Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline

A division of Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Licensed Rehabber? Join Our Network!

An exciting, efficient way to connect finders to rehabbers across Upstate New York.
Live as of March 2025!

Are you an experienced DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator? Please consider joining our hotline! Submit the form below.

Not a rehabber but interested in getting licensed? Click here to see how to. There's always a need for more volunteers!

As of our March 2025 launch, our directory already includes 30 organized options for finders to choose from, greatly improving the chances of finders connecting with the right rehabber on the first try. Our goal is to continue expanding across Upstate New York!

We invite the rehabbers in the FLWH directory to list our primary hotline number as their publicly advertised contact for finders if they'd like to. We encourage members to utilize the hotline as a tool to reduce the calls they receive about animals outside of their specialty - which, as we all know, is a large portion of the calls we typically get.

While this directory connects members of the public with licensed rehabbers, each rehabber and/or organization operates independently, and there is no legal affiliation between them or with this hotline.

Hotline Oversight Team

Hotline Director Kim DeFisher - Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue

Hotline Advisor Claire Peters - Wild By Nurture

Hotline Advisor Rachel Tindal - Chip & Chloe Squirrel Rescue

Submission Form for Inclusion on

Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline

First, please understand our commitment to

Upholding High Standards for Wildlife Care:

We understand that some of the information we request - such as references and photos - is not required by licensing authorities. At first, this may seem unnecessary or even intrusive. However, because wildlife rehabilitators are not held accountable to maintain minimum standards of care or caging requirements in New York State, concerns about animal welfare practices can and do arise within the field.

Since our ultimate goal is to expand this hotline across all of Upstate New York, our management team cannot personally know every rehabber who applies. To maintain the integrity of this network and ensure responsible referrals, we need a way to assess applicants beyond licensing alone. This vetting process helps us avoid directing the public to rehabbers who may lack properly sized enclosures, suitable outdoor spaces distanced from human activity to prevent habituation, or adequate environments for species-appropriate psychological development. It also ensures that we do not refer finders to rehabbers who do not have a working relationship with a veterinarian. Additionally, it helps confirm that those included in the hotline treat both wildlife and the public with professionalism and respect.

We appreciate your understanding, as this process ultimately benefits everyone involved - rehabbers, the public, and most importantly, the animals we are all working to help.

First name

Last name

If affiliated with an organization, please list org's legal name or official DBA. When this section is filled out, the org's name is what will be listed on the hotline.

Cell Phone (For if FLWH admin need to contact you). Please type it in the following example format with no additional characters: 15858800168

Please provide the phone number you'd like wired into the hotline (what finders will be connected to). Please type it in the following format: 15858800168

Town/City

County

NYS DEC Wildlife Rehabilitator License Number(s)

NYS DEC Rehab License Type (Check All That Apply)

Federal Rehabilitator License Number(s) if Applicable

Please specify if there are certain species restrictions within a category selected above. (Ex: Only pigeons, only raptors, only fox, only snapping turtles, etc.)

What is your release method for the animal type(s) selected above? Please choose all that apply.

Soft Release

Hard Release

DEC-Assisted (Ex: Sedation, transport, release of bears)

We understand that not every rehabber can implement soft release methods for every animal. Depending on the species and how many rehabbers we already have in certain areas, we may prioritize listing those who use soft release methods, because for most species, a soft release most closely aligns with our standard of wildlife care to give rehabilitated animals the best chance of survival.

If you selected a combination of two or more release methods above, please provide context explaining how you would determine which method to use. For example, please explain if you utilize a different release method for certain species.

Please upload 2 to 10 photos that clearly show your rehab housing and caging space(s) for neonatal and juvenile-aged animal type(s) you selected above. Please don't tightly crop photos - make sure the area surrounding your caging and housing is visible.

Please provide descriptions for the juvenile housing photos you upload. If aspects of photos could raise concerns (Ex: Cage atop a bedroom dresser) please provide context (Ex: Cage is not in a used bedroom with human traffic, it's in a spare room).

Please upload 2 to 10 photos that clearly show your outdoor enclosures (graduation, pre-release and release spaces) for the animal type(s) you selected above. Please include at least one longer-distanced photo to ensure the surrounding area is visible.

Please provide descriptions for the outdoor caging photos you upload, including details on their setup and purpose. If aspects such as lack of enrichment or proximity to other structures, pet, or family spaces could raise concerns, please provide context.

Please list either 3 references who are all fellow NYS DEC-licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators OR 2 references who are NYS DEC-licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators and 1 regional biologist or ECO employed by the NYS DEC. Please list their full name, position, and a contact number.

NYS DEC-Licensed Rehabilitator: Name and Phone Number

NYS DEC-Licensed Rehabilitator or DEC Employee: Name, Position, and Phone Number

Please list 1 Veterinarian Reference: Name, Name of Practice, and Phone Number

This should be the vet who you have an active relationship with for treatment of your wildlife rehab patients - not a reference in regards to care of your personal pets.

Please share any additional notes or important details you'd like us to know.

Check this box if you would be interested in joining our "Volunteer Operator" group. This is a small group of individuals who have access to one line (that will receive texts and voice messages) to assist with identifying species, emergency advice, etc. This WILL require an app to be downloaded on your personal cell phone.

We have limited openings on this line, so if this box is checked, we will reach out if/when we have an opening to discuss further details.

Check this box if you're willing to make a monthly contribution to help offset the cost of your inclusion on the FLWH. At this time, participation is not contingent on making a contribution, but this is subject to change. The monthly fee, estimated to be between $10 and $20, will be determined based on the number of rehabbers who commit to contributing.

Contributions will be set up as online recurring donations to Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue, Inc. (we'll contact you to set this up).

We don't want our rehabbers to have to help us fund this forever: Our goal is for this resource to be so deeply embraced by the community that it becomes fully funded through public support.

I understand that submitting this form grants permission for my name, organization's name, town, and county to be included on the Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline. I understand that if I am included on the hotline, the phone number I specified above will be tied into the hotline, which will allow callers to be directly forwarded to me.

I understand that submitting this form does not guarantee me inclusion on the FLWH and I understand that I will be contacted if/when I am added.

Additionally, I understand that once included on the hotline, based on discretion and spaces available in species categories, my inclusion on the hotline as a whole or within a specific category may be subject to removal at any time.

I agree to immediately notify the Hotline Director or Advisors if I have dropped my rehabilitator license(s) or if it is revoked, suspended, or expires.

Additionally, I agree that if I become aware of another rehabber on the hotline engaging in questionable practices that could compromise animal welfare, I will report it to the Director or an Advisor. Reports will be reviewed fairly and may result in removal from the hotline. My identity will not be shared with the individual I'm reporting.

Liability Disclaimer: By applying to be included in the Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline, I acknowledge that the Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline and Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue, Inc. are not responsible or liable for any loss, damage, or injury - whether to persons, animals, or property - that may result from my participation in the hotline or any interactions with the public. I understand that I am acting as an independent rehabilitator and assume full responsibility for any risks involved.

I certify that the information I have provided on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, and I understand that submitting this form acts as my electronic signature to this attestation.

Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline

A division of Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Licensed Rehabber? Join Our Network!

An exciting, efficient way to connect finders to rehabbers across Upstate New York. Live as of March 2025!

Submission Form for Inclusion on

Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline

An exciting, efficient way to connect finders to rehabbers across Upstate New York.
Live as of March 2025!