On Aug. 23, ECO Tom Koepf assisted Region 3 Bureau of Wildlife staff with a nuisance bear at the Catskill Fish Hatchery in the town of Rockland. This was the seventh bear that DEC Wildlife staff have caught at the facility over the years, due to bears seeing the hatchery fish as easy meals. This 192-pound sow was sedated, fitted with a radio collar to track her movements and gain valuable data on bear trends, and moved from the location.
Bear Biologist Matt Merchant, ECO Tom Koepf, and Wildlife Technician Emily Carrollo with radio-collared bear

Bear Biologist Matt Merchant, ECO Tom Koepf, and Wildlife Technician Emily Carrollo with radio-collared bear