What is the NY State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Inc. (NYSWRC)?

The NY State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Inc. (NYSWRC) is a New York State organization that supports licensed wildlife rehabilitators and educates the public about distressed wildlife and conservation. It is the group behind nyswrc.org. If you are a licensed rehabilitator, an assistant, a veterinarian, a wildlife professional, or simply someone interested in wildlife care in New York, the organization is set up to include you.

What the organization says it does

According to its own site, NYSWRC's work centers on five stated activities:

• Promoting professionalism among licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
• Providing field support and educational services so rehabilitators can appropriately care for distressed wildlife.
• Giving timely access to the latest technical information through a network support system.
• Working with governmental agencies to formulate regulations concerning wildlife.
• Disseminating educational material to New York State residents about distressed wildlife, while promoting conservation of wildlife, habitats, and other natural resources.

In short, it functions as a professional and educational hub for the people who legally care for injured or orphaned wildlife in New York, and as a public information source for residents who encounter such animals.

Who its members are

The site describes its membership as consisting of:

• Licensed wildlife rehabilitators and assistants
• Veterinarians
• Wildlife professionals
• Other interested lay persons

That mix matters: it means the council is not limited to licensed rehabilitators. If your interest is professional, clinical, or simply personal, the organization states that it welcomes your interest and participation, and it offers a "Become a Member" path on the site.

The annual conference

The most concrete, dated item on the page is the NYSWRC Annual Conference:

The site labels this a "Save the Date" notice and points to a 2026 Conference Info page for further details. If you want to attend, the actionable step is to return to nyswrc.org around September 1, when registration is stated to open.

When this site is useful to you

• You found a distressed wild animal in New York. The council states that it disseminates educational material to state residents about distressed wildlife, so it is a reasonable starting point for general guidance.
• You are a rehabilitator or assistant. The stated field support, technical information access, and networking are aimed directly at you.
• You are a veterinarian or wildlife professional. Membership is explicitly open to you, and the regulation-related work with government agencies may be relevant to your practice.
• You want to attend training or networking events. The annual conference is the clearest example, with the 2026 dates and location already published.

One practical note: the page describes the organization's mission and membership but does not list fees, registration costs, or eligibility requirements beyond the member categories above. For those specifics, check the membership and conference pages directly on nyswrc.org.