Times Union article prompts inquiry into top state DEC wildlife biologist

Update:  Public radio station WAMC today suspended Ward Stone’s regular wildlife program, “In Our Backyard.” The Albany-based station released the following statement.

A recent article in the Albany Times Union has made some serious allegations against New York State Wildlife Pathologist Dr. Ward Stone, host of WAMC’s popular environmental program, “In Our Backyard.” A state investigation has been opened into Dr. Stone’s alleged misconduct.

WAMC believes in the concept that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We are grateful to Ward Stone for his generous volunteer contribution to WAMC’s “In Our Backyard” program and for his tireless work for the state as Wildlife Pathologist. We hope these allegations prove to be false, nevertheless, we believe it is prudent to suspend production of the program until these charges are resolved.

WAMC news will continue to cover this story.

The Albany Times-Union is reporting that an investigative report by the newspaper has prompted a government review of Ward Stone, one of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s top wildlife biologist — one of the DEC’s most visible figures.

What is less known about the 71-year-old scientist at the state’s Wildlife Resources Center in southern Albany County, except among co-workers and state investigators, is that he has a long history of allegations of abusive, unethical and inappropriate behavior, ranging from berating colleagues to shooting animals, and has been repeatedly faulted by his frustrated superiors, according to interviews and records.

Over the years, I’ve dealt occasionally with Stone and found him to be personable and professional.  But I’ve also heard grumblings from other state officials and environmentalists about his behavior.

The T-U’s lengthy article attempts to push beyond the gossip toward a full accounting of Stone’s behavior.

Documents obtained by the Times Union show that despite a host of alleged infractions, violations and “unlawful” actions for years, including citations for misusing state resources and living full time on the premises of the Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife center, Stone has faced little more than a few counseling memos.

According to the newspaper, Inspector General Joseph Fisch is opening a new probe of Stone.

The story points at a particularly disturbing incident, when Stone allegedly shot a group of penned deer.

Eyewitnesses told a reporter the killings happened in late summer 2005. “Gruesome is an understatement,” said William S. Hoffman, a former subordinate of Stone’s, who watched the incident and photographed the aftermath. He is now at the DEC’s headquarters as a fish and wildlife technician. “It was inhumane. They were being gut shot.”