On January 23, the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) requested New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) assistance with a subject hoarding more than 100 animals inside his North Bellmore residence in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island. [Read more…] about Animal House: Man Accused of Hoarding Protected, Dangerous Wildlife
Poaching
Squirrel Painter Caught Red Handed in Putnam County
On January 13, 2024 NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) assisted in charging a Putnam County man for a series of squirrel painting incidents in the town of Patterson. [Read more…] about Squirrel Painter Caught Red Handed in Putnam County
Duo Guilty of Elaborate Social Media Inspired Poaching Scheme
On December 14, 2023, two hunters pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges for illegally taking two large antlered deer in an area closed to deer hunting in the town of Tonawanda, in Erie County, NY. [Read more…] about Duo Guilty of Elaborate Social Media Inspired Poaching Scheme
Drones Not Allowed For Deer Recovery in New York
Recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has received inquiries from hunters about using of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) to assist with the recovery of deer or bear that have been shot, but cannot thereafter be located. [Read more…] about Drones Not Allowed For Deer Recovery in New York
Teens Rescued From Wilderness Area; Hunters Ticketed for Baiting Deer, Cutting Trees & ATVs
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people and engage in policing on New York State Lands.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Teens Rescued From Wilderness Area; Hunters Ticketed for Baiting Deer, Cutting Trees & ATVs
Man Returns To Battery Park With Another Burmese Python
On October 11th, U.S. Park Police and New York City Parks Enforcement Officers alerted New York State Environmental Conservation Officer Goonan about a man with a large Burmese python in Battery Park near the Statue of Liberty ferry terminal in Manhattan. [Read more…] about Man Returns To Battery Park With Another Burmese Python
Social Media Post Leads to Poaching Tickets
On October 9th, NYS Environmental Conservation Officer Bohling received reports from Officer Jankowski in Monroe County about a subject who was alleged to have illegally killed a seven-point whitetail deer in the town of Wright, Schoharie County. [Read more…] about Social Media Post Leads to Poaching Tickets
Inequality, Urban Heat Islands, and Crime
The consequences of climate change and environmental degradation will have inordinate effects on cities.
Urban areas are likely to see a range of social, public, and environmental impacts, including, but not limited to, human migration and displacement, cultural disruptions, and urban flooding. [Read more…] about Inequality, Urban Heat Islands, and Crime
New York Snake Stories: Burmese Python Seized; ‘Rattled’ Service Workers
On July 13th, New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenant Unger and ECO Kochanowski responded to a Nassau County, Long Island residence after receiving a report that the homeowner wanted to turn in a 14-foot Burmese python. [Read more…] about New York Snake Stories: Burmese Python Seized; ‘Rattled’ Service Workers
Campers Evicted From State Campground After Cutting Tree
On July 18 at about 2:30 pm, New York State’s Cranberry Lake Campground staff called Ray Brook dispatch to request Forest Ranger assistance with a group of campers who cut down a maple tree and did not register their site. [Read more…] about Campers Evicted From State Campground After Cutting Tree
State Museum Showing Seized Elephant Ivory from Illegal Trade
Elephant ivory seized during a massive New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) led crackdown on the illegal ivory trade is now on display at the New York State Museum. The display is a reminder of the rampant and continued slaughter of the African elephant, rhinoceros, and other iconic endangered species that fuel the transnational illegal trade in wildlife. [Read more…] about State Museum Showing Seized Elephant Ivory from Illegal Trade
Lion Skin Rug, Endangered Species Taxidermy Leads to Charges
An antiques business owner recently pleaded guilty to charges related to the illegal sale of endangered and protected animal mounts from his business in Great Valley in Cattaraugus County, NY. The investigation began when ECO Wilson and an Investigator with DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI) received information that a lion skin rug was being unlawfully offered for purchase at an estate sale. [Read more…] about Lion Skin Rug, Endangered Species Taxidermy Leads to Charges
Two Ticketed For Illegally Harvesting Cattails
After observing the harvest of a large amount of cattails from the Lakeshore Marshes Wildlife Management Area in the town of Huron, Wayne County, NY, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Raffaldi spent a significant amount of time patrolling the area. [Read more…] about Two Ticketed For Illegally Harvesting Cattails
Men Arrested For Drinking, Driving and Hunting
On February 15, after a weeks-long investigation, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) charged two men in Onondaga County with more than a dozen violations related to a hunting incident and drunk driving arrest in January. [Read more…] about Men Arrested For Drinking, Driving and Hunting
Poachers Caught With 131 Possibly Toxic Fish
According to a press release issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, on February 21st, Environmental Conservation Officer Klein found people keeping fish in an area of the Upper Hudson River considered polluted and designated for catch and release only. [Read more…] about Poachers Caught With 131 Possibly Toxic Fish
14-Foot Python Found On Long Island
According to a press release issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, on February 14th, Environmental Conservation Officers Kaufherr and Zullo received a report of a large snake, approximately 12 feet in length, on the side of the road in Medford, in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, on Long Island. [Read more…] about 14-Foot Python Found On Long Island
Man Caught Cutting Christmas Tree on State Land
New York State Forest Ranger McCartney reported that on Saturday, November 26 at about 1:00 pm, he was checking the trail register at Moss Lake in the town of Webb, Herkimer County, in the Adirondack Park when he heard someone approaching him on the trail. [Read more…] about Man Caught Cutting Christmas Tree on State Land
DEC: Animal Killed By Hunter In Cooperstown Was A Wolf
On September 21st, 2022, after a second independent DNA study confirmed that the wolf killed outside of Cooperstown, in Otsego County, NY, was really a wolf, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reversed course and announced the wolf was indeed a wolf.
DEC had been calling the Cooperstown wolf a coyote since it examined the dead animal in December 2021 and conducted a DNA study in early 2022. DEC publicly called the wolf a coyote in July in many news reports, after the release of an independent DNA study by Trent University in Canada, organized by the Northeast Ecological Recovery Society (NERS).
The Trent University DNA analysis found that the Cooperstown wolf had 98% wolf genes. [Read more…] about DEC: Animal Killed By Hunter In Cooperstown Was A Wolf
Man Faces Charges For Killing Protected Osprey
According to a press release issued by DEC, on August 3rd, Environmental Conservation Officer CO Small responded to a call from Suffolk County Police about a resident in Port Jefferson who had heard gunshots just prior to seeing a large bird fall out of a tree. [Read more…] about Man Faces Charges For Killing Protected Osprey
Antique Store Busted For Selling Elephant Ivory
A New York City store owner recently paid a fine for illegally selling elephant ivory. The City is the nation’s largest port of entry for illegal wildlife goods
On November 23rd, 2021, Department of Environmental Conservation Investigator Harvey and Environmental Conservation Officer Brussel performed a plainclothes inspection of the Manhattan Art and Antiques Center on Second Avenue in Manhattan. The Center boasts it’s the nation’s largest with over 100 galleries. [Read more…] about Antique Store Busted For Selling Elephant Ivory