Friday April 19, 2024 
CCE of Rensselaer County Pheasant Raise and Release Program
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is once again distributing day old pheasant chicks for rearing and releasing as a 4-H project. Participants raise day old chicks until they are mature enough to be released into your community. The only cost involved would be feed, time and facility. Members and/or leaders who want to raise pheasants this year need to contact the CCE office by March 11th to place their order. If this is your first time doing this program, you will need to set up a date for a brief training before receiving your chicks. Participants will be notified of when to pick up their chicks from our office; it is the responsibility of the participants to have their chicks picked up by the end of that day. This is a wonderful, short-term project that offers an opportunity for youth to not only be responsible but to enhance their community. If interested, please call our office (518)272-4210.
Stories about animals who help, comfort and love kids
The Dog in the Dentist Chair- and other true stories about animals who help, comfort and love kids by Peggy Frezon.
Book Signing, Sat., March 2nd, 1 pm, Barnes & Noble, Colonie Center Mall. A book for kids about animals who help kids. Come meet the author and hug therapy dogs Murfy and Reggie!
DEC Announces Falconry, Wildlife Rehabilitator, and Leashed Tracking Dog Examinations
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that examinations are scheduled for Friday, April 12, 2019, for individuals seeking a license to practice the sport of falconry, become a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, or use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals.
The exams will run from 10 a.m. to noon at most DEC Regional Offices across the state. A list of DEC Regional Offices can be found on DEC’s website. The deadline for registering to take any of these free exams is Friday, March 22, 2019. Exam registration forms can be found on DEC’s website.
Apprentice Falconry License
Falconry has a rich history and tradition throughout the world and requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Apprentices are limited to possessing one bird, either an American kestrel or a red-tailed hawk. A falconry study guide and examination manual are available at no cost from DEC and can be found on DEC’s website. The cost of a five-year falconry license is $40.
Wildlife Rehabilitator License
Wildlife rehabilitators provide for the care of injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals to then return rehabilitated animals to the wild. Prospective applicants are encouraged to gain experience by serving as an assistant to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A wildlife rehabilitator study guide and examination manual are available at no cost from DEC’s website. There is no cost for a wildlife rehabilitator license, which is valid for five years.
Leashed Tracking Dog Handler
Leashed tracking dog handlers use their dogs to track and recover dead, wounded, or injured big game. Leashed tracking dog handlers provide a valuable service by helping hunters locate wounded big game that otherwise may go unrecovered. A leashed tracking dog study guide is available at no cost from DEC’s website. There is a $50 license fee for the five-year license and a $25 non-refundable application fee.
To apply for any of these exams, visit the DEC Special Licenses Unit website and complete an exam registration form. Applicants can mail, fax, or email the completed form to: NYS DEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752 Phone: 518-402-8985, Fax: 518-402-8925, Email: SpecialLicenses@nulldec.ny.gov.
North Greenbush Dog Park
Attention North Greenbush residents interested in a dog park!
Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo will lead a follow up meeting on a town sponsored dog park on Tuesday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m. at Bloomingrove Reformed Church, 706 Bloomingrove Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144. You do not need to have attended the November meeting to attend this one. For more information, please contact 518424-1884 or msabo@nullnorthgreenbush.org.