The Peru Gazette

In This Issue:

• Plastic Bag Ban Enforcement Begins October 19
• ECO Highlights
• Forest Ranger Highlights

DEC Announces Enforcement of New York’s Plastic Bag Ban to Start Oct. 19, 2020

DEC will begin enforcementof the State’s ban on single-use plastic carryout bags on Oct. 19, 2020. The plastic bag ban, which went into effect on March 1, was not enforced per an agreement between the parties in a lawsuit brought by Poly-Pak Industries, Inc., et al, in New York State Supreme Court.

Pursuant to an Order of the New York State Supreme Court, Albany County, DEC agreed to provide the parties and the Court at least 30 days’ notice prior to commencing enforcement. DEC is currently conducting extensive outreach to stakeholders, including grocery stores, retailers, and others, to provide notice of the start of enforcement and answer questions.

DEC continues to encourage New Yorkers to use reusable bags wherever and whenever they shop with the #BYOBagNY campaign, launched earlier this year. Additional information about exemptions to the plastic bag ban, frequently asked questions, and posters, flyers, and tip strips to download, as well as tips for keeping reusable bags clean are available on DEC’s website.

New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion plastic bags annually—each for about 12 minutes—and approximately 85 percent of this staggering total ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways, and streets. In March 2017, Governor Cuomo created the New York State Plastic Bag Task Force, chaired by DEC Commissioner Seggos. The task force met several times to develop a uniform, comprehensive, and equitable solution to the challenge of plastic bag waste. The final report analyzed the impacts of single-use plastic bags and provided options for legislation that could help develop a statewide solution. In addition, following passage of the New York State Plastic Bag Waste Reduction Act, DEC held a series of meetings with industry stakeholders across the state to invite input from the public and guide the agency’s development of rules and regulations to implement the law.

For more information about the plastic bag ban, reusable bags, or to file a complaint about entities using single-use plastic carryout bags, visit DEC’s website, email plasticbags@dec.ny.gov, or call (518) 402-8706.

Environmental Conservation Police Officer Highlights

DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 2019, the 288 ECOs across the state responded to 25,704 calls and worked on cases that resulted in 16,855 tickets or arrests for crimes ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations. Below is an example of the work our ECOs perform in Region 5.

Fulton, Saratoga and Washington Counties

On Sept. 26, ECOs in Fulton, Saratoga, and Washington counties headed out before sunrise to meet eager youth pheasant hunters. The day before, the Officers assisted DEC Wildlife staff with stocking pheasants throughout the area at various locations open to youth pheasant hunting. After speaking to the young hunters about the importance of hunting safety, several reported having successful hunts during opening day.

Clinton County

On Sept. 3, 2020, Zachary Vaughan, 26, of Saranac, New York, was sentenced in the Town of Franklin Criminal Court to 60 days in county jail and $5,525 in fines and surcharges for illegally poaching a moose in October 2019. His hunting privileges were revoked for five years. DEC’s investigation began on Oct. 31, 2019, when ECO Favreau received a call from a camp member in the Chateaugay Highlands Easement reporting a dead cow moose on the property. The moose was transported to DEC’s Delmar Wildlife Resource Lab for a necropsy. Crime scene investigation continued with the aid of DEC K9 Diesel. Following a series of anonymous calls and an anonymous tip reported to the DEC Environmental Crime Tip-Line, Zachary Vaughan was identified as the shooter. While Vaughan initially denied the claims, ECOs obtained a supporting deposition. A search warrant was executed on Nov. 26, 2019, by DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement at the home of Vaughan and his parents, during which officers obtained a voluntary statement from Vaughan regarding the poaching incident. On Dec. 4, 2019, Vaughan was charged with four misdemeanors: taking of a moose; possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle; use of an artificial light in a vehicle while in possession of firearm; and hunting deer with the aid of an artificial light. He also was charged with three additional Environmental Conservation Law violations.

Forest Ranger Highlights

DEC Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State. Below are examples of the work our rangers perform in Region 5.

Essex County, Town of St. Armand

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 22 at 12:10 p.m., Franklin County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting an injured 64-year-old hiker from Dyer, Indiana, on Baker Mountain. The hiker went off the trail, fell, and injured his right leg. Forest Rangers Evans and Sabo responded to assist. Once on scene, Forest Ranger Evans provided first aid for the subject’s unstable knee and ankle. Due to the extent of the injury, New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was requested along with backup rescuers including members of Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks in case of a possible carry-out involving a high-angle rope technique on steep terrain. NYSP Aviation, with Forest Ranger Benzel as hoist operator, completed the hoist rescue off the mountain at 4:18 p.m. The hiker was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment.

Essex County, Town of North Elba

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 23 at 3:15 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a group of hikers reporting that a 60-year-old woman from Bath had dislocated her left shoulder on the trail for Phelps Mountain. The caller reported that they believed the subject’s shoulder was back in the socket and that they had tied a belt around the injured woman’s shoulder to keep it in place. The group continued down to Marcy Dam where they were met by Forest Ranger Lewis. Ranger Lewis provided a sling for the injured shoulder and escorted the hikers to the outpost where they were given a ride back out to their vehicle. The injured hiker advised that she would seek further medical treatment on her own.

Essex County, Town of Wilmington

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for Forest Ranger assistance regarding a 60-year-old man from Warren, Connecticut, who had a medical issue on the Stag River Trail on Whiteface Mountain. Forest Rangers responded to the hiker’s location and arrived on scene at 11:08 a.m. Rangers transported the subject to the Whiteface Ski Center where he was evaluated by Whiteface Medical Staff and transferred to Wilmington Rescue for transport to a local hospital for treatment. The incident concluded at 12:15 p.m.

Essex County, Town of Keene

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 25 at 1:05 p.m., Essex County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from a pair of hikers on the Blueberry Mountain Trail reporting a 76-year-old hiker from Katonah with a non-weight bearing ankle injury. Forest Rangers Lewis and van Laer and Assistant Forest Ranger Raudonis responded to assist. Once on scene, Rangers splinted the injured ankle and the hiker attempted to make his way out with crutches, but was unsuccessful. The Keene and Keene Valley Fire Departments Back Country Rescue responded with a litter and backpack carries to assist with the carry-out with Forest Rangers Gliddi and Evans. The responders carried the hiker to the trailhead and he advised he would seek further medical assistance on his own.

Essex County, Town of Wilmington

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 26 at 3 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 26-year-old hiker from Queensbury with an ankle injury on Whiteface Mountain just below Hoyt’s High. Forest Rangers Lewis, Burns, and LaPierre responded to assist, arriving on scene at 3:34 p.m. The Rangers quickly reached the hiker on the ski trails and began to carry her down the mountain to an ATV. After loading the hiker onto the ATV, the Rangers continued down the mountain to the meet the Wilmington Rescue Squad, waiting to provide additional medical treatment. A 7:15 p.m., all resources were cleared of the scene.

Essex County, Town of Keene

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 26 at 5:15 p.m. DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a group of hikers on Pitchoff Mountain reporting that one of their group had fallen, hit her head, and lacerated her leg. Forest Rangers Praczkajlo, LaPierre, Sabo, van Laer, and Evans responded to the East Trailhead. Upon arriving on scene, the Rangers determined the subject was unable to walk out on her own. Rangers requested assistance from the Keene Valley Backcountry Rescue for assistance. With the bleeding stopped, rescuers started the rugged carry-out and arrived back at the trailhead at 9:32 p.m. The 51-year-old hiker from Westport was turned over to Keene Ambulance for further medical treatment.

Hamilton County, Town of Long Lake

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 25 at 6:50 a.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from SPOT Locator Services for a 60-year-old Ballston Spa woman with a non-weight bearing knee injury at the Ouluska lean-to on the Northville-Placid Trail. Due to the remoteness of the area, Rangers contacted NYSP Aviation to assist in performing a hoist operation to extract the injured hiker. Forest Rangers and NYSP Aviation extracted the woman and flew her to a local hospital for treatment at 10:35 a.m., while Rangers using UTVs drove to Ward Brook to meet the subject’s husband. The man was given a ride out to the gate and a courtesy ride to his vehicle at the trailhead.

Southern Zone Bowhunting Season Starts Oct. 1 and Hunters May Encounter More Dead Deer Afield in Certain Regions Due to EHD

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today asked bowhunters who may encounter deer affected by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) this fall to report the find to DEC. EHD is a viral disease of whitetail deer that cannot be contracted by humans. Reports from hunters help DEC track the disease’s potential spread.

Archery seasons for whitetail deer and black bear begin Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Southern Zone and more hunters will be in remote forests, fields, and waterways and may come across deer that died of EHD. Hunters are encouraged to report any deer suspected of dying from EHD to the nearest DEC regional wildlife office. A directory is available on the DEC website.

DEC wildlife biologists have been receiving reports of dead and sick deer this fall and collected carcasses for testing at DEC’s Wildlife Health Unit in Delmar, Albany County. Tissue samples have been sent to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University to confirm the presence of EHD.

To date, EHD has been confirmed in portions of Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester counties, and DEC has received reports of approximately 750 dead deer. Though the current outbreak appears concentrated in the lower Hudson Valley, EHD may have spread elsewhere in New York.

While EHD outbreaks can remove a number of deer from a localized population, they do not have a significant long-term impact on deer populations. Deer populations throughout the currently impacted region are robust. DEC does not plan to reduce harvest in areas affected by EHD at this time.

The EHD virus is carried by biting midges, small bugs often called no-see-ums or ‘punkies.’ Outbreaks are most common in the late summer and early fall when the midges that carry the virus are abundant. Once infected with EHD, deer usually die within 36 hours. The disease is not spread from deer to deer or from deer to humans. Symptoms in deer include fever, hemorrhage in muscles or organs, and swelling of the head, neck, tongue, and lips. A deer infected with EHD may appear lame or dehydrated. Frequently, infected deer will seek out water sources and many succumb to the disease near a water source. There is no treatment for nor means to prevent EHD. The dead deer do not serve as a source of infection for other animals.

The EHD virus affected New York deer in 2007 in Albany, Rensselaer, and Niagara counties, and in Rockland County in 2011.

EHD is endemic in southern states where there are annual outbreaks, so some southern deer have developed immunity. Generally, in the northeast, EHD outbreaks occur sporadically and deer in New York have no immunity to this virus. Consequently, most EHD-infected deer in New York are expected to die. In the north, the first hard frost kills the midges that transmit the disease, ending the EHD outbreak.

Hunters should not handle or eat any deer that appears sick or acts strangely. DEC continues to monitor the EHD outbreak. In addition, the State Department of Agriculture and Markets has alerted deer farmers and veterinarians throughout the state to be aware of the disease and to report suspicious cases.

For more information on EHD and helpful related links, visit the DEC website.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html