To be a rehabber......

[Saviah Wildlife]

Well I've wanted to be one for quite some time. I've read most of the requirements (DNR right?) and it does seem that it will be extremely difficult.

I figured since I live in a community I wouldn't have a chance, and don't they require you (officially) release wildlife on your own land or land where you have approval from the owner?

It seems we have no rehabbers anywhere near where I live due to it being too difficult, which doesn't help if I want to do it.

Any advice is much appreciated.

[MissDolittle]

How about you ask the AC officer when she comes back if there are
rehabbers nearby?

The US Fish and Wildlife site has the info on becoming a rehabber..that's
what you meant right?

http://www.fws.gov/

[Saviah Wildlife]

How about you ask the AC officer when she comes back if there are
rehabbers nearby?

The US Fish and Wildlife site has the info on becoming a rehabber..that's
what you meant right?

http://www.fws.gov/

Nope I checked myself.

Okay I'll check out that link thanks, it might be what I've already viewed though.

[Saviah Wildlife]

How about you ask the AC officer when she comes

The US Fish and Wildlife site has the info on becoming a rehabber..that's
what you meant right?

http://www.fws.gov/

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[MissDolittle]

Hmm, works fine here. At least it does now.

[Saviah Wildlife]

Yeah it works now thanks.

Checking it out now

[thundersquirrel]

check out the international wildlife rehabilitation council's site. i took a class of theirs, a two day intense seminar with a lab and a test. it was very helpful. i'm sure they have a lot of info on their site about becoming a rehabber, and probably you could fulfill some of the requirements through them. good luck with this; the world needs more rehabbers. :D

[Saviah Wildlife]

Maybe I'm an idiot but none of these sites you've given me provide any info on rehabbing. I got to one area which might have been for rehab but it said something about birds.

I'm starting to get very serious about this, and am looking towards friends and co-workers for permission to release on their lands.

I'm starting up a site now too, and ONE good thing is if I become a rehabber I will be the only one in my county so I will get everything around here... okay maybe not such a good thing lol

Is it okay to provide the site URL for my rehab site? I started it ten seconds ago so nothing is done yet. I'm using a brand new software program (which if you like Miss I can give a copy) which is similar to IPB called NeoBB.

Anyone have a direct link to information about getting a rehab license? I'm dead set on this now. Oh, on the way home the other day, another raccoon. The car in front of me swerved into the other lane with a car coming that way. I was like "is this guy nuts?" then I saw the coon. I stopped in the middle of the road, put my hazards on... went to him and told him to get out of the road. He went to the back of my van so I got out my baton (I work security) and used it to "shoo" the little guy into the grass. He had a slight limp but probably not bad enough to not survive. Anyway yeah I should have taken him for the night for observation but I had no carrier.

I'll be buying a carrier soon though, for situations like this. I do have nearly everything else in case such as heavy gloves etc.

[MissDolittle]

What State do you live in? I forgot.
This is iwrc and if that doesn't work for you, you should check your computer,
lol:
http://www.iwrc-online.org/training/training_new.html

They start online courses now! I'm thinking of participating, because I can't
leave the house.

I got 5 counties without a rehabber..I don't get too many animals to rehab.

Ok, you need these things, at least here in TX to get your federal and
State permit:

A letter a wildlife vet that works with you.
A letter or recommendation from another rehabilitator.
You need to be a member of IWRC or a similiar wildlife org.
You need to go through a weekend course and take a test.
And once you done all of that you need to start building outside enclosures
and get rooms and cages prepared, because the Game Warden will come
for a State Inspection to make sure you have the required facillities.

Of course all of that cost fees and dues and funds to start with.

I'm not sure if I forgot anything in that list. Maybe the others can
complete it.

[Saviah Wildlife]

What State do you live in? I forgot.
This is iwrc and if that doesn't work for you, you should check your computer,
lol:
http://www.iwrc-online.org/training/training_new.html

They start online courses now! I'm thinking of participating, because I can't
leave the house.

Okay will check them out.. they say nothing about online but I'll still check into it. Courses start in October.


I got 5 counties without a rehabber..I don't get too many animals to rehab.

I still think I'd get alot, at least here.


Ok, you need these things, at least here in TX to get your federal and
State permit:

A letter a wildlife vet that works with you.
A letter or recommendation from another rehabilitator.
You need to be a member of IWRC or a similiar wildlife org.
You need to go through a weekend course and take a test.
And once you done all of that you need to start building outside enclosures
and get rooms and cages prepared, because the Game Warden will come
for a State Inspection to make sure you have the required facillities.

Of course all of that cost fees and dues and funds to start with.

I can find a vet no problem
A letter of recommendation might be hard, especially with no other rehabbers even close to me
Member of IWRC? Okay, will do
Weekend course, like with IWRC training? Will do
Outside enclosures or will I be able to use my garage and basement?

I'm not sure if I forgot anything in that list. Maybe the others can
complete it.

[MissDolittle]

It says it right there on the url I pasted you, about the online course.

Outside enclosures or will I be able to use my garage and basement?

No, nearly all animals need direct sunlight and a place where they can get
used to nature and learn how to find food and just be outside where they
are going to live. Within 4 walls they can't do that.

There are minimum requirements. I happen to have them for Texas. I'm
sure the ones in your State are similiar. It's a pdf and you can download
it here:

http://www.rainbowwildlife.com/pages/requirements.pdf

The Game Warden will not give you the green light if you do not meet
those requirements.

Say how old are you? Because they also ask how many years of experience
you have..you don't sound as old as me lol. I'm 44.

But really, google the rest, you'll find it. It's not that hard. There are a
few urls in the pdf too.

[Saviah Wildlife]

Thanks so much Miss, I don't mean to be a pain it just seems like to much for me.

I see the courses take quite a bit of cash, which is fine if they fill any requirements (we just got a new loan).

I don't have alot of space outside, but would a small area with stacked cages be okay? I'd probably not keep animals in them 24/7.

I'm 34 and aging with 3 kids and plenty of animals lol

[MissDolittle]

3 kids?? whoa I'd be moving to another planet lol.

Well you saw the requirements. There is no substitution for those. I doubt
stacked cages would do the trick. It's about what the animals need, not
what you can use for facilities.

I can't wait until we move. I hope we'll find a nice place in the country with
a barn and all the nice stuff :).