Our Story
The Wildlife Center of Long Island, originally known as Volunteers for Wildlife, was founded in 1982 as the first wildlife hospital on Long Island. Co-founders Sallie Rupert, Joyce DeGeorge, and Marilyn Forman began their mission in a garage, caring for injured and orphaned wildlife. Today, the center has grown into a vital resource for wildlife rehabilitation, focusing on native species and providing essential education and outreach programs.