MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION Third Edition, 2000 Edited by Erica A. Miller, DVM International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2000, NWRA & IWRC Page 1 Copyright © 2000 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. 2000. Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 3rd edition. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, St. Cloud, MN. 77 pages. First Edition published 1989 Second Edition published 1993 Third Edition published 2000 ISBN 1-931439-00-1 International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association 4437 Central Place Suite B-4 14 North 7th Avenue Suisun, CA 94585-1633 USA St. Cloud, MN 56303-4766 USA (707) 864-1761 (320) 259-4086 [email protected] [email protected] www.iwrc-online.org www.nwrawildlife.org Page 2 Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2000, IWRC & NWRA ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 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 and the Boards of Directors of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and International Wild- life Rehabilitation Council. This was no small task, and we thank them for their many efforts. Special thanks to the chairs of the Standards Committees, Erica Miller (NWRA) and Robyn Graboski (IWRC), as well as Marnie Allbritten, Lisa Borgia, Sue Coulson, Lessie Davis, Bea Orendorff, Louise Shimmel, and Elaine Thrune, whose editing helped make the document clear and understandable. Typesetting and layout was done by John Frink and Erica Miller. The concept of standards for wildlife rehabilitation and much of the original work was accom- plished in the early 1980s by: Pat Adams, Curt Clumpner, Betsy Crozer, Mary Forness, Lynne Frink, Pixie and Robert Goodrich, Michelle Green, IWRC Board of Directors 1982 & 1983, Susan Kelly, John Mulder, Carol Odel, Vaughan Pratt, Basil Tangredi, Kris Thorne-Bolduc, Jan White, and Linda Wolf. The third edition of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation has resulted from the suggestions and contributions of many wildlife rehabilitators via letters, phone calls, e-mail messages, and conversations at national and regional conferences. Significant contributions were made by the following individuals: Wendy Aeschliman, Lori Arent, Ann Bradshaw, Susan Barnard, Allan & Shirley Casey, Curt Clumpner, Michael Cox, Lessie Davis, Marge Gibson, Robyn Graboski, Deirdre Goodfriend, Frank Gould, Sandy Heyn, Patrice Klein, Amanda Lollar, Daniel Ludwig, Bea Orendorff, Clyde Peeling, Mike Pratt, Louise Shimmel, Barbara Suto, Florina Tseng and Regina Whitman. A special note of gratitude goes to Marlys Bulander of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Migra- tory Bird Permit Office for reviewing this document. The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, a KeyBank Trust. The Trust’s grant provided support funding for publication of the third edition of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabili- tation. Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2000, NWRA & IWRC Page 3 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... 6 CODE OF ETHICS............................................................................................................................. 7 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS ........................................................................................... 8 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE ............................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 1 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION PROCESS................................10 1.1 Background ...........................................................................................................................10 1.2 Minimum Care Requirements ............................................................................................. 11 1.3 Recording & Reporting Requirements...............................................................................14 1.4 Statistical Standards ............................................................................................................16 1.5 Veterinary Policy...................................................................................................................17 1.6 Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities Review............................................................................18 Chapter 2 - DISEASE CONTROL ..................................................................................................19 2.1 Rationale for Disease Control ............................................................................................19 2.2 Prevention of Disease Transmission .................................................................................19 2.3 Standards to Prevent Disease Transmission within the Facility .....................................20 2.3.1 Control of Diseases Transmissible from Animals to Humans ................................20 2.3.2 Control of Diseases Transmissible from Animal to Animal ....................................20 2.3.3 Public Health Responsibilities ...................................................................................21 2.3.4 Release Considerations ............................................................................................22 2.3.5 Disposal of Carcasses and Animal Waste Products ..............................................22 2.4 Disinfection ...........................................................................................................................24 2.4.1 Definition of Common Terms .....................................................................................24 2.4.2 Types of Cleaning Agents ..........................................................................................24 Chapter 3 - BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSING ANIMALS .............................................29 3.1 Overview................................................................................................................................29 3.2 Cage Size Criteria Based on Medical Status ...................................................................30 3.2.1 Restricted Activity/Mobility .........................................................................................31 3.2.2 Limited Activity/Mobility ..............................................................................................31 3.2.3 Unlimited Activity/Mobility...........................................................................................31 3.3 Natural History/Behavior ......................................................................................................32 3.4 General Indoor Caging/Housing .........................................................................................32 3.5 General Outdoor Caging/Housing ......................................................................................32 Chapter 4 - AVIAN HOUSING REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................34 4.1 Overview................................................................................................................................34 4.1.1 General Avian Housing Considerations ...................................................................34 4.1.2 Construction Materials ................................................................................................34 4.1.3 Flooring Considerations .............................................................................................34 4.1.4 General Avian Furnishings .........................................................................................35 Page 4 Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2000, IWRC & NWRA 4.2 Housing for Songbirds .........................................................................................................35 4.2.1 General Songbird Housing Considerations .............................................................35 4.2.2 Construction Materials ................................................................................................35 4.2.3 Furnishings ..................................................................................................................36 4.3 Housing for Waterbirds ........................................................................................................39 4.3.1 General Waterbird Housing Considerations ............................................................39 4.3.2 Construction Materials ................................................................................................39 4.3.3 Furnishings ..................................................................................................................39 4.4 Housing for Raptors .............................................................................................................45