STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Before the deer, the foxes and the turkeys came back to Staten Island to live, our most exotic animals were usually found at the Staten Island Zoo.
However, the cutest of animals, like bunnies, kittens and squirrels, were undoubtedly found in all of our neighborhoods, even a goat or two. As the story goes, Italian immigrants of Meiers Corners kept goats in their yards and on the street, which earned the community the name “Nanny Goat Hill.”
Foxes are not strangers to Staten Island. They have been present on the Island for decades. In 1910, Staten Island even had a club for hunting foxes, according to the Staten Island Advance archives.
Deer made a resurgence on the West Shore Expressway. One was first spotted on the side of the road after being hit by a car on Sept. 23, 1994.
Let’s hope these vintage scenes of Staten Island animals of the past brings you a smile or two.
If you have any visuals to share, please send them to my email at jsomma@siadvance.com. Vintage photos and video clips are welcome! Please let me know if there are any places you’d like to see highlighted in an upcoming installment of “Flashback Staten Island.”
A playlist of past Staten Island flashbacks is available on YouTube.