What Makes A Good Wildlife Rehabilitator?

Being a wildlife rehabilitator is not for the faint hearted. Nor is it for the lazy. Wildlife rehabilitation though extremely rewarding, comes with many challenges. The risk of disease, the long hours feeding babies, constant laundry, ever changing formulas, cage upgrades, and not to mention the out-of-pocket expenses. Those who do become rehabilitators do so for one reason- because they love animals.

So, what makes a good rehabilitator? What qualities should you have if you want to get into this field? If you’re considering becoming licensed, there’s a few things to keep in mind before embarking upon the wildlife rehabilitation journey.

You must love wildlife. This is kind of a no brainer. To be a good rehabilitator your love for helping animals must be the driving force behind this endeavor. If you are looking to fill your spare time, this may not be the best pursuit for you. Wildlife rehabilitation is demanding, and can consist of long hours depending on what you choose to take in. Some babies, for example, need to eat every two hours around the clock! If you truly have a passion for helping wildlife however, then the challenges you face will be surmountable because your love for helping them will overcome those hurdles.

You must be okay with getting dirty. Animals are messy. From sticky formula, to constant pee and poop, soiled bedding, and infected wounds, rehabilitating wildlife isn’t for those who want picture perfect hair and meticulously manicured nails. You need to be comfortable getting messy. I even have certain clothing dedicated to rehabbing due to the fluids I know will be on them as well as the nails that tear up the fabric.

You must be able to think on your toes. A lot of wildlife rehabs will require you to think on your toes and make judgement calls on the spot. Every case is different, and every case will require you to draw upon your experience. Rehabbers must learn to trust themselves, which means learning to trust one’s intuition, instincts, knowledge, and experience. Sometimes even veterinarians don’t have the answers and can be unsure how to proceed as they typically work with domestic animals. You will find yourself in emergency situations, dealing with stressed-out finders, having to capture animals that are aggressive, and even make hard decisions as to whether euthanasia should be an option. The plus side, however, is that wildlife rehabilitation is full of opportunities to be creative! From creating care plans, to concocting yummy recipes, to coming up with new enrichment toys for youngsters, and building nests and houses for prerelease animals, rehabbing allows us to draw on other skills that can go a long way in helping wildlife.

You must be comfortable with death. There is no such thing as a wildlife rehabilitator who has a hundred percent success rate. Encountering death is inevitable in this field. I may have only had an animal in my care for an hour, but if it dies, I grieve. After all, it’s my love for animals that made me want to do this work. Death can come in many ways. This may be getting an animal that is already too far gone that saving it is unlikely. It may be getting babies that are so tiny or fragile that the ability to successfully sustain them is almost impossible. It may be doing everything right and trying your absolute best and still having it pass for unknown reasons. And it may be an animal that is so sick or severely injured that euthanasia may be the most humane thing to do. We rehabbers can only do our best and the ones that we do save help to alleviate the pain of those we’ve unfortunately lost.

You must be open to learning. I hear it all the time, “I’ve been doing this for twenty-five years…” My response to that is good for you. As rehabbers, we should never become so prideful that we close ourselves off to open learning, because to be a successful rehabber you must be open to learning. Knowledge is power, and there is no harm in admitting that you don’t have the answers or know what to do in a situation or even how to care for a particular species. There is harm, however, in being stubborn and prideful and shutting out all other information at the expense of the animal. Because at the end of the day, the animal suffers for it, not you. Learning or refining techniques equals better care. Staying up to date with the latest medications and vaccines equals better care. Building connections and asking questions equals better care. Rehabbers learn a lot from hands on experience, but remaining open minded is just as important in the long run.