Claims of hunting in wildlife preserve

North Branford (WTNH) - It's an area of land in Branford designated for a handful of outdoor activities. Hunting is not one of them. But one woman thinks that's happening anyway and she's reaching out to News Channel 8 for information.

Lori Beadreau, of North Branford, takes her dog Nicholis for a walk in the Pisgah Brook Trail to meet her friend Michelle McAdam, also of North Branford. It's a sanctuary for wildlife.

She took us to where she found deer carcasses and hunting stands. Animal parts are spread around the woods of what's left after hunters gutted the deer. It's a place where they are supposed to be safe from hunters.

"This is a place where people should be able to bring their families and we are nervous and very scared that one of our dogs is going to get shot or hit," McAdam said.

Now their dogs wear bells and are not free to run in the sanctuary which they say is not safe for deer nor dog.

"I can see one from here, a sign that says no hunting. There is a sign five feet away. It makes me angry because it doesn't seem like anything is being done about it," Beadreau said. "We brought this up in the past couple of years and it is still going on. I want to try and take other steps to try and do something."

It clearly says no hunting on several signs throughout the woods. News Channel 8 wanted to get some answers about the hunting, so we talked with DEP North Branford and Branford, as well as their police departments. They say they were unaware of it and now that it is on their radar they will have patrols out and will work to keep hunters out of the woods.

"I'm not going to risk his life and take the chance of him getting shot, I won't do that so he has to wear this bell and vest, and they all do to keep them safe," Beadreau said of her dog.