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Wild animals are admitted to rehabilitation centers suffering from any number of problems. They can result from natural disasters (forest fires, severe weather, earthquakes), accidents and 'natural' outbreaks of disease, but the greatest percentage are sick, injured or orphaned due (either directly or indirectly) to humans.

In breeding season, many dependant young animals are the secondary victims of the accidents, diseases, poisons etc. that killed their parent or parents. Youngsters are also separated from their parents when they are trapped and relocated, when nests are destroyed in storms and when they are 'kidnapped' by well-meaning people who do not understand the natural behaviors of wildlife. Some young animals are confiscated from poachers who have captured them for the illegal wildlife trade, or from people who have captured them to keep as pets. These young animals must be fostered, taught to become self-sufficient, and be carefully prepared for release.

While it is difficult to guess which particular problem results in the highest numbers of wildlife casualties, the list of problems is significant:

Domestic Animals

The introduction of domestic animals has had dramatic impact on wildlife. Native species have no resistance to many of the diseases of dogs, cats and livestock. Infectious diseases that originate in domestic animals sicken or kill countless animals, and for many, there is no treatment.

Domestic and feral cats and dogs also injure, kill or orphan many millions of birds each year in North America alone.

Emerging Diseases

Collisions

Collisions with automobiles kill and injure innumerable animals daily.

It is estimated that every thirty seconds, a bird is injured or killed after
striking a window, power line, or communications tower.

In the world's major cities, birds become confused by, and collide with, heavily-lit tall buildings. Up to 100 million birds are killed each year in such collisions.

Pesticides, Poisons and Chemicals

• Research published by the American Bird Conservancy finds that on farms alone, some 672 million North American birds are exposed to pesticides each year. It is estimated that about ten percent of these -- 67 million birds-- die. Global estimates are staggeringly high.
  
  
• Industrial and agricultural chemicals poison wild animals that are exposed to them via water, food, soil, etc. Poisons such as rodent bait are also lethal to non-target animals, or those that eat poisoned animals.
  
  
  

Pollutants

Each year, oil spilled from large ocean-going vessels and smaller pleasure craft result in wildlife casualties.

Entanglement in marine debris, fishing line or nets, and collisions with boats injure or kill both individuals and groups of animals.

Some air pollutants return to Earth in the form of acid rain, which corrodes statues and buildings, damages crops and forests, and makes lakes and streams unsuitable for plant, fish and other animal life.

How Can I Help?

Domestic animals:

Vaccinate your pets for diseases that can be transmitted to other animals, both domestic and wild. Do not allow your pets to chase or harass wildlife. Keep your cats indoors. Spay and neuter your pets, so that the problem of feral cats and dogs is reduced. These simple solutions are to the benefit of your animal companions, as well as to wildlife.

Collisions:

You can reduce the chances of birds hitting your windows by moving feeders well away from the house, and by hanging plants, mobiles or plastic strips in front of windows and glass doors. Research shows that the instances of collisions by migratory birds with skyscrapers are greatly reduced when lights are turned off at night. Simply reducing driving speed, especially in areas marked with wildlife crossing signs, can reduce vehicular collisions.

Pesticides, poisons and chemicals:

• Dispose of unused motor oil, paint, antifreeze, cleaning solutions, etc., safely.
• Find alternatives to pesticides. They are indiscriminate killers, and are harmful to humans, domestic animals and wildlife alike.
• Find humane solutions to nuisance wildlife problems, rather than risk injuring or killing non-target animals by using poisons or glue traps. Contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

Trapping and removing:

Do not risk separating wild youngsters from their parents by trapping and relocating animals that have taken up residence in or under buildings. There is little more heartbreaking than finding suffering, starving, or dead babies, because you didn't know they were there. Contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for guidance and information, rather than resorting to extreme solutions.

If you see a young animal that appears to be abandoned or orphaned, call before you act. Mother may be protecting her youngsters from a watchful distance.

In many cases, animals that truly have become separated from their families can be reunited with them. Keeping families together, and animals that are not in crisis in the wild, is always the best alternative.

Support environmentally friendly products, habitat restoration programs, and wildlife conservation efforts. Support legislation and legislators that safeguard wildlife, habitat and biodiversity.

Support your local wildlife rehabilitator or center. Wildlife rehabilitation is rarely financed by government funds or grants. Most individual rehabilitators or groups pay many of their costs out-of-pocket. They may hold fundraising drives, apply for small grants, sell merchandise or appeal to the public for donations of materials, foods or money. Hold a car wash or bake sale, donate what you can, support their fundraising drives or merchandise sales, and become part of the solution.

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IWRC is a registered non-profit organization that relies on membership, volunteers, sales of publications, grants and donations to develop and deliver programs, services, and information to the international wildlife rehabilitators working at the front lines, to other professionals, and to you, for the benefit of wildlife, mankind, and the planet.

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