DEC Region 8 Invites New Yorkers to Volunteer for 'Wildlife Day' on Oct. 4 at Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 8 invites the public to join in 'Wildlife Day' on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, as DEC and the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex host a volunteer opportunity at Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve.

Wildlife Day provides a perfect opportunity to participate in wildlife conservation service projects and educational workshops across the state, celebrating New York's diverse wildlife and habitats. The event, hosted in partnership with Parks and Trails New York, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, is part of the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days Campaign - an effort to encourage year-round stewardship and highlight the State's outdoor recreation assets by offering a series of themed stewardship days throughout the year.

Participant registration is currently open for Wildlife Day. New Yorkers are encouraged to join their community in a cleanup, enhancement, or educational event near them.

DEC Region 8 and Montezuma Audubon are hosting the following opportunity for the public to participate in:

Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve - in partnership with the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex

Date: Oct. 4, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

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: Join Montezuma Audubon and DEC staff for native seed collection at Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve. The preserve is 576-acres of wildlife habitat and recreational trails and is home to a variety of species of animals and plants. All seeds collected will be seeded within the Montezuma Wetlands Complex to improve and enhance wildlife habitat.

What to 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. Please register for this event at least 24 hours in advance.

Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register to attend.