Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol

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 2022, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responded to more than 25,600 calls and worked on cases that resulted in nearly 13,800 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.
style=”text-align: center;”>”DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Investigators work hard each day to serve their communities, protect our precious natural resources, and safeguard public health, while ensuring those who break the state’s stringent Environmental Conservation Laws are held accountable,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “In partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement, DEC looks forward to continuing to support the work our ECOs perform in every corner of New York.”

Bald Eagle Rescue – Amenia

On Jan. 6, ECO Franz received a call reporting an injured bald eagle in the woods next to a stream in the town of Amenia. Officer Franz arrived at the location and discovered the bald eagle was unable to fly. The ECO climbed down the stream bed and used a towel to safely subdue the bird. Once secured, ECO Franz transferred the eagle to a wildlife rehabilitation center, which determined it was suffering from lead poisoning. A fragment of lead the size of a grain of rice is lethal to eagles and even small exposure can cause severe neurological problems. The injured eagle received one round of therapy at the wildlife rehab center and is responding well. Lead exposures are often the result of lead ammunition fragments and lead fishing tackle left behind by hunters and anglers in the field.

Injured bald eagle spotted from the roadway near a stream in Amenia

ECO Franz rescues sick bald eagle