DFW Urban Wildlife

I first became interested in wildlife rehabilitation when I was just a boy. I still remember the day. I was perusing our middle school’s library when I stumbled across the book, Wild Orphan Babies by William J. Weber, DVM. I took the book off the shelf, and as I thumbed through the first several pages, I became increasingly intrigued by the information found inside. Of course, I borrowed the book from the library, and went on to read it cover to cover in just a few days–then again and again over the following weeks.

The author of this book was a practicing veterinarian whose business was located in the town of Leesburg near Orlando, in what was then certainly a much more rural part of Florida than it is now. Through his work, Dr. Weber was called upon, time and again, to help folks who had come across orphaned or injured wild animals and wanted to rescue them. Over time, Dr. Weber developed techniques for assisting both orphaned mammals and baby birds. Later, he documented and shared these techniques in his book. Each chapter and section of Wild Orphan Babies is dedicated to a different aspect of rehabilitating orphaned baby animals–from rescue to release.

At the time of my first reading, I was awestruck by the information the book contained. Back then, I was still largely working under the impression that any human intervention with juvenile animals could only lead to a tragic outcome–a common misconception. This book showed me that it didn’t have to be that way.

In the years since, I have maintained my interest in wildlife rehabilitation, and with the launch of the DFW Urban Wildlife website in 2005, I began seeking opportunities to meet and visit with local wildlife rehabbers. As it turns out, we have a nice community of these good folks in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and they all have interesting stories that are worth telling. On several occasions, I have accepted an invitation from a rehabber to see a special animal, tag along for a release event, or even justcome out and learn more about wildlife rehabilitation in general. Afterward, it was not uncommon for a blog post to result from one of these visits. I’ve included links to a few examples below, if you are interested in further reading…

ARTICLE: Rescue, Rehab, and Release

ARTICLE: Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

ARTICLE: Rehabbing the Bald Eagle

ARTICLE: Rehabbing Baby Bobcats

ARTICLE: The Unordinary Raccoon

ARTICLE: Gray Foxes Get Some Help

The practice of wildlife rehabilitation has changed a lot in the years since I first read Wild Orphan Babies. It certainly still requires the same level of hard work and dedication–and efforts are still largely undersupported–but we now have a whole cadre of skilled wildlife rehabbers working all across the state of Texas, the country, and possibly even the world.

The community of people and businesses involved in the endeavor of wildlife rehabilitation has grown significantly over the years as well. Where once a rehabber would have to improvise specialized tools and brew up their own concoctions to use as formula, there are now businesses that market specialty formulas, food, and caregiving equipment–each designed specifically for a particular kind of animal. These days, classes and instruction are available for prospective rehabbers. Many wildlife rescue organizations now offer training in the specialized skills and knowledge new rehabbers need. Additionally, there is a plethora of new books on the subject, along with numerous websites that can provide useful information.

In Texas, people who want to pursue wildlife rehabilitation must be licensed by the state. Texas also allows subpermittees to work under the guidance of a licensed rehabber. And depending on the types of animals to be cared for, a federal permit may also be required.

The requirement for licensing is an important addition since the days when I first discovered wildlife rehabbing. There are many reasons to require rehabbers to be licensed and qualified. Wildlife rehabilitation–when attempted by the underprepared–can be dangerous to both the people involved and the wild animals in need of assistance. There are serious diseases and conditions that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and inadequate care for orphaned babies can result in the injury or death of the animals that are being tended to. Wildlife rehabilitation requires skilled, knowledgeable people to provide safe, adequate care. Requiring the demonstration of a certain level of competency through licensing is a reasonable thing to do.

It takes a special kind of person to be a good wildlife rehabber. The practice of wildlife rehabilitation demands a high level of commitment. It is a pursuit that requires a person to be called to it because of the sometimes difficult and thankless nature of the work. Rehabbers frequently have to keep long and odd hours–their schedules are set by the needs of the baby animals, not by an alarm clock or calendar. Rehabbers must be diligent and detail-oriented. Careful records must be kept documenting feedings, weight gain, and growth to ensure their charges are progressing as expected.

Caring for baby animals can be expensive as well. The necessary supplies cost money, and wildlife rehabbers are generally not paid for their work. There is no money to be made in wildlife rehabilitation, and rehabbers’ efforts are not financially supported by the government at the local, state, or federal level. Volunteer work and donations are how this job gets done.

The rewards of successful rehabilitation are largely intangible, and even with the most dedicated efforts, there are no guarantees. Despite a rehabber’s best efforts, some wild orphan babies simply do not pull through. That means there is an emotional aspect to this endeavor in addition to the long list of other challenges.

Fortunately, strong, healthy wild orphans who have not been subjected to undue trauma usually have an excellent chance of reaching their release date. But outcomes can be much more uncertain for animals that enter rehab sick, injured, or even just dehydrated.

There are a number of possible reasons an animal might require assistance from a rehabber. Sometimes stormy weather can knock baby animals from their nests. Other times, construction work can destroy denning sites, leaving orphaned youngsters behind. Mother animals may be killed in traffic accidents or trapped by exterminators–a situation that can result in a nest full of helpless babies on their own. Injured or sick animals are sometimes attended to by wildlife rehabbers as well.

When an animal that appears to need help is found, it is essential to seek advice from someone knowledgeable about rehab before attempting intervention. A poorly executed attempt at capture could do more harm than good.

Other times, an animal may not actually need help–despite appearances. White-tailed Deer fawns and fledgling birds–for instance–can look as though they have been orphaned even though they are most likely still under the care of their parents. It is almost always in the best interest of a wild baby to remain with its parents whenever possible. Consulting a knowledgeable rehabber can help someone assess the situation and determine the best intervention plan, if needed.

One of the most tragic–and avoidable–causes of unfortunate outcomes occurs in those cases where a well-meaning, but poorly equipped person attempts rehabbing an orphan on their own before seeking the help of a licensed rehabber. Very often, a poor choice of food or care is offered to the baby animal, resulting in cases of malnutrition, illness, or even death. It is essential that a qualified, licensed rehabber be contacted and involved as soon as possible when a wild animal needs assistance.

Patience and repeated efforts may be required when trying to find a rehabber who can help. As you might imagine, most rehabbers have their hands full with the animals already in their care. It can be challenging for them to be available to help with new cases. Many rehabbers simply won’t have the bandwidth to come to you for help–they may need you to coordinate arrangements to get the orphaned or injured animal to them. Just remember, it may take some time and multiple attempts to find the right rehabber, but there is usually someone out there who can help. Below is a link to a list of wildlife rehabilitators, listed by county, that is kept by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department…

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE: Wildlife Rehabilitators in Texas

Considering the difficulties and challenges involved with pursuing wildlife rehabilitation, combined with the sometimes thankless and stressful nature of the work, some may question whether it is an endeavor worth the effort.

Looking at the big picture, it quickly becomes apparent that most animals receiving help from rehabbers are not threatened or endangered when considered as species as a whole. In fact, the exact opposite is actually true–most of the animals that receive care are, and would remain, plentiful in nature, regardless of whether individual animals were rehabbed or not. The hard truth is that for every baby animal that makes it through rehab to release, there are many others that cannot be helped. Additionally, there are likely hundreds or thousands of baby animals in distress that go undiscovered–they never even get a chance at rehab. Wildlife rehabilitation cannot be expected to have a real impact on wildlife numbers in most cases.

To answer the question of whether wildlife rehabilitation is really worth doing, one might suggest that it is surely worth it for the little animals in need. The babies that make it through rehab and on to release get a second chance at life. The pain and suffering these animals might otherwise feel is just as real as any a person might experience. Anything that can be done to lessen or alleviate these things can generally be considered worthwhile.

For the people involved in wildlife rehabilitation, the rewards are often more about the satisfaction of a job well done than anything else. But there is a lot to learn from caring for wild animals in need, and many unique experiences are practically guaranteed. Caregivers are afforded the opportunity to get a front-row seat look at the way nature really works. And there is a whole host of important skills to learn and master. Rehabbers must recognize the value of discipline and diligence. They must recognize the importance of love and caring, and how those things extend even into the natural world. But most of all, by saving even one helpless, innocent life, the rehabber is acting as a force for good.

And it never hurts to put a little more good out into the universe.