DEC rep meets with Town of Webb officials, discusses wildlife control options
A presentation was made to the Town of Webb Board on Tuesday by Steve Heerkens, a Wildlife Biologist for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Zoe Smith, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program in Saranac Lake, at the board’s monthly meeting in Old Forge.
This was very much an update and continuance of previous communications between the DEC and the Town of Webb about local nuisance wildlife problems.
Specifically, reports of undesired interaction between black bears and the human public have ramped up in recent weeks.
Heerkens described a recent episode in Inlet, where property owners entered their home to find a bear intruder.
The offending bear was put down by the DEC based on behavior that made it a potential danger to the human population, according to Heerkens.
A homeowner on Adams Street in Old Forge described three break-ins of his home in recent days, as well.
He asked Heerkens what measures he should take should the bear again make entrance through his door, which has twin-bolt locks.
“Best is to give the bear the opportunity to get out,” Heerkens said. “We don’t need anybody trying to be a hero.” Continue reading
