Conference Details

Pre-conference Workshops

Pre-conference workshops are held on Friday, November 7, 2025 at an additional cost.

Intro to Wildlife Rehabilitation - full day

IWR covers wildlife rehabilitation regulations in Ohio, handling wildlife calls, neonatal care of orphaned wildlife, zoonotic diseases, stabilization and transportation of Category I species. This class, or an equivalent, is required by the Ohio Division of Wildlife to apply for a Category I Rehabilitation Permit. Registration fee includes manual, handouts and certificate of completion. Instructor: Becky Crow, ODNR

Crickets, Mealworms, and Roaches, oh my! - half day

Reptiles, birds, and mammals can all engage in insectivory. Therefore, it's crucial to understand the best practices for raising and preparing these prey species to enhance their nutritional value. This workshop aims to examine the nutritional profiles of different feeder insects and discuss fundamental husbandry techniques for breeding insects for wildlife feeding, along with optimal preparation methods. Instructor: Dr. Mark Mitchell, Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana

Rabies Vector Species - full day

Rabies Vector Species (RVS) class encompasses current regulations, status of rabies in Ohio, special considerations in RVS rehabilitation, capture and restraint, exposure protocol, testing, species information and health considerations of raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. This workshop, or equivalent, is required by Ohio Division of Wildlife to accept rabies vector species for rehabilitation. Instructor: Barbara Ray, OWRA

What do you see in there? Microscopy - half day

Microscopy is an important tool for wildlife rehabilitators, providing insight into different disease processes in our patients. Developing a confidence with this tool can help improve our ability to diagnose specific diseases (e.g., parasites) or characterize the health status (e.g., white blood cell count) of our patients. This workshop will provide attendees with the fundamental skills to use a microscope and learn how to read blood smears and fecal examinations. Instructor: Dr. Mark Mitchell, Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana

Grant Writing - half day

Are you looking to expand your budget? Are rising costs interfering with your daily operations? Rehabbers seeking funding to support their missions can benefit from attending this workshop on prospecting strategies. This session will offer guidance on identifying foundations, corporations, and government grant programs, along with effective approaches for engaging with different types of grantors. The workshop will be led by Dan Sowry, Ohio EPA

Enrichment Engineering: Part 2! - half day

Rehabilitators demonstrate significant ingenuity by repurposing discarded materials to enhance housing and enrichment options for animals under their care. This workshop provides participants with practical experience in constructing a variety of items for enrichment, housing upgrades and feeding. Suitable for individuals at all skill levels—from beginners to experienced DIY enthusiasts, this session ensures that each attendee will complete at least one take-home project and receive comprehensive plans or instructions for all activities covered during the workshop

Instructors: Hardy Kern, Ohio Bird Conservancy & Gwen Hoogendoorn, OWRA Vice President

Conference Sessions

All conference sessions are included in the basic conference registration and take place Saturday-Sunday November 8-9, 2025.

Instructor	Session Title
Mark A. Mitchell, DVM	Vitamin D, it’s more than just a vitamin! Maximizing this hormone's potential.
Mark A. Mitchell, DVM	Are we controlling their pain? Evaluating the evidence with avian analgesia.
Mark A. Mitchell, DVM	Hop on over to hear about amphibian husbandry and disease.
Rebecca Vincent-Sturdivant, DVM	Non-surgical stabilization of jaw and shell fractures in turtles.
Rebecca Vincent-Sturdivant, DVM	Getting the lead out. Managing lead toxicity in wildlife.
Gary Riggs, DVM, ABVP:Avian	Managing frostbite
Keith Gisser	Rehab vs. Rescue -We are not that different
Robert Adamski, IWRC	Beneficial veterinary relationships
Darlene Smith	The Original Bunny Nips
Tim Jasinski, Lake Erie Nature and Science Center	The amazing Mallard!
Kristen Beck, Clover Field Wildlife Center	Making something out of nothing: Utilizing and repurposing free or less expensive items to set up a first-rate rehabilitation facility
Barbara Ray, OWRA	The versatile vulture: fostering orphans
Don Althoff	Southern Flying Squirrels: Facts about and fascination with a woodland wonder
Dan Sowry	From Ohio EPA to other funders: practical grant writing strategies
David and Jennie Orr, Blue Aster	The "Art" of turning passion into business
Elisa Fosco	Cotton Tails
Elisa Fosco	Why 5 percent?
Elisa Fosco	Medical management of adult squirrels
Elisa Fosco	Raising something you know nothing about
Elisa Fosco	The mechanics of rehabilitation and release
ODNR- Jen Dennison	Come Back Critters
Ann Wookey	On the move: Transporting your animals safely with minimal stress
Gwen Hoogendoorn	For fox sake
AND MORE!

Conference center room reservation information

Reserve your room for the 2025 conference today

Deer Creek Lodge Room and Cabin Queen Interior Room 116- $119 before taxes and fees 117 &

OWRA

Humane World for Animals

formerly Humane Society of the United States

Pre-conference Workshops

Conference Sessions

Conference center room reservation information