Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - ECO Recruits Start Next Academy on June 2nd

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced upcoming academies for the newest classes of Forest Rangers and Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs). The six-month training academies will prepare 58 of DEC's newest recruits for careers protecting New York's natural resources in the Division of Law Enforcement and the Division of Forest Protection.

“With new academies on the horizon, DEC is continuing to grow the ranks of New York’s elite force of individuals committed to protecting our environment and public safety,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC’s newest ECOs and Rangers will receive rigorous training to prepare them to meet the environmental challenges of today and tomorrow as they continue to uphold the rich and storied conservation legacies of both divisions.”

ECOs, originally called Game Protectors, were first appointed for service in 1880. The first Forest Rangers, originally known as Fire Wardens, were put into service in 1885 when the New York State Legislature established the Forest Preserve of New York State. The 45 ECO recruits scheduled to report to the academy in Oswego, NY on Sunday, June 2th are likely to receive a rude awakening as they are confronted with a boot camp style academy, complete with drill instructors in full regalia barking orders and maintaining discipline. The ECO training will take place at their Police Training Academy in Pulaski, NY which has served as their home academy for over two decades.

Forest Ranger training started on May 19th at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) campus at Wanakena.

ECO job duties are centered on the enforcement of New York State Environmental Conservation Law and range from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the black-market illegal wildlife and pet trade, emissions violations, plus all manner of environmental quality enforcement. They patrol the state on vessels of all sizes, ATVs, snowmobiles, and on foot. In 2023, ECOs and Investigators across the state responded to nearly 31,000 calls and worked on cases that resulted in nearly 16,900 tickets or arrests.

DEC Division of Law Enforcement Director Karen Przyklek said, “In many ways ECOs are the guardians of our environment, enforcing New York’s stringent environmental conservation laws protecting our air, water, fish, and wildlife. I am eager to welcome our next class of recruits and challenge them to put in the hard work and dedication required to become a member of our elite group of Officers who work diligently, around the clock, to safeguard our natural resources and hold polluters accountable.”

Forest Ranger duties focus on the public's use of DEC-administered State lands and easements and can span from patrolling State properties to conducting search-and-rescue operations to fighting wildland fires. In 2023, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 370 search and rescue missions, extinguished 146 wildfires, participated in 52 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,000 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets or arrests.

DEC Division of Forest Protection Director John Solan said, "Forest Rangers are among the most prepared wilderness professionals in the country, patrolling more than five million acres of land. They respond to rescue calls at all hours of the day or night and stand at the ready to extinguish wildland fires wherever they’re burning. Forest Rangers do all of this, plus law enforcement, all while protecting New York’s natural resources."

ECOs and Forest Rangers are full-fledged New York State Police Officers, often called upon to support critical police deployments. Forest Rangers and ECOs were among the first responders on the scene to help in the aftermath of Septembe.11th, assisted in the response to Superstorm Sandy, helped in the 2015 search for two escaped felons from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, supported New York's statewide response to COVID-19 at testing and vaccination sites. Rangers have traveled to battle wildfires in western states and Canada. Upon graduation, recruits will be assigned patrol areas and join the ranks of hundreds of ECOs and Forest Rangers currently serving across the state.

The ECO recruits in the academy class beginning on June 2nd were selected from an eligible list of qualifications and passing scores generated from the most recent Civil Service exam, given back in December 2022. There are very specific requirements and credentials you must meet and have obtained in order to qualify to take the ECO and Forest Ranger exams. To view job qualifications for ECOs, visit the Environmental Conservation Police Officer job description webpage; for Forest Rangers, visit the Forest Ranger job description webpage. In fact, the filing period to take the current civil service exam for ECOs, Forest Rangers, Park Police and University Police Officers is now open. The deadline to file is July 12th 2024.

Go to https://www.cs.ny.gov/police/titles/environmental-conservation-police-officer-tr.cfm for more information on how to create a NYS Civil Service account and apply. Good luck in that process, and all the best to the newest ECO recruits about to embark on what promises to be the adventure of a lifetime. I can personally attest that they are beginning a journey into a uniquely exciting, challenging, and rewarding career. Best of luck to all ECO recruits of the class of “2024”

Happy Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping until next time!

News and Notes…

Outdoor Expo in Mohawk, NY June 8th and 9th

The Inaugural “Upstate NY Outdoor Expo” will take place on Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, June 9th in Mohawk, NY. The show is billed as offering “all types of outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to engage with industry product suppliers and dealers, associations and groups.” Hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, boating, and snowmobiling are among the activities represented at the event.

For more information, contact the show sales manager, Matt Stanley at mstanley@leepub.com or Liz Friers efriers@leepub.com or call their main office at

1-800-218-5586.

Norton Hill Wildlife Club’s 2024 Trap Shooting Schedule

Trap shooting at Norton Hill Wildlife Club at 946 Big Woods Road in Greenville begins at 10:00 am on the following Sundays: June 9th and 16th, July 14th and 28th, August 4th and 25th, and on September 15th and 29th. Cost is just $5.00 per round. Bring your own ammo. Trap shooting is open to all; you don’t have to be a member to take advantage of this opportunity.