New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Environmental Conservation Investigations

$25,000 Fine for Stream Excavations Found in Catskills

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Photo of streambed excavation area in Catskill, Green County, provided by DECOn July 25, a subject paid a penalty of more than $25,000 for violations related to the illegal excavation of protected waterbodies in Greene County.

On Aug. 22, 2022, ECOs Lucas Palmateer and Jason Smith first responded to complaints regarding a stream disturbance in the town of Catskill. The Officers interviewed a complainant who provided a description of a truck observed transporting the excavated material and where the material was being delivered. [Read more…] about $25,000 Fine for Stream Excavations Found in Catskills

30 Deer Over 5 Years: Persistent Poacher Faces Felony Charges

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whitetail deer antlers and buck and doeOn August 6, 2025 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenants Burnell, Grogan, and ECO Hilton arrested a subject accused of widespread deer poaching in Oswego County following a lengthy investigation that began in late 2024 with a complaint about gunshots on posted, County-owned property. [Read more…] about 30 Deer Over 5 Years: Persistent Poacher Faces Felony Charges

King Louie, Beloved Whitetail Buck Killed by Poacher, Was Record Size

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Photo of New York State ECOs (from left) Shane Manns, Justanna Bohling and Kyle Bevis with poached buck King Louie (provided by DEC). On December 5, 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received complaints regarding the potential poaching of a well-known whitetail buck nicknamed “King Louie” in Johnstown, NY, by a local hunter. Photos of the impressive deer, known for its unique antlers, circulated through social media and text chains, eliciting concerns in the community. [Read more…] about King Louie, Beloved Whitetail Buck Killed by Poacher, Was Record Size

Environmental Conservation Officers Do What?

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ECOs conducting water rescue on New York City’s East River during 2023 New York City Jet Ski Invasion eventThe oldest law enforcement organization in New York State beginning in 1880, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation‘s Division of Law Enforcement Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) respond to more than 30,000 complaints each year. [Read more…] about Environmental Conservation Officers Do What?

Tickets Issued for Hunting in Long Island County Park, ATVs in State Park

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ECOs inspect ATV stopped during enforcement detail at Bethpage State Park in Nassau County in February 2025 (DEC)On January 20th,  NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) DeRose and Francis responded to a call from a complainant who reported two subjects had killed a whitetail deer at Southaven County Park in Yaphank in Suffolk County on Long Island where deer hunting is prohibited. [Read more…] about Tickets Issued for Hunting in Long Island County Park, ATVs in State Park

32 Tickets Issued in Oneida Lake Ice Fishing Raid

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Ice fishing shanties spread out across Oneida Lake in 2025 (DEC Photo)On February 8, 2025, nine NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) conducting ice fishing compliance checks on Oneida Lake in Oneida and Oswego counties issued 32 tickets for a variety of crimes. [Read more…] about 32 Tickets Issued in Oneida Lake Ice Fishing Raid

Dog and Puppy Abuse Investigation in Jefferson County

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Abandoned puppy rescued in Jefferson County on January 30, 2025On January 30, 2025 New York State Environmental Crimes Investigator Peter Jackson responded to a call from a concerned resident who reported finding the carcass of an animal believed to be a coyote near Skinner Road in the town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County, NY. Investigator Jackson arrived at the location and determined it was a domestic dog that had been shot from the roadway. [Read more…] about Dog and Puppy Abuse Investigation in Jefferson County

Nursery Company Starts Wildfire; Ticketed for Burning Garbage

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Patterson wildland fire in January 2025On Friday, January 3, 2025 at about 2:15 pm, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Yuka Ashida and Ranger Joseph Pries responded to a call about a reported wildfire behind Petersen’s Patterson Greenhouses in Patterson, Putnam County, NY. [Read more…] about Nursery Company Starts Wildfire; Ticketed for Burning Garbage

Poacher Shoots Self in Criminal Comedy of Errors

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eco patchOn Saturday, December 14, 2024, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) charged three Vermont residents for their alleged roles in a shooting incident in Washington County in November 2024.

Vermont Game Wardens and State Police investigated and determined that on November 30, the trio drove through the town of Salem, in Washington County, NY, in search of a whitetail deer to shoot illegally from the road. [Read more…] about Poacher Shoots Self in Criminal Comedy of Errors

Conservation Officers Kept Busy Ticketing More Than A Dozen Poachers

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Illegal deer poaching captured on doorbell camera in Greene County, November 2023New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) have been very busy dealing with more than a dozen wildlife poachers across New York State, including hunters illegally taking whitetail deer, songbirds and numerous varieties of fish. [Read more…] about Conservation Officers Kept Busy Ticketing More Than A Dozen Poachers

Who You Gonna Call? Behind DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch Office

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DEC PodcastThe latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) podcast DEC Does What? gives listeners an inside look at the work of the DEC communications operators who each year receive more than 100,000 emergency and non-emergency calls for public assistance involving Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), and Spills Response experts. [Read more…] about Who You Gonna Call? Behind DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch Office

Big Charges Become Small For Defiant Deer Poacher

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ECO Koepf (left) and Lt Ward (right) with antlers seized during deer poaching investigation in Wyoming County in August 2024In August, a Wyoming County man pleaded guilty to several charges related to the unlawful taking of deer, ending a months-long investigation.  In January 2024, NYS Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenant R.J. Ward received an anonymous tip alleging a Silver Springs man had taken more than the legal limit of bucks during the previous (2023) deer season. [Read more…] about Big Charges Become Small For Defiant Deer Poacher

Body of Man Missing Since August Recovered in Adirondacks

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Cold Brook Public Use Area MapOn Thursday, September 12 at about 8:15 am, New York State Police (NYSP) notified Ray Brook Dispatch that they had found a vehicle at the Cold Brook Public Use Area in the Sable Highlands Conservation Easement in town of Saranac, Clinton County, NY, belonging to a 29-year-old subject from Wisconsin who had been reported missing by his family on September 9th. [Read more…] about Body of Man Missing Since August Recovered in Adirondacks

Repeat Deer Poachers Face New Fines and Hunting License Revocations

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ECOs Schneider (left) and McFee (right) with evidence seized during deer poaching investigation in Jefferson County (DEC Photo)The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) charged two North Country men with multiple offenses related to alleged deer poaching in Jefferson County. The subjects are repeat offenders who now face thousands of dollars in potential fines and revocation of their hunting licenses. [Read more…] about Repeat Deer Poachers Face New Fines and Hunting License Revocations

Tickets Issued For Illegal Ginseng Harvest

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Illegally harvested ginseng seized by ECOs in Delaware County in August 2024On August 29, Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Osborne and Doig received a trespassing complaint in the town of Tompkins in Delaware County, New York. The complainant told the ECOs that there were two people trespassing on a large tract of remote land, possibly harvesting ginseng ahead of season, which began on September 1st. [Read more…] about Tickets Issued For Illegal Ginseng Harvest

Leopard Taxidermy Mount Leads To Charges, Fine

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Leopard mount seized after being illegally offered for sale in Delaware County in 2024 (provided by DEC)In May, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate a tip about a full-body leopard taxidermy mount listed for sale on social media for $2,500 in Delaware County, NY. [Read more…] about Leopard Taxidermy Mount Leads To Charges, Fine

Snakes In The Yard: A Boa, Six Rattlers Rescued in Separate Incidents

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Timber rattlesnake discovered near a residence in Hancock (DEC photo)New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Dustin Osborne responded to six separate rattlesnake complaints over the past several weeks, including five at the same residence in Delaware County. In Erie County, ECO Don Damrath removed a large boa constrictor from an abandoned home. [Read more…] about Snakes In The Yard: A Boa, Six Rattlers Rescued in Separate Incidents

Ticket Issued For Great Blue Heron Killing

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Great Blue Heron courtesy Wikimedia user Terry FooteOn May 30, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Boyes and Lovgren responded to the town of Montgomery in Orange County for reports of a deceased Great Blue Heron. The complainant reported hearing a gunshot before observing the bird on the ground near a pond. [Read more…] about Ticket Issued For Great Blue Heron Killing

Conservation Officers Investigate Killing of Eastern Timber Rattlesnake

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Timber rattlesnake illegally killed and skinned in Delaware County in July 2024On July 4th, NYS Environmental Conservation Officers Nathan Doig and Dustin Osborne received an anonymous tip that someone intentionally killed an eastern timber rattlesnake in the town of Hancock in Delaware County, NY. [Read more…] about Conservation Officers Investigate Killing of Eastern Timber Rattlesnake

Unlawful Dumping Charges In Montgomery County

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Illegally dumped solid waste discovered on private property in Montgomery County in June 2024On June 20, the owner of a property management company in Montgomery County accepted a plea agreement in Canajoharie Town Court for illegally dumping solid waste on private property earlier this year.

On February 6, 2024, workers with the Canajoharie Department of Public Works observed and recorded video of a dark pickup truck carrying a dump trailer filled with solid waste enter a bank-owned property off West Ames Road in Canajoharie and offload the waste at the location. [Read more…] about Unlawful Dumping Charges In Montgomery County

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