Department of Environmental Conservation

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Furbearer Sighting Surveys

The Bureau of Wildlife wants to learn more about the occurrence and distribution of various furbearers throughout New York. Visit the Furbearers page to read profiles for various species, including physical traits and tips for identifying them. There are three options for reporting your observations:

Six different images showing some of the different furbearers that can be reported for the sightings survey
Hare photo courtesy of Nate Lefort, SUNY-ESF

On-line:

(Links leave DEC website)

Upstate New York - report sightings of fisher, bobcat, otter, weasel, marten, and snowshoe hare in DEC Regions 3 through 9

Long Island / New York City - report sightings of beaver, gray fox, otter, weasel, mink, coyote, and skunk in DEC Regions 1 and 2

By E-mail:

Send an e-mail to us with the species observed, number of animals seen, town, county, location description, and contact information in case we need to reach you. Please leave "Furbearer Sighting Survey" in the subject heading.

By Phone:

DEC Regional Wildlife Offices
DEC Region Phone Number Counties
1/2 (631) 444-0311 Nassau, Suffolk, New York City (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond)
3 (845) 256-3088 Sullivan, Ulster, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester
4 (518) 357-2158 Montgomery, Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie, Schenectady, Albany, Greene, Rensselaer and Columbia
5 (518) 623-1240 Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, Fulton, Saratoga, and Washington
6 (315) 785-2534 Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Oneida, and Herkimer
7 (607) 753-3095 x247 Broome, Cayuga, Cortland, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, and Tompkins
8 (607) 622-8271 Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates
9 (716) 372-0645 Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, and Wyoming