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What is Wildlife Rehabilitation?
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> What Is Wildlife Rehabilitation? |
The rescue and rehabilitation of a single animal
in crisis can involve the coordinated efforts of many individuals from within
the community and without. The process can involve capture, transport to
a rehabilitator or veterinarian, examination, treatment, physical therapy,
feeding, cleaning, monitoring, assessing, teaching, supporting and finally,
preparing the animal for release.
 Rescuers |
 Wildlife
rehabilitation begins when a concerned individual stops to help an animal
in distress. An individual may contact or be referred to a wildlife rehabilitator
or rehabilitation center to report the animal's location, but many people
provide both search-and-rescue and ambulance services.
| Wildlife
Information Providers |
 The
telephone is our first line of defense. Wildlife information providers advise
and educate concerned, curious and sometimes frustrated members of the public.
Their mission is to keep healthy animals in the wild, to prevent dangerous
situations by providing humane solutions to wildlife-human conflicts, and
to ensure that animals in crisis are rescued and transported to appropriate
care.
| Wildlife
Rehabilitators |
 At
all hours you'll find them, feeding orphans, cleaning cages, giving medications,
changing bandages... in fact, performing nearly every chore related to
caring for captive wildlife. As well as wildlife care, rehabilitators
provide public education programs that encourage empathy, respect and
protection for wildlife and their habitats.
Specialized training helps many provide their
patients with the best possible chance of survival. Drawing from the best
that current science has to offer, IWRC Skills Seminars provide the world's
most successful wildlife rehabilitators with the latest research and techniques.
| Veterinarians
and Technicians |
 Wild
animals can sustain injuries or develop diseases that require a high level
of expertise to treat. The increasing number of veterinarians who specialize
in wildlife medicine develop protocols and procedures that are tailored
to the needs of diverse and unique species.
While most veterinarians specialize in the care of domestic animals, many
welcome the challenge of caring for wildlife. Their contributions, often
donated, have saved countless lives.
| Researchers |
 Wildlife
rehabilitation improves only as researchers develop better diets and enrichment
protocols, investigate minimum standards, design and implement post-release
studies, and share hard-won data in scientific journals, training manuals,
and conference presentations.
| Administrators |
 Often
working behind the scenes, administrators oversee essential operations.
They recruit and train volunteers, fundraise, manage finances and records,
procure supplies, handle public relations and keep things going.
Administrators are the unsung heroes of the rehabilitation community, ensuring
that resources are available and that rehabilitation centers can continue
to provide services.
| Educators
and Speakers |
 Wildlife
educators brave the challenge of changing the world. Humans pose the greatest
threat to wildlife, and people act to protect only what they know and love.
Educators foster awareness, understanding, and
wonder. They motivate audiences to action: write to a legislator, change
a behavior, volunteer, or donate. Educators, working at the frontlines
to encourage empathy and respect for wildlife, may ultimately make the
biggest difference -- by changing the world, one mind at a time.
| Regulatory
Agents |
 Provincial,
state and federal agencies are charged with managing and protecting wildlife,
sometimes a thankless task. Permit agents issue legal documentation that
allows rehabilitators to hold and minister to wildlife. Game wardens enforce
protective laws. Biologists work to improve habitat and maintain healthy
ecosystems.
| Donors |
 Donors
may be the least visible members of our community, but are the scaffolding
that supports everyone else. Without their generous contributions of time,
supplies and money, wildlife rehabilitation as we know it would cease to
exist, and each year, millions of wild animals throughout the word would
lose their lives.
Would you like to support wildlife rehabilitation? Click
here to find out more.
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