In early March, NYS Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Zach Kochanowski and DEC Wildlife Biologist Chip Hamilton received a report about a wildlife rehabilitator unlawfully accepting raccoons at her home in Merrick in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, on Long Island.
Officers determined the woman did not have a required rabies vector species license. Additionally, ECO Kochanowski received multiple tips alleging negligent rehabilitation practices such as raccoons escaping the residence and roaming free in her vehicle and disposing of dead raccoons in residential garbage.
On March 21, ECOs Kochanowski and Lawrence Pabes, along with DEC Wildlife Biologists, inspected the subject’s home and located five dead raccoons and an opossum in crates or in the garbage outside.
Inside the residence, DEC located a mourning dove and eastern box turtle, animals the woman is not permitted to possess, and many squirrels. The subject was permitted to possess squirrels but failed to adhere to the required guidelines preventing the squirrels from becoming habituated to human contact.
The subject was issued 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.
Her rehabilitator’s license is currently under review by DEC’s Division of Wildlife.
Photo: The area where ECOs discovered five deceased raccoons and possum (provided).
