______________________________________________ Volunteering in Wildlife Rehabilitation   ___________________________________________

   Volunteers are always needed in wildlife rehabilitation.  To become involved, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator and ask about volunteering.  This will give first-hand experience and understanding of what is involved in wildlife rehabilitation.  There are many rewards in wildlife rehabilitation: helping animals, relieving suffering, working with wonderful people, reconnecting with nature, and of course, releasing animals back into the wild.  Wildlife rehabilitation is filled with many rewards as well as many heartaches.

Volunteer opportunities in wildlife rehabilitation vary considerably.  Animal care is the most recognized aspect of wildlife rehabilitation and may involve feeding, cage cleaning, emergency stabilization, providing treatments, or transporting injured wild animals.  Other types of volunteer opportunities are essential for organizations and include presenting educational programs, maintaining databases, newsletter,  fundraising, etc.  An often overlooked, but the most important volunteer opportunity is helping with wildlife hotline calls.  The chance to talk with concerned persons who have questions and concerns about wildlife is the most valuable educational tool in wildlife rehabilitation.

_______________  Become Involved in Wildlife Rehabilitation Organizations  _______________

OWRA encourages people who are interested in becoming involved in wildlife rehabilitation to join local, state, and national wildlife rehabilitation organizations.   Members of these organizations benefit from annual conferences, educational opportunities, hands-on training, resources, and networking tools.

OWRA member benefits are designed to help rehabilitators with varied needs and resources.  If you are interested in becoming involved in wildlife rehabilitation in Ohio or surrounding states, please consider joining OWRA.  Members receive our informative member newsletter, The Ohio Rehabilitator, member discounts for the annual conference and workshops, and the OWRA Membership Directory which provides member contact information to encourage networking and support when you need it.

National Organizations:

National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA)
International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC)

_______________  Wildlife Rehabilitation in Ohio  _______________

The State of Ohio, Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODW) is responsible for mammals, reptiles and amphibians, non-migratory game birds, and state threatened and endangered wildlife.  The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) is responsible for migratory birds and federally threatened and endangered wildlife.  Both agencies have laws and regulations in place to assure the care given to wild animals in rehabilitation is humane, professional, and biologically sound.

In Ohio, permits allowing individuals or organizations to rehabilitate wildlife are divided into two categories.   If you work with a licensed rehabilitator or in a licensed facility, you may not need your own permit but you are responsible for making sure your activities are legal.

A Category I permit allows individuals to rehabilitate healthy orphaned non-rabies vector mammals such as squirrels, Eastern Cottontail rabbits, and woodchucks.  In order to apply, an individual must meet the requirements set forth in the Ohio Administrative Code and must  have completed the Category I Training offered by OWRA (or equivalent).  For information on this training and upcoming dates, email Nonda Surratt .

A Category II permit allows individuals with at least three years of rehabilitation experience to rehabilitate injured and diseased native Ohio wildlife as defined in the permit stipulations.  Beginning in 2009, the state will require rabies vector training in order to rehabilitate species such as raccoons, foxes and bats.

Special Permission Permits must be obtained from the Chief of Ohio Division of Wildlife in order to rehabilitate White-tailed Deer and state endangered animals.

To rehabilitate migratory birds and federally threatened and endangered wildlife a USF&S Special Purpose-Rehabilitation Permit must be obtained from the USFWS.  Individuals rehabilitating migratory birds may be a sub-permittee on the federal license, but also must have a state permit or be a sub-permittee of a licensed organization or individual.  Birds not covered by the USF&WS are non-migratory game birds and non-native species such as the House Sparrow, European Startling, and Rock Doves.

For those interested in obtaining a wildlife rehabilitation permit in Ohio, contact Carolyn Caldwell, Ohio Division of Wildlife at 614-265-6329 or Email. 

_______________  Recommended Resources  _______________

NWRA's Principles of Wildlife Rehabilitation which is an introduction to the many facets of wildlife rehabilitation and discusses not only rehabilitation techniques, but captive wildlife management, philosophies and ethics.

Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation in Ohio booklet includes a code of ethics for wildlife rehabilitators, minimum standards for cage sizes and other housing considerations, sanitation and disease prevention, record keeping and statistics, and more.  This booklet is included in the ODW permit package.