Wildlife, Fish, and Marine Life Newsletter

DEC Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Changes to Endangered and Threatened Species List

DEC is proposing changes to its list of endangered and threatened species in New York. A threatened or endangered species is protected under New York State's Endangered Species Law and becomes a priority for monitoring and management programs. A permit is also required for projects likely to cause harm to these species. Even if a species is removed from the list, DEC would continue to monitor their populations and make management changes as necessary to address any new concerns that may arise. DEC is proposing to remove 19 species from the list and add 18 species.

Several species like the bald eagle, northern harrier, peregrine falcon, and humpback whale have experienced significant growth in their numbers and range—with some populations now at 10 times the state's initial recovery goals—so are being considered for removal from the list. For example, through the work of New York's bald eagle management program and those in other states and Canada, the bald eagle has come back from the brink of extinction. There are now more than 390 pairs of breeding eagles in the state.

Other species have experienced declines and need extra protection to recover. DEC is proposing to add the common nighthawk, eastern hellbender, and several species of freshwater mussels to the list.

See the draft changes to the state endangered and threatened species list and where to send suggestions. We are encouraging the public to comment on the draft list before we develop a formal proposal to revise the list. Comments accepted through January 24, 2020.

Photo of peregrine falcon chicks by Barbara Saunders.

Report Shark Sightings with DEC’s Shark Spotter Digital Survey

Here in New York, we are fortunate enough to share our coastal waters with a diverse marine life, including sharks! Sharks play an important role in the food chain by keeping populations of other fish and marine life in check. Without sharks, the ocean ecosystem—which is complex and carefully balanced—can be disrupted and have cascading effects on the entire ocean food web. An increase in sharks in your area is a good sign and serves as an indicator of a healthy ocean environment.

If you’re on or near the water and observe a shark, please report your sighting using the NYSDEC Shark Spotter digital survey.

DEC Works with Local Community to Reduce Human-Bear Conflicts

Speculator, NY has notoriously been a hotspot for black bears that take advantage of easy-to-acquire garbage from municipal trash cans and the dumpsters of local business. DEC wildlife staff and conservation officers met with local officials and business owners to discuss solutions to better secure municipal garbage. One solution that came from the meeting was a fundraising event to generate funds to replace the unprotected municipal garbage. On October 5th, the village of Speculator hosted its first Adirondack Bear & Wine Festival. Over 800 people attended the event, and they raised thousands of dollars —enough to purchase some bear-proof trash cans for Speculator’s downtown area. The success of the Bear & Wine Festival in Speculator raises hopes that similar events can be held in other Adirondack communities. DEC hopes to continue to work with communities on developing solutions to reduce human-bear conflicts.