The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking help from the public to identify the person responsible for killing a female Bald Eagle earlier this week, on the Oswegatchie River near the Village of Heuvelton in St Lawrence County. The eagle had been observed feeding on a deer carcass on the far side of the Oswegatchie River along the River Road in the Town of Oswegatchie as recently as Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday evening the eagle was lying dead on the ice near open water.
An Environmental Conservation Officer was able to retrieve the eagle and upon initial evaluation it appears to have been shot by someone located on the River Road side of the Oswegatchie River. The eagle will be examined by the DEC pathology unit to determine the cause of death.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Environmental Conservation Police at (315) 785-2231 or toll free at 1-800-TIPP-DEC (1-800-847-7332). Information may also be submitted by e-mail to r6dsptch@gw.dec.state.ny.us . All information will be kept confidential.
It is illegal for anyone to kill or injure a Bald Eagle in New York state. Anyone convicted of killing a Bald Eagle may be subject to a penalty of up to $5,000 and/or 90 days in jail. A person or persons providing information leading to the conviction of the shooter is/are entitled to half of the fine paid in court, up to $2,500.
On November 29, 2011, an Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) was interviewing a witness as part of investigating a possible hunter trespass complaint in the Town of Benson, Hamilton County. The witness reported confronting three men allegedly on property without the owner’s permission and attempting to retrieve a female bear that they had previously shot in its den. After observing the dead bear in the den, the ECO followed human tracks to a camp on an adjacent property. Finding nobody present the ECO staked out the camp and when two of the men returned observed them attempting to clean alleged bait pile and salt licks. After interviewing the two men the ECO instructed them to retrieve the dead bear and to have all three men meet with him at the camp the next day. On November 30, 2011, the ECO seized the bear and issued multiple tickets to each of the men returnable to the Town of Benson Court as follows:
Recently, DEC indentified an uncommon bacterial disease in a deer from Warren County. This bacterial disease does not affect humans. However, DEC is seeking additional information to determine the prevalence of this disease in the deer herd and is responding to reports of deer that are acting abnormally. Deer with this bacterial disease may have a swollen head, neck or brisket. They also may exhibit excessive drooling, nasal discharge or respiratory distress. To aid in this investigation, DEC would also like to examine any deer that are found dead from unknown causes. 
This year, for the first time in the Lake Champlain Basin, a second lampricide, Bayluscide 20% Emulsifiable Concentrate, is being included in the application on the Boquet River. The use of 1% Bayluscide with TFM reduces the amount of TFM needed by about 40%, resulting in a reduction of total lampricide applied and substantial cost savings. The delta area around the Little Ausable River and Ausable River mouths will be treated with Granular Bayluscide: lampricide-coated sand grains that dissolve after sinking to the bottom where they effectively kill sea lamprey larvae.
The treatments and water use advisories will have no effect on most residents in the Champlain Basin and no municipal water supply systems will be affected. Cooperative staff have identified all landowners with property in the affected areas. A letter was sent to residents informing them of the planned treatment and asking them if they or their livestock use water from a surface supply that will be affected by the treatment. Days before the treatments begin, another letter will be sent to inform residents of the impending treatment and to arrange any water usage accommodations.
