Molly C Simonis 1,2 Rebecca A Crow,2 and Megan A Rúa1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA 2 Brukner Nature Center Troy, Ohio, USA ABSTRACT: Temperate, cave-dwelling bat populations in eastern North America are facing drastic declines due to the emergent disease called White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). In Ohio, USA, wildlife rehabilitators may accept native bats during the winter months when bats are typically hibernating. During the winter months, this deadly fungal infection is the most damaging to individual hibernating, temperate bats’ physical and physiological condition, because the bats are more vulnerable to disease while their...
14 December 2018November 4, 2021Julissa
Weigh in on the Proposed Revision to the List of Protected Migratory Bird Species, 50 CFR Part 10.13
Good day Rehab Partners, Just wanted to be sure you were aware of the proposed revision to 50 CFR Part 10.13 The List of Migratory Birds currently appearing in the Federal Register: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0047-0001 This rule would update the current list of migratory birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), based on scientific changes to bird taxonomy (i.e., common names, scientific names, families, etc.) and increase the number of MBTA protected birds to 1085 species. The list is formulated by the scientific community, specifically the American Ornithologists’ Society’s Checklist of North American Birds (AOU 1998), for species that occur in North...
14 December 2018November 4, 2021Julissa
2018 USFWS Year End Reports Announcement
It’s that time of year again… Annual Reports of activity for Federal Rehabilitation, Special Purpose Possession and Eagle Exhibition permit are due to your Regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Permit Issuing Office postmarked on/by Thursday, January 31, 2019. If your permit expires March 31, 2019, you may receive an annual report form and renewal letter via regular mail from now through the end of December. Annual Report Forms are fillable online but still require an original signature and to be submitted via mail to your migratory bird permit issuing office unless your region allows electronic submission through email. Here’s what Regions accept information via email:...
29 October 2018November 4, 2021Julissa
Case study: the use of falconry techniques in raptor rehabilitation
Kristin Madden 1,2 and Matthew Mitchell1 1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region, Migratory Birds Program, Albuquerque, NM, USA. 2Wildlife Rescue Inc. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA ABSTRACT We predicted that certain falconry techniques would decrease stress and the time required to pre-condition raptors for release. Between 2008 and 2014, we alternated use of traditional rehabilitation procedures with falconry techniques on 45 raptors. Twenty-seven birds were alternately restrained using either a towel or a falconry hood. Results from t-tests showed significant decreases in stress with the use of falconry hoods vs. towels. Twenty-six accipiters and falcons were either...
23 October 2018November 4, 2021Kai
Call for Comments and Suggestions
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