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Wildlife rehabilitation is the practice of providing care to sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into their natural habitat, fully capable of surviving on their own.

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Why is Wildlife Rehabilitation Important?

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Wildlife rehabilitation plays a crucial role in:

• Assisting animals negatively impacted by human activities or environmental changes.

• Saving the lives of young animals that would otherwise be unable to fend for themselves.

• Relieving pain and suffering in animals that have experienced traumatic injuries or illnesses, even when full recovery is not possible.

• Acting as indicators of environmental issues such as disease outbreaks, habitat destruction, and pollution.

• Conserving threatened and endangered species, contributing to biodiversity.

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The Wildlife Rehabilitation Process

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1. Admission & Initial Assessment

• Assess whether intervention is genuinely necessary. Healthy animals should ideally remain in the wild.

• Attempt reuniting strategies for healthy orphaned animals to return them to their mothers.

• Conduct physical examinations and provide initial medical care, often supported by local veterinary hospitals that volunteer their services for wildlife in need.

2. Treatment

• Begin hydration through fluid therapy.

• Develop a tailored care plan based on the animal’s specific condition:

  • Provide warmth and nourishment for healthy orphans.

  • Treat soft tissue injuries with wound care.

  • Establish feeding protocols for malnourished animals.

3. Conditioning & Acclimation

• Transition animals to larger outdoor enclosures:

  • Allow them to acclimate to current weather conditions.

  • Encourage exercise to regain strength and stamina for life in the wild.

4. Release

• Ensure animals are entirely self-reliant before release:

  • Exhibit fear of predators, including humans.

  • Demonstrate normal behaviors (e.g., birds flying, squirrels climbing, ducks swimming).

  • Successfully locate and secure food sources.

• Select an appropriate release location and timing:

  • Favor stable weather conditions (e.g., three consecutive days of favorable weather).

  • For migratory birds, ensure their species is still present in the area.

  • For food-caching species like squirrels, verify they have sufficient time before winter to store food.

  • Release territorial species, such as birds of prey, at their original location to maintain access to familiar food sources and reunite with mates if applicable.

  • Ensure the release site is safe, offers a suitable habitat, and has ample food availability.

  • Avoid areas with excessive risks, such as heavy traffic, dense human populations, or hunting.