Like I said, I can't confirm 100% that its true unless I find out who the DEC officer was and attempt to contact him. Or my father does know a different DEC officer, I'll have him ask next time he runs into him. Maybe we can confirm it or find out more info.

I can tell you a different story thats pretty amazing and 100% true:

A few winters ago just after daybreak, from my living room window I saw a bear break out of the woods into a field at full sprint with 4 coyotes not far behind. The bear had something in its mouth that it was carrying around. Two of the coyotes broke out in front of the bear and were apparently attempting to "surround" it. They wouldn't get to close, and if they did the bear would lunge at them and they'd turn and run back a few feet. This continued for a minute or two until the bear apparently got fed up, dropped what was in its mouth and the coyotes grabbed it and all 4 took off into the woods and the bear went the other way. My jaw was on the ground for about 20 minutes.

Tim