Wildlife Rehabilitation

Wildlife Rehabilitation

W/ Erin Lemely

“The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide professional care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals so ultimately they can be returned to their natural habitat.” - NWRA

The Laws

• It is illegal to: 

• Possess wildlife for more than 24 hours

• Raise or care for wildlife

• Disturb the nest of a native bird

• Possess any part of a native bird 

  • Eggs

  • Feathers

  • Nests

Who Pays for Wildlife Rehabilitation

• No Federal, State, or County funding 

• Most are non-profits

• Highly dependent on volunteers

• Few people are paid

Why do we Rehabilitate Wildlife?

• For lots of folks, biggest reason is that most patients come in due to human interaction

• 90% of admitted turtles are hit by cars (approximately)

• Lots of animal injuries due to human litter (fishing rod, floss) or human existence (HBC, windows)

Variety is the Spice of Life

• 150 diff. Species seen annually at DCHS

  • Snapping turtles, painted turtles 

    • Spiny soft shells 

  • Pelicans 

  • Tiger salamander

  • Red Bat 

  • Red-tailed hawk 

  • Woodchuck 

  • Squirrel 

  • Eastern Milksnake

  • Star-nosed mole

  • Bald Eagle

  • Weasels

Keep Wildlife Wild

Stress is a leading cause of death 

• Do not talk to or pet wildlife 

• Avoid eye contact 

• Provide visual barriers 

• House in a quiet area

• Keep handling to a minimum 

• Stop taking photos

Imprinting on Humans 

• Irreversible 

• Happens in the first day to weeks of life 

• Birds are most susceptible 

  • Birds of prey take a little longer, but species like ducks happens quicker 

  • Birds of prey that imprint usually have to be irreversible 

Tameness 

• Usually irreversible 

• Any species 

• Significant behavior changes

  • Cannot integrate with species or be released 

• Usually become aggressive as hormone changes

Habituation

• Lesser degree of tameness

• Can be reversed BUT

  • Longer stay in rehab 

  • Takes more resources

Social Media 

• Worsening problem 

• Misinformation 

• Exotic exploitation

Other Risks

• Malnutrition 

• Zoonotic diseases

  • Leptospira

  • Respiratory diseases

  • Avian influenza 

  • Rabies

• Parasites

  • Fleas/mites

• Untreated injuries 

• Improper release

• Euthanasia for behavior

Things that they do to rehabilitate

• Use foster parents of same/similar subspecies

• Use mirrors (so animal can see themselves)

• Raised with buddies

  • Using puppets to feed

How can you Help?

• Get training 

• Call a professional 

• Think before sharing 

• Speak up

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Process

Admission 

Does the animal really need our help?

• Adult animal not running away 

• Bleeding or obviously injured 

• Shivering 

• Unresponsible/very lethargic 

• Heavily parasitized 

• Cat caught 

• Parents are known dead or absent

Kidnapping 

• Infant Eastern cottontails 

  • Often mistakenly kidnapped as often mother will not go back to nest for hours 

• Fledgling songbirds 

  • Birds will leave nest before they can fly, mistakenly thought to be injured

• Infant Squirrels

  • Mother squirrel often has more than one nest

• Branching hawks and owls 

  • Also leave nest before they can fly

Initial Assessment 

Lots to consider 

• Prognosis for survival and release 

• Species 

  • Licensed to treat species? 

• Time and resources

  • Based on species, age of animals

  • Limited funding 

• Physical exam 

• Diagnostics 

• Is this animal physically a candidate for rehab?

• Will this animal survive in the wild?

• Lab work 

  • Cytology

    • Blood, feces

      • Can examine parasites, cells, bacteria, etc.

    • Fun fact: bird blood cells have nucleus 

      • Every animal that isn’t a mammal has a nucleus in their RBC’s

• Radiology 

  • X-rays for DCHS, may go to outside facilities for additional diagnostic imaging not available to the wildlife center

Humane Euthanasia

• This can be a sad field 

• Many patients will not survive 

• Wildlife avoid humans 

  • We are predators!

• Wildlife need to:

  • Have perfect function 

  • Have no chronic pain 

• We can end suffering by euthanasia

Treatment

• Rehydration 

• Medications 

• Wound care

• Nutritional support 

• Surgery 

• Physical therapy 

Nursing Skills

• Blood collection 

• Bandage application 

• Wound care

• Fluid administration 

• Tube-feeding 

Anesthesia and Surgery 

• Different methods of anaesthetizing for different species 

Conditioning 

Move to larger outdoor caging to 

• Regain stamina 

• Acclimate to weather 

• Detach from human caregivers 

• Behave normally for the species 

  • Fly

  • Hunt 

  • Climb

  • Dig 

  • Eat 

  • Swim

Release

Animal must be able to:

• Recognize and obtain food

• Select mates and reproduce

• Avoid dangers

• Be in good physical condition

Skills

• Science!

• Critical thinking 

• Motivation to learn independently 

• Ability to take initiative

• Good writing skills

Career Options

• CVT or DVM at a large center

• CVT or DVM that sees wildlife in general practice 

• Licensed rehabilitator 

• Laboratory or field research with 

  • USGS National Wildlife Health Center

  • Universities 

  • DNR 

  • US Fish And Wildlife Service

Volunteering 

• Great way to see if you like the field 

• Generally requires weekly commitment 

  • 6 months - 1 year

• Many opportunities 

Internships

• DCHS internship

• Medical and rehabilitation techniques 

• Fall, spring, and summer options 

• 20-40 hours.week

• Pays a small stipend!

Check out IWRC for internship listings!

Safe Wildlife Capture 

• A good capture takes planning!

• Keep your safety first in mind

• Look for hazards 

  • Road 

  • Ice

  • Water 

• Consider the animal’s defenses

• Wear appropriate gear if available 

  • Gloves 

  • Face/eye protection 

• What kind of help does this turtle need?

• Get your gear together 

  • Box (or 2)

    • One that is open (with holes in it already), one for sliding under (spider method)

  • Gloves 

  • Paper bag is great for songbirds (not woodpeckers though)

  • Towel/blanket

  • Net?

  • Tape

• Use the “spider” method 

• Or gently place a towl over the animal and place them in a box

  • Remember to watch out for their defenses

• Containers

  • Good air flow 

  • Dark 

  • Secure 

  • Cat/Dog carriers often not secure 

  • Birds should not be placed in wire carriers 

  • Have something non-slip on the floor

    • Sheet 

    • Blanket 

    • Loops in towels can cause problems 

  • Keep dark, warm, and quiet and get to the rehabilitator as soon as possible