What is Wildlife Rehabilitation ?

             Welcome to the fascinating world of
                       Wildlife Rehabilitation !

This world has been described as a science that is constantly growing and
developing.It is creative and definitely complex.  Within the last 20-30 years it has
molded itself into a field that is structured .

Main Entry: wild·life
Pronunciation: -"lIf
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Date: 1879: living things and especially mammals, birds, and fishes that are neither human nor domesticated

In a simple explanation it means : temporarily caring for  sick, displaced/orphaned wildlife with the objective of healing and releasing them back to the wild, fully recovered with intact survival skills .

We are beginning to understand that the health of our wildlife is an excellent indication of the health of the environment on which we depend.

An all encompassing view of wildlife rehabilitation unearths the profile of the rehabilitator.Being a wildlife rehabilitator means much more than holding a permitted license .Wildlife rehabilitation becomes a way of life.  Whether you rehabilitate full or part time , most rehabilitators have adopted a strong conviction to their work. 
 CODE OF ETHICS
The work requires dedication and perseverance. For some of us it is a rite of passage .
We love what we do .  

How many hats does a wildlife rehabilitator wear?

Because wildlife rehabilitation is a living science, it is one that will continue to grow.
The successful rehabilitator makes every effort to remain fresh-open to new ideas and changing protocols. Just when you think you know all the how to do's and don'ts someone will come up with an innovative and better approach !
In order to offer the animals we care for the best possible chance of survival in the wild, we reference to many diverse
areas including natural history, specie behavior, captive / natural diet, caging ,husbandry, disease, zoo noses, capture /restrain techniques to name a few. Also, the conscientious wildlife rehabilitator is always dealing with the public and supporting agencies therefore he/she polishes their communication and diplomacy skills. There are many times when our patience will be put to the test in dealing with difficult situations. Because we often work with injured or sick animals, we face sad ,grim realities and make difficult decisions.  Despite its overwhelming rewards, wildlife rehabilitation has a dark side. But more often than not, the rewards are rich and bountiful !

To support our wildlife and promote public education many of us learn how to fundraise, train and recruit volunteers ,write grants, lecture, and research.  Being "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound " sums it up quite nicely. Rehabilitators in most states hold proper state and federal permits to authorize them to provide temporary care. Most wildlife rehabilitators are required to keep detailed records on all rehabilitated animals. These logs are submitted annually to both state and federal agencies. Squirrel Sanctuary works closely with the supporting agencies.

The squirrels we admit are thoroughly studied on a case by case- individual basis to assess and diagnose correctly. Because we are home based,this flexibility allows us to spend more time with each case. Veterinary consultation ,critical/hospital care,wound management, feeding, medicating, physical therapy, and pre release conditioning often are involved. Our cooperating veterinarians play a very important role in our program. Without them we could not do what we do and we respect and appreciate their help more than they realize.

Did I mention time?

Wildlife rehabilitation is time consuming, whether you rehabilitate part or full time .
Time spent on caring for wildlife is time not spent with yourself, family or friends.

There are two strong breeding seasons in the Metro New York area. One begins
late winter, the second -summer, sometimes extending into early fall. Gestation is @ 44 days resulting in what is referred to as "baby squirrel season".Like many mammals ,squirrels are seasonal breeders and are genetically timed to breed and reproduce
coinciding with the buds and flowering of indigenous trees. Weather and food supply are factors that affect their
breeding behavior. Not all female gray squirrels will breed twice a year or even every year. Physical changes associated with reproduction require a tremendous amount of energy. Female squirrels may not go into estrus unless the environmental factors are favorable. According to the records ,the past two winters in the Northeast have been the mildest and we have been seeing more newborn squirrels arriving earlier than in previous years. The feeding schedule for neonatal infant squirrels sometimes can run around the clock and healthy juvenile gray squirrels eat heartily during the day.

In winter, adult gray squirrels are hit by cars when they seek out shelter and food which becomes scarce. We take in many of these cases  .Their rehabilitation can last through a whole winter , case depending .

In the wild ,eastern gray squirrels will nurse off  mother for @ 10 weeks and remain close for some weeks later. Depending on release criteria, many juveniles in rehab care are released at @13-18 weeks of age. Young squirrels tell us by their behaviors;some may need more time to mature, while others grow up more quickly.The time immediately after release is a critical time for them. We release knowing they possess
strong independent survival skills.Because we are home based we are allowed to be more flexible in our approach . Other wildlife species such as songbirds and cottontail rabbits, do not spend as long a time with the natural mother.

So, if long hours, keeping detailed records , answering phone calls, cleaning cages, preparing food, administering medicine, and general multi-tasking hasn't overwhelmed you, here is yet one more thing to consider : wildlife rehabilitation is volunteer work ! Meaning:  The position is unsalaried . If you are nonprofit, public support through donations helps to somewhat offset expenses, but money for wildlife does not come easy. 
 

The expense for rehabilitation can become costly because wildlife do not carry
health insurance. HMO's are not an option. In New York State wildlife are considered wards of the state. Being volunteers ,most if not all rehabbers pick up the tab for their wildlife and pay out of pocket expenses to support the care of their animals. Also purchasing educational materials, joining organizations , attending conferences and training sessions will add up.

At the beginning of each season Squirrel Sanctuary will order and purchase the many necessary supplies and allocate them to our cooperating rehabbers, based on need  .Our juvenile squirrels receive the proper recommended commercial milk replacement formula that cannot be purchased in any pet store and must be special ordered. This recommended formula is one based on the results of studies done of analysis of natural mother squirrel milk. These ratios of nutritional components closely match mother squirrel.Coupled with our first hand  experiences and professional recommendations-our squirrels receive the very best replacement formula that is not homemade nor concocted from the internet.

From a rehabber's perspective-If you have people bringing wild animals to you, liability is a consideration.Your homeowners policy may not cover rehabilitation activities. If you have volunteers, friends, or staff assisting you, be sure both you and they are covered.We provide proper caging which meet national standards and are designed specifically for tree squirrel rehabilitation.
As the young squirrels grow,their physical and psychological needs change and accordingly their climbing and balancing skills need to be constantly challenged and assessed. Some of us have incubators for the most critical and young. Special fluids, exactly like those used in human medicine are used to hydrate the dehydrated ,and are special ordered through our cooperating vets along with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anti convulsive drugs, nutritional supplementation, x-rays . When done correctly wildlife rehabilitation can become expensive and a prospective rehabber should weigh out all the considerations before taking the plunge ! Sometimes when a stubborn case does not respond to allopathic treatment we may consult with our cooperating specialists and implement a protocol utilizing homeopathic, herbal, or chiropractic .Keeping an open mind can only be beneficial to both the patient and the rehabilitator.

The forum of public education and spreading the word is the rehabilitator's continuing Renaissance-introducing both young and ''forever young" minds to remain fresh and open to biological and ecological concepts. Through this medium ,we are able to offer a chance to adopt and cultivate a nurturing ,responsible attitude of stewardship to some of the small mammals that inhabit our planet.Within a fast paced society overflowing with incredible technology and ability, lie a germinating seed called Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Like an ever faithful perennial ,with proper nurturing and handling we expect to blossom, flower and grow !