On Nov. 22, a small child wearing only a diaper was seen running down the middle of Main Street in the hamlet of Perrysburg, Cattaraugus County, pursued by a handful of residents.
A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest ranger patrolling the area scooped up the runaway toddler and wrapped the child in his coat due to the cold, 40-degree temperature.
The child was unable to tell the ranger where they lived, so the ranger carried the child 150 yards down Main Street until he noticed a house with an open front door.
After a brief investigation, the ranger learned that although child’s grandmother was inside the home, she was unaware her grandchild had taken off down the street. New York State Police arrived on the scene to conduct interviews.
The following reports are excerpted from DEC:
Rangers rescued an injured hiker on Nov. 21 who had twisted their ankle on an icy section of trail at the summit of Ampersand Mountain.NYS DEC
On the evening of Nov. 21, a 54-year-old hiker from Tupper Lake twisted their ankle on an icy stretch of trail at the summit of Ampersand Mountain. They weren’t wearing traction devices. Rangers splinted the injured ankle, provided pain medication and warm liquids, and pulled the patient on a sled to the trailhead. Rangers remind hikers to prepare for all winter weather conditions. Even if it’s relatively warm at the trailhead, there’s snow and ice at higher elevations.
A hiker became hypothermic on Couchsachraga Peak in the Santanoni Range on Nov. 22. Rangers advised the hiker’s companions over the phone to rehydrate, rewarm, and keep their friend moving. The group made it to Bradley Pond lean-to overnight and were all in good health the next day.
A 78-year-old hiker from Ticonderoga was overdue on Nov. 22 from a hike on Potter Mountain. Their car was still at the trailhead at 7 p.m. Rangers found the hiker, who forgot to pack a flashlight, in good health off Short Swing trail at 10 p.m.
Rangers and EMS personnel attend to a 56-year-old hiker who started having chest pain while hiking in the Lake George Wild Forest on Nov. 29.NYS DEC
A 56-year-old from Gansevoort started having chest pain while hiking in the Lake George Wild Forest on Nov. 29. Rangers along with local rescue personnel used a wheeled litter to transport the hiker to the trailhead where they turned over care to Bolton EMS.
On the afternoon of Nov. 28, a 55-year-old from Maryland slipped and fell while climbing Hadley Mountain, injuring their wrist. Rangers reached the hiker and provided microspikes and trekking poles due to the icy trail conditions. EMS transported the patient to the hospital.
Rangers ticketed a property owner for leaving a fire unattended on Dec. 1 in Wassaic that produced large plumes of smoke and flames.NYS DEC
A fire in Wassaic produced large plumes of smoke and flames in Wassaic on Dec. 1. The source was a large pile of brush covered with dirt, allegedly left unattended by workers on-site hours earlier. Fire crews broke up the fire with an excavator. A ranger wrote one ticket for the unattended fire.
A 57-year-old from NYC got lost on Nov. 29 while visiting a friend who lives near the base of the Samuel’s Point, a trailless peak in the Slide Mountain Wilderness. The hiker bushwhacked almost to the summit before dark but became disoriented in the thick vegetation after losing a cell phone signal. The hiker used the satellite messenger feature on the phone to message a friend in NYC to call 911. Rangers found the hiker, provided food and warm clothes, and guided them out of the woods.
On Nov. 29, rangers assisted state and local police in a search for a missing 71-year-old hunter in the town of Nassau. Family members expected the hunter to be home well before dark since he typically hunted only in the early morning hours. A ranger found tracks in the snow leading to the hunter, who was dead. Hoags Corners Fire Department assisted with the carry out.