Craig K. Streeter, a 73-year-old resident of Mahopac, NY, is currently the subject of an active multi-agency search after going missing while camping in the Moose River Plains in Hamilton County in the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about Search Continues For Moose River Plains Missing Man
Forest Rangers
New Rules After Death of Assistant Forest Ranger
It’s been nearly a year since an Assistant Forest Ranger’s body was found in the Adirondack backcountry.
Brendan Jackson’s death revealed a key failure of how the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) tracks its staff in the field and prompted a review of its personnel policies. [Read more…] about New Rules After Death of Assistant Forest Ranger
Man Stuck Six Hours In Columbia County Cave Finally Rescued
An experienced caver was on a guided tour when he became trapped in Merlin’s Cave in the town of Canaan, Columbia County. On Sunday night, May 17 at about 6-7 pm, while crawling about 400 feet from the cave entrance, a Brooklyn man slipped into a tight crevice at what is known as the “Bear Trap.”
He was not injured but was wedged by the rib cage and pelvis and suffering hypothermia in the 50 degree temperature and near 100% humidity of the cave. Three of other cavers were with him in the cavern. [Read more…] about Man Stuck Six Hours In Columbia County Cave Finally Rescued
Early Season Paddling Tragedies Are A Cold Reminder
Water currents can be strong at any time of year, but early season boaters, paddlers, anglers and swimmers are at a greater risk in spring when waters are still cold – cold enough to cause cold water shock, hypothermia and death in minutes.
Three recent stories highlight the dangers of recreating on and around cold and fast waters in Spring: [Read more…] about Early Season Paddling Tragedies Are A Cold Reminder
Rangers Respond: Missing Child, Brush Fires, Overnight High Peaks Rescue, Ill, Injured and Lost Hikers
Hot dry weather and lack of rain remains a wildfire concern around state. Since May 4th, New York State Forest Rangers fought two brush fires. In Saratoga County a wildfire began with ashes dumped outside, and a two-acre fire of unknown origin in Warrensburg damaged a structure.
Rangers also provided overnight assistance of two lost hikers in the remote Cold Brook Pass in the Adirondack High Peaks, and aided in locating another near Indian Pass Brook. On May 8th they participated in the search for a missing eight-year-old in Allegany County. Those reports and more are below, provided by DEC: [Read more…] about Rangers Respond: Missing Child, Brush Fires, Overnight High Peaks Rescue, Ill, Injured and Lost Hikers
18-Hour Search Locates Struggling Adirondack Hiker
An almost 18-hour overnight search in deep snow by more than 20 New York State Forest Rangers ended when an overdue hiker was found alive in a remote area of the Adirondack High Peaks.
The rescue effort began at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Ray Brook dispatch received a call at about 8:45 pm Wednesday from the spouse of hiker reporting that they were overdue in the Dix Range, a rugged and largely trail-less line of five mountains over 4,000 feet. [Read more…] about 18-Hour Search Locates Struggling Adirondack Hiker
Skiers Rescued After Gore Mountain Gondola Break-Down
Dozens of skiers and snowboarders were trapped on the Northwoods Gondola at Gore Mountain Ski Area when the lift broke down on Wednesday morning according to State Police.
Shortly after the lift started running 67 people were trapped in about 20 gondola cars. Olympic Regional Development Authority spokeswoman Darcy Norfolk Rowe said the issue was “a mechanical alignment matter.” [Read more…] about Skiers Rescued After Gore Mountain Gondola Break-Down
New York State Forest Ranger Statistics 2021-2025
In 2025, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires covering 840 acres, participated in 68 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,100 tickets and arrests.
Also in 2025, 41 Forest Rangers were deployed to fire assignments in 10 different states. [Read more…] about New York State Forest Ranger Statistics 2021-2025
Forest Rangers Recover Bodies; Make Rescues; Fight Wildfire
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State locating and extracting lost, injured or distressed people and policing state lands.
This report of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers was prepared by DEC: [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Bodies; Make Rescues; Fight Wildfire
Angler Rescued from Ausable River; Missing Toddler, Two Men 70+ Found
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State locating and extracting lost, injured or distressed people and policing state lands.
This report of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers was prepared by DEC: [Read more…] about Angler Rescued from Ausable River; Missing Toddler, Two Men 70+ Found
Sand Flats State Forest Party Plan Thwarted by Police
On May 17 at about 9:20 pm, New York State Forest Rangers received a report about a possible underage drinking party at Sand Flats State Forest in the town of Lyonsdale in Lewis County. Rangers Cooley and Maxwell patrolled the area and discovered 10 individuals gathering. By about 11:20 pm, the number of individuals increased to 30 and Rangers learned that the party details had been shared on social media. A New York State Police unit and two additional Forest Rangers responded. [Read more…] about Sand Flats State Forest Party Plan Thwarted by Police
Beware the Enemy: World War II Upstate New York Manhunts
It was July 1942, the seventh month of the United States in World War II (1941–1945). The German military had driven into the Caucasus region of southeastern Europe. New York residents were shocked, too, by news that fascists from a German U-boat had landed several weeks earlier in eastern Long Island but the Nazi agents were captured.
Then the media reported that on July 16, six parachutists had been spotted in the skies near Hyde Park, NY, home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The government worried that enemy spies or assassins might be near Roosevelt’s Hudson Valley residence. [Read more…] about Beware the Enemy: World War II Upstate New York Manhunts
Adirondack History, Diversity, Environment Efforts Funded by State Budget
The NYS Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul have approved a state budget that boosts the Environmental Protection Fund by $25 million to a record level of $425 million, while also providing $500 million for municipal clean water projects/septic system replacement, funding for a comprehensive study of climate impacts on Adirondack lake ecosystems, and a new recreation carrying-capacity study for the popular Saranac Chain of Lakes. Adirondack history and diversity efforts have also been given a boost. [Read more…] about Adirondack History, Diversity, Environment Efforts Funded by State Budget
Ice Heave Leads to Snowmobiler’s Crash, Serious Injuries
On Tuesday, March 4 at about 11:30 am, Hamilton County received a 911 call about an unconscious snowmobiler on Indian Lake. Environmental Conservation Police Officer Newell arrive first at the scene, followed by Forest Ranger Milano and an Indian Lake Paramedic. [Read more…] about Ice Heave Leads to Snowmobiler’s Crash, Serious Injuries
3 Airlifted from Wintry Mountain Summit Plane Crash
On Wednesday, February 26 at about 9:20 am, New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation received a call to assist with a plane crash on Mt. Equinox in Bennington County, Vermont.
The report indicated three passengers were aboard the plane at the time of the crash. [Read more…] about 3 Airlifted from Wintry Mountain Summit Plane Crash
Moose Rescued from Icy Adirondack Lake Waters
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers and Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) this week rescued a moose that had broken through the ice and into the icy waters of Lake Abanakee in Hamilton County in the Adirondacks. [Read more…] about Moose Rescued from Icy Adirondack Lake Waters
DEC Forest Rangers Clear and Repair Snowmobile Trail on Forest Preserve Lands
Over the last week, Forest Rangers, members of the Pleasant Riders Snowmobile Club, the town of Arietta in Hamilton County, and Northville Foresters cleared and repaired more than three miles of a corridor snowmobile trail south of Oxbow Lake in Jessup River Wild Forest. The trail was severely damage by downed and uprooted trees due to high winds and tornadoes earlier in the year. [Read more…] about DEC Forest Rangers Clear and Repair Snowmobile Trail on Forest Preserve Lands
Who You Gonna Call? Behind DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch Office
The 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
Body of Man Missing Since August Recovered in Adirondacks
On 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
Massive Storm Damage on Northville-Placid Trail Cleared
During the summer, several tornados and microbursts touched down in Hamilton, Fulton, and Saratoga counties. Significant damage occurred to the Northville- Placid Trail in the Adirondacks south of Piseco, making the trail difficult to navigate and largely impassable in places. [Read more…] about Massive Storm Damage on Northville-Placid Trail Cleared