What is wildlife rehabilitaion?
Wildlife rehabilitation is the process of providing aid to injured, orphaned, displaced or distressed wild animals in such a way that they may survive when released to their native habitats. The spectrum of activities ranges from direct care of wildlife to arranging suitable release sites. Wildlife rehabilitation also involves anticipating and helping to prevent problems with wildlife aswell as humanely resolving human-wildlife conflicts. Wildlife rehabilitation is part science, part education, part problem-solving, and part care giving.
Why is wildlife rehabilitation needed?
Conflict between humans and wildlife grows daily as humans expand into or destroy wildlife habitat. In most cases when humans and wildlife collide the wildlife suffers. Rehabilitation gives these animals a second chance to live free in their natural habitat.
In an increasingly urbanized world, people are less likely to have knowledge of and experience with nature and wildlife. reducing human-wildlife conflict can benefit both humans and the animals.
Helping wildlife is not an eay task. working with wildlife requires special knowledge, skill, and facilities. when untrianed and uninformed people try to care for wildlife, danger exist for the public, domestic animals and the wild animal. it is also illegal to have a wild animal in your care, these animals must be handed over to a licensed rehabilitator. these people like myself, hold the permits and licenses to allow them to legally possess wild animals for rehabilitation and release.
the majority of wildlife rehabilitators have independent home based facilities. some may admit a wide range of species, other may specialize in a certain type of animal. there are quite a few rules and regulations that pertain to having a rehab centre on your property.and it can also get costly. wildlife rehabilitation requires funding for food, supplies, cages, vet bills, utilities, transportation, insurance, resource and educational materials for the public, training programs and more.donations are unpredictable and costs can add up quickly.to attract any sizeable amount of contributions it is necessary to file for non profit tax exempt status, which itself takes time and money to achieve and maintain.
rehabbers must have adequate space and habitat and meet government regulations. most rehabbers have to have indoor and outdoor facilities and follow rehab regulations zoning, and animal control ordinances, health codes and other restrictions.
wildlife rehabilitation requires considerable study and training, but without this knowledge individual animals, humans, wildlife populations, and domestic animals are at risk. knowledge and skill are absolutely crucial to achieve high quality care and prepare an animal for release back to the wild. Compassion alone is not enough.
there can be risks to the rehabber aswell due to animal bites, scratches, (hey i can relate my arms are covered in scratches at any given time) or from contacting diseases carried by the animal or its external parasites (mites, ticks, fleas etc) all these are manageable with the proper skills and training.
if you would like more information on becoming a wildlife rehabilitator or learning more about what is involved please see the links page on this site as it is full of awesome information.
I have had a few birds come in this last month covered in this stuff, its awful and they all have been beyond us helping them even tho we tried. So i thought this might be some useful information seeing as i have come across it I am sure some more have too.
BIRD "REPELLENT" CAUSES SUFFERING AND DEATH
Tanglefoot. What is it?
(Editors note: The following claim by the makers of Tanglefoot is absurd and deceptive. Once an unfortunate bird lands on a surface coated with Tanglefoot it doesn't get a second chance to change its mind. It is doomed.)
The makers of this product claim: "Birds don't like the sticky texture of Tanglefoot and find other places to land or roost."
Tanglefoot is referred to as an "adhesive contaminant." The gooey substance destroys a birds feathers, therefore, destroying its life. Feathers are a bird's sole protection against the elements. Without feathers in good condition a bird cannot fly and falls prey to cats or other predators; Without feathers, a bird cannot keep warm in the winter nor cool in the summer. Glue boards and Tanglefoot contain Polybutenes for stickiness. Polybutenes may not be toxic to humans, but can harm the unique and delicate systems of birds.
Makers of the product "Tanglefoot" advertise: "Keep geese, ducks and other grazing birds on the move with ReJeX-iT AG- 36 spray repellent. ReJeX-iT works by making the grass less than appetizing to grazing birds. The birds quickly leave the treated areas for better and tastier food sources. Research shows that after as little as one application, ReJeX-iT AG-36 can significantly reduce infestation by geese and other grazing birds."
Yes, it significantly reduces the bird population -- by killing them.
The company who makes the product claims: "Tanglefoot Bird Repellent is a nondrying, non-toxic compound or paste that adheres to all types of surfaces while remaining sticky."
Wildlife rehabilitation centers will tell you it's a dreadful product which causes great suffering, incapacitating wildlife, necessitating immediate first aid intervention. Animals with "Tanglefoot" on their feet and/or bodies have leaves and other substances stuck to the gluey mixture, which they cannot remove themselves. The animals get the "Tanglefoot" onto their beaks and in their mouths, causing them to suffocate or slowly starve or dehydrate to death.
WRITE TO THE MAKERS OF 'TANGLEFOOT.' LET THEM KNOW THEIR HORRIBLE PRODUCT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT YOU DO NOT SUPPORT ANIMAL ABUSE AND SUFFERING:
Copyright Nixalite of America Inc.
E-mail: sales@nixalite.com
Or Call Toll Free: Phone 888/624-1189 Fax: 888/624-1196
Their web site: http://www.nixalite.com/rejtangl.html
HOW TO HELP A TANGLEFOOT VICTIM:
You will need large container GO-JO hand cleaner, 3 small bottles Dawn dishwashing detergent, a container that can hold two gallons of water, 1 bottle Pepto-bismol. (The pink stuff for stomach aches) 1 eyedropper that measures in CCs (can get from pharmacy), a few towels, warm place to put the birds after cleaning. You will need someone to help you.
Before you begin to clean the bird, get some pepto-bismol and give it just 1cc of the pepto. You will need an eye dropper to measure this small amount. This will protect the bird's stomach from the poison.
Prepare a container of warm, soapy water. Add one half bottle of dawn detergent to one gallon of the warm water. It must be ready for rinsing bird after it has been cleaned with GO JO. Put the soapy water to one side of working area.
Now it is time to begin cleaning the bird. YOU WILL NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD THE BIRDS HEAD AT ALL TIMES--A MUST!! You must apply the GO JO to the bird starting from the crown of head and working down to the tail. DO NOT APPLY THE GO JO FROM TAIL TO HEAD-- WORK THE GO JO OVER THE BIRD "HEAD TO TAIL." This is very important. Again, APPLY FROM HEAD DOWN TO TAIL.
Get the GO JO in everyplace involved. After you have this on the bird make sure the bird doesn't turn it's head to preen--it must not get any GO JO in mouth. Someone must hold the birds head so it cannot turn around-keep head forward. A must!!!! Leave this on the bird for 5 minutes and then it is time to rinse with warm soapy water.
You need to get a that gallon container of warm soapy water. Mix the water and soap then place bird in water. Once again, hold the birds` head so it cannot get anything in it's mouth or eyes. Swirl the water with your hands and splash the bird, working head to tail try to gently remove every shred of this Tanglefoot. After you have done this you must rinse the bird with warm water. This step is very important. You must make sure that all soap is off of bird. If not it will lose its ability to repel water and die.
Before you get the bird in a warm place-guess what? Do it all over again--that is right--you must now clean the whole bird again exactly as you just did. Follow all steps and continue to be careful. After you have cleaned the bird the second time and rinsed it thoroughly, head to tail. Now the bird should be almost dry. If you got all soap off it should be slightly wet. Finally, place bird in warm place--it must be kept warm.
Watch the bird for 24 hours--if it appears to be okay you can release it-if there is blood or tarry stuff in its stool bring to a vet immediately.
Note--Do not release the bird(s) anywhere near where they got into this Tanglefoot. They will fly right back to the same place again and probably die. Release them "far away."
Tanglefoot is referred to as an "adhesive contaminant." The gooey substance destroys a birds feathers, therefore, destroying its life. Feathers are a bird's sole protection against the elements. Without feathers in good condition a bird cannot fly and falls prey to cats or other predators; without feathers, a bird cannot keep warm in the winter nor cool in the summer. Glue boards and Tanglefoot contain polybutenes for the stickiness. Polybutenes may not be toxic to humans, but can harm the unique and delicate systems of birds.