Wildlife Day on Saturday, October 4, 2025
Join us for Wildlife Day on Saturday, October 4, 2025! DEC, in partnership with State Parks and Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), will host stewardship and educational events across the state to celebrate wildlife conservation and protect New York wildlife. Help plant native species and remove invasive plants to foster healthy wildlife habitat at a nearby State Park, learn how to build and repair bird houses that will benefit species at a Wildlife Management Area, or pair your stewardship efforts with a birding or nature walk that highlights the importance of wildlife conservation. Gather your friends and family and join your community in helping to preserve and protect New York lands!
Volunteer registration for Wildlife Day is now open! See below for participating sites and event information.
Wildlife Day is a Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Day event! Check out our other Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days and see how you can participate in stewardship and conservation year-round.
Find a Fish and Wildlife Day Event Near You!
Events:
Long Island
Flax Pond Tidal Wetland Area
Brookhaven, Suffolk County
Time: 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Meeting location: Child Mansion, 19 Shore Drive, East Setauket, NY 11733 (Coordinates: -40.96058204236754, -73.14075518989817)
Contact: Bill Fonda, [email protected]
Project/Educational Event: Litter pickup along the Flax Pond shoreline.
Volunteers should bring: Gardening gloves, water, bug spray, and sunblock.
Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY
New York City
St. Francis Woodlands
Staten Island, Richmond County
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Meeting location: We will be meeting at the Kiosk in the southern parking lot, located at 23 Cliffwood Ave, Staten Island, NY 10304.
Contact: Ian Cleary, [email protected]
Project/Educational Event: Join us on Saturday, October 4 for a morning of giving back to the forest that gives so much to us. We’ll roll up our sleeves for some stewardship work, then enjoy a guided hike along the accessible boardwalk to learn about how NYC’s urban forests keeps our air clean, our streets cool, and our wildlife thriving. All are welcome - no experience necessary. Come for some or come for all and leave with a deeper connection to the city’s wild spaces.
Volunteers should bring: Close-toed shoes, water bottles, and appropriate clothing to work outside and hike.
Additional information: The educational hike will take place along the accessible boardwalk and will take 45 min - 1 hour to complete.
Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY
Lower Hudson Valley
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center – hosted in partnership with the Stony Kill Foundation
Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Meeting location: Please park by the farm pond at the south end of the farm and walk up to the barn. We will meet at the barn before heading to the gardens. The garden is just a short walk across from the barn. Please DO NOT park across from the barn, as this is reserved for vendors setting up for Harvest Fest that day.
Contact: Erin Sausville, [email protected]
Project/Educational Event: Help us clean up the Pollinator Garden at Stony Kill Farm after a busy summer season, with some weeding and mulching of the gardens. Afterwards, DEC Environmental Program Specialists Tom and Erin will lead the group in a birding program, where we will identify the diverse bird species that the gardens and surrounding habitat attracts. Make sure to stick around for the Harvest Fest, hosted from 11am to 3pm at Stony Kill Farm, for an afternoon full of fall fun including homemade soups, crafts, vendors, food, and barn and livestock tours!
Volunteers should bring: Water, snacks, and sturdy closed-toed shoes. We will have gardening/work gloves available, but please feel free to bring your own. Binoculars will be provided for the birding portion of the day, but you may also bring your own!
Additional information: After the event, stick around for Harvest Fest at Stony Kill Farm from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.!
All ages welcome! Register at Parks & Trails NY
Saratoga/Capitol Region
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center – hosted in partnership with the Friends of Five Rivers
Delmar, Albany County
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Meeting location: Meet at the pavilion for the afternoon service project.
Contact: Five Rivers, (518) 475-0291
Project/Educational Event: We'll be working in and around the garden areas along the Nature's Accessible Backyard Trail to improve habitat for wildlife at Five Rivers. Activities may include mulching the gardens, removing invasive plants, and more. Come earlier at 10:00 a.m. to welcome Joellen Lampman from Cornell Cooperative Extension who will be talking about ticks, including how we can protect ourselves while enjoying time outdoors. This will be an indoor presentation at the Visitor Center.
Volunteers should bring: Please bring garden gloves and wear sturdy close-toed shoes or boots. Bring your own refillable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat.
Additional information: This project will take place rain or shine. In the event of thunderstorms, the service project will be canceled.
All ages welcome! Register at Parks & Trails NY
Adirondacks
Rogers Rock Campground
Hague, Warren County
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Meeting location: Registration booth.
Contact: Amanda Raymond, [email protected]
Project/Educational Event: Nature Hike up to the top of Rogers Rock Slide. Learn about the history of the area and the different species we pass along the way.
Volunteers should bring: Proper footwear and layers for seasonal weather.
Additional information: This hike is roughly 1 mile long and can get steep in some sections.
Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY
Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) – in partnership with the VIC
Paul Smiths, Franklin County
Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Meeting location: 8023 State Route 86 Paul Smiths, NY 12970, Frank M. Hutchins Lodge, Front Desk
Contact: Natalee Wrege, [email protected]
Project/Educational Event: Butterfly House Take-Down. Help us prepare for winter by taking the net off our Butterfly House and assisting in some preparation in our butterfly meadow.
Volunteers should bring: Water, work shoes (closed-toed), rain gear if applicable, layers, and work gloves.
All ages welcome! Register at Parks & Trails NY
Central New York
Rogers Environmental Education Center – in partnership with the Friends of Rogers
Sherburne, Chenango County
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Meeting location: At the Rogers Visitor Center
Contact: Ariah Mitchell, [email protected]
Project/Educational Event: Join us in creating pollinator plots and planting native trees! This project will end with a guided bird walk around the property.
Volunteers should bring: Work gloves and proper footwear.
Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY
Western Finger Lakes/Genesee Area
Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve – hosted in partnership with the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex
Seneca Falls, Seneca County
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Meeting location: Volunteers can meet staff in the Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve gravel parking lot off Black Brook Road.
Contact: Cassidy Attanasio, [email protected], (315) 365-3588 ext. 201
Project/Educational Event: Join Montezuma Audubon and NYS DEC staff for native seed collection at Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve! This 576-acre plot of beautiful wildlife habitat and recreational trails is home to a variety of species of animals and plants. Having native plants to support our native wildlife is especially important to promote the health and diversity of our environment. Collecting seeds from native plants and spreading them with intention helps ensure we are taking seeds from local plants and putting them in places that need them most. Seed collection itself is very simple - just grab the seeds off the plant and place them in provided bags, making sure not to mix different seed types together. Different seed species grow in different conditions and are processed differently to ensure their success. All seeds collected will be seeded within the Montezuma Wetlands Complex to improve and enhance wildlife habitat.
Volunteers should bring: Volunteers should come equipped with long pants and closed-toe shoes (preferably waterproof). All other equipment will be provided. We will be going off-trail in tall vegetation in some areas to collect seed. Depending on the weather conditions, sun/rain protection may also be recommended.
Additional information: There is no running water facility on site, so using the bathroom prior to the event is recommended, though there is a porta-potty in the parking lot. Lunch will be provided by the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex.
Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register here!
Western New York
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center – hosted in partnership with the Friends of Reinstein Woods
Depew, Erie County
Time: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (a series of birding walks and talks will be offered throughout the day)
Meeting location: Reinstein Woods EEC, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew NY 14043
Contact: Reinstein Woods Center, (716) 683-5959
Project/Educational Event: To celebrate Wildlife Day, Reinstein Woods is offering a series of bird walks and talks where you can search for birds and learn how you can help with bird conservation. Free bird-friendly coffee samples will be available to all participants. Walks will be held at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm. For more information and for details on the different walks and talks, click here.
Volunteers should bring: Please dress for the weather and wear supportive walking shoes if you are going on a birding walk.
All ages welcome. Register here!
