The months of May and June mark the start of fair weather and with it, the emergence of New York’s turtle species! They are migrating to habitat for basking, foraging, and nesting. Female turtles are seeking nesting areas to lay their eggs and may need to risk crossing roads to get to these habitats. Unfortunately, thousands of turtles are killed each year when struck by vehicles in New York State. Please never remove a turtle from the wild to ‘rescue’ it or take it to an area with fewer roads. Turtles are familiar with the landscape and may try to return, and risk crossing more roads. Removing even one adult female turtle from the wild can hurt local populations. 

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Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family and the largest gamefish in the Great Lakes.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced the fishing seasons for muskellunge begin on June 1 in inland waters and on June 15 in Great Lakes waters—Lake Erie, Upper Niagara River, Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, and tributaries to these waters. 

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Please read the proposed draft in the link below.  You have an opportunity to voice your opinion.

This draft update to the program policy is intended to address the need for additional guidance regarding the public rights of navigation and fishing on navigable waters of the United States. As such, this document will serve as General Counsel Policy with respect to the public right of navigation and fishing on navigable waters within the State for use by NYS DEC staff and the general public, but will no longer be considered enforcement guidance for NYS DEC staff. The draft Program Policy has been published and is available for public review and comment. The full text and a pdf printable version can be found at: https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/Draft_OGC-9.pdf

Written comments will be accepted by mail or email until 5:00 p.m. on June 14, 2024. Please include “Comment on draft OGC-9: Public Rights of Navigation and Fishing” in the subject line.

Colby great for campers that missed out on other DEC camps like Rushford.

Registration for Camp Colby will open Wednesday, May 22nd at 10:00 AM. Camp weeks and availability are located here:https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/summer-camps/weeks-and-availability.  Please keep in mind that sessions may fill quickly and are first come, first served.  

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