* Showing the damage to a Snowy Owl that had flown over a methane flare. In 2013, I presented at the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Council conference about the damage to birds from methane flares.
Working with animals has always been a dream of mine, and I never really knew what avenue I wanted to take in the field until I started volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation centre.
It’s not easy getting a career in wildlife rehabilitation, and so I wanted to share a few tips. I started as a volunteer and 6 years on I’m still in the field and loving it!
Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! I cannot stress this enough, but if you are wanting to get experience in wildlife rehabilitation then find your local centre and donate your time. Not only will you get vital knowledge of the field, but you’ll also see if this is something you want to pursue as a career or not. I know many people who would rather volunteer at a centre than actually work there - the job isn’t for everyone.
Never stop learning! While experience from a centre is great, each centre is different and there is usually more than one way to do something. Also, wildlife rehabilitation is a relatively new field and new practices and procedures are being introduced all the time. * Take the Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Course by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC). This is available in Canada and the USA throughout the year. The IWRC also have classes available for you to take online. * Attend conferences! The National Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council have annual conferences open to all. They provide a great array of lectures and hands-on workshops.
Network! It can be intimidating to strike up conversation at conferences, trainings, or even wildlife talks at your local nature club, but it’s so beneficial. If I hadn’t made the effort to get to know others, I wouldn’t have been as fortunate with the opportunities and offers I’ve had. A strong effort should be made to connect with other centres in your area. Some centres specialize in certain species, and so for the benefit of the animal you may need to transfer patients to them. Weird cases always come in and you never know when you may need to call on others for advice, get to know your peers!
I hope this helps if you’re interested in wildlife rehabilitation! Even if you only want to volunteer in the field, attending the conferences and taking courses can be a huge help to the animals in your care.
Ask away if you have questions!
