Frequently asked questions

In practical terms, yes. There too, the fields come from official sources — in Austria the field plots from the annual farm subsidy application (Mehrfachantrag), in Switzerland the land-use areas from the agricultural data survey — and municipalities in both countries can be activated as operation areas. Everything else — mowing reports, search lines, GPS proof, drone — isn’t tied to any one country anyway. The only open question is who funds the platform there: so far our model is based on German districts. Get in touch and we’ll work it out for your region.

Yes. Each paying organisation — association, district hunting association or district farmers’ association — sets its own rates. The app suggests the mileage from the journey, and a traffic light keeps an eye on the volunteer allowance limit and the annual budget. At the end of the season there is a SEPA bulk transfer and a DATEV posting batch for the treasurer. Anyone who wishes can donate their amount back and receive a donation receipt.

Yes, in Baden-Württemberg. Download the list “Aktive Fachinformationen” from FIONA as a CSV and upload it to WildRescue: your plots arrive with outline, name and this year’s crop. You never enter your FIONA password with us. Fields you have already drawn are recognised and not created twice.

Yes. They request access with your farm code or farm number, and you approve them — limited to the season. You hear straight away about anything they report, postpone or cancel, and you can change their reports at any time.

Yes, for the roe deer marking project of the Baden-Württemberg Wildlife Research Unit in Aulendorf. Number, colour and ear are recorded when the fawn is secured, and the marking list for the research unit is created from that — nobody types up paper lists in the autumn.

Yes, on both — on Google Play, and since 19 September on the App Store too. The app is free and ad-free. At your desk, carry on in the browser with the same account.

No — that is exactly what WildRescue is built for. A farmer needs to do three things: tap the field, pick the date, send. The platform takes care of everything else (inviting helpers, keeping people informed, documenting).

The app keeps working offline: GPS tracks, find reports, rescues and completed checks are saved on the phone and sent automatically as soon as there is a connection again — exactly once, with no duplicates.

On servers in Germany. Other people’s contact details are only visible if you actually share an operation with them. Everyone can export all of their data and have their account properly deleted.

Yes. WildRescue supports multiple organisations: your association or local group gets its own, cleanly separated area with its own members, fields and reports.

No. WildRescue also works without a drone — with search lines on foot and GPS-documented searches. If you have a drone with thermal imaging, its finds go straight onto the operation map.

We are working on it, and it is already flying on the test bench: the platform plans the flight, sends it to the drone and analyses the thermal image while it flies — possible finds appear on the operation map instead of on a computer in the evening. It is not switched on yet, and we are deliberately not giving a date. The pilot remains responsible for the flight in any case; EU drone rules apply unchanged. If you would like to be among the first to fly with it, write to us.

Nothing for farmers, fawn rescuers and hunters. The platform is paid for once per district — usually by an association: a rescue group, the district hunting association or the district farmers’ association, or by the district authority. We agree the annual price with the funding body; trying it out and setting it up cost nothing.

Often, yes. Digitalisation programmes for volunteering (for example from the German Foundation for Engagement and Volunteering or the German federal states), hunting levy funds, local authority grants for associations and regional foundations subsidise software and training for non-profit associations. We are happy to give you a written quote for your application.

With figures and a ready-made quote. We provide a written quote with the annual price and a briefing paper you can present to the board of the district hunting association, the district farmers’ association or the district authority — and, if you like, we will present the platform there in person.

The farmer reports the mowing date, fawn rescuers search the field, hunters are informed about dates on their own ground and report sightings, and the association organises and evaluates. Everyone sees the same picture — and each role only sees what concerns it.

Yes. Farmers report mowings for free, rescuers document their operations for free, hunters report sightings for free. The platform is paid for by the funding body for the district — a rescue group, the district hunting association, the district farmers’ association or the district authority. Volunteering must not fail because of cost.

Drones with thermal imaging fall under the EU drone rules: registration as an operator and, depending on the drone, a certificate of competency for the pilot. WildRescue does not replace any permit — the platform helps you plan flights and document finds properly. Your association or the responsible aviation authority knows what applies locally.

Only people you actually share an operation with. Otherwise your phone number and e-mail address are visible to no one — not even to other members.

No. There is deliberately no public map of animal finds — wildlife data is sensitive. Sightings and finds are only visible to the people involved in the operation and to your own association.

Register your association or local group, invite members, and farmers draw their fields on the map — the first mowing is set up in a few minutes. If you like, we will guide you through setup, training and data migration in person.