm East Village!

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The Sixth Street Community Center generated buzz yesterday, when it received a shipment of 15,000 bees to potentially make honey for its new cafe.

(Bees, buzz, GET IT? GET IT? Oh man. We really do hate ourselves sometimes, and with such good reason.)

Anyway, this wasn't the first apiary announcement to come from the East Village this week. Judging from a post on the New York City Beekeepers Association Facebook page, a group of bees allegedly associated with Bowery Poetry Club's "Bob" reportedly swarmed for the second time in two weeks.

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Craig Dershowitz Blows $60k In Legal Fight For Custody Of A Puggle (Yeah -- That's A Dog)

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Craig Dershowitz
This is "Knuckles," the puggle a man has spent more than $60,000 to "rescue" from his ex-girlfriend.

We love dogs. They're awesome -- they're loyal, fun, and make you feel like a rock star every time you walk in the door. That said, we would never spend $60,000 to win custody of a dog after a rough breakup with a former girlfriend. The same cannot be said of Craig Dershowitz, who already has spent $60,000 fighting to win custody of his dog, and is now taking donations to further the fight.

Dershowitz, who lives in New York, says he's already blown through his life savings trying to win custody of his puggle, "Knuckles," which he considers his "son." He's now turned to the Internet to raise an additional $20,000 to continue his legal battle with former girlfriend Sarah Brega, who took the dog to California when the two called it quits.

See a video Dershowitz made pleading for donations below.


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Kill The Geese, Now! (Or People Might Get Killed by Them)

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Avians and airplanes are a bad mix -- and the skies above New York City are no exception.

On Tuesday, a bird strike prompted a JetBlue plane to make an emergency landing.

Last week, also, a bird strike forced a Delta flight to make an emergency landing.

And don't forget the Miracle on the Hudson in 2009, when Capt. Chesley Sullenberger heroically landed a U.S. Airways flight on the river after a Canada geese flock hit the aircraft, CBS News reports.

Now, there seems to be a simple solution to this problem.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand proposed a bill that would make "it easier to round up geese from a federal refuge near Kennedy Airport and kill them."

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Dog Survives Gunshot Wound To The Head During Home Invasion By Man In a FedEx Uniform

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NYPD
If you know this guy, call the cops.

A dog is lucky to be alive after getting shot in the head by a man in a FedEx uniform during a home invasion on Staten Island last month.

According to police, about 4:45 p.m. on March 31, the suspect forced his way into a home on Lambert Street. Wearing a FedEx uniform, the suspect pulled out a gun before a struggling with the 32-year-old male resident of the home.

During the struggle, the victim's 12-year-old pitbull approached the suspect, who shot the dog in the head -- luckily, the pooch survived.



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Midtown Jewelry Maker's Showroom For Bunnies, Bunny-Lovers

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It's Easter weekend, which means it is time for bunny-related news. The New York Daily News today draws our attention to Sequin, a jewelry showroom-cum-bunny home, in Midtown. Dottie, Biggles, Badger, Lollie and Fanny hop around in the showroom along with four rescued kitties. The owners of Sequin are bunny enthusiasts -- they have a Rhode Island sanctuary -- while Cindy Stutts, who calls herself "Chief Bunny Officer," works in sales and product development, and acts as the adoption counselor for Rabbit Rescue and Rehab. In that capacity, Stutts helps facilitate bunny adoptions via the New York City Animal Care & Control Shelters.


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Coyotes Have Invaded New York: How To Survive

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Have you heard? There are coyotes in New York! Coyotes! They have been seen in our fair city's green spaces, such as Central Park, prowling -- all coyote-like -- around Harlem and near Columbia University with their hungry, coyote eyes and bared, coyote fangs.

Now, scientists say that these carnivorous canines are pretty much harmless, and could actually be a good thing for NYC ecology, with one scientist telling the New York Times: "What happens is that when there's a top predator, it will help control other levels of the food chain."

But don't be lulled into a sense of false security: while old myths about coyote bites turning humans into werecoyotes probably aren't true, you should generally avoid petting packs of wild animals. However, if you live here, it's very likely that you have forgotten basic outdoorsy common sense. Runnin' Scared has put together brief survival guide to overcoming New York's wild beasts.

(Disclaimer: These tips might or might not actually work.)

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Assemblymember Micah Kellner on The Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act (UPDATE)

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Micah Kellner
Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) isn't the only assemblymember sponsoring an animal shelter bill in Albany.

Micah Kellner (D-Manhattan) is pushing a rival piece of legislation, which he says would do a better job of protecting stray cats and dogs.

Kellner's Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act would require that shelters work with qualified rescue groups -- and he says that it provides greater protections for whistleblowers, many of whom feel worried about coming forward with accusations of abuse or neglect.

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Assemblymember Amy Paulin On The Shelter Access Bill

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Amy Paulin
In response to longtime concerns over how shelters and rescues treat animals, Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) has sponsored the Shelter Access Bill.

The proposed legislation has been in the works for several years. After intense debate -- including outcry from some "no-kill" animal rights and welfare groups -- a revamped version recently got the OK from the Assembly's agriculture committee, and will soon go before the codes committee. If it succeeds there, the bill will go before the entire Assembly.

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Boutique Bunny Stolen By Cowboy-Hat Wearing Thieves Returned

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Alexander Berardi
This bad week for bunnies now has at least some good news. Miss Cooper, a Holland Lop bunny that served as a "mascot" for the SoHo boutique Alexander Berardi, was returned Saturday after having been stolen Wednesday by a couple wearing cowboy hats. Store co-owner and manager Christopher Kulukundis told Runnin' Scared this afternoon that he identified the bunny at the First Precinct shortly after midnight Saturday.

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