New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) were involved in two recent wildlife rescues, including a black bear cub rescued from a leg hold trap in Schoharie County and a whitetail deer entangled in a rope with another deer in Ulster County.
On November 12, 2025, ECOs Bohling and Burgess received a call from a trapper in Middleburgh in Schoharie County reporting he accidentally caught a bear cub in a foothold trap and wasn’t sure how to safely get the bear out.
The individual explained that the trap was originally set for the lawful trapping of coyote or fox. He brought the officers to the bear’s location and the ECOs held a board between the trapper and the bear cub to shield the trapper from any potential injuries while he worked to release the bear.
The trapper successfully released the bear without incident, and the cub ran off seemingly unharmed. It is unlawful to intentionally set traps for bears.
On January 3, ECO Walraven responded to a call regarding two bucks entangled together in a length of rope in Marbletown in Ulster County. One of the bucks was reportedly deceased, and the other was alive but could not free itself.
ECO Walraven utilized an extendable saw to free the living deer, and the animal ran off. It was last observed alive and appeared healthy.
Read about more recent wildlife rescues in New York State.
Photo of black bear cubs in 2021 by John Lehman.
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