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| Our Host | ||||
Wildlife Response, Inc. was organized in Chesapeake, Virginia in 1992 to meet the increasing need for care of wildlife in the Hampton Roads area. Local permitted wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, and other individuals laid the foundation for what WRI is today. Since these humble beginnings, WRI has quietly grown into a solid organization, committed to our community, continuing to grow in its membership and vision. WRI's volunteer base includes trained veterinary professionals and dedicated volunteers from all walks of life. Member Wildlife Rehabilitators are permitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia and by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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| Our Partners | ||||
The discipline of wildlife rehabilitation draws from many related fields. To truly understand a wild animal and its requirements while in our care, we must understand its growth and development, behaviors and socialization, habitats and seasonal changes, diet and means of procuring food and common challenges in its environment. As the field evolves, educating the public about co-existing with wildlife gets added to the list of priorities---helping to prevent wildlife from requiring rehabilitation in the first place. While IWRC is the leading provider of training in the traditional aspects of wildlife rehabilitation, there are many specialists out there who have developed national and international reputations for expertise in one or more focused areas. With the goal of celebrating collaboration, in addition to providing our attendees with the best-of-the-best in skills-based training, each year we partner with a select group of these organizations. Our 2009 Partners are:
The RSPCA also works to help the UK government and citizens find alternatives to killing or relocating wildlife. The organization's web site features articles and a monthly wildlife podcast with the aim of improving understanding and respect of wildlife. Join the RSPCA on Wednesday for a half day workshop on post-release monitoring.
In the Avian Ambassadors workshop on Wednesday, Training Seminar… Making Choices, founder Sid Price will work with participants on wildlife behavioral training.
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| Registration | ||||
Registration for International Education Symposium 2009 will open on Monday, September 21! Full Conference Registration $210 Members $240 Non-Members Two Day Registration $140 Members $160 Non-Members One Day Registration $70 Members $80 Non-Members Register online: Online registration is the most eco-friendly way to register for the symposium. Although the transaction is processed by PayPal, you do not need a PayPal account to register online---all major credit cards are accepted. Of course, registrations are also accepted via phone, fax and mail. Attend with a group: A group discount of 10% is available to groups of 3 or more attendees from the same center or organization. In order to be eligible for a group discount: 1) Registration for the entire group must be made at the same time. 2) The group must pay together with one payment. 3) Each individual in the group must be an IWRC Member. Organizational Members may apply their membership to two individuals in the group. Group registrations should be processed by mail or fax. The online form will not calculate group discounts. Read the cancellation policy: You may incur a fee if you cancel your registration. Please review the registration and cancellation policies before registering. |
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| Program of Events | ||||
TUESDAY Field Trip: Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center 11:00am - 4:00pm Start your symposium week with a trip to one of Virginia Beach's wildlife landmarks, the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Come with us on a behind the scenes tour of this 700,000 gallon aquarium and get aquainted with Virginia's aquatic life; from the rivers to the ocean and everything in between. A trip to the the Stranding Facility run by the Virginia Aquarium's conservation division may be included as well--we're working on it! Fee includes transportation to and from the aquarium, a general admission ticket and group fee for behind-the-scenes tour. The bus will pick up at hotel at 10:30am and drop off at 4:30pm. Time for self guided exploration of the aquarium is included. Participants may bring their own lunch or take advantage of the aquarium cafe. Fee: $30 Registration 3:00pm - 7:00pm Check in and pick up your badge and conference program. Space permitting, walk-in registration will be available. A $25 processing fee will apply to walk-in registrations. Welcome Reception & Poster Session 5:30pm - 7:00pm Get into the Symposium mood with a few hors d'oeuvres and some educational and thought provoking posters. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded. The poster session allows attendees to share their cases with each other to aid in the promotion of effective rehabilitation. Case studies, both positive and negative, can involve rearing techniques, disease prevention or management, injury treatment, nutrition, or other topics related to wildlife rehabilitation. All symposium attendees are welcome to participate. Download the Submission Guidelines for more information. The deadline to submit is October 30, 2009. Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council 8:30am - 6:00pm An intense, two-day introductory course for beginning wildlife rehabilitators or experienced rehabilitators seeking formal education. Lecture topics include an introduction to wildlife rehabilitation, basic anatomy and physiology, calculating drug dosages, handling and physical restraint, thermoregulation, stress, basic shock cycle, initial care and physical examination, nutrition and associated diseases, standards for housing, zoonoses, euthanasia criteria and release criteria. Lab topics include gavage (tube-feeding), physical restraint, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, physical exams, limb immobilization and weighing. Lab procedures are performed on cadavers. Instructors: Lynn Miller and Rebecca McKeever, CWR Monitoring Animals in the Wild Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Monitoring Animals in the Wild teaches participants what they need to consider when designing an effective post-release study. Lecture topics include why monitor animals in the wild, methods available, animal welfare, how to choose the right method, essential equipment, collecting and analyzing data and examples of post-release studies contucted by the RSPCA. Participants will have an oportunity to practice using field equipment commonly used to monitor and track tagged/marked animals. Instructor: Adam Grogan Training Seminar... Making Choices Instructor: Sid Price Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation Roundtable Dan Martinelli, Facilitator Dan Martinelli is Executive Director of the Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital in Florida and chair of IWRC's Minimum Standards Committee. As chair, he is currently working to promote IWRC's position that the MSWR should be considered guidelines for best practices rather than inflexible minimums. Squirrel Rehabilitation Roundtable Suzanne McBride & Chris Clark, Facilitators 2:00pm - 4:00pm A discussion on the ins and outs of one of the most commonly rehabilitated mammals in North America, the tree squirrel. Suzanne McBride has over 10 years of experience in small mammal rehabilitation and is currently working with a group from Wildlife Response, Inc. on a new disease that has affected juvinile squirrels in Virginia. Chris Clark is a squirrel rehabilitator and owner of Chris's Squirrel Store and More. Reuniting & Fostering Roundtable Anne Miller, Facilitator 4:15pm - 6:00pm Young birds and mammals are often separated from their parents by a storm, a fallen tree, or simply human interference. For uninjured babies, the best alternative is to return the infant to its own parents. New techniques developed in recent years are making it possible to reunite juveniles of many different species with their parents, or in some cases to foster them to another family of the same species. The roundtable will discuss methods for individual species of birds and mammals and will invite participants to ask questions and share their own experiences with reuniting. Anne Miller has been reuniting and fostering juvenile raptors for over 20 years. In 2007 she published Calls of the Wild, Using Recorded Calls and Other Tools to Reunite Juvenile and Adult Raptors. The book introduces the use of recorded juvenile calls to help attract the parents after a separation, a method which Anne has used successfully with both raptors and bobcats. Dine Around Town
Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council 8:30am - 6:00pm Day two of the Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation class.Holistic Enrichment: An Introduction to Environmental Enrichment Considerations and Planning The Shape of Enrichment Environmental enrichment as a concept is now well recognized as an important consideration in the welfare status of any captive animal. Yet many animal-care professionals remain unaware of the practical considerations important to creating and maintaining successful enrichment plans. Topics covered in Holistic Enrichment include an introduction to animal welfare and a detailed discussion of the five categories of enrichment. Because enrichment is specific to the individual, species, institution, and/or culture, the process of creating and implementing enrichment plans is presented. This process includes setting behavioral goals; brainstorming possible strategies; testing prototypes; and an introduction to safety considerations. Using this process, workshop attendees will design an enrichment plan for a variety of species. Instructor: Valerie Hare Wildlife Feeding & Nutrition International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council The nutritional requirements of wildlife are stringent and particular for each species. This course addresses the nutritional requirements of mammals and birds with principles applicable to reptiles and amphibians. Lecture topics include basic nutritional biochemistry, gastrointestinal physiology and anatomy, neonates, self-feeding process, importance of recognizing natural diets, determining nutritional requirements, feeding ill and emaciated animals, analyzing and formulating diets, minimizing captive stress through feeding and foraging enrichment. Instructor: TBD
Wildlife Film Festival 7:30pm - 9:00pm A symposium tradition, this year's Wildlife Film Festival promises excellent films and a discussion of what to look for in creating a documentary. Humans of the Sea, a documentary by Bev Christ will be screened along with winners from the 2009 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show along with the popcorn and door prizes! Tickets available onsite for $3. Proceeds are donated to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. General Session & Panel 8:30am - 10:00am The 2009 General Session is designed to encourage, motivate and challenge attendees as we discuss the current and future status of wildlife rehabilitation, welfare and conservation. This year's session will include a panel on post release studies. Most of us never know what happens after we release the hawk that came in two months ago with a fractured wing, the litter of raccoon kits you worked so hard at raising to be wild and self-sufficient, or the young fawns you stayed clear of so you wouldn't habituate them. Those who have been able to track released animals have a wealth of information to share. Come join our panel discussion on post-release information. Our panel will share both successes and failures with plenty of opportunity for audience input. IWRC's annual Membership Meeting will also take place at the General Session. Advances in Enclosure Design Roundtable Robbie Fearn, Facilitator 10:30am - 12:30pm Description Coming! Hotline Roundtable Susan Wiley & Lisa Barlow, Facilitators 10:30am - 12:30pm Running an efficient hotline and phone service--from a home-based operation or a center--is not an easy task. This roundtable will focus on setting up and managing a hotline/phone service including the trainings, manuals and tools available, how to handle incoming calls, how to fundraise while on a call and the typical problems hotlines deal with. Susan Wiley is a wildlife biologist and director of Le Nichoir Wild Bird Rehabilitation Centre in Quebec, Canada. Le Nichoir provides a bilingual phone service to the public offering advice and information about wild birds and their environment. Le Nichoir receives over 5,000 phone calls a year and over 1,500 emails focused on birds in distress. Lisa Barlow is Executive Director of Wildlife Response, Inc. This home-based organization operates a 24/7 Hotline as a public service. They receive over 11,300 calls annually averaging 350 per month in the winter and 1900 per month in the summer. Randie Segal & Kai Williams, Facilitators 10:30am - 12:30pm What were you thinking about when you became a wildlife rehabilitator?
Did you think about how many animals you could take in yearly, where the money would come from to support your efforts,
how tired you would be? Did you have a plan? In this roundtable we will discuss creating a five year plan and how to avoid burnout.
Come join us for an interesting conversation! Randie Segal has been a wildlife rehabilitator since 1989. When she started out, she took everyone in and ended up treating 1,500 animals in a year out of her home. She lives in Wisconson with two Standard Poodles (Simon and Schuster), two cats (Gizmo and Mama), two Cockatoos (Maddie and Emmett), two cockatiels (Squeek and Screwball ) and a Quaker Parrot named Kiwi. Kai Williams has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation since the early 90's. Most recently she lived and worked at Wind River Wildlife Center as the Education Director until 2004. Turtle & Snake Rehabilitation Roundtable Kathy Michell, Facilitator 2:00pm - 4:00pm This roundtable will cover all aspects of care for North American turtle and snake species (excluding sea turtles) from the time the rehabilitator receives the call through the appropriate release. Treatment of shell and extremity fractures, soft tissue injury, head trauma and beak injuries will be demonstrated through case studies and video segments. Proper handling and emergency care of the injured turtle or snake will be discussed along with long term housing, hydration and nutritional needs. The role and responsibility of the rehabilitator in helping to conserve declining turtle and snake populations through the release of healthy, recovered animals will be discussed. Participants are encouraged to bring questions regarding cases they may have encountered for an interactive discussion following the initial presentation. Kathy Michell has been a New York State licensed wildlife rehabilitator specializing in turtles and snakes for 17 years and is president of the New York Center for Turtle Rehabilitation and Conservation. Her interest in reptiles extends to long-term conservation through rehabilitation, research and educational efforts by sharing her scientific findings through wildlife conferences, presentations and numerous journal publications. Home vs. Center Roundtable 2:00pm - 4:00 pm What is the best way to provide a wildlife rehabilitation service? Who should it be best for: you, the animals, your neighbors, the community? We will discuss these questions, as well as the costs and benefits of home and center rehabilitation. This roundtable will help you shape your current situation into facility that suits your unique circumstances. Kai Williams has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation since the early 90's. Most recently she lived and worked at Wind River Wildlife Center as the Education Director until 2004. Growing up and later working at a place that was both home and center, Kai is eager to discuss rehab in the home, the center, and in hybrids of the two. Ethical Considerations: Live Animals in Education Roundtable 2:00pm - 4:00 pm Have you ever thought whether or not you should use live animals in you education programs or on exhibit? We hope to stir up your consciousness and think about life from their point of view. Randie Segal has been a wildlife rehabilitator since 1989. She lives in Wisconson with two Standard Poodles (Simon and Schuster), two cats (Gizmo and Mama), two Cockatoos (Maddie and Emmett), two cockatiels (Squeek and Screwball ) and a Quaker Parrot named Kiwi. Dr. Deb Teachout has been involved in the medical aspects of urban wildlife rehabilitation since 1994. She lives in Lemont, IL, with her documentary film maker husband and an indoor, but previously feral cat, Meatloaf. Annual Dinner & Silent Auction 6:00pm - 11:00pm You spend your days on wildlife mysteries, now try your hand at solving a mystery of the human variety. This year's Annual Dinner & Silent Auction features interactive entertainment from the Maverick Murder Mystery theater group. Enjoy great food, solve a mystery, and don't forget to participate in the silent auction! The items in the 2009 silent auction will have you conditioned to write your name again and again. If behavioral conditioning is not your thing, just come and stroll the tables. This year expect to see unique high end items and original artwork. Wild Neighbors: Humane Solutions to Conflicts with Wildlife Humane Society of the United States 8:30am - 6:00pm As humans encroach further and further into wildlife habitat, and as wild animals become more tolerant of their human neighbors, conflicts inevitably occur — conflicts that can be resolved effectively and humanely. This stimulating and information-packed daylong seminar on urban wildlife will provide both professional and lay audiences with up-to-date information on ways to resolve human-wildlife conflicts without displacing, injuring, or killing wild animals. You will learn how to “rescue” animals over the phone (which reduces your load), network effectively, get the help you need, and set up municipal programs to ensure that wildlife dilemmas are properly handled. Seminar topics include humane approaches to wildlife conflict resolution, diagnosing problems and giving advice over the phone, creating hotline services, wildlife removal—the modern approach, prevention of wildlife conflicts, p roviding community services and resources This training focuses on cutting edge techniques and will be supplemented by handouts and resource guides as well as information about further training and educational opportunities. Instructors: TBD Fluid Therapy Wet Lab International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council 8:30am - 12:30pm Fluid replacement is one of the most important aspects of initial care in wildlife. Dehydrated animals feel ill, do not forage or eat well, can not fight diseases or heal injuries well, and can not metabolize drugs efficiently. Dehydration affects all the organs of the body, including the mechanisms devoted to the detoxification and elimination of waste. The Fluid Therapy Wet Lab consists of an abreviated version of the Fluid Therapy in Wildlife Rehabilitation lecture; water and electrolyte balance and distribution; assessing the percentage of dehydration; fluid selection and routes of administration; calculating the amount of re-hydration fluid required; and species specific notes. Oral and sub-q administration routes are emphasized. Utilizing cadavers, participants will practice administering oral and subcutaneous fluids to a variety of species including mammals, songbirds, aquatic birds, raptors and reptiles. Instructors will demonstrate additional fluid therapy techniques that may be used in patients hospitalized in veterinary clinics such as intravenous and intraosseus fluid administration. Instructor: TBD The Art & Science of Songbird Rehabilitation Wild Wings Rehabilitation Center, Inc. 8:30am - 12:30pm Research has shown that songbird numbers are in serious decline, the reasons are many. Nearly half of all neotropical migrants fail to return to their breeding grounds and birds that winter in North America are subject to many hardships and hazards, untold numbers don’t survive their first winter. Parent-reared birds have significant advantages over hand-reared birds and what we as rehabilitators do or fail to do in preparing our birds for release and migration is of great consequence as to whether they survive at all. Lectutre topics include misconceptions about songbirds, basic nestling, fledgling, and adult bird care, diet and feeding, birdsong, indoor & outdoor housing, enrichment, release, migration and invasive species. A one-hour roundtable will end the session, please bring your ideas and questions. Instructor: Susan Birch, CWR Pain Management in Wildlife Rehabilitation International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council 2:00pm - 6:00pm The Pain Management course gives wildlife care professionals a working knowledge of the vocabulary and concepts underlying the modern approach to pain management in mammalian and avian species. Topics include the physiology and clinical signs of pain, supportive care techniques and drug therapy including indications, contraindications and side effects. Instructor: Lynn Miller Raccoon Rehabilitation from A to Z WildCare 2:00pm - 6:00pm Raccoon Rehabilitation from A to Z begins with a discussion on the natural history of raccoons and continues with development stages, diseases, vaccines, medications, expectations for foster care volunteers, public education, reuniting kidnapped babies with mothers, formulas, weaning and captive care diets, caging and enrichment, cleaning procedures and finally release criteria. Instructor JoLynn Taylor will also talk about state laws surrounding the rehabilitation and release of raccoons using California's laws as an example. Participants will receive WildCare's 48 page training manual. Instructor: JoLynn Taylor
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| Hotel & Conference Venue | ||||
Set at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center is the perfect location for this year's symposium. The Virginia Green certified resort features a private beach and bay views from every room.
The conference rate is $75 per night. When making reservations, be sure to request the IWRC group rate. The deadline to make reservations has been extended to October 31, 2009.
(800) 468-2722 http://www.virginiabeachresort.com/
Shuttle Service is available to/from Norfolk International Airport and area attractions. |
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| Green Initiatives | ||||
As part of our commitment to reduce our impact on the environment, IWRC has developed guidelines to reduce the environmental impact of International Education Symposium 2009. We welcome feedback from attendees and look forward to tracking and improving our efforts over time---at this, and other IWRC events. |
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As a program of The Humane Society of the United States, 
The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) operates four wildlife rehabilitation hospitals in the United Kingdom. They have been conducting post-release monitoring studies on rehabilitated wildlife since 2000 and currently monitor over 10 different species including badgers, harbour seals and tawny owls, with the goal of identifying survival rates of rehabilitated animals released back to nature.
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© 2006
International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council
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