Wildlife Rehabilitator: A Rewarding Career or Volunteer Effort

Wildlife rehabilitation is the care for injured and orphaned wildlife with the intent of releasing animals back to the wild. Wildlife rehabilitators care for injured and orphaned wild birds and mammals to maximize their chance for survival when they are returned to their native habitat. Wildlife rehabilitation involves emergency care, long-term rehabilitation, conditioning for release and finally release into the wild.

Wildlife rehabilitators respond to their "call of duty" because animals have been subjected to acts of humans, not nature. It is the duty of a wildlife rehabilitator to respond when animals are:

•Hit by cars
•Injured
•Poisoned
•Shot illegally
•Kept as "pets"
•Displaced by habitat destruction
•Entangled in fences, traps, and fishing lines

Many species of animals are rescued daily by rehabilitators across the globe. From seagulls, pelicans, cormorants, brown peilicans, and hummingbirds to raccoons, every type of creature has a stroke of bad luck and rely on wildlife rehabilitators to respond. Wildlife rehabilitators build flight cages, enhance breeding conditions, nurse animals back to health, and so much more.

If you wish to learn more about becoming a wildlife rehabilitator, contact your state parks and wildlife department for an Application for a Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit or for more information.