Environmental News and Events for Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates Counties (Region 8)

In This Issue:

• Help Protect New York's Bat Populations During Bat Week
• #BYOBagNY
• ECO Highlights
• Brownfield Cleanup Program

Help Protect New York's Bat Populations During Bat Week

Bat Week is an internationally recognized weeklong focus to raise awareness about the important role bats play in our environment and is a great time to appreciate New York’s nine bat species. Bat Week is observed October 24 through 31 and is organized by representatives from conservation groups and government agencies in the United States and Canada.

Unfortunately, many species of bats, including little brown bats, have faced severe population declines due to White-nose Syndrome. The disease has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in New York.

You can help protect New York's bat populations by avoiding caves and mines, which may be home to hibernating bats, from October through April. Human disturbances are very harmful to bats. White-nose syndrome makes bats very sensitive to disturbances. Even a single, seemingly quiet visit can kill bats that would otherwise survive the winter. If you see hibernating bats, assume you are doing harm and leave immediately.

Anyone entering a northern long-eared bat hibernation site from October 1 through April 30, the typical period of hibernation for bats, may be subject to prosecution.

Some bat facts:

• They are insect-eating machines, eating thousands of mosquitoes and other flying insects in a single night!
• Bats use echolocation (rapid pulses of sound that bounce off an object) to detect and catch insects.
• Bats are more closely related to primates than to mice.
• They are the only mammal that can fly.

Learn more about bats in Bats of New York State (PDF).

Photo by Al Hicks.

#BYOBagNY

To help retailers and manufacturers comply with New York’s ban on plastic bags, DEC recently posted additional information about ​reusable bag requirements. Please visit our website for details. If you would like to report a plastic bag law violation, please use this Plastic Bag Ban and Film Plastic Reycling Complaint Form.

ECO 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 8.

Seneca County

On Oct. 10 and 11, ECOs took part in the 6th Annual Finger Lakes Regional Youth Deer Hunt at Deer Haven Park, LLC in Romulus. This year's event started with the mandatory pre-hunt instructional and shooting range session where young hunters received a refresher on firearm safety and hunter ethics. They were accompanied by ECO mentors from DEC regions 6, 7, 8, and 9 during the event. Over the course of the weekend, the youth hunters harvested 19 whitetails, making for a very successful hunt. Prizes donated by sponsors of the weekend hunt were also awarded. The combination of conservation, ethics, safety, and appreciation of wildlife and habitat are the overriding goals of this event since its inception. DEC thanks the event sponsors, volunteers, and mentors that made this another successful youth hunting weekend.

Brownfield Cleanup Program

New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) is designed to encourage private-sector cleanup of brownfields and to promote their redevelopment as a means to revitalize economically blighted communities. There are more than 350 active sites in the BCP. Below is a brownfield cleanup site in your region.

Monroe County

DEC invites the public to comment on a draft work plan to investigate contamination at the Jay Hague (site ID #C828216) brownfield site on Hague Street, Rochester.
Public comment deadline: November 28, 2020
More information