For the past 5 years someone has been dumping deer carcasses along side the road on Ellinwood road in the Town of Pembroke.
“I usually notice just 2-3 deer carcasses,” says Town Clerk Nicole Begin.
“This year it looks like a murder scene”
This year someone called to complain after they noticed three different locations where deer and Canadian geese carcasses were dumped while walking their dog down Ellinwood road this week.
Hunting season ended this past Tuesday. Begin says the carcasses were not there at Thanksgiving and when the snow melted this past week they were discovered.
After discovering the carcasses, Begin contacted the DEC.
“There is nothing they can do right now,” says Begin.
“Hunting season has ended and you have to catch them in the act or you have to put up cameras to catch their license plate. Hopefully next year at hunting season, I will talk to neighbors and put up my own cameras and I am going to stop this, because it’s gross.”
Begin is also worried about coyotes and other animals coming to the area as people are walking their dogs or jogging.
The DEC can fine someone who is illegally dumping animal carcasses and charge them with unlawful disposal of solid waste.
Begin says the Town contracts with a company for carcass pick up on roadways in the town. Each carcass picked up costs the town $25. Begin says the carcasses along Ellinwood road will be cleaned up today. The cost to the town will probably be about $500.
“So, yes the taxpayers will pay for the cleanup.”
Begin says the suspect(s) must be familiar with the area.
“In my opinion, its someone that knows the area and that knows there is nobody there.”
Begin also contacted other Town Clerks in the County to get the word out about illegal dumping of carcasses.
“I want to get the word out to the person who is doing this that we are watching, dispose of your carcasses the right way, its not fair to the people who live there.”