Authorities: Vandals broke into nature center, forced goat to drink beer

Authorities are searching for the vandals who damaged the Sweetbriar Nature Preserve in Smithtown and targeted the animals there.

A hidden trail camera captured the vandals on the property in February. They allegedly harassed animals, opening cages and in one case even pouring beer down a goat's throat. Video of the latter incident was apparently posted online.

Officials say the vandals found the trail camera and threw it into a pond. Last week, a Sweetbriar worker found the camera underwater and was able to recover video from a corroded memory card.

Police are working to identify the people in the footage. They could face charges of criminal mischief, petit larceny and animal cruelty.

The Smithtown Department of Public Safety asks anyone with information to call 631-360-7553.