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 2025, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 101,169 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 35,575 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 15,673 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.
“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law to ensure the protection of public safety and our vast natural resources, including air, water, wildlife, and New York’s one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This highly specialized and rewarding work is instrumental to upholding our stringent laws and making the great outdoors safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
Bird Rescue – Columbia County
ECOs Doroski and Keegan recently responded to the Town of New Lebanon for a report of a distressed bird laying in the snow. Officer Keegan arrived and identified the bird as a Red-Necked Grebe. Grebes require at least 100 feet of open water to take flight. Officer Keegan placed the Grebe into an animal carrier and both Officers transported it to Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center in Hunter, Greene County. The wildlife rehabilitator at the facility notified DEC that the bird was hungry and dehydrated but improved immediately after being fed. The bird was released four days after its arrival. Watch the video of the Red-Necked Grebe feeding at the rehab facility.
Too Early, Too Small – Rockland County
On March 21, ECOs in Orange and Rockland counties continued a weekslong enforcement patrol of popular striped bass fishing locations along the Hudson River. The Officers checked a group of anglers leaving a fishing spot in the Town of Havestraw during their patrols and discovered two individuals from the group in possession of four striped bass taken out of season and measuring under 18 inches, well below the legal slot size of between 23-28 inches for striped bass taken from the Hudson River. The subjects received tickets for the fishing offenses observed, returnable to the Town of Haverstraw Court. Striped bass are allowed to be taken from the Hudson River from April 1 to November 30 and individuals are limited to one fish per angler.
Icy Situation – Caroga Lake, Fulton County
On March 22, Lieutenant Higgins and ECO Manns responded to a complaint on Caroga Lake in Fulton County regarding an ice fishing shelter left frozen into the ice. In New York State, all ice fishing shanties or shelters must be removed by March 15 to prevent them from falling through ice as it thaws, creating hazardous conditions for boaters and rescuers. The Officers dislodged the shelter from the ice after about 20 minutes using spud bars and an axe. The structure was in danger of falling through due to rapidly deteriorating ice conditions. ECO Manns located the owner of the ice fishing shelter the next day. The individual stated that the structure froze in the ice a while back and he was unable to get it out. ECO Manns issued a ticket to the owner for the offense, returnable to the Town of Caroga Court.
Scouts Outreach – Suffolk County
On March 23, ECO Day spoke to Scouting America Pack 3148 in Fort Salonga. Officer Day explained to the young scouts the role of ECOs in protecting New York residents and our natural resources and reinforced the importance of conservation. He also taught the children how to identify some local fish and wildlife. The youth seemed interested in the presentation and asked ECO Day many questions about his job and how they themselves can become better environmental stewards.
Reptile Training – Nassau County
From March 24-26, ECOs from Long Island and New York City joined Officers from the New York City Police Department Emergency Services Unit and United States Fish and Wildlife Inspectors for a Venomous Snake and Dangerous Reptile Training program organized by and held at the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Bethpage. Mike Ralbovsky, an experienced herpetologist with Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc, conducted the training. The participating Officers learned to identify and handle a variety of animals including reptiles common in the illegal pet trade and those native to New York State. The training then progressed to dangerous reptiles that are illegal to possess in New York without a special permit typically granted to zoos and legitimate exhibitors for educational purposes. Many of those animals are smuggled through ports of entry, including John F. Kennedy Airport, or brought to New York from other states. Dangerous animals in New York include, but are not limited to, all venomous snakes and reptiles, all crocodilia, non-human primates, anacondas, and pythons. Watch the video of Lieutenant Levanway wrangling a green anaconda.
Trout Stocking – Westchester County
On March 25, ECOs Franz and Tompkins joined DEC Fisheries employees and local volunteers to stock approximately 5,000 brown and rainbow trout throughout the Amawalk reservoir and branches of the Croton, Stone Hill, Waccabuc, and Titicus rivers in Westchester County. The Officers assisted with traffic control, taking water temperature, and releasing fish into the water. April 1 kicked off the start of New York’s highly anticipated trout season and DEC trout stocking is in full swing with brook, brown, and rainbow trout being stocked in ponds, streams, and reservoirs throughout the state.
Saving the Easter Bunnies – Erie County
On March 25, ECO Wozniak and Investigator Holzle responded to Kenmore Mercy Hospital in the Village of Kenmore regarding a report of two rabbits trapped in a 10-foot window well. The Officers safely captured both rabbits and released them back into the woods behind the hospital without incident.
Illegal Burning – Sullivan County
On March 26, ECO Wood responded to a report of an illegal fire on Old Country Road in the Town of Delaware. Officer Wood arrived at the location and observed construction debris set on fire and left unattended, an offense made more serious due to DEC’s active statewide burn ban. ECO Wood investigated and pieced together evidence that led to the identification and location of the responsible individual who was located and charged accordingly. The defendant received appearance tickets for unlawfully setting and leaving a fire unattended and the unlawful disposal of solid waste. Both tickets are returnable to the Town of Delaware Justice Court.
Community Helpers – Erie County
On March 26, ECO Muchow spoke to universal pre-kindergarten students at Alden Primary School in Erie County for the school’s “Community Helpers” series. Officer Muchow explained the role of an Environmental Conservation Police Officer in protecting New Yorkers and natural resources and showed the young students equipment used during day-to-day patrols. He also brought furs from animals the students may see in their backyards and explained the diets and habits of those animals. The children were attentive and peppered ECO Muchow with many questions about his job, prompting the teacher to ask him to return in the future.
The Truck Stops Here – Orange County
On March 26 and 30, ECOs Boettcher, Falkengren, and Steffen joined the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), Woodbury Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department to conduct compliance checks on heavy duty diesel vehicles. The two-day detail resulted in several drivers receiving tickets for numerous DOT and Vehicle and Traffic Law violations, as well as 17 tickets for violations of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law. Several of those violations involved the transportation of regulated fill material including failure to possess required permits, valid registrations, and required waste tracking documentation. All tickets were returnable to the Town of Woodbury Court.
Dunderberg Dumping – Rockland County
On March 26, ECO Steffen responded to complaints regarding a dump truck with an unsecured tailgate spilling rock and dirt material onto a roadway as it traveled north over Dunderberg Mountain in Rockland County. The truck also reportedly stopped and dumped material on New York State Park property. State Park Police and Officers from the Stony Point Police Department stopped the truck before it could leave the area and contacted ECO Steffen for assistance. An investigation revealed the gray dirt from the truck was mixed with bricks, a variety of plastics, and shards of glass. The driver received multiple tickets from all three responding law enforcement agencies for charges including depositing solid waste on state land, unlawful disposal of solid waste, transporting solid waste without proper permits, and applicable vehicle and traffic law violations. All tickets are returnable to the Town of Stony Point Court.
Injured Hawk Rescue – Suffolk County
On March 30, ECO Dickson responded to reports of an injured Red-tailed hawk next to an administrative building at Belmont Lake State Park in Babylon. The hawk’s right wing was lowered, and it appeared unable to fly. Officer Dickson, with assistance from State Park Police, created a perimeter around the hawk to keep hikers and dog walkers at a safe distance to prevent any further stress on the bird. He then contacted a local wildlife rehabilitator who responded to the location, assessed the hawk, and determined its right wing was swollen and the bird appeared malnourished. The wildlife rehabilitator also identified the hawk as a male Red-Tailed Hawk that nests in the park every year. The rehabilitator safely captured the hawk, placed it in a carrier, and transported it to a rehab facility for immediate care. DEC checked in with the wildlife rehabilitator on the hawk’s condition and learned the bird was taken to a veterinarian, did not have a broken wing but some swelling, and is feeding on its own. The hawk is expected to make a full recovery and be released back at Belmont Lake State Park once it’s healthy.
Pesticide Detail – Bronx County
On April 8, ECOs in New York City partnered with the New York State Office of the Attorney General and employees from DEC’s Bureau of Pesticides to inspect warehouses in the Bronx involved in the sale and distribution of unregistered pesticides. Two out of three warehouses inspected contained illegal unregistered pesticides. DEC’s Bureau of Pesticides safely quarantined the product and will oversee proper disposal of it. The warehouses in possession of the pesticides received quarantine and cease and desist orders.
It is illegal to sell or distribute pesticides in New York that have not been approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEC. Coordinated enforcement actions like this help disrupt hazardous pesticide supply chains and protect families in New York City and beyond.
To contact an ECO to report an environmental crime or incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch.
