New York State Poisoning Wildlife Laws

[BigNibbler]

Can anyone point me to a link that most succinctly states the penalties for wildlife poisoning?
I am designing a large sign, showing three photos, two loving baby squirrels sleeping together. One of them released and looking into the window. That same squirrel lying dead after being poisoned along with some 30plus others outside!!!
This sign will be on the front lawn.
Trying to get people to talk.

I want to cite the exact legal statute and include it below the photos.

Thank you to anyone who can help. Also anyone with ideas on finding that creep who did this.

[Charley Chuckles]

Omg BN this is just sickening 😭😥😢
I'm sorry I'm not sure of the laws up there, I hope someone here can help.
Thank you for doing this :grouphug

[BigNibbler]

Omg BN this is just sickening 😭😥😢
I'm sorry I'm not sure of the laws up there, I hope someone here can help.
Thank you for doing this :grouphug

Thank you Dear! This is the third year, this has happened. Repeatedly from the first time, I knew it was poison.
But other rehabbers and neighbors insisted on doubting it.

No outward injuries.
No broken bones.
No spinal breaks.
No place to fall from, where found.
Found right near home as if they returned home.
Bodies still warm... Clean. No other sign of scavenging.

BLOOD from NOSE, and RECTUM.

Of the six released, four sequentially disappeared.
Over thirty squirrels lived on the property in six of my nestboxes.
Within two weeks, only a handful of squirrels remain.
They all were getting bloated. I know winter, fur, fat. NO I felt that the bloat was from internal bleeding.
Finally a few weeks ago, two girls only Gem, and Gisele still were sighted.
They visited regularly.
Gisele looked slightly reddish by her nose. AHHA! I new I should have taken Gem in. She wanted to come back in.
BUT I just could not. She deserved to be free.
Taking her in ... what then?!?

Next day, Gem comes up to me, I look down and there is Gisele, dead with blood as described above.
I decide to bring Gem in.
She had lost her whole family . She was begging me to help her.
I took her in and already she had trouble breathing... by night she stopped eating... she could barely breath.
Died the next morning, as I held her.

I assumed it was the latest rodenticide Brodifacoum .. for which there is no cure. I did not think Vit K would work by then.
She died 18 hours after coming in.

The DEC is overworked. Local SPCA not helpful.

[Rock Monkey]

You may want to install some cameras. (Multi camera Systems are getting cheaper and cheaper, especially if you self install.) Seems like someone nearby hates squirrels.

You may be able to identify the individual. It might well be a close neighbor, possibly someone who shares a property line.

If they entered onto your property for even a split second to disperse the poison you can prosecute them for trespassing, at a minimum.

The cameras will also act as a deterrence.

Note, criminal (including driving infractions) and civil records are usually a public record in most states and can be accessed by going down to the local courthouse. Most laws also specify that the requestor does not have to identify themselves. One of your neighbors may be a real piece of work and this is a good way to find out.

[BigNibbler]

Yes, thank you. Cameras are right up my alley. Truly don't believe anyone came onto the property.
However one cold deftly dump some nuggets or powder while walking by, at night, or act like dropping something and depositing while picking up.
I like the Civil records check. Not sure how court is affected by Pandemic?

My feeling is that either some neighbor, within a block or next door or across street is poisoning on their property.
OR one of three persons is sneaking something closeby but not on property, in middle of night.

The poison is not water soluble. Basically one or two bites are fatal.
Squirrels need half to a third the dose of mice or rats per weight - can you believe ?!?

[BigNibbler]

Strange suspicion - I wonder how landscapers feel about squirrels. Some neighbors have told me that landscapers were explaining how the holes on the lawn are made by squirrels.
All my neighbors have pets, dogs or cats... that does not mean all family members of those families are all in their right minds !
BUT I wonder if a landscaper, in these tough times, might fear losing a customer and to preempt complaints could be scattering poison.
I mean it only takes one pound to kill fifty squirrels or more.
And it is really undetectable.
Could an owner or employee fearful of losing work be doing this ?

[Procyon Lotor]

Its more likely a neighbor has rat poison out and the squirrels are eating it thereby becoming unintended casualties. Any neighbors with outdoor pets or food supplies outside?

[Charley Chuckles]

Gary I'm so sorry 😪
I know antifreeze kills when an animal drinks it, but it does sound like rat poison from the bleeding 😭
There is a special place in HELL for someone who would do this to animals 🤬
You would think cats or dogs would be eating it if they are putting it in your neighbors yards🤔
You might want to question them, tell them if they have pets or small children be aware. That might get your neighborhood roused up and start watching out for the one doing this!

[Rock Monkey]

Yes, thank you. Cameras are right up my alley. Truly don't believe anyone came onto the property.
However one cold deftly dump some nuggets or powder while walking by, at night, or act like dropping something and depositing while picking up.
I like the Civil records check. Not sure how court is affected by Pandemic?


If this was intentional, it was likely done by someone with a morally bent compass. Hence the suggestion of the records check.

Most counties have online GIS systems which show property tax records. These property tax records will show you the full, legal name(s) of the owner(s). Knowing the full name is critical to a successful public records search.

There may be an angry neighbor who has had a squirrel chew their way into their attic and hired a pest control company. Or maybe they are having a problem with rats being attracted to the food they put out for their pets, or maybe someone is just a real slob with a mouse or rat problem. The poison could be being dispersed in a container that would deny access to larger animals.

If someone did this intentionally or accidentally, they are unlikely to admit it.

Furthermore, there are some individuals who regards squirrels as rats with tails, pests, and think nothing of killing them.

[island rehabber]

BN, I believe that NYC Dept of Health has the "right" to put down poison (broadficoum, sp?) anywhere that they perceive there is a "vermin problem". So if someone saw one rat and reported it, the city could put that murder crap all over the area. I don't believe there is much that can be done unless you can convince them that thepoison is endangering CHILDREN. They care about kids, but not a damn thing about wildlife especially rodents.

[BigNibbler]

BN, I believe that NYC Dept of Health has the "right" to put down poison (broadficoum, sp?) anywhere that they perceive there is a "vermin problem". So if someone saw one rat and reported it, the city could put that murder crap all over the area. I don't believe there is much that can be done unless you can convince them that thepoison is endangering CHILDREN. They care about kids, but not a damn thing about wildlife especially rodents.

Just noticing this post now.

Is this a common occurrence ?!?
I understand that in some locations where there is a massive overrun by rats this could be an approach but I have not seen a single rat, ever around here, and in fact no mice since last year., around my neighborhood.
There are a good number of squirrels, but at the time Juveniles are first starting to explore there are the expected increase in squirrels Someone would have to have called about them.
Would the Dept of Health checked it out at all ? Would they care squirrels/vs Rats ?

What office would have records of this ? Shouldn't they be available to the public ?
Possibly rehabbers - the DEC should be made aware of this... so rehabbers don't release in those areas

[Diggie's Friend]

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/rodenticide-poisoning/anticoagulant-rodenticides-warfarin-and-congeners

There is now a newer rat bait which was developed to prevent accidental pet poisoning, that doesn't contain any toxins or anticoagulants, that uses corn gluten that kills by blocking the thirst sensors in the lining of the intestines which causes rats to dehydrate to death. To counter this bait rehydrating is needful.

The obvious problem to treating for suspected rat bait ingestion, is that without knowing which bait has been ingested that is needful to know to counter the toxins or compounds in the bait, which requires veterinary intervention, there is little one can do save to rehydrate, Vitamin K1 that counters anticoagulation, and activated charcoal which helps to eliminate the toxins from the body.