The Work
Wildlife rehabilitation is a profession involving the treatment and care of sick, injured or orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing them back to their natural habitats in the wild. For rehabilitation to be deemed successful released animals must be able to survive on their own and be an integral part of their species population, i.e., recognize and obtain appropriate foods, select mates of their own species to reproduce, and respond appropriately to potential dangers (people, cars, dogs, natural predators, etc.).

Those animals who sustain injuries or illnesses that prevent them from living successfully in the wild are humanely euthanized to end their suffering. Wildlife rehabilitation is not an attempt to turn wild animals into pets. Patients are held in captivity only until they are able to live independently in the wild. This is true at PAWS Wildlife Center, where we do not keep any wild animals permanently at our center, not even for educational purposes.

Who can do the work?
Federal law protects all birds and state laws additionally protect most other kinds of wildlife. To work with mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, wildlife rehabilitators and wildlife rehabilitation centers must be issued special permits from state wildlife agencies. Before receiving their permits they must meet various requirements, such as specialized training, participation in mentorship programs, facility inspections, and written or oral exams. Rehabilitators who wish to care for native birds must also get permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is illegal for people to attempt to rehabilitate a wild animal without the appropriate permits.

Rehabilitation is often a complicated and time-consuming process. Although the work can be stressful and demanding, the reward is to see an animal recover and return to a wild, free life. Best of all, it provides the opportunity for environmental education, which, in turn, helps wildlife on a much larger scale.

They also need to understand any dangers and diseases the animals may present to rehabilitators, and how to safely handle and restrain wildlife under care. Many of the skills involved in wildlife rehabilitation are learned through hands-on experience. Volunteering for a rehabilitation center and participating in an intern program are two ways to help develop these skills. A course of study in ecology, wildlife biology, zoology or veterinary medicine is also recommended.

Because of their training, wildlife rehabilitators can help concerned people decide whether an animal truly needs help. Young birds and mammals should be returned to their families if at all possible. Even well-trained rehabilitators are not equivalent replacements for biological parents. Rehabilitators can provide instructions for how to reunite wildlife families, keeping the safety of the animals and the rescuers in mind. They can also suggest humane, long-term solutions when conflicts arise between humans and their wild neighbors.

Once they receive their permits, responsible rehabilitators continue their education by attending conferences, seminars, and workshops, by keeping up with published literature, and by networking with others in the field.

Examples of Jobs in Wildlife Rehabilitation
Wildlife rehabilitators are involved in all aspects of wild animal care from admission to release. They perform physical examinations, administer treatments, manage diets and feeding schedules, monitor animal behavior and oversee cleaning and animal husbandry. Wildlife rehabilitators must have extensive knowledge of animals’ behavior, habitat and food needs.

Wildlife veterinarians oversee the medical care of wild patients in a rehabilitation center. They perform surgeries, prescribe medications, repair broken bones, diagnose diseases and advise wildlife rehabilitators on proper courses of treatment.

Naturalist/biologist positions vary from one rehabilitation center to the next. At PAWS, the naturalist manages the release of rehabilitated wild animals back into the wild, represents PAWS in the media, writes content for public education materials, oversees post-release studies, and assists the public with humane solutions for wildlife-human conflicts.

For Further Information
PAWS Wildlife Center
425.787.2500 x817

Washington Wildlife Rehabilitation Association

National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA)

International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC)

More About PAWS Wildlife Center