Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation
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BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 Introduction to wildlife rehabilitation Acknowledgements i Useful contacts ii Realities of wildlife care iii Vetiquette iv The Do’s and Do Not’s of rehabilitation vi (Photo – J Baker) Copyright © 2013 No part may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of the Department of Environment and Conservation and the individual authors March 2013 BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 Acknowledgements The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) gratefully acknowledges the contributions of experienced wildlife rehabilitators to this course manual. All contributors have many years of skill and experience in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sick, injured or orphaned wildlife back into their natural Western Australian habitats. Acknowledgements for sections of this manual are as follows: Sick and injured wildlife: Perth Zoological Parks Authority Care of birds: Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Care of raptors: Society for the Preservation of Raptors Inc Care of reptiles: Ruth Haight, Turtle Oblonga Rescue & Rehabilitation Network Inc Care of mammals: Sue Turner, Kooikuna Sanctuary, Woorooloo [email protected] Wildlife legislation: Nature Protection, DEC Department of Agriculture and Food . (Photo – J Baker) (Photo – J Baker) i BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 Useful contacts Armadale Reptile Centre, 9399 6927 [email protected] Wungong Australian Wildlife Health network www.wildlifehealth.org.au Birds Australia 9383 7749 www.birdsaustralia.com.au Community Involvement Unit 9334 0279 [email protected] (DEC) 9334 0251 Darling Range Wildlife Shelter 9394 0885 www.darlingrangewildlife.com.au Department of Agriculture and www.agric.wa.gov.au Food 1800 084 881 Pest and disease information (Free call) service Invasive Animals Cooperative www.invasiveanimals.com Research Centre Kanyana Wildlife Centre, 9291 3900 [email protected] Lesmurdie Kooikuna Wildlife Sanctuary 9573 1578 [email protected] Malubillai Wildlife Carer’s Network, 0412 609 104 Victoria Park Mandurah Wildlife Rescue & 9582 3938 www.mandurahwildlife.com.au Hospital Native Animal Rescue, Malaga 9294 3434 www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au Native Arc, Bibra Lake 9417 7105 www.nativearc.org.au Turtle Oblonga Rescue & 0427 810 085 www.turtleoblonganetwork.org.au Rehabilitation Network Wildcare Helpline 9474 9055 [email protected] Wildlife Watch (DEC) Illegal activity 1800 449 453 (free call) ii BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 Realities of wildlife care Financial costs basic setup includes a dedicated area; a laundry won’t do – a shed or container will electricity, water, sinks with hot and cold taps dedicated wildlife fridge for food and medications dedicated freezer for dead animals, that is separate to frozen wildlife food veterinarian bills and supplies gloves, disinfectants, cleaning equipment, tissues, paper towels, garbage bags hot boxes, heat lamps, enclosures, maintenance tools and materials heaters, air conditioning or fans live food, various seeds, joey milk formula, fresh fruit and vegetables vehicle for transporting animals, pet paks stationery items, computer, internet connection microwave, wheat hot packs, thermometers. Personal costs Time – as well as taking up a lot of your waking hours and even your non-waking hours, the unpredictable nature of wildlife caring will play havoc with your work schedules, household and family routines. Family dissention – before you begin, it is important that your family fully supports you and understands the demands this will make on your time and how they will, in turn, be affected Emotional wear and tear, which doesn’t diminish with experience. iii BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 Vetiquette It is essential that you establish and maintain a good relationship with your vet, and the vet clinic staff. Your vet is your most important ally. Whilst wildlife rehabilitation is your choice, be mindful of the fact that vets are not obliged to treat your wildlife free of charge. Vets are running a business with staff wages to pay, and a clinic to maintain; this is something which should be borne in mind at all times. Make an appointment with your local vet to discuss whether he/she is willing to work with you, and how such an arrangement could work. Ask the vet to establish at the outset his/her guidelines for dealing with you. For example, they may place a limit on the number of animals per week, ask that your visits be restricted to particular days of the week. Whilst many vets are willing to work with wildlife rehabilitators, providing their expertise free of charge, they cannot afford to provide consumables free of charge and nor should they be expected to do so. Before commencing a course of treatment for any animal, discuss the cost with the vet. Isofluorane anaesthetic is very expensive as are x-rays and pins, which are around $30 each. Medications too, can be expensive. Always phone beforehand. Avoid visiting or phoning the clinic during its busy times. Ask the vet when you should call – often a good time to call is after lunch, once the morning rush is out of the way. If you’re part of a rehab group, delegate or roster one person to call at the appointed time each day. Be professional, courteous and organised in your approach. Be punctual. Be prepared with any necessary equipment, for example thick gloves, towels, carry- boxes. Ensure the animal is securely contained in an easily accessible container (bird cages are unsuitable). Take the animal’s history/treatment sheet with the animal; the vet needs all the facts. Your vet may receive injured wildlife from the public and may call on you to take these animals into care as soon as possible. It is important that you collect the animals within the agreed time frame. Make sure that you leave a printed copy of your contact details with the vet staff and make sure that you are contactable at all times. Vet clinics are busy and don’t have time to keep calling you. Make a point of phoning late on Friday to see whether any animals have been brought in; otherwise these animals may be left in the clinic over the weekend. iv BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 Offer to provide the clinic staff with a simple form which they can give to wildlife rescuers to facilitate the process of obtaining a history of the animal involved. If your vet receives marsupials, provide the clinic with a variety of pouches. Offer to provide specialised food for any (not just your) wildlife being cared for by the clinic, especially animals being held overnight. Offer donations of disposable items you’ve sourced from your hospital or GP. Show your appreciation with flowers, cakes for morning tea, chocolates. Remember to credit your vet and vet clinic staff when dealing with the media, in your publications and on your website. Don’t forget to say Thank you, and say it often. v BASIC COURSE IN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION MANUAL 2013 The Do’s and Do Not’s of rehabilitation DO DO NOT Phone the Wildcare Helpline if you are unsure Feed animals in the wild. Under no circumstances feed how to find help for an injured animal in the wild. milk to birds Keep wildlife in a busy room with pets and children, TV Reduce stress at all stages of rehabilitation. or radio blasting. Resist neighbours wanting to cuddle or Stress kills wildlife! disturb wildlife you are caring for; no “Show and Tell” Assume that because you have attended the basic Take injured wildlife to an accredited wildlife course that you can now start caring for wildlife on your rehabilitator as soon as possible. own. Learn how to care for sick and injured wildlife Try to care for animals you are not familiar with. Pass with a qualified mentor. them onto a carer who has the experience. Put wild birds in wire cages. Their frantic fluttering will Follow first aid procedures for birds: assess, rest, cause feather damage on the wire cage which can delay warmth and fluids, hydrate before feeding. release for months. Network with other rehabilitators so you have Spread misinformation. Admit if you don’t know the like-minded people for advice, second opinions and answer. Ask questions until you find the truth. emotional support. Contact people with suitable release sites who are willing to assist with the final stage of Take on a species without having a suitable release plan rehabilitation. Contact a DEC Wildlife Officer for and site. assistance. Dispose of dead animals in an approved Release a territorial species for example, a magpie into incinerator. Ask your vet to dispose of frozen dead another clan’s home range - this is certain death. animals. Conduct yourself in a polite and professional Throw diseased dead animals in the garbage. They will manner when dealing with the public. Bad news end up at the tip and scavenger species will spread the travels a lot faster than good and all other carers diseases. will pay for any indiscretions. vi Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation in Western Australia Copyright© 2008 by Department of Environment and Conservation All rights reserved Individual pages or sections (not exceeding 5 pages) of this work may be quoted or copied for purposes of research or rehabilitation as long as attribution is displayed, clearly showing footers and page numbers. First Published 2008 ISBN 1 921094 13 3 Department of Environment and Conservation 17 Dick Perry Avenue Technology Park Kensington www.naturebase.net ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This document was based on the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 3rd edition, published by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC), San Jose California www.iwrc.-online.org and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association’s (NWRA) www.nwrawildlife.org, St. Cloud, Minnesota USA, Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 3rd edition, 77 pages; Miller, E.A., editor, 2000.