nattie_dino:
Hi I thought I would introduce myself since I just joined. My name is Nat and I'm Australian. I've been caring for wildlife for about1 1/2 years now and I'm just now raising my third brushtail possum joey. I'm also a wildlife science student at the University of Queensland and have nearly finished my degree.

I was wondering for all you you in the US, are there care groups over there that you join and get advice from? In Australia we generally join a care group and have to go to workshops to be given animals. Permits are under the care groups name and they will only have on it the animals which you are at that time allowed to care for. I think it works really well.

Anyway I'll attack some photos of my joey, his name is Bryant, he is we guess about 4 months old. Brushtail possums are born very small about .2grams and about 10-12mm in length, furless, eyes closed much like a macropod.

( Read more... )

advaya:
I grew up in the woods of rural Virginia, and have always had a great respect for wilderness. It's my spirituality, to be exact. I grew up wanting to be a vet, which I no longer feel I have in me, but still the dream was there.

Yesterday my mother's coworker brought us a woodpecker she had witnessed being hit by the car infront of her. He was okay other than his wing, he was very active but could not fly. We took him to the Wildlife Center Of Virginia. It's an AMAZING facility. I was astounded at the beauty of the place. Unfortunately, the bird had to be euthanized as he would never fly again and his quality of life would be greatly reduced if he was allowed to live it out in a cage.

The center offer courses in wildlife rehabilation, which is something I would love to be able to do. I plan to take some and eventually get my license.

I'm not naive or anything and believe things like all animals can be saved. I definitely respect that I am not going to be working with pets which I am going to cuddle with and have as lifelong companions. Infact, I don't want to work with pets (one of the reasons I decided Vetinary Medicine was not for me.... That and I'm not a math person).

I am excited to be on this journey. I hope I can volunteer lots at the wildlifecenter.org/

taasla:
Howdy, I'm looking for some advice or someone to point me in the right direction. I've been having a bit of a problem with these lizards/ geckos that keep getting into my apartment. It's not that I don't want them here, but I have two indoor cats. I keep them inside so they don't harm wildlife. They roughed up one before I could get to it. It looked physically ok, but I haven't seen it in days.

The lizards seem like they can only get in through our door. The first time two of them ran into the apartment and I had to bolt to save both of them before my cats got them. The second and third time it was just one of them that keeps running in.

My fear is that either I won't notice them run in and the cats get to them before I can, or I accidentally step on one of them as they're running in. Are they staying here because I keep putting them back pretty close to my apartment door? Would it be better if I went to my back yard and put them in a tree... but then I'm afraid of a bird getting them. My fiance and I figure they're hanging out where they are because we don't get a lot of bird visitors by the front door.

Any help would be appreciated. I like my little neighbors, but I don't want anymore bad things to happen to them. :(

winterredwood:

Today I was cleaning an animal carrier that previously was used to house a skunk, and now I'm noticing that my clothes stink like skunk!  (I don't actually get to handle skunks yet, because I haven't had rabies shots.)  Any advice on how to get the smell out of my clothing?  I read something about soaking them in tomato sauce, but that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense (trade in the stench for stains?). 

Also, I wonder if anyone knows anything about the current availability of pre-exposure rabies vaccines in the U.S.  I tried to get them a couple of months ago but my doctor said he couldn't do it because there's a rabies vaccination shortage right now and they're only giving post-exposure shots.  (Here's info from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/RABIES/news/2008-07-31_RabVaxupdate.html) Has anyone heard when they're going to start giving the pre-exposure shots again? 

ljlauriet:

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting here. I love reading this community page as rehabbing is something I have no experience in but is a dream. I have a question. My friend in Coney Island rents a huge ballroom for her business and there is a pigeon stuck near the ceiling. He's been there for a few days and he won't fly out. We have both called our respective vets to ask for a referral to someone who can help and they suggested we call the city. I called the city and they said they don't have anyone but an exterminator and we are afraid they will kill it. Any advice on what we can do next?

Please help. Thank you!

san_simeon_girl:

I just found out that all the ducks in the MN Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic waterfowl nursery that my daughters and I were going to be working with on Sunday mornings (we started this past Sunday) had to be euthanized because some of them died of Duck Plague, a very contagious virus. There were about 200 of them.

Very sad.

bloodypinkbunny:
I have a friend who is over in Afghanistan right now. I talked to him today online and he told me that a local came up to him and showed him a picture of a baby brown bear. Apparently his the locals friend had captured it and they were planning to eat it. Well, my friend offered to buy the bear from them and now he's getting the bear tomorrow and doesn't know what to do with it.

As you can see, this is quite the situation.

Would any sanctuaries in the US be able to help him? I know of some places that have done rescue missions in Mexico and places like that, but I don't know if anybody would help considering the war situation. The bear is far too young to be on it's own and still needs to be fed by it's mother, so it's a pretty difficult situation. If anybody has any advise, information on nursing bear cubs, or contact information for US sanctuaries, that would really be a big help!

katreva:

Hello, everyone. This is my first post here, though I've been watching the community for a while. I'm new to wildlife rehabilitation-- well, I will be once I actually start. In a couple of weeks I'm starting an internship at a rehab center in the northwest. I'm excited, but nervous since I've never done anything like this before. The most I've done is help injured animals off the roads into the hands of people who know what they're doing.

ANYway, I haven't yet been able to get much information from the establishment I'll be working at, so I was wondering if I could ask some advice from you knowledgeable folk. Just basic things. One thing I'd like to know is: what sorts of clothes/protection do you typically wear while you're working? I think my internship will involve lots of cleaning as well as some tube-feeding and closer contact stuff later... so I'm not sure how concerned I should be about having specific gear or whatever. I was told to wear old shirts, but not t-shirts. What shirts exist besides t-shirts? Should I wear thick button-down shirts? At the animal shelter we were always told not to wear those since animals like to grab/bite the buttons... but I don't know.

Also, I'm just wondering if you have any general advice/thoughts/warnings/encouragement for someone just learning how to work with animals. If you feel so inclined, I'd also be interested in hearing how any of you started out doing what you do.

That was pretty long-winded. Sorry! But thanks in advance for any insight you might have. :) I admire you all.

notrowan:
Hello Rehabbers and the like!
I'm very new to this community (as in discovered it not even a day ago), and it looks like a promising little place to read interesting stories and pick up some knowledge here and there.
My question is this: I currently live in Bellingham, and I've been spending quite of bit of my recent spare time volunteering at my local animal shelter (for lost/abandoned pets). One of the fellow volunteers, holding a "small thing" wrapped in cloth, asked me do to a favor and punch holes in a shoebox for her. I asked what she held, and unwrapped her cloth a bit to reveal a tiny spotted fuzzball with a black beak.
"It's called a k-... kal... kil..."
"Killdeer?"
"Yeah! How'd you know?!"
How I miss my birding days.
Apparently a concerned person brought it into the shelter thinking the chick must be abandoned, as it must have been sitting alone on the ground. I told her, recalling the my long-lost knowledge, that since killdeer are mostly shorebirds that they must nest on the ground, therefore a chick on the ground is where it belongs... and that it probably shouldn't be moved.

Right?

(The poor thing made it's distinctive little cries for a while after that. I bet it misses mom and dad.)

PS: The chick was destined to be relocated to our local wildlife rehab center, so hopefully it'll get a second chance at shorebird life.

eahhh:
Got in a juvenile ruby-throated hummingbird and thought I'd share a video of it:

sarabella:
It is illegal to own wild, native birds in the USA.

What about Canada?

The reason I ask? I came across a girl on youtube today who advertises her "pet crow" in several videos - a wild, native American Crow who she "rescued" as a fledgling, and now keeps in captivity in her home. She boldly claims that it is not illegal because she lives in Canada. However, the bird looks disheveled, I wonder if she is giving it adequate care. More alarmingly, a lot of others are being encouraged to find wild crow fledglings of their own.

However:

The Wildlife Act of Canada says here:

"Attempt to capture wildlife"

29 Except as authorized by this Act, the regulations or a permit, a person who attempts to capture wildlife commits an offence."

THAT SAID - I just skimmed to find that piece; I'm not sure if that regulation applies to wildlife areas only. Furthermore, regulation may vary province by province.

Is someone more familiar?

eahhh:
Hey all! As the (mostly absent) moderator, I decided to respond to this post here instead of in the comments so that more people would be likely to see it.

I have a state license and also am a member of a blanket group with state and federal licensing. I've taken many classes, read dozens of books, and attended multiple symposiums. The most effective knowledge I've gained has come from my own and other's actual experiences with animals.

I loved the debate you participated in. Rehabbers are so passionate about what they do! I've yet to meet a rehabber suffering from an apathetic personality.

I also love that linzinct questioned the ethics of an open online discussion for wildlife rehabilitators and that so many thoughtful opinions and replies ensued.

My take on it is that this community was formed first and foremost as a place for rehabbers to discuss success stories, to vent frustrations (of which the post in question certainly qualifies), to correspond on wildlife rehab related issues, and to educate the public about what we do. I do happen to think rehabbers should have a place to unwind. It's also important for all rehabbers to have a support group, and though many are fortunate enough to live in areas with centers and groups, many more do not.

As responsible rehabbers you can all look out for posters needing special attention or careful answers. However, I do tend to agree with "anonymous" that knowledge is the best weapon. People who know that infants don't eat the same food as adults, that squirrels eat more than just nuts, or that insectivorous bats don't eat fruit are much less likely to bring in nutrient deficient animals. They're also more likely to promptly give up the animal to a rehabber when they realize how much work their cute "pet" will be, or to study more so that they can become rehabbers themselves.

The majority of rehabbers will tell you they got into the game because they themselves found an animal at some point.

I don't think a set of rules will be very effective in dealing with this sensitive issue, so I hope we can all agree to think on our feet and make decisions that best reflect our own morals and opinions in this matter. I hope that all of you continue to feel welcome here, whether you are simply interested in rehabilitation or are an actual rehabber, licensed or not.

pacificpikachu:

Hello, fellow rehabbers!

I just got in five baby wild turkeys, and they all have the same problem--legs that are way splayed out at a 180 degree angle. The little guys can't stand at all as a result, and while they otherwise look healthy and bright-eyed, obviously this is a big problem. Someone I talked to said it could be due to a Magnesium deficiency, but I'm having trouble finding clear information about this online.

( Pictures for reference )

Anyone have any clues? Is this treatable? If so, how would I go about treating it?

Any help would be appreciated very much.

wikith:
Since this has kind of broken off into a thread on the other post, I thought I'd start a new post ot talk about this...
What are some of the most ridiculous things people have fed animals that eventually came in to you?
I once got in a neonate raccoon that had been fed exclusively orange juice for two days (that one might have been salvageable nutritionally, but unfortunately rabies laws meant it had to be put to sleep because all the kids in the family had been sticking their hands in its mouth playing with it).
Also astoundingly stupid was the baby robin, I believe it was, that had been fed on white cheese (she was very adamant, it was NOT yellow cheese!) and grapefruit for two weeks. Can we say metabolic bone disease?
I've got a ton of these after six years of doing this, but those are two of my favorite "what were you thinking?!" stories.

san_simeon_girl:
This isn't really about rehab but I thought it would be the best place to post this.

I have an unsightly brushpile in my backyard that I was planning to get rid of this spring. But there's this cute little baby bunny that lives under it.

Is it going to live there forever, or do you think it will move on at some point? I am pretty sure there were bunnies there last year too. I don't want to take away their home, but that brush pile really is unsightly. I don't know what to do!

linzinct:

Question: How many of you rehabbing wildlife are actually licensed? 

Because if you are not licensed, you should not be in possession of wildlife. It varies by state law obviously, but as for birds, it's against federal law to have in your possession any bird except for a starling, pigeon or house sparrow.

I am concerned for the well-being of these animals. Giving advice to someone who is not licensed is not a good idea. And giving advice if YOU'RE not licensed is just as bad!

I work at a Wildlife Rehab but am not licensed. When I do work with the animals, it is under the supervision of a licensed rehabber. 

This group shouldn't be "just for fun". And I hope whoever started can moderate it responsibly.

san_simeon_girl:
As soon as tomorrow, Interior Secretary Kempthorne is expected to announce the elimination of federal protections for hundreds of endangered wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.

Please take a moment right now to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-WILD (9453) and deliver this simple message:

“My name is _________ and I’m calling from ____________. I understand that the federal government may remove wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Central Idaho regions tomorrow from the list of federally protected threatened and endangered species.

I want your department to know that I strongly oppose the weakening of protections for these wolves and expect you to fulfill your obligation to secure a lasting future in the Northern Rockies for these amazing animals.”

The lives of hundreds of wolves are at stake. Please call tonight before 8 PM Eastern Time or first thing tomorrow morning.

In a matter of hours, newspapers across the country could be reporting on the Bush/Cheney Administration's expected announcement … and its potentially devastating impact on some of America’s most beloved wolves.

But today I need your help to let these federal officials know that Americans love our wolves and want to see them protected.

Please call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-WILD (9453) and speak out for our wolves. Leave a message if you can, and remember to let me know that you called.

(x-posted)

xondra:
It may have been a couple of weeks ago when a stray baby dove landed in the balcony of my apartment. It did great for the most part, attracting older doves to feed itself. We also provided food and water so the other doves would feel tempted to help my little friend.
Today it got scared and glided 5 stories onto the parking lot, where I captured it so it wouldn't die under the wheel of a car. However, I'm not sure whether what I'm planning to do is correct: take it to a vet so it can check for injuries and broken wings (though I think they are perfect), so I can take it back to the balcony where it might grow and fly away where it cannot give me heart attacks. But is this correct, or should I put it back in the balcony asap?
Thanks in advance!

ETA:: the sun is down right now but there's a little light so I can see the shapes of things and some detail. I don't know if it's prudent to liberate it right now because of the lack of full light, but I'm prepared to do it if it's the right thing.

apegirl22:
hi! short time lurker, first time poster.

i've been a volunteer rehabber for 4 years. i'm currently volunteering at a raptor center that also takes in mammals and songbirds, and there are also pigeons and doves on the premises.

i've recently discovered that i'm pregnant and i was wondering if anyone out there has rehabbed through their pregnancy. i haven't had my first doctor's appointment yet, but i'm sure they'll tell me to stop because, especially when dealing with pregnancy, doctors tend to be on the alarmist side and want to play things safe.

i would like to think that if i take the right precautions (wash my hands obsessively, maybe even wear gloves) that it'd be okay, but i also worry about inhaling airborne fecal matter (beating eagle wings can send a lot of stuff airborne!), and the regular scrapes, scratches and bites that come with the territory.

don't get me wrong, i want to play it safe, too, but i'd prefer to err just this side of caution, and not to be overcautious. and i really don't want to stop rehabbing for the next 8 months if i don't have to :)

i know none of you are board certified physicians or anything. this is more of a fact-finding mission. if my doctor ends up being dead-set against it, of course i'll stop. but it'd be nice to be able to go in with some ammunition.

thanks!
laura

bloodyhalleluja:

This is my first post here. *whoooo*
My name is Jael, I'm from SC,USA and I have been rehabbing wildlife for 3 years now. I have dealt with squirrels, possums, bunnies, fawns, raccoons, groundhogs, a variety of small birds, an owl, and a bazillion  sugar gliders. [our group does exotics, too] I've read through some of the posts here and it seems to be a very friendly community. =]
Sadly, I've dealt with a lot of unfriendly people online about wildlife rehab.
I think that my age kind of makes people think that I'm not as educated as other rehabbers who have gone through school to work with animals and whatnot, but to those people I ask them to tell every animal I've successfully raised and released how inept I am as a rehabber. 
I hope I won't end up dealing with the same kind of criticism here. From what I've already seen, this seems to be a very helpful and caring group of people. I'm glad to have found this community!