Latest news with #MassachusettsEnvironmentalPolice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florence man pleads guilty to illegal deer hunting in Northampton wildlife sanctuary
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A Florence man has pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife violations following the illegal killing of a deer within Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary late last year. Amherst community face ICE arrests despite sanctuary status According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, on the night of Nov. 30, 2024, an Environmental Police officer observed suspicious activity involving the use of artificial light to locate deer—an illegal tactic known as 'spotlighting'—within the boundaries of the protected sanctuary in Northampton. A subsequent traffic stop and investigation revealed a deceased white-tailed deer that had been unlawfully taken with a crossbow. The suspect, a 38-year-old Florence resident, admitted to the violations and recently entered a guilty plea in court. He was found guilty of several charges, including hunting during closed season (nighttime), unlawful killing of deer, hunting in a wildlife sanctuary, use of an automatic weapon (crossbow), and hunting with artificial light. As part of a plea agreement, the man was ordered to pay $850 in fines and $500 in restitution. He also received a one-year suspension of his hunting license, was placed on probation for one year, and forfeited the crossbow used in the offense. The Massachusetts Environmental Police emphasized the importance of protecting the state's wildlife and natural resources. The agency encourages the public to report suspicious or illegal environmental activity by calling 1-800-632-8075. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Massachusetts Environmental Police retired police K9 Jett passes away
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Environmental Police announced on Friday the passing of retired K9 Jett. Retired Environmental Police K9 Jett worked alongside her handler, Officer O'Connell, for nearly nine years until retiring in 2023. K9 Jett helped in conservation and hunting-related crimes, locating lost hikers, and assisting many agencies across the state. Police investigating possible armed home invasion in Greenfield with suspect barricaded inside K9 Jett was certified in tracking /search and rescue, as well as explosive and firearms detection. She also worked in numerous large venues and events across the state, including the Boston Marathon, Boston Fourth of July celebrations, and the Tall Ships. 'K-9 Jett loved to work and served enthusiastically with pride and dignity. Jett will be missed and we thank her for her service, loyalty and friendship,' Massachusetts Environmental Police said in a Facebook post. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Am I really seeing this? Dead alligator found on Martha's Vineyard
Vineyarder David Kelliher didn't expect to find anything out of the ordinary when he set out for an afternoon walk with his dog, Feta, at Sepiessa Point Reservation in West Tisbury on May 10. But what he saw near Tisbury Great Pond stopped him in his tracks. It was a dead alligator, missing its hide from the back of its head to the tip of its tail, lying among the stalks of last season's marsh grasses, with fresh green shoots just beginning to emerge through the tangle. "I was walking my dog on the inland side to the pond and came across this alligator," he said, talking by phone on May 13. The discovery was made at the small pond between Tiah Cove and Tississa Pond, within the nearly 174-acre Martha's Vineyard Land Bank property. According to the state environmental officials, the Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating the matter in cooperation with Tisbury Animal Control Officer Heather Maciel, who declined to comment further. On May 13, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife confirmed that a staff herpetologist had verified, based on photos, that the animal was an American alligator. The alligator was about 5 feet long, making it 3 to 5 years old — the species typically grows about a foot per year during its first four to six years, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Kelliher said when he first saw the alligator, he kept blinking, wondering if he was really seeing what he thought he was — a creature suited to the swamps of Florida, not to the shores of a New England island. "I was like 'is this a plastic thing?' And I examined it and thought, 'no, that looks like real flesh, those claws look real,'" he said. Kelliher took a photo and sent it to his wife, who also recognized the carcass as an alligator. "It's one of those things that you're afraid to tell somebody because they won't believe you," he said. "And when I went back there later, I was still expecting to get 'that's not an alligator.'" Kelliher said the remains didn't appear decomposed or badly decayed, noting, 'it wasn't smelly. I don't think it was dead long,' though he acknowledged he's no expert. He can only guess at where the alligator came from, and how long it had been there. The nearby pond, he said, is brackish — "just like the kind of pond an alligator could live in." When one of Kelliher's customers shared a photo of the alligator with a relative in Florida who occasionally hunts them, the relative said it appeared the animal had been intentionally skinned, rather than scavenged by other animals. Florida allows alligator hunting, though the activity is strictly regulated. MassWildlife agreed that the condition of the carcass — with the head and feet intact and the hide cleanly removed — suggests the animal may have been skinned for its leather. Another possibility is that it was purchased for consumption but ultimately discarded. Wildlife officials do not know the origin of the animal at this time, but the agency said it may also have been hunted in another area where alligators are found, and its body brought back to Massachusetts. Kelliher, for one, hopes the ongoing investigation will successfully solve the mystery. "There's so many questions you could ask about this," he said. "If somebody did skin it, why did they take it there after they skinned it? It's very mysterious." He, for one, would be curious to know what the alligator last ate, which could give insight into whether the animal had been living in the marsh prior to its death — though the state's cold climate makes it impossible for them to survive naturally for long — or if it was last fed in captivity. Massachusetts law prohibits keeping any crocodilian species — including alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gavials — as pets. Anyone with information regarding the alligator, or any other illegal wildlife activity, is encouraged to contact the environmental police at 800-632-8075. Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster. Reach her at hmccarron@ Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Alligator on Martha's Vineyard: Dead reptile found in West Tisbury
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free boating safety class being offered next week in Southwick
SOUTHWICK — With the new state law requiring all boaters to eventually earn a safety certificate to operate any powered craft on the state's waterways, the Massachusetts Environmental Police will hold a free boating safety course starting Tuesday, May 6, at Town Hall. 'This course will take you from what you might consider common sense when boating to why you should be safe on the water,' said Richard Grannells, the chair of the town's Lake Management Committee, which manages the three Great Ponds of the Congamond Lakes. The LMC had been 'lobbying' for years for the state to require boaters to earn a safety certificate, he said. 'We used to be one of a few states that don't require a safety certificates. Now we're one of the many,' he said. Before the state Legislature adopted the Hanson Milone Act and Gov. Maura Healey signed it in January, the state was one of 12 that didn't require boaters to have any education before getting on the water. When the bill was adopted, Grannells said it was 'long overdue.' He wanted to stress that anyone who wants to operate a powered craft in the state must have the certificate. And that means every powered craft, like a JetSki, Sea-Doo, Waverunner, or a jetboard, which is motorized surfboard, he said. When the law was adopted, it established a timeline for boaters to attend the safety course. All boaters born after Jan. 1, 1989, will have until April 1, 2026, to obtain their certificate, and that no boater shall be cited and fined until Sept. 1, 2026. Also, anyone born on or before Jan. 1, 1989, must obtain their certificate before April 1, 2028, according to the legislation. Included in the legislation was a provision that anyone younger than 18 years old can't operate a powered craft unless there is someone on board that has a safe boating certificate, which the town's Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker, an avid boater, said was sorely needed. 'This would have prevented so many accidents,' she said, adding that all too often inexperienced boaters, especially teenagers, have no regard for being safe on the water. However, anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 can take the course and exam, and upon passing, will be allowed to operate a motorboat without adult supervision, according to the legislation. Grannells said the MEP has been offering boating safety courses for years, and the LMC and the lake advocacy group, Citizens Restoring Congamond, have been hosting the classes at Town Hall. He said that anyone who has attended the course and still has physical copy of the certificate awarded at its completion aren't required to retake the course. However, he said if a boater doesn't have the physical copy of the certificate, they will need to retake the course. And once completed, no other classes are needed. 'It's one and done,' Grannells said, adding the certificate is issued immediately at the end of the course. The certificates will be valid for the lifetime of the person named on it, according to the legislation. For those who don't pass the examination, they can take it as many times as necessary. Active members of the military, including the National Guard, will not be required to complete the course or take the exam. The course will be held over three days – from 6-9 p.m., starting on Tuesday, April 6 and ending on Thursday, April 8. And participants are required to attend all three classes, and registration is required, which can be found here. Grannells said the course is limited to 50 participants, so registering now is important. The course will cover topics like navigation rules on how to safely maneuver on the water and avoid collisions; emergency procedures in case of an emergency to protect yourself and your passengers; and environmental protections to gain awareness of practices that protect Massachusetts' treasured natural resources. The new program aligns Massachusetts' boating regulations with federal U.S. Coast Guard safety standards and aims to ensure that every boater is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely navigate the state's waterways, according to an announcement by the MEP, which regulates the state's waterways. Grannells said with the renewed interest in boating safely, he expects the law enforcement officials monitoring the ponds this summer will also have a renewed focus on making sure all watercraft have equipment required by the U.S. Coast Guard. The legislation was named for David Hanson who was 20 years old when he was killed in a boating accident in 2010, and Paul Milone, the late harbormaster from Weymouth who dedicated his life to boater safety and was a tireless advocate for this legislation. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lowell police search for missing 4-year-old boy in Merrimack River
Lowell police are searching for a 4-year-old boy who went missing in the Merrimack River on Saturday. A 911 caller notified authorities that the boy was in the water by the Western Canal near 300 Arcand Drive shortly before 5:45 p.m., Lowell police said in the press release. The preliminary investigation suggests that the boy was quickly pulled into the Merrimack River by the current. Lowell police and firefighters responded to the call immediately, and Massachusetts State Police, UMass Lowell Police and Massachusetts Environmental Police are now aiding the ongoing search, police said. They are utilizing a dive team, an Airwing team and drones in their efforts to locate the boy. Firefighters in Dracut, Methuen and Lawrence have also searched downstream in the river for the boy, police said. An investigation into how the boy ended up in the water remains ongoing. No further information has been released. Federal agency cancels $117,000 grant set to go to Western Mass. museum Man shot and killed in Lowell home Saturday morning Vigils bring Easter firsts for new WMass Catholics Once a squatter's delight, Patriot Property points to success with Mattoon Street apts. The 129th Boston Marathon: What to know ahead of the race, how to watch
