Local Naturalist Kicks Off Fundraising Campaign For New App to Save Wildlife

EAST HAMPTON, NY — One East Hampton naturalist is taking today's technology and using it to help save local wildlife at risk on area roads.

Dell Cullum of Hampton Wildlife Removal & Rescue and ImaginationNature.com in East Hampton has created a GoFundMe page, "Wildlife Rescue of East Hampton," which has raised $1,525 of its $3,500 goal so far.

"With our wildlife habitat shrinking to an all time low and roadway vehicle populations at an all time high, our beautiful and abundant wildlife is left at a higher risk of injury or death than ever before," Cullum wrote on the page. "This means wildlife rescue volunteers are needed more than ever."

Cullum says he's come up with an idea to utilize technology and create a "simple to use, multi-functional and informative mobile device application designed specifically for wildlife rescue calls in the East Hampton Town area, from Montauk to Wainscott."

That coverage area could be expanded, he said.

The funding he's seeking would cover a year in East Hampton, with an eye toward collecting enough data to prove the app's efficiency and demonstrate how it will benefit both wildlife and wildlife rescue and transport volunteers, he said.

"I'm humbly asking the wildlife compassionate community to be part of this project by helping to create the application and joining the forces who will bring it to life," Cullum said.

The cost of creating the application is $3,500, with another $1,000 needed to create a central host and run the program for a year.

Of the $4,500, Cullum said he'd put up the first $1,000; that deposit will mean the app creation process can begin, with a goal of having it and running by spring.

"The remaining $3,500 I hope to raise, and I hope you can help me, is so I can continue to make positive progression in protecting and helping our wildlife," Cullum said.

Anyone who donates $100 or more will receive his three book set "Aquatic Ballet", Cullum said.

Those who give donations of $500 or more will receive his "Eden of East Hampton" book.

And those who give donations of $1,000 or more will receive all books, he said.

Any funds donated over the set goal will be used for the introduction/promotion of the new group this spring, for volunteer recruitment, safety equipment, and educational literature, short stay animal care and rehabilitation, and donations to both East Hampton veterinary locations and the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays, he said.

How to join

Here's how the plan will work:

Cullum said those volunteers who have time during the day or night when they might be available to either help a distressed animal or help transport it to either of the group's veterinary facilities in East Hampton or local night drop off locations, and who also have a mobile cell phone or device to download and use the wildlife rescue application, can then join the Facebook group for the newly forming "Wildlife Rescue of East Hampton."

"Anyone with a love for our precious wildlife can join. Anyone who is interested in this field and wishes to be trained, or trained further, our group will make the arrangements to get you the top training at no cost," Cullum said.

Cullum then gave an example of how the application would work in a typical wildlife rescue call situation:

First, a call would come into to either Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue, East Hampton Town animal control, East Hampton Town Police, Hampton Wildlife Removal & Rescue, Wildlife Rescue of East Hampton's hot line, or would be reported directly to the app.

Next, volunteers who are in the rescue group or other groups and who have downloaded the application would be alerted via the app on members' mobile devices.

The alert will give all the information about the call, Cullum said.

Those who can respond, assist or stand-by will check into the app. The responder will be represented as a moving dot on a map using GPS technology, showing the progress of the responder to the scene, he said.

The application will have all the important phone numbers, contacts and directions to related personnel and facilities, including vets, police, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, animal control, and rehabilitation facilities.

Calls to those numbers can made with a touch of a designated button, he said.

The app will also have all the resources necessary for wildlife rescue procedures, including tips, equipment needed, assist necessary, safety concerns, etc., he said.

A live 24/7 hot line will also be available at a touch of a button to aid the rescue volunteer if necessary, Cullum said.

Next, the first responder or assistant will then update the app community of the rescue outcome, he said. If the animal is injured and needs to be transported to a veterinary facility, the GPS will once again display the progress of the transport person or team; it will also show volunteers that are available to help relay the transport process.

"This will benefit volunteers in Montauk in getting the wildlife quickly and safely to a vet," he said.

Once the animal is dropped off, the app community will be updated of the end process, or it will continue to the rehab center where the animal's wellness, progress and ultimate release can all be followed on the group's Facebook site.

"I also hope to add a side function to help in local lost pet search management, using the GPS to show those involved in the search groups each other's locations and covered areas," he said.

Of the app, Cullum said, "I honestly believe this app will revolutionize the way wildlife rescue volunteers respond to calls, making each rescue more of a success for the animal. Volunteering will be managed more equally, so the same person isn't always responding and becoming burnt out. Please, folks, help me create this positive structure for our wildlife and our compassionate wildlife caring community. Let me show you how many wild lives it will save. Our wildlife needs our help now more than ever."

The new group, Wildlife Rescue of East Hampton, will also make it a goal to educate the public about the area's "spectacular wildlife, when a rescue is necessary, and how to keep wildlife from becoming a nuisance to homes and property. Our group will be persistent in lessening the risk of danger to our wildlife in their natural and ever shrinking habitat," he said.

For example, Cullum said, another group member and he just recently finished a project, having removed entangled debris from four osprey nests, after inspecting 23 total nests.

"We are a hands-on group of action that will spend more time solving issues rather than meeting and talking about them. Your support will be greatly appreciated always, but your donations to get this project complete and rolling will be beyond my scope of gratitude. I promise to return to you evidence of success in protecting and aiding our most beloved wildlife. Thank you all for your generosity of giving. Peace, love and the beauty of nature to you all."

To donate, click here.