The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the dates for the first-ever spring Long Island wild turkey hunting season. The opening of this new season is the result of wild turkey reintroduction efforts DEC initiated in the mid-1990s. [Read more…] about A New Spring Turkey Hunting Season on Long Island
DEC
Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad Released
DEC has announced the release of the Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad. American shad is an economically and ecologically important migratory fish species that once supported a robust fishery in the Hudson River.
Decades of intense fishing pressure coupled with years of low reproduction and non-fishing-related mortality events have further impacted the stock’s resilience and exacerbated declines. [Read more…] about Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad Released
Avian Influenza Outbreak Confirmed at DEC’s Ithaca Game Farm
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus affecting the DEC-run Reynolds Game Farm pheasant population. Pheasants are raised there for release in New York State for hunting purposes. [Read more…] about Avian Influenza Outbreak Confirmed at DEC’s Ithaca Game Farm
Conservationist for Kids in Spanish
Starting with the Winter 2023 “Rocks Rock!” issue of Conservationist for Kids, a Spanish version is available as a PDF download on DEC’s website. Since 2008, Conservationist for Kids has been mailed free of charge in classroom packets to all 4th grade classes in New York State, reaching more than 275,000 students each issue. [Read more…] about Conservationist for Kids in Spanish
Forest Rangers Recover Body From Ausable Chasm, Search for Homicide Evidence
On Monday, March 20 at about 9:45 am New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance in an evidence search connected to a homicide investigation at Ausable Chasm in the town of Chesterfield, Essex County. When Rangers arrived, they were asked to recover the body of a homicide victim thrown more than 100 feet down the chasm. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Body From Ausable Chasm, Search for Homicide Evidence
NYS Solid Waste Management Plan Comments Sought
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the release of the draft New York State Solid Waste Management Plan for a 60-day public comment period.
The “New York State Solid Waste Management Plan: Building the Circular Economy Through Sustainable Materials Management” recommends actions to reduce the climate impact of solid waste and provides direction for New York’s waste reduction, reuse, recycling, collection, transportation, and disposal investments, policies, and practices over the next decade. [Read more…] about NYS Solid Waste Management Plan Comments Sought
2022 Bear Hunting Statistics
New York black bear hunters killed an estimated 1,318 black bears during the 2022 hunting seasons. Overall kills declined slightly compared to the 2021 hunting season, with the greatest density occurring in areas of the Catskills.
An estimated 458 bears were killed in the Northern Zone and an estimated 860 bears in the Southern Zone. [Read more…] about 2022 Bear Hunting Statistics
State Campground Reservation Changes
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced changes to reservations at DEC campgrounds for the upcoming season, including new same-day reservations to help add flexibility and ease to last-minute bookings. [Read more…] about State Campground Reservation Changes
South Colton Tract Easement Comments Sought
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced they are seeking public input on the development of a draft Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for the South Colton Tract Conservation Easement, a privately owned tract subject to a conservation easement encompassing approximately 1,725 acres in the town of Colton, St. Lawrence County. Comments are being sought on the development of the draft RMP until April 21st, 2023. [Read more…] about South Colton Tract Easement Comments Sought
As Lake Champlain Lake Trout Rebound, Stocking Reduced
The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative – a working group of fisheries professionals from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – have announced the decision to further reduce the number of stocked lake trout released annually into Lake Champlain waters. They said this decision was prompted by the continued increase in natural reproduction and the documentation of multiple age classes of wild fish. [Read more…] about As Lake Champlain Lake Trout Rebound, Stocking Reduced