Wildlife rehabilitation

What wildlife rehabilitation is

Wildlife rehabilitation is the care of injured, sick, orphaned or displaced wild animals with one main goal: returning them to the wild. It's often summed up as treat and release.

Rehabilitators mostly work with native wildlife, the hawks, owls, songbirds, turtles, opossums, foxes and other animals hurt by cars, windows, pets, storms or habitat loss. They provide medical care, a safe place to recover and, for young animals, the skills they need to survive on their own.

How rehabilitation works

Most cases follow the same steps:

1. Rescue: someone finds an animal in trouble and contacts a rehabilitator.
2. Assessment and treatment: the animal is examined and treated, often working with a licensed veterinarian.
3. Recovery and conditioning: the animal regains its strength. Birds may practice flying in large flight cages before release.
4. Release: healthy animals go back to suitable habitat, ideally near where they were found.

Who can do it: permits

Caring for wild animals isn't a do-it-yourself job, and in most cases it's regulated by law:

• State permits. Most states require a permit or license to rehabilitate wildlife. The rules vary by state and species.
• Federal permits for migratory birds. Most native birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so rehabilitating them also requires a federal migratory bird rehabilitation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Applicants need hands-on experience, and the federal permit is only valid if the rehabilitator also meets state requirements.

Under a federal Good Samaritan provision, anyone who finds a sick, injured or orphaned migratory bird may take it directly to a permitted rehabilitator. Keeping it is a different matter.

When animals can't go back

Some animals recover but can't survive in the wild, such as a red-tailed hawk with a damaged wing or a great horned owl with poor eyesight. With the right permits, some of them become animal ambassadors at nature centers, raptor centers and zoos, where they help teach visitors about wildlife. That's why you can often see a bald eagle or Virginia opossum up close at a local nature center.

What to do if you find injured wildlife

• Keep your distance. Wild animals can bite, scratch or carry disease, and handling stresses them.
• Keep pets and children away.
• Don't give food or water. The wrong food can make an injured animal sicker.
• Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency and follow their advice.
• Don't assume a baby is orphaned. Many parents leave their young alone for hours.

Rehabilitation vs. sanctuary

A rehabilitation center aims to release animals. An animal sanctuary gives animals that can never return to the wild a permanent home. Some rehabilitation centers are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Our guide to zoos, sanctuaries and wildlife parks compares them.