NYSDEC Wildlife Rehabilitation Study Guide Practice Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards derived from the 2013 NYSDEC Wildlife Rehabilitation Study Guide, covering state and federal regulations, medical terminology, and basic husbandry.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

The practice of legally caring for sick, injured, orphaned, or displaced wildlife in order to release a physically healthy and psychologically sound animal back into the wild.

NYS Wildlife Rehabilitation Exam Score

To obtain a license, an applicant must receive a grade of $80\%$ or higher on a written examination administered by the department.

US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Permit

A federal permit required to rehabilitate migratory birds and all threatened and endangered species, such as bald and golden eagles.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Permit

A federal permit required to rehabilitate marine mammals.

Age Qualification

To obtain a wildlife rehabilitator license in New York State, an individual must be over the age of $16$ years.

Rabies Vector Species (RVS)

In New York State, these specifically include raccoons, skunks, and bats; they require an additional WRL-RVS license to handle or possess.

Zoonotic Disease (Zoonoses)

Any disease that can be transmitted from other animal species to people, such as rabies, tularemia, or the Baylisascaris parasite.

Metabolic Bone Disease

A serious and usually irreversible malformation of the skeleton caused by an imbalance in the calcium ($Ca$) to phosphorus ($P$) ratio.

Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio

For young, rapidly growing animals, the diet should maintain a $Ca:P$ ratio of approximately $2:1$.

Triage

The process of sorting out medical priorities of patients to decide which cases will be treated first and which can wait.

ABCs of Emergency Medicine

A stands for Airway (ensuring the animal can breathe), B for Bleeding (stopping major hemorrhage), and C for Cardiopulmonary (checking heart rate and rhythm).

Maintenance Fluids

The fluids required every day to replace routine losses, estimated at approximately $40\,\text{ml/kg}$ per day for mammals and birds.

Subcutaneous (SQ)

A route of fluid administration meaning "under the skin," where liquid is placed between the skin and the muscle for slow absorption.

Altricial

Birds hatched in a helpless condition, usually naked with eyes closed, and cared for by parents in the nest (e.g., robins, raptors).

Precocial

Birds that leave the nest soon after hatching, usually having strong legs and open eyes, and being more responsive to the environment (e.g., ducks, quail).

Imprinting

A natural process occurring early in life where a bird learns to identify and relate to its parental species; improper imprinting on humans can render wildlife non-releasable.

Soft Release (Hacking)

A slow, gradual release technique that provides a support system, such as supplemental food, while the animal explores and learns to survive independently.

Acute

A condition that happens suddenly.

Chronic

A condition that continues for a long time.

Carapace

The dorsal or top shell of a turtle.

Plastron

The ventral or bottom shell of a turtle.

Crepuscular

Refers to animals that are most active around dusk and dawn.

Diurnal

Refers to animals that are most active during daylight hours.

Nocturnal

Refers to animals that are most active at night.

Keel

The protruding part of a bird's breastbone or sternum where large flight muscles attach.

Uropygial Gland

An oil gland located above the base of the tail in most birds.

Gavage

The process of force-feeding through a flexible tube placed down the esophagus.

Cere

The fleshy base of the upper mandible in some birds, such as raptors and pigeons.

Bumblefoot

A slang term for foot lesions in birds.

Coprophagy

The ingestion of feces, which is normal and necessary behavior in rabbits and some rodents.

Ataxia

Uncoordinated movements or being off balance.

Endoparasite

Internal parasites, including most types of worms and protozoa.

Ectoparasite

A parasite found on the outside of the body.

Brancher

A slang term for a young bird not fully fledged that is out of the nest and hopping on branches.

Fledgling

A baby bird that has matured sufficiently to leave the nest but may not yet be able to fly.

Nestling

A baby bird too young to leave the nest, still dependent on parents and often unable to maintain its own body temperature.

Endangered Species Notification Rule

A licensee must notify the Special Licenses Unit within $48$ hours of collecting or acquiring any endangered or threatened species.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Regulations

Rehabilitated mute swans may only be released at the point they were picked up, euthanized, or given to a valid live mute swan licensee.

$1\,\text{lb}$ to Grams Conversion

$$1\,\text{lb} = 454\,\text{g}$$

$1\,\text{kg}$ to Pounds Conversion

$$1\,\text{kg} = 2.2\,\text{lb}$$