Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline
An excitingly efficient way to connect finders to rehabbers.
Are you a NYS DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator?
We’d love to have you join the Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline network! Please take a moment complete the brief form below.
Not a rehabber but interested in becoming one? Click here to learn how to get licensed. There is always a need for more volunteer wildlife rehabilitators.
Since launching in March 2025, the hotline has already been able to provide 30 organized options for finders to help them connect with the right rehabber on the first try. While many of our current participants are located in Western New York, our goal is to continue expanding from Western New York, throughout the Finger Lakes region, and into the Capital District to strengthen wildlife support across the state.
As the network grows, the hotline becomes an increasingly valuable tool for rehabbers as well - helping reduce calls about species outside your specialty and directing the public to the right rehabilitator more efficiently.
While the hotline connects members of the public with licensed wildlife rehabilitators, each participating rehabber and/or organization operates independently and there is no legal affiliation between them or with this hotline.
Still Have Questions About Joining the Hotline?
Common Questions from Rehabilitators
Many experienced rehabilitators have asked these same questions before deciding to join the hotline network:
"Do I have to pay to be listed on the hotline?"
No. There is no fee required to be listed. At this time, the cost of operating the hotline is covered by the parent nonprofit, Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue, which has budgeted for the service. A small handful of participating rehabbers have also chosen to make voluntary recurring donations to help offset the cost. We do encourage participating rehabbers to let callers know that donations to support the hotline are appreciated. Our long-term goal is for public support to fully fund the hotline and allow us to expand the resource - and eventually provide additional support for the rehabilitators who make this network possible.
"What is expected of me if I join the hotline's network?"
All we ask is that participating rehabbers remain mindful of being kind and respectful to callers (even though we know that’s sometimes easier said than done), return calls when reasonably possible (we completely understand that some will inevitably fall through the cracks with how busy our lives can be), and maintain whatever personal boundaries allow you to continue providing quality care to the animals you're helping. Please also keep us updated if your wildlife rehabilitator license expires or is revoked, or if the species of animals you work with changes. While each participating rehabber operates independently and there is no legal affiliation between those listed on the hotline, we do ask that everyone help uphold the professional and ethical standards that give this network its strong reputation. Repeated reports of rude interactions or serious animal welfare concerns may result in removal from the hotline, as we want everyone involved to feel proud to be part of this network.
"What will it look like on my phone when a call comes from the hotline?"
Calls from the hotline are simply forwarded directly to the phone number you provide. On your end, the call should appear just like a normal incoming call, because the hotline is just passing the caller through to you. In most cases, you would only even know the call came through the hotline if the caller mentions it (or if you ask).
"Do I need a special app or different phone number?"
No. We’re essentially asking you to do nothing different at all! Calls are simply forwarded on to the phone number you provide. The only role that requires an app is if you join our Volunteer Operator team - this is completely optional and separate from your main hotline listing - and involves helping respond to texts and voicemails when callers need assistance with things like species identification or urgent situations.
"Will joining the hotline increase my workload?"
This is one of the most common - and understandable - concerns we hear from rehabbers considering joining the network, so let’s really dive into it: The short answer is that no, the long term goal of the hotline is quite the OPPOSITE; to REDUCE overall workload by reducing the number of calls rehabbers receive for species they don’t work with. The hotline will only increase your workload if you say YES to intaking more animals than you normally would. The long answer? Well, let’s talk about it, because you really need to be able to envision the bigger picture to see how quickly this resource can become incredibly beneficial for you. We would greatly appreciate if you choose to be one of the rehabbers who joins during the early stages of the Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline! If we don’t yet (key word YET!) have strong coverage for your species in your area and you happen to be the only rehabber listed under that category across a few surrounding counties, there’s a chance you may temporarily receive more long-distance calls than you’re used to until we secure another rehabber or two. The good news? At least they are calls within your niche. Callers ARE prompted to visit www.fingerlakeswildlifehotline.org/findarehabber to access the online search databases if they don’t hear an option near them listed, but some still choose a long-distance option, presumably because they find comfort in speaking directly with an experienced rehabber who works with the specific species they’ve found. If you work with a very niche species or one that requires additional licensing (federal birds, RVS, deer, etc.): You are already used to receiving calls from several hours away. In many cases, those calls would have reached you anyway. The hotline simply saves callers the time spent searching online, posting on social media groups, and being referred from one rehabber to another by connecting them directly with someone who works with that species. And if there DOES happen to be another option closer to them, with it being such a niche animal, you would almost certainly be the best person to help guide that referral. In most cases, since many of us already know other rehabbers within our niche across the state, that conversation is usually as simple as, “I do work with that species, but I’m a bit far from you. Here’s another rehabber I know who works with the same species and is closer to your area.” Even quick within-the-niche conversations like this can DRAMATICALLY shorten the time it takes for wildlife to reach appropriate care. Of course, you may also choose to intake animals from farther away if that works for you - the ball is in your court. TRANSPORT: And if you ever find yourself with a sassy caller complaining about you not being able to drop everything to pick up an animal - whether it’s 10 minutes or 4 hours away - PLEASE feel free to direct them to the note about transportation we’ve published on the Find a Rehabber page of our website. Rehabbers deserve more grace and understanding in this area, and we explain the realities of transportation there for finders. It’s incredible how much efficiency improves when even ONE additional rehabber joins a category. The more rehabbers who participate, the less unnecessary phone time everyone spends. This is also why we encourage you to invite other local rehabbers in your circle to join the network. If listings are secured for most species around your county, the hotline quickly becomes an AMAZING, beneficial tool for all of you. We've seen great success in the Greater Rochester and surrounding area in 2025 in this way. As the network continues to grow - hopefully quickly - many participating rehabbers may even feel comfortable sharing the hotline number instead of having to give out their personal phone number. With enough coverage in place, if a call is meant to make its way to you based on species and location, it will.