‘Rogue’ New York Woman Found Living With Dead Wildlife
New York State officials report finding many dead and illegal wildlife animals at a "rogue" woman's home.
In this week's Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said a New York State wildlife rehabilitator went "rogue."
"Rogue Rehabber – Nassau County, Long Island, New York
Last month, ECO Kochanowski and Region 1 DEC Wildlife Biologist Hamilton received a report about a wildlife rehabilitator "unlawfully accepting" raccoons at her home on Long Island.
Officers went to the woman's home in Merrick, New York and quickly determined the rehabilitator did not have a required rabies vector species license, officials say.
The DEC also received multiple reports "alleging negligent rehabilitation practices such as raccoons escaping the residence and roaming free in the rehabilitator’s vehicle and disposing of dead raccoons in residential garbage"
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Officials then found five dead raccoons and a possum in or outside the home.
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More Illegal Wild Animals Found In Home
The DEC also allegedly found a mourning dove and eastern box turtle, animals the rehabilitator is not permitted to possess, and many squirrels.
The woman was permitted to possess squirrels but failed to adhere to the required guidelines preventing the squirrels from becoming habituated to human contact, according to the DEC.
The woman was given four notices of violation for illegal possession and transportation of rabies vector species, two counts of illegal possession of protected wildlife, and failure to comply with terms of a wildlife rehabilitator’s permit.
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The rehabilitator’s license is also currently under review by DEC’s Division of Wildlife.