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About the Wildlife In
Need Center
What We Do
Wildlife rehabilitation is the treatment and care of injured,
diseased, orphaned, or displaced indigenous wildlife, and the
subsequent return of healthy viable animals to appropriate habitats
in the wild. At the Wildlife In Need Center we answer over
10,000 phone calls from people asking for advice or help with
wildlife issues and admit over 3,000 animals annually. We also
conduct educational programs in schools, for scout groups, and for
church and civic groups.
The Center is run
primarily by volunteers and a very small staff, operating 365 days a
year. We receive no funding from county, state, or federal
governments. We run extensively on private contributions,
primarily from individual donors, but also from corporate
foundations and private foundation grants.
Cause of Injury
95% of the animals admitted and treated by rehabilitators sustain
their injuries from human actions or intervention. Common
causes of injury are from automobiles, window strikes, toxic
substances, domestic pets, fishing line and tackle, and displacement
due to habitat loss.
History of
Rehabilitation
For centuries, well-meaning individuals have tried to care for
injured or orphaned wildlife. The results were often sad.
Medical care that worked with humans did not always carry over to all
animals. Diets did not correspond with what the animals would
need and find in the wild. Orphans would not get the proper
socialization with others of their kind. Many animals raised
became imprinted on humans (believed that they also were humans) or
habituated to them. Rarely were these animals properly
prepared to survive on their own in the wild. In time, success
stories and techniques were shared among rehabilitators. Small
rehabilitation centers started appearing in the United States and
other countries. Papers were published and workshops were
held. In the last twenty years, this field has grown
significantly. Organizations have been formed to facilitate
communication between rehabilitators with the goal of increased
success rates.
How to Become a
Wildlife Rehabilitator
If you are interested in becoming a wildlife rehabilitator please
contact the Wildlife In Need Center at (262) 968-5075 or email us at
contact@helpingwildlife.org.
For additional
information visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Website:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/whealth/rehab/index.htm |
