Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation
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MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION Fourth Edition, 2012 Edited by Erica A. Miller, DVM International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition, 2012, NWRA & IWRC Page 1 Copyright © 2012 by National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council All rights reserved Individual pages or sections (not to exceed 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 Preferred citation: Miller, E.A., editor. 2012. Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, St. Cloud, MN. 116 pages. First Edition published 1989 Second Edition published 1993 Third Edition published 2000 Fourth Edition published 2012 ISBN 978-1-931439-28-2 International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association PO Box 3197 2625 Clearwater Road, Suite 110 Eugene, OR 97403 USA St. Cloud, MN 56301 USA (408) 271-2685 (320) 230-9920 [email protected] [email protected] www.theiwrc.org www.nwrawildlife.org Page 2 Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition, 2012, NWRA & IWRC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The wildlife rehabilitators listed below have designed the various sections of this document. Their task was to compose a document and then reach a consensus with colleagues. This was no small task, and we thank them for their many efforts. Members of both organiza- tions were encouraged to contribute; many individual rehabilitators sent in their sugges- tions, comments and concerns, all of which helped to make this a better document. Those who made signifi cant contributions include: Mathias Engelman, Harriet Forrester, Susan Heckley, Harry Kelton, Nonda Surrat, and Regina Whitman.Special thanks to Tracy Leaver, the chair of the NWRA Standards Committee for several years, as she initiated this pro- cess, and then gathered and sorted the many letters that were submitted. Thanks, also, to Di Conger, Lessie Davis, Cheryl Hoggard, DVM, Diane Nickerson, Louise Shimmel, Elaine Thrune, and Sandy Woltman, whose editing helped make the document clear and under- standable. Typesetting and layout was done by Erica Miller, DVM. The concept of standards for wildlife rehabilitation and much of the original work was ac- complished in the early 1980s by: Pat Adams, Curt Clumpner, Betsy Crozer, Mary Forness, Lynne Frink, MA, Pixie and Robert Goodrich, Michelle Green, IWRC Board of Directors 1982 and 1983, Susan Kelly, John Mulder, DVM, Carol Odel, Vaughan Pratt, DVM, Basil Tangredi, DVM, Kris Thorne-Bolduc, Jan White, DVM, and Linda Wolf, DVM. The third edition (2000) of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation resulted from the suggestions and contributions of many wildlife rehabilitators via letters, phone calls, email messages, and conversations at national and regional conferences. Signifi cant contribu- tions were made by the following individuals: Wendy Aeschliman, Lori Arent, Ann Brad- shaw, Susan Barnard, Allan & Shirley Casey, Curt Clumpner, Michael Cox, Lessie Davis, Marge Gibson, Robyn Graboski, Deirdre Goodfriend, Frank Gould, Sandy Heyn, Patrice Klein, VMD, Amanda Lollar, Daniel Ludwig, PhD, Bea Orendorff, Clyde Peeling, Mike Pratt, Louise Shimmel, Barbara Suto, Florina Tseng, DVM, and Regina Whitman. DEDICATION This edition of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation is dedicated to the memory of Wendy Fox. From her presentation “Mimimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation--It’s All About You” (2004) to every aspect of her work relating to wildlife rehabilitation, Wendy was a proponent of using these guidelines to “raise our effi ciency and improve the level of care we provide [to wildlife].” Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition, 2012, NWRA & IWRC Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..........................................................................................................i LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................iv CODE OF ETHICS .................................................................................................................v MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS .................................................................................vi STATEMENT OF PURPOSE ............................................................................................. viii DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................ix Chapter 1 – MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION PROCESS 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Minimum Care Requirements .................................................................................... 3 1.3 Minimum Basic Knowledge for Wildlife Rehabilitators.............................................. 6 1.4 Recording & Reporting Requirements ....................................................................... 8 1.5 Statistical Standards .................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Veterinary Policy ...................................................................................................... 12 1.7 Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities Review ...................................................................13 Chapter 2 – DISEASE CONTROL 2.1 Rationale for Disease Control .................................................................................. 14 2.2 Prevention of Disease Transmission ........................................................................14 2.3 Standards to Prevent Disease Transmission within the Facility ...............................15 2.3.1 Control of Diseases Transmissible from Animals to Humans .......................... 15 2.3.2 Control of Diseases Transmissible from Animal to Animal............................... 15 2.3.3 Public Health Responsibilities.......................................................................... 16 2.3.4 Release Considerations................................................................................... 17 2.3.5 Disposal of Carcasses and Animal Waste Products .......................................18 2.4 Disinfection............................................................................................................... 19 2.4.1 Defi nition of Common Terms ........................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Types of Cleaning Agents ................................................................................20 2.4.3 Basic Cleaning Techniques .............................................................................. 22 Chapter 3 – BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSING ANIMALS 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 25 3.2 Cage Size Criteria Based on Medical Status ........................................................... 26 3.2.1 Restricted Activity/Mobility .............................................................................. 27 3.2.2 Limited Activity/Mobility ...................................................................................27 3.2.3 Unlimited Activity/Mobility ................................................................................ 28 3.3 Natural History/Behavior ......................................................................................... 28 3.4 General Indoor Caging/Housing .............................................................................. 28 3.5 General Outdoor Caging/Housing ............................................................................29 Chapter 4 – AVIAN HOUSING REQUIREMENTS 4.1 Overview .................................................................................................................. 31 4.1.1 General Avian Housing Considerations ...........................................................31 4.1.2 Construction Materials .....................................................................................31 4.1.3 Flooring Considerations ...................................................................................32 4.1.4 General Avian Furnishings ............................................................................... 32 Page ii Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition, 2012, NWRA & IWRC 4.2 Housing for Songbirds.............................................................................................. 33 4.2.1 General Songbird Housing Considerations ..................................................... 33 4.2.2 Construction Materials .....................................................................................34 4.2.3 Furnishings ...................................................................................................... 34 4.3 Housing for Waterbirds ............................................................................................ 37 4.3.1 General Waterbird Housing Considerations .................................................... 37 4.3.2 Construction Materials .....................................................................................38 4.3.3 Furnishings ...................................................................................................... 44 4.4 Housing for Raptors ................................................................................................