Ricardo Grisolini, a New York State Environmental Conservation Officer with roots in northern Italy, brings a sharp eye and a sharp wit to wildlife law enforcement. From chasing down poachers to setting up decoy deer that even landowners can’t resist, his stories are packed with twists, laughs, and lessons. In this episode, Ricardo shares some of his most unforgettable and entertaining cases from two decades on the job.
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Here’s what we discuss:
· Growing up in Northern Italy’s “laces”
· Raised and hunted birds from an early age
· Slow cooked pulled turkey
· “This job is not a job; it’s a career.”
· Working in Madison County is “a game warden’s dream.”
· The charter captain’s Christmas fish and the Salvation Army police
· Donating confiscated fish and meat
· A VERY convincing decoy setup nets multiple charges
· A substantial illegal baiting operation on private property
· Poacher insists he used a crossbow
· Trail cams tell a different story
· “The point was out of respect for the animal.”
· Social media can be a warden’s best friend
· New York ECOs don’t wear a traditional badge
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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