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WHAT IS WILDLIFE REHABILITATION?

What is wildlife rehabilitation?

Wildlife rehabilitation involves caring for ill, orphaned and injured wild animals with the goal of returning them to their natural habitat.

  

Why is wildlife rehabilitation important?

  • to help animals that were adversely affected by human interference

  • to saves the lives of young animals that would not be able to care for themselves

  • to relieve pain and suffering for animals after traumatic injuries or those that are beyond the ability to recover

  • to use as environmental indicators for things such as disease transmission, environmental toxicities, effects of habitat destruction

  • to helps conserve threatened and endangered species

 

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Process

1 - Admission & Initial Assessment

  • Determine if the animal really needs our intervention

  • If a healthy orphan, try reuniting strategies to return them to their mother

  • Physical exam and medical care is made possible by local veterinary hospitals who offer their services free of charge to help us assist wildlife in need.

2 - Treatment

  • Begin rehydration with fluid therapy

  • Create care plan to address animal’s reason for admission

    • Warmth and feeding of healthy orphans

    • Wound care of soft tissue injuries

    • Feeding protocols for starving animals

3 - Conditioning & Acclimation

  • Move to larger, outdoor caging

    • Allows for acclimation to current weather conditions

    • Encourages the animal to exercise to regain the stamina they need for life in the wild 

4 - Release

  • Animals must be completely self-sufficient

    • Displays fear of predators, including humans

    • Knows how and is able to find food

    • Displays normal behavior:  birds can fly, squirrels can climb, ducks can swim, etc

  • Selection of release location and day

    • Many factors to take into consideration

      • Weather and season

        • Aim for 3 consecutive days of favorable weather 

        • For migrating birds, are the rest of the species still in the area or have they already left on migration?

        • For species that cache food for the winter like squirrels, do they have enough time to do so before winter?

      • Some species, such as birds of prey, are released in the same location they were found

        • They have a home territory and are familiar with sources of food

        • Monogamous species may have a mate waiting for their return

      • Is the location a suitable habitat and safe for the animal?

        • Is the appropriate food plentiful?

        • Is there already an abundance of this species at the location?

        • Are there other dangers to the animal such as automobile traffic, dense human population and hunting?

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THIS STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

 

REGISTRATION# CH11504

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