Consider becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to help sick and injured wildlife in Chenango County and the surrounding areas. (Photo by Dustin Genter of 5th Dimension Photography)

CHENANGO COUNTY — Consider helping the wildlife of Chenango County by becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Dori Koop, of Koop Wildlife Rehabilitation, has been a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator Assistant for 20 years, along with her husband Charley, who is a licensed Class II Wildlife Rehabilitator. She said there is a shortage of rehabbers in New York State, and any new rehabilitators would be a huge help.

"There's such a shortage and we need people to become wildlife rehabilitators. Even if they just think about taking one species, that's one species that we don’t have to be overwhelmed with," said Koop.

Individuals 16 years old or older can get licensed by studying the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Wildlife Rehabilitator Exam Study Guide, available at dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/fish-wildlife-plant/special-licenses/wildlife-rehabilitator.

Prospective rehabbers must then take the wildlife rehabilitator examination, usually offered twice per year by the DEC, and pass with an 80 percent or higher grade. After passing, they will be provided the wildlife rehabilitator license application and instructions on how to apply.

An approved application will provide a Class I General Wildlife Rehabilitator license. This license allows for the "care for injured or debilitated wildlife for release back to the wild," including capturing, housing, feeding, and providing emergency treatment, according to the DEC.