'Rogue Rehabber' In Merrick Cited For Roaming And Dead Raccoons: DEC

MERRICK, NY — Environmental conservation officers found five dead raccoons and a host of negligent or unlawful rehabilitation practices at the home of a Merrick resident whom the New York Department of Environmental Conservation called a "rogue rehabber."

In early March, environmental conservation officer Zach Kochanowski and Region 1 DEC Wildlife Biologist Bryan Hamilton received a report about a wildlife rehabilitator unlawfully accepting raccoons at her home in Merrick.

Also, Kochanowski received multiple tips alleging negligent practices including raccoons escaping the residence and roaming free in the rehabilitator’s vehicle, and dead raccoons thrown away in residential garbage.

The officers found she did not have a required rabies vector species license to work with raccoons at all.

On March 21, ECOs Kochanowski and Lawrence Pabes, along with DEC Wildlife Biologists, inspected her home. They found five dead raccoons and a possum in crates or in the garbage outside.

Inside the residence, DEC located a mourning dove and eastern box turtle, animals the rehabilitator does not have permits to possess, and many squirrels.

She had a permit to possess squirrels — but failed to adhere to the required guidelines preventing the squirrels from becoming habituated to human contact.

Karen Lynn Stracher, 56, was issued four notices of violation for illegal possession and transportation of rabies vector species, two counts of illegal possession of protected wildlife, and failure to comply with terms of a wildlife rehabilitator’s permit.

DEC officials said her license is currently under review by the Division of Wildlife.