From saving injured hawks to busting poachers and checking for toxic waste violations, New York’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) have been busy in 2025 — responding to nearly 19,000 complaints in the first half of the year.
The DEC says those calls led to 9,440 tickets and arrests statewide for violations ranging from illegal hunting to improper waste storage and fishing violations.
Fishing with kids, and enforcing the law
In St. Lawrence County, ECOs hosted a fishing event for summer school students along the Raquette River. Kids learned about fish species, bait, and rules — then tried fishing with help from officers. Many caught their first fish and went home with fishing gear and ice cream.
But elsewhere, enforcement took center stage. In Otsego, Suffolk, and Niagara counties, ECOs issued tickets for keeping undersized fish, harvesting over the daily limit, and fishing without licenses. One group in Mastic Beach had 88 blue crabs — 77 of them below the legal size. Another man was caught using a cast net illegally in Niagara Falls.
From trapped hawks to hazardous waste
ECOs also rescued multiple birds of prey — including a red-tailed hawk stuck in a well in Nassau County and a Cooper’s hawk trapped inside a screened porch in Columbia County.
In Schoharie County, ECO Burgess found waste violations at several auto shops. The issues included unlabeled oil tanks, improperly stored lead-acid batteries, and uncleaned spills — resulting in seven tickets and required cleanup.
Felony charges for serial deer poacher
One of the most serious cases unfolded in Oswego County. Following a 2024 tip about gunshots, ECOs discovered a poached deer on county property. The investigation grew to include search warrants and forensic phone analysis — revealing a suspect had illegally killed more than 30 deer over five years.
That individual now faces felony charges, including grand larceny, criminal mischief, and illegal possession of a weapon.
Building community trust
On August 5, ECOs joined police departments across the state for National Night Out — a chance to connect with the public, share safety tips, and explain their work.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton praised the officers’ efforts. “I applaud the critical work DEC’s ECOs and Investigators are undertaking to enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law and ensure a cleaner, greener, safer, and more resilient New York State,” she said.
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