Severed Animal Heads Found in Plastic Bags on Long Island

Two animal heads were found dumped near an intersection in Suffolk County Tuesday, the second time in less than a year that animal remains have been found in the area, authorities said.

The animal heads, believed to be from goats or sheep, were found in clear, plastic bags dumped about a foot off the roadway in East Northport.

Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, called the finding "deeply disturbing." He said they may have been killed in a religious ritual or on a farm for food.

The circumstances and motivation behind the dumping of the remains are unknown.

In a separate incident, an opossum was found shot in the face a week earlier about 20 miles away in a trash can in front of a home in Holtsville. Doctors removed more than six pellets from the opossum's face, neck and torso; authorities say it's expected to survive.

Anyone with information about the animal heads or the opossum shooting is asked to call the SPCA at (631) 382-7722.