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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
@dec.ny.gov
960 followers 48 following 530 posts
The official account of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. SM use policy: https://dec.ny.gov/about/website-usage-and-policies/social-media.
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dec.ny.gov
Whether you’re celebrating a gift-giving holiday, attending an upcoming birthday celebration, or wanting to give a token of appreciation, there are plenty of environmentally friendly gifts you can give this year.
Blue Bag.
December 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
dec.ny.gov
DEC is closely monitoring the weather forecast for this weekend, which shows the potential for trapping colder air and pollution closer to the surface.

Map below shows AQI forecast for Saturday, December 6th.
New York State map color coded with Air Quality Index levels.
December 5, 2025 at 8:52 PM
dec.ny.gov
No lines here! Skip the malls and #OptOutside at a state land near you. They provide plenty of opportunities for hiking, camping, and many other winter activities: dec.ny.gov/places
Hiker wearing red standing on a snowy hill in the Adirondacks.
November 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
dec.ny.gov
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at DEC!
A turkey standing in a snowy field with the text “Happy Thanksgiving”.
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
dec.ny.gov
Although it might be easy to remember that toms have beards and spurs, it’s important not to completely rule out that hens can also have beards and spurs. Less than 10% of the female turkey population have a beard, and less than 1% have spurs.

📷: Dori Stathopoulos
A tom turkey standing in a field with his tail feathers spread out.
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
dec.ny.gov
Hens, on the other hand, are smaller, weighing up to 12 lbs. They have a rusty-brown body, a blue-gray head, and typically do not grow a beard or spurs.

📷: Susan Dornan
A turkey hen standing in tall grass.
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
dec.ny.gov
Toms are about 2.5 ft. tall and weigh up to 25 lbs. They have red, white, and blue skin on their heads during breeding season (springtime) and they grow a long beard of hair-like feathers on their chests, and spurs on their legs that can be from 0.5 inches - 1.5 inches long.
Three turkey hens and a tom turkey with his tail feathers fanned out.
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
dec.ny.gov
Can you tell the difference between a male turkey (tom) and a female turkey (hen)? 🦃

📷: James Monteleone

#WildlifeWednesday
A male and female turkey standing side-by-side in a field.
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
dec.ny.gov
Last call for submissions for DEC’s Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest! Enter your “Trees for the Future” themed submission by November 30, 2025, for a chance for your work to be featured on New York’s next Arbor Day poster.

📷: 2018 Arbor Day Poster, captured by Aaron Cohen of Roslyn, New York
A lone green leaved tree growing at the edge of a small pond in a snowy, small park.
November 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
dec.ny.gov
For details on these and other recent ECO stories, head to this week's Environmental Conservation Police Officers on Patrol: on.ny.gov/49zMnSM
Two Officers counting dead fish while on a boat.
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
dec.ny.gov
And while on patrol in the Town of Johnstown, ECO Pasciak recently saw a dog running loose in the roadway. The Officer stopped and was able to safely get the dog into his patrol vehicle, then drove around looking for the owner. After a while, the owner was located and reunited with their dog, Jack.
A dog with a brown head and brown and white spots on its body, wearing a blaze orange collar while sitting in the passenger side seat of a vehicle.
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
dec.ny.gov
ECO Scheer, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and the Niagara County Technical Rescue Team were able to hoist the deer from the well and release it safely, without incident. To prevent future incidents like this one, the well was covered after the deer was rescued.
Several people looking on while a crew lowers ropes into a dry well.
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
dec.ny.gov
On Nov. 6, ECOs assisted the Lewiston Police Department following a report of an antlered deer that had become trapped after falling into a 10-foot- deep dry well.
An antlered deer stuck in a dry well.
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
dec.ny.gov
Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸
USA flag on a flag pole flapping in the wind.
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
dec.ny.gov
For full details on these and other recent Ranger stories, check out this week's DEC Forest Rangers Week in Review: on.ny.gov/4oUjftN.
Several people wearing firefighting gear and walking along a path next to a smoky prescribed fire.
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
dec.ny.gov
Also, on the morning of Oct. 29, Rangers Dormer and Raffaldi-Smith responded to a wildland fire near Clement Road. Rangers and the Naples Fire Department had the fire controlled later that afternoon. The cause was an unextinguished, unattended campfire. The next day, Rangers declared the fire out.
A Forest Ranger spraying water on a fire near a tree in the forest.
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
dec.ny.gov
Forest Rangers, staff from DEC's Division of Lands and Forests, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Albany Pine Bush conducted a prescribed burn of over four acres at the Albany Pine Bush on Oct. 28, and over 34 acres at Moreau Lake State Park on Oct. 29.
A Forest Ranger standing near a prescribed fire in a field.
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
dec.ny.gov
Tomorrow, Nov. 6, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton is joining a panel discussion on "Weathering the Federal Storm" at the 2025 SOMOS Puerto Rico Conference. 👏
A document with information about the "Weathering the Federal Storm" panel at the SOMOS Puerto Rico Conference.
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
dec.ny.gov
Leaves are falling across NYS. Consider using zero-emission lawn equipment to clear the leaves, including electric mowers or leaf blowers, or even manual tools such as rakes to limit air emissions.

Check out the latest issue of Air Mail! to learn more ⤵️ content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYS...
Pumpkins and gourds in a black wagon.
November 3, 2025 at 1:36 PM
dec.ny.gov
With nearly 3 million New Yorkers potentially losing their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance in November, DEC is encouraging hunters to help fight hunger in our communities at this critical time.

Learn how to donate your deer harvest: dec.ny.gov/things-to-do...
October 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
dec.ny.gov
For details on these and other recent Forest Ranger stories, head to on.ny.gov/4omHzop.
A group photo of people wearing firefighting gear outside.
October 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
dec.ny.gov
On Oct. 16 & 18, Rangers Dormer, Miller, and Raffaldi-Smith instructed the Basic Wildland Fire Suppression Course at the Wayne Co. Emergency Management Building. They taught 18 firefighters about the basics of fire behavior, wildland firefighting tactics, and the tools used in fire suppression.
A Forest Ranger standing near a fire truck and firefighting gear while speaking to a crowd of people outside.
October 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
dec.ny.gov
On Oct. 17, 13 Forest Rangers passed their reaccreditation with the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) for technical rope rescue certification using technical skills learned on difficult high- and low-angle rope rescues.
Four Forest Rangers participating in technical rope rescue certification training. A person wearing a helmet while repelling on a steep cliff. Two Forest Rangers near the edge of a cliff. One Ranger is crouching while another one is standing.
October 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
dec.ny.gov
Week 7️⃣ of the @i-love-ny.bsky.social Fall Foliage Report is out!

🍂 To view the full report, visit www.iloveny.com/things-to-do...
Week 7 Fall Foliage Report graphic.
October 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
dec.ny.gov
Week 6️⃣ of the @i-love-ny.bsky.social Fall Foliage Report is here!

🍂 For the full report, visit www.iloveny.com/things-to-do...
Week 6 fall foliage report graphic
October 16, 2025 at 12:52 PM