The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors proudly began serving to protect the natural resources and people of New York State. In 2023, the Division of Law Enforcement fielded more than 101,500 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 30,932 complaints and working on cases that resulted in nearly 16,900 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

“Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Investigators serving in DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement are working tirelessly across the state to protect natural resources and public safety while holding poachers and polluters accountable,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “DEC looks forward to continuing to work with our local, State, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure compliance with New York’s stringent environmental conservation laws and promote the safe and responsible enjoyment of the outdoors.”? 

Indian Creek Conservation Field Days – St. Lawrence County

On June 4 and 6, ECOs participated in the Indian Creek Conservation Field Days at the Indian Creek Nature Center in the town of Canton. Approximately 300 fifth grade students from St. Lawrence County attended each day. ECOs gave a 20-minute presentation to each class on the duties of an Environmental Conservation Police Officer and their critical role in safeguarding New York’s environment and the public.

Get Outdoors Day - Nassau County

On June 8, ECOs Brussell and Dickson assisted paddlers at Hempstead Lake State Park during this year’s “Get Outdoors Day” event. The Officers provided paddling tutorials and stressed the importance of having a personal floatation device on board. They also answered questions about freshwater fishing regulations and advised on other locations on the island to fish and paddle. More than 700 people visited the park that day to enjoy the trails and waterways. The park contains a kayak launch and loading and unloading area for people who bring their own kayaks.

A Few Short Porgy - Suffolk County

On June 12, ECO Kaufherr checked a group of anglers fishing along the north shore beaches of Long Island to ensure compliance with New York’s fishing regulations. Officer Kaufherr discovered two coolers containing porgies and discovered the group in possession of 60 undersized fish. He issued tickets to the anglers for possession of undersized porgy, returnable to Suffolk First District Court. 

Injured Eagle Rescue - Erie County

On June 19, ECO Bobseine responded to a call reporting an injured bald eagle along Interstate 90, near Angola. Officer Bobseine, with assistance from several New York State Police Troopers who controlled traffic, safely captured the eagle. The immature female eagle was too large for the transport cage ECO Bobseine had in his vehicle, so he improvised and secured the eagle by wrapping the bird in his ECO jacket during the trip to a licensed rehabilitator. The eagle was then transported to a local veterinarian for care.

Invasive Plant Removed – Erie County

On June 19, ECO Machnica responded to a call about an individual planting what was believed to be an invasive bamboo plant along Ellicott Creek, near Maple Road, in the town of Amherst. Officer Machnica arrived at the location, identified the plants, and confirmed they were golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), commonly called fishing bamboo, a prohibited invasive plant in New York State that grows quicky and forms thick monocultures preventing native plants from growing in the same area. Officer Machnica removed the plant and properly disposed of it. Prohibited invasive species cannot be knowingly possessed with the intent to sell, import, purchase, transport, or introduce. In addition, no person shall sell, import, purchase, transport, introduce, or propagate prohibited invasive species. For more information on prohibited invasive species in New York State, visit the DEC website.

Unlawful Dumping – Montgomery County

On 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 Feb. 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.

The workers reported the incident to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, which contacted ECO Willson for assistance. Working with Sheriff’s Deputy Emery, Officer Willson identified and contacted the owner of the pickup truck for an interview.

The owner admitted during the interview to being contracted to clean out a residence on Reed Street in Canajoharie and claimed to be “temporarily storing” multiple loads of garbage at the property off West Ames Road until he could bring the trash to Utica where disposal fees are cheaper.

ECO Willson advised the property management owner that it’s illegal to dump solid waste on private property without authorization or use property as a transfer station and issued four tickets to the owner for each separate pile of garbage discovered at the property off West Ames Road.

The owner accepted a plea to one count of illegal disposal of solid waste with a fine of $1500 and $90 surcharge.

Right Place, Right Time - Warren County

On June 20, ECOs Thibodeau and Kelley were attending a training course in Lake George on the safe handling of rattlesnakes when they received a call reporting a rattlesnake had made its way into the common area of a local hotel on the lake, just five minutes away from the training site. The Officers responded to the location, successfully caught the young timber rattlesnake, and relocated it into the wild. Lake George and the South Bay area on Lake Champlain contain a large breeding population of timber rattlesnakes.

Nuisance Bear – Washington County

On June 21, ECO Kelley received a report that a black bear broke into a residence in the town of White Creek and destroyed the owner’s kitchen, apparently in search of food. While Officer Kelley was at the residence reviewing photos of the bear, the animal returned to the yard and became aggressive. DEC wildlife experts provided technical advice to ECO Kelley based on the information he provided and advised that the bear would need to be put down humanely due to it associating the residence as a food source and displaying aggression to humans. DEC Bureau of Wildlife employees set a culvert trap, which caught the bear the following morning. The bear was successfully euthanized to prevent any further unsafe interactions with humans.

DEC encourages residents to keep food attractants away from areas accessible to wildlife and reminds the public not to approach bears and to practice the “BearWise basics” to help reduce the potential for negative interactions.

To report a human-bear conflict, even after following the BearWise basics, contact ECOs or a regional DEC wildlife office for guidance/assistance: https://www.dec.ny.gov/about/558.html.

Quacks and Quizzes - Nassau County

On June 21, ECO Smith responded to Amityville High School in the village of Amityville for reports of a hen mallard hatching nine ducklings in the school’s enclosed concrete courtyard. Officer Smith arrived at the location and observed the courtyard had no natural water, food sources, or shelter for the ducklings. He also learned that school employees had been feeding the birds and leaving water out to keep them alive. ECO Smith carefully captured the ducklings and moved them to a grassy area next to the school while the mother kept a watchful eye. Before long, the family was reunited.

DEC reminds the public that it is never advisable to feed or handle wildlife. Simple human interactions can cause irreparable damage to wildlife, including permanent rejection of young by their parents. The public is advised to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator through the DEC website: www.dec.ny.gov/nature/wildlife-health/rehabilitators.

VIDEO of the duckling reunion can be seen here: https://youtu.be/OXdS3oZ0QWM

To contact an ECO to report an environmental crime or to report an incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch or email (for non-urgent violations).