There are a lot of different animals in New York. I use the term "animal" literally and figuratively. However, one species has been missing from the vast terrain of the upper regions since the early 1900's, the wolf. The DEC notes that there are wolves in Wisconsin and Michigan but not in New York. Populations of the species do exist north of the empire state border in Canada.
You may want to become a New York State lifeguard. The starting pay has been increased this summer to address lifeguard shortages, and it's not just by a couple of cents.
The first case of COVID in a Canadian lynx has been discovered in the United States and the NYS DEC says eighteen percent of deer tested have COVID antibodies.
You would think that as a person who grew up in a home with hunters who hunted during small game season and deer season, that I would have an awareness of when popular hunting seasons were happening since I like to get outside and explore. NOPE. As a non-hunter, any hunting season is way off my radar.