The State of New York owns all fish, game, wildlife, shellfish, crustacea and protected insects in New York.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It varies by county
• D. Ownership belongs to private landowners

Answer: (A)

In New York, wildlife is held in trust by the state for the public. That means all wild fish, game, wildlife, shellfish, crustaceans, and protected insects within the state belong to the state, not to private landowners or individuals. Because of this public ownership, you can’t legally claim ownership of wild animals just because you find them on your property. Any possession, care, or rehabilitation of wild wildlife requires proper authorization from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the goal of any licensed rehab activity is to release the animal back into the wild when possible. So the idea that the state owns these wild resources statewide is correct.