Officials To Weigh Hunting At Parcel After Deer Shot Near Rescue

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — After outraged animal advocates urged lawmakers Monday to terminate an agreement that allows hunters to traverse Suffolk County land near a wildlife rescue center in Hampton Bays where a deer was killed recently, just feet from the facility, a meeting will be planned to discuss the possibility.

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming said she was pleased to see so many volunteers and staff from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, as well as animal advocates, turn out the William H. Rogers building in Hauppauge to report to the legislative committee about "this disturbing incident, which was clearly alarming to many people."

After the deer was shot, not only was the staff at the wildlife rescue center devastated by the death of the deer — the facility's executive director Virginia Frati, her clothes covered in blood, tried in vain to save the wounded animal — but concerns were raised about hunters shooting so close to the facility, and to members of the public walking and biking on a nearby nature trail.

When the shots were fired, one slug went through a cage and came close to workers at the wildlife rescue, missing by just a few feet, Frati said.

Frati said she has been imploring Suffolk County officials for 20 years to terminate an agreement that allows hunters to cross a strip of county-owned land to reach the New York State-sanctioned Henry's Hollow hunting area adjacent to that parcel.

Fleming said it is her goal to set a meeting with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Suffolk County Parks Department, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, and representatives from the rescue center, to "take a hard look at the agreement" in light of the facts based on two investigations and then, "make tough decisions about whether the terms of the agreement, or even the agreement itself, needs to be changed."

Fleming and Thiele have also called upon the DEC to suspend hunting at the the state-sanctioned Henry's Hollow location while the investigation is ongoing; the DEC has not yet responded to a request for comment on that suggestion.

John Di Leonardo, founder of Long Island Orchestrating for Nature, spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. He said he appreciated Fleming's call to suspend hunting and appreciated her willingness to revisit the county agreement.

"Regardless of how one feels about hunting, it is clear that hunting next to a wildlife hospital is wildly inappropriate," Di Leonardo said. "Wildlife rehabilitators should not have to work in fear of being shot and killed at Suffolk County's only wildlife hospital." He added: "Public safety is not a partisan issue and i hope that the entire committee will agree to rescind this agreement in totality."

Frati said she is hopeful that the rescue center's landlords, the Suffolk County Parks Department, will see from the many episodes she has reported that not all hunters respect the 500-foot setback — posing safety concerns for those in the area — and rescind the agreement.

Last week, the hunter responsible for shooting the deer was arrested and charged, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said.

According to the NYSDEC, on Jan. 13, DEC environmental conservation officers, working with the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, arrested Isidoro Scarola, 75, of Islip Terrace.

He was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, and engaging in posted activity in a restricted, "no hunting area," discharging a shotgun within 500 feet of a farm structure, and illegal take of protected wildlife, all violations, the NYSDEC said.

He is scheduled to appear in Southampton Town Court on Feb. 2, the NYSDEC said.

NYSDEC environmental conservation officers found bullet holes in the fence and damage to a door of an animal housing and storage shed, the DEC said. Additionally, three spent shotgun shells were found within 500 feet of the occupied buildings, the DEC said.

It is illegal to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a structure in use unless you own it, lease it, or have the owner's permission, according to the DEC's website.

Describing the gunshots that rang out outside the rescue center, Frati said she was horrified by what she found when she ran outside to investigate.

"It was the most horrible, traumatic thing I've ever experienced," Frati said. "I was just sobbing. There should not be a hunting area near a wildlife center. That's like putting a porn shop or an adult book store next to a children's playground."