by Joel Herrling
Every spring across the Finger Lakes, concerned residents discover seemingly abandoned fawns curled in tall grass, baby birds hopping awkwardly beneath trees or tiny squirrels lying beneath a nest after a storm. For many people, the instinct is immediate: rescue the animal.
But according to licensed wildlife rehabilitators, the best way to help isn’t always to intervene.
“People want to rescue wildlife because they care,” said Pamela Mead, founder of Critter Crossing Wildlife Rehabilitation in Central New York. “But a lot of times they’re not rescuing it – they’re stealing it from its parents.”
Mead has spent more than two decades caring for injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife. A retired science teacher, she became involved in rehabilitation after a student brought four orphaned baby starlings into her classroom. What began as a simple effort to help those birds eventually led to licensing, mentoring and years of volunteer service helping thousands of wild animals.
Joining her is Halie Jodway, founder of Wild Whiskers Wildlife Rehabilitation, who is currently being mentored by Mead as she expands her experience and skills. Together, they are part of a largely unseen network of volunteers who respond to wildlife emergencies across New York State each year.
What is a wildlife rehabilitator?
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are individuals authorized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to care for injured, sick and orphaned native wildlife with the goal of returning animals to the wild whenever possible.
The work involves far more than feeding baby animals. Rehabilitators evaluate injuries, provide temporary care, coordinate veterinary treatment, maintain detailed records, educate the public and determine when animals are ready for release. Some hold additional authorizations to work with migratory birds, rabies-vector species such as raccoons and bats, or large mammals like deer.
“The goal is always to get them back into the wild,” Mead said. “But sometimes an animal can’t survive on its own, and then we have to look at other options.”
Mead has helped place owls, hawks and other animals that could not survive independently into educational facilities and nature centers, where they serve as ambassadors for wildlife education. One memorable case involved a coyote pup found alone in a yard. Because hand-raised coyotes can become habituated to humans and create future conflicts, Mead worked with wildlife professionals to place the animal at Bear Mountain State Park, where it lived for many years.
Becoming licensed
In New York, wildlife rehabilitation requires a state license issued by the DEC. Prospective rehabilitators must complete an application, pass an examination with a score of at least 80 percent and interview with DEC personnel. Additional training and experience are required to advance to higher license classifications.
Mentorship is a critical part of the process.
“I’ve gone full circle,” Mead said. “I was mentored by other rehabilitators when I started, and now I’m mentoring others.”
That mentorship model remains one of the most important ways new rehabilitators gain practical skills that cannot be learned from books alone. Jodway currently holds a Class I rehabilitation license and works primarily with small mammals while gaining additional experience under Mead’s guidance.
A volunteer commitment
One of the biggest misconceptions about wildlife rehabilitation is that it is a paid profession. For most rehabilitators, it is not.
The vast majority operate as volunteers while balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities. Donations often cover only a portion of the costs for food, medical supplies, housing materials, transportation and veterinary care – and when they fall short, expenses come directly out of rehabilitators’ own pockets.
“People think donations mean money,” Mead said. “But even something as simple as a roll of paper towels helps.”
Time is another challenge. During peak baby season, spring mornings can involve hours of cleaning enclosures, preparing specialized diets and feeding dozens of animals. Additional feedings may be required throughout the day and evening depending on species and age.
“Once baby season starts, everything changes,” Mead said. “A morning that might take 30 minutes in winter can become three hours or more.”
Common misconceptions
Much of a rehabilitator’s work involves preventing unnecessary rescues.
White-tailed deer fawns are among the most misunderstood animals. Mother deer routinely leave fawns alone for hours while they feed nearby. A fawn quietly lying in a yard is usually behaving exactly as nature intended. Similarly, fledgling birds found hopping on the ground are often in the middle of learning to fly; parents continue feeding and protecting them during this vulnerable stage.
“People think they’re helping,” Mead explained. “But many times the animal is exactly where it’s supposed to be.”
“We spend a lot of our time educating people,” Jodway added. “Sometimes the best thing you can do is leave the animal alone.”
The reward of release
While the work can be exhausting, successful releases make the effort worthwhile. Every rehabilitator has stories they never forget: a fox recovering from broken legs sustained when its family was struck by a vehicle, an orphaned coyote finding a new home or a rescued swan returning to Cayuga Lake after treatment.
For Jodway, one of the most rewarding experiences is watching animals regain the ability to survive independently. For Mead, every release represents the culmination of weeks or months of care.
“You open the door, and they go,” she said. “That’s what you want.”
How the public can help
Both rehabilitators emphasize that public education remains one of the most valuable conservation tools available. Before picking up wildlife, residents should determine whether the animal truly needs assistance. Contacting a licensed rehabilitator for guidance can often prevent unnecessary – and sometimes harmful – intervention.
For those who wish to support rehabilitation efforts, help comes in many forms: financial donations, supplies, transportation assistance, volunteer work or simply sharing accurate information about local wildlife.
“We want people to know we’re out here,” Mead said. “We want them to know there’s help available, and we want them to understand wildlife a little better.”
In a region defined by its connection to nature, licensed wildlife rehabilitators serve as a bridge between people and the wild creatures that share the Finger Lakes landscape – one animal, one phone call and one release at a time.
