DEC Cites Orange County Resident For Shooting Great Blue Heron

MONTGOMERY, NY — An Orange County resident shot and killed a great blue heron, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed.

On May 30, Environmental Control Officers Aric Boyes and Erik Lovgren responded to the town of Montgomery for reports of a deceased great blue heron. The complainant reported hearing a gunshot before observing the bird on the ground near a pond.

The officers arrived at the location and discovered the heron dead from gunshot injuries. The observed only one house had a clear line of sight to the adjoining pond.

They interviewed the resident of the house, who eventually admitted to shooting the heron that morning, DEC officials said.

ECOs ticketed the resident for illegally taking protected wildlife and sent the blue heron to the DEC Wildlife Unit for a necropsy. On June 25, a DEC pathologist confirmed the cause of death.