Eng IV - Wildlife Rehabilitation

Abigail Gauthier

Mrs. Haney

English IV

October 20, 2016

Wildlife Rehabilitation

        Where do injured wild animals go when they need to be treated for an injury or taken care of when they’re sick? They get taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Also known as wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife rehabilitation centers evaluate and take care of animals until they’re ready to be released back into their natural habitats. A wildlife sanctuary provides a safe environment for the animals around the area and for newly released animals, in more ways than one.

        At wildlife sanctuaries animals are cared for all hours of the day, every day, by volunteers, interns, and other workers for that site. If the animal’s injuries prevent them from being able to survive in the wild and fend for themselves they’re taken to sanctuaries. Individuals such as veterinarians and organizations must be granted wildlife rehabilitation permits in accordance with the 321 CMR 2.13^[1] to legally care for wildlife. With the permit individuals, can legally possess and treat wild animals with the exception of: deer, moose, bear, federally-listed species, and venomous snakes. Only licensed rehabilitators, or veterinarians who occasionally treat wildlife in the case of an emergency, may legally provide care for wildlife.

For anyone who wishes to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, volunteering is greatly encouraged to gain a better understanding of the time and commitment involved. It is important to locate a licensed rehabilitator if you find an animal that appears to be sick or injured. Most rehabilitators specialize in the caring for certain wildlife species and types. “A wildlife sanctuary is a place of refuge where abused, injured and abandoned captive wildlife may live in peace and dignity for the remainder of their lives.” (PAWS) Most rehabilitators specialize in caring for certain wildlife species and types.

When people stumble upon animals that look abandoned their first instinct is to pick them up, and that’s wrong. “Often, particularly in spring, concerned people pick up animals that they think are orphaned. More than 75 percent of such orphans ‘rescued’ every spring should have been left alone. Most wild animals are dedicated parents and will not abandon their young, but they do leave them alone for long periods of time while looking for food.” (Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries) There are even some species that will linger until the human intruder leaves instead of confronting them, putting themselves and their young in danger. Many species limit the number of daily visits to their young to prevent predators from discovering the location of their newborns. If the animal doesn’t seem physically injured it is in everyone’s best interest to leave the animal where it is, in case the parent is nearby and the human intruder is what’s preventing them from returning to their young.