New Wildlife Hotline Launched to Improve Rescue Efforts in Finger Lakes Region

The initiative was launched by Kimberly DeFisher, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and the owner of Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue Inc., a local nonprofit sanctuary and rehabilitation center.

A new wildlife emergency hotline has launched in the Finger Lakes region to help connect people who find injured or orphaned animals with the appropriate licensed rehabilitators more efficiently. The Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline (585-880-0168) is designed to reduce delays in getting aid to distressed wildlife while easing the workload of volunteer rehabilitators.

The initiative was launched by Kimberly DeFisher, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and the owner of Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue Inc., a nonprofit sanctuary and rehabilitation center based in Upstate New York.

In a post on social media, she said she saw a need for a centralized system after an overwhelming rescue season in 2024. According to DeFisher, finders often struggle to connect with the right rehabber, leading to frustration for both the public and rehabilitators. Since wildlife rehabbers are volunteers with limited time and resources, many find themselves inundated with calls, texts, and social media messages, often referring people to others based on species or location.

To address these challenges, DeFisher collaborated with a network of local rehabbers to create a hotline featuring over 30 options for callers. The system is organized by species and location, ensuring that finders are directed to the most appropriate rehabilitator quickly. Additional assistance is also available for callers who need help identifying an animal.

While the hotline is not expected to eliminate all challenges in wildlife rehabilitation, DeFisher hopes it will streamline the process, allowing rehabbers to dedicate more time to animal care rather than handling phone calls.

The Finger Lakes Wildlife Hotline is a coalition of licensed wildlife rehabilitators working together to provide accessible support for wildlife distress cases in the Finger Lakes, Upstate, and Western New York regions. More information and donation options to support the initiative can be found at www.fingerlakeswildlifehotline.org.