For The Love Of Finn

For The Love Of Finn Lori Wheeler, President, NYS Class II RVS licensed rehabber, and a NYSWRC Board of Directors

Story later… Local Ooooo’s 🥰
06/06/2026

Story later…

Local Ooooo’s 🥰

Supervising the enclosure upgrade 🦊
06/06/2026

Supervising the enclosure upgrade 🦊

06/06/2026

I WASN’T A GIFT ON YOUR DOORMAT.
YOUR CAT’S TEETH WERE TOO SMALL FOR YOU TO SEE.

You found me by the back door.

A chipmunk.

Still breathing.
Still warm.
Still trying to disappear into my own body.

Maybe there was no blood.

Maybe I even looked “fine.”
Maybe your cat dropped me gently, like a toy it had finished with.
Maybe you thought the kindest thing was to put me back under the bushes.

But please do not release me.

I was not playing.

I was punctured.

Cat teeth are small.
Sharp.
Deep.
They can leave wounds so tiny your eyes never find them beneath fur.

But inside me, those invisible holes can become infection, shock, and pain before the sun rises again.

I am a chipmunk.

I was built for tunnels, seeds, roots, fallen logs, and fast little roads through grass.

Not for being carried in a mouth.

Not for becoming entertainment.
Not for being placed outside again while my body is already losing the fight you cannot see.

Please take me seriously.

Put the cat away.
Wear gloves or use a towel.
Place me gently in a small ventilated box with a soft cloth.
Keep me warm, dark, and quiet.

Do not give me food.
Do not give me water.
Do not try to clean the wounds yourself.

Note exactly where I was found.
Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, wildlife center, animal control, or your state wildlife agency right away.

Because if a cat caught me, I need help even when I look unhurt.

I was not a present.

I was a wild life
too small to show you
where it hurt.

Wildlife Center of Virginia warns that cat-inflicted wounds can be subtle and says any wild animal caught by a cat should be taken to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, even if it appears uninjured, because decline can happen quickly. Florida Fish and Wildlife also advises noting the location and contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator when wildlife appears injured or orphaned.

One of the most common calls I receive each day comes from people across New York State looking for a wildlife rehabilit...
06/06/2026

One of the most common calls I receive each day comes from people across New York State looking for a wildlife rehabilitator with an opening for a raccoon. Unfortunately, nearly every rehabber I know is at or beyond capacity.

It may seem simple to take in "just one more," but every animal that enters care requires time, space, resources, and proper quarantine. For raccoons, quarantine should be a minimum of 14 days, though 21 days is ideal(For The Love Of Finn practices a 21day quarantine). In reality, every wildlife patient that comes through our doors spends time in quarantine. This critical period allows us to monitor for illness, parasites, injuries, and other concerns that could be passed on to the many other animals already in our care.

Quarantine isn't just a cage. It requires dedicated space, supplies, cleaning protocols, and careful observation. Before accepting another animal, we must ensure we can safely house and properly care for it without compromising the health of those already here.

I cannot speak for every rehabilitator, but I try not to answer my phone while feeding animals. MMy phone rings constantly, and even a short conversation can become lengthy. During feedings, my focus needs to be on the animals in front of me. Distractions can lead to mistakes, and their care must always come first.

I truly understand that every situation feels urgent because, to the person calling, it is. I want to help. I want to support both people and wildlife whenever possible. But I also have a responsibility to prioritize the animals already in my care and ensure they receive the attention they need.

Please know that I do my very best to return calls and messages as soon as I am able. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for caring enough to reach out on behalf of wildlife.

Together, we can make a difference. 🐾

🐇 **Cottontail calls were coming in fast and heavy today, and I apologize that I wasn't able to assist everyone.** Our d...
06/06/2026

🐇 **Cottontail calls were coming in fast and heavy today, and I apologize that I wasn't able to assist everyone.** Our day was filled from start to finish with setting up and rearranging enclosures, caring for the animals already in our care, and making trips to our soft-release sites for feeding and monitoring.

Thankfully, we have several dedicated wildlife rehabilitators in the area who are able to help, as well as **Janet Swanson Wildlife Hospital** for cases involving severe injuries or specialized medical care.

I truly appreciate everyone's understanding, patience, and commitment to getting these animals the help they need. Working together as a network gives injured and orphaned wildlife the best possible chance at recovery and return to the wild. ❤️🦌🐇🦝

Thank you for continuing to look out for our wild neighbors.

This is Rowan.On June 18th of 2025, Rowan was found alone in a cow pasture at Farmland Animal Sanctuary in Watkins Glen....
06/06/2026

This is Rowan.

On June 18th of 2025, Rowan was found alone in a cow pasture at Farmland Animal Sanctuary in Watkins Glen. At the time, there were no openings available to take him. As luck would have it, the day before I had rearranged part of the facility and happened to have one quarantine enclosure available. Sometimes things just seem to fall into place exactly when they need to, and Rowan was welcomed into care.

Over the months that followed, Rowan grew from a vulnerable orphan into the strong, healthy raccoon he is today. He overwintered with us, receiving the care, enrichment, and space he needed to develop the skills that would one day allow him to return to the wild.

Today marks the beginning of that next chapter.

At FTLOF, we use what is called a soft release. Rather than simply opening a carrier and sending an animal on its way, we first move them into an enclosure located on their release property. This gives them time to adjust to their new surroundings, learn the sights, sounds, and smells of the area, and allows local wildlife to become familiar with their presence as well.

While they are settling in, we continue providing food and monitoring them with trail cameras. When the time is right, we open the enclosure door and allow them to come and go at their own pace. Food and support remain available as they gradually transition to complete independence. Once they are fully established and no longer relying on the enclosure, everything is removed and the property is left just as we found it.

Choosing the right release site is incredibly important. We look for properties with suitable habitat, natural water sources, and lower raccoon populations to avoid placing additional pressure on existing wildlife and ecosystems.

Rowan's release property checks all those boxes. In fact, it is the very same beautiful property where Calypso began her soft release just a few weeks ago. After careful monitoring, we have only observed a single resident raccoon there, and only on two occasions.

Today, I was planning to open Rowans’s door. He has been digging spots around the enclosure and I knew he was ready. Well tonight I went up to open it up
And give him his food and water but he beat me to it! He had dug a hole large enough to exit and that is perfect! His enclosure is open and food and water await should he need it. He has great neighbors too!

From a lonely cow pasture to a little slice of heaven, Rowan's journey has come full circle. We are incredibly grateful to the homeowners who have opened their property to him, and we cannot wait to watch him on the trail cam living his best life!

Good luck, Rowan. We will be cheering you on every step of the way.

*Rowan as a tiny guy last summer

Nineteen days ago, this tiny baby raccoon came into care after being accidentally dropped by momma during a den move and...
06/06/2026

Nineteen days ago, this tiny baby raccoon came into care after being accidentally dropped by momma during a den move and ending up in a place she simply couldn't reach. Despite being warmed, hydrated, and given every opportunity for reunification overnight, momma unfortunately did not return, and this little neonate officially entered rehab at just 119 grams. 💔🦝

Today marks 19 days in care, and this little boy is doing wonderfully! He has grown by leaps and bounds and is standing on those little legs and wrestles his stuffed puppy all around his incubator! One thing that amazes me is that his eyes still haven't opened. Baby raccoons typically open their eyes at around 21 days of age, which means when he arrived, he was incredibly young—just a tiny newborn beginning his journey in the world.

It's hard to imagine that something so small and fragile could make such remarkable progress in less than three weeks. Watching him grow has been a privilege.

We are so grateful to the compassionate homeowners who cared enough to seek help, the dedicated rehabber who worked tirelessly to give momma every opportunity to reclaim her baby, and all of you who have sent prayers, positive thoughts, and encouragement along the way.

For now, this little guy is happy with a full belly, a warm bed, and sporting the cutest little mohawk hair do. 🦝❤️

06/05/2026

Yesterday, we received a call about four baby raccoons in the Canisteo area. Their mother had been killed, and the babies were left alone in a tree, crying for help.

Thankfully, caring people heard their cries and knew they couldn't leave them there. They carefully climbed the tree and brought all four babies safely down.

Then came the difficult part.

They began calling wildlife rehabilitators, hoping someone could help. Call after call was made, but everywhere they turned, the answer was the same: no openings. This is one of the busiest times of the year for wildlife rehabilitators, and many are already caring for as many animals as they can safely accommodate.

As the calls continued and options became fewer, they refused to give up on these babies. Eventually, they reached out to us here in Chemung County. Although we're a distance away, we knew we couldn't let these little ones go without help.

We arranged to meet at the mall, where four frightened but otherwise healthy baby raccoons were transferred into our care.

Since arriving, they've settled in beautifully. They are eating well, staying hydrated, and doing exactly what baby raccoons should be doing. While they have a long journey ahead of them, they are now safe and have the opportunity to grow up wild, healthy, and free.

Their story is a reminder that wildlife rescue is rarely the work of just one person. It took people who stopped to investigate cries coming from a tree, people willing to climb and rescue them, people determined enough to keep making calls when every answer seemed to be "no," and finally a team ready to continue their care.

Because of that determination, four little lives were given a second chance.

Welcome to the rehab, little ones. ❤️

06/05/2026

Stella and Luna playing with some new toys they received! Toys are fun but also build skills!! Thank you all much!

Finder: Kelly
Transporter: Ken & Kathi

Address

3646 W Fifth Street
Wellsburg, NY
14894

Telephone

+16072152124

Website

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