Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) are starting the process of revising the fourth edition of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation (MSWR). Both organizations wish to get input from as many people as possible—rehabilitators, veterinarians, governing agencies, and others directly involved in the rehabilitation of wildlife. The primary goal of MSWR is to improve the welfare of wildlife in rehabilitation. We aim to continue to add to and improve upon the information in the book for the benefit of all rehabilitators and the wildlife in their care. In...
29 August 2018November 4, 2021Julissa
Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge: Avian botulism outbreak
Bird Ally X is managing an Avian Botulism outbreak on site at the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California and has an immediate need for volunteers to help care for impacted wildlife. Avian botulism is a strain of botulism that affects wild bird populations, most notably waterfowl and is not contagious. This is an opportunity to learn the foundational skills of wildlife rehabilitation and help care for local wildlife by providing supportive care. Volunteers duties will include rescue transport, handling patients for exam, preparing food, cleaning & preparing enclosures, washing dishes, laundry, and cage construction. Volunteer requirements: • Be...
15 May 2018November 4, 2021Kai
Intent Not Result—Drives US Migratory Bird Treaty Act Interpretation
Part I (March 2018) On December 22, 2017, the US Department of the Interior released a new interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which does not prohibit incidental take. In addition, the US House of Representatives introduced a bill in November (HR 4239) which similarly removes protections from animals affected by the energy industry (oil spills, turbine issues, etc). Read more about both initiatives courtesy of the American Bird Conservancy and learn about actions you can take. Listen to Bye, Bye, Birdies? a 35 min podcast where several experts discuss the MBTA and the changes. Part II (May 2018) US rehabilitators may recall the...
21 March 2018November 4, 2021Julissa
Tidbits from board member – Brooke Durham
Please share an early/childhood experience that was pivotal to your personal relationship to wildlife. I grew up in Eastern Kentucky. When I was about 10 years old my grandfather found a pair of (almost) fledgling Eastern Screech Owl chicks at the family lake house in the spring, when he arrived to get things in order for the upcoming summer. He brought them to me and instructed me to feed them for a few days until they were strong enough to fly into in the forest that surrounded my childhood home. I’ll never forget the sound they made when I...
20 March 2018November 4, 2021Julissa
Tidbits from board member – Suzanne Pugh
Please share an early/childhood experience that was pivotal to your personal relationship to wildlife. As a child there were so many stories and story books my mom shared with me, Tarka the Otter, Watership Down, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, not to mention the bedtime stories my mother made up! However, there was a brilliant service hosted by the British Post Office, that cemented my love of animals. It was a weekly children’s bedtime story read by Johnny Morris, a television and radio presenter for the BBC and a great story teller. Morris narrated many animal related stories including Tales...
16 January 2018November 4, 2021Kai
2018 Board Changes
IWRC’s annual board and officer elections are complete. Breakdown of the results: Member Election Results Lloyd Brown (reelected) Brooke Durham *new board member Laurin Huse (reelected) Board Appointed Individuals Shathi Govender *new board member Adam Grogan (reelected) Suzanne Pugh *new board member Officer Positions Mandy Kamps is our newly elected vice-president. Adam Grogan has moved from his previous post as vice-president to president-elect. Our other officer positions remain the same as 2017 with Sue Wylie – president, Kristen Heitman – secretary, Dani Nicholson – treasurer. Meet all our 2018 full board of directors
20 November 2017November 4, 2021Julissa
Feathers, Native Culture, and Rehabilitation
By Katie McInnis DVM As wildlife rehabilitators we all know the value of feathers to birds. Thermoregulation, communication, and mobility are just a few ways birds utilize their feathers. But what about when a bird no longer needs those feathers? What purpose can they serve? For some, imping is an excellent use of feathers, as is utilizing them for research or educational purposes. While these options have great merit, most feathers that end up being saved are eagle feathers, in the US the majority of which end up at the National Eagle Repository. The National Eagle Repository is a...
23 October 2017November 4, 2021Julissa
Tidbits from board member Brenda Harms
Please share an early/childhood experience that was pivotal to your personal relationship to wildlife. My mother always tried to save the birds our cat caught (this was back in the stone age). She’d feed them white bread soaked in milk and keep them in a shoebox (well, at least she got the shoebox right!). Not a single one ever survived and she cried every time one would die. I learned from her that humans are responsible for the creatures in our midst, and we need to try our hardest to do right by them. My mother would have become...
18 September 2017November 4, 2021Julissa
Tidbits from board member Adam Grogan
Please share an early/childhood experience that was pivotal to your personal relationship to wildlife. I remember we used to find hedgehogs in the garden at our south London home, as well as one particular experience of finding a baby bird on the pavement when coming home from school. I must have been about 7 years old and not knowing any better took it home. Unfortunately, it died the next day. How did you initially become involved with IWRC and why did you choose to become involved on a board level? I attended a conference in 2001 in Florida and became...
07 September 2017November 4, 2021KatieMcInnis
Wildlife Rehabilitation Organizations Come Together for Week of CE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7th, 2017 (Anaheim, CA)— Since 1982 the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) has been dedicated to improving and promoting the profession of wildlife rehabilitation and its contributions to preserving natural ecosystems. The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) established its Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation class in 1984 to bring science-based education to rehabilitators worldwide. For many years both organizations have worked to disseminate knowledge, improve standards of care, and promote the conservation of wildlife. Now for the first time, we are coming together to provide a full week of continuing education for our members. We are excited to...