Gold Country Wildlife Rescue - So You Want to Become a Rehabber?

"Animals cannot tell us how they feel,
but they do not suffer less because they have no words."

--Anna Sewell

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So You Want to Become a Rehabber?

Written by Kari Freidig

In 2005 Gold Country Wildlife Rescue volunteers cared for 342 birds, 129 mammals, and 5 reptiles--a total of 476 animals! Examples of the kinds of wild animals we care for include Western Bluebirds, California Quail, Canadian Geese, Kestrels, Pond Turtles, Squirrels, Fawns, Foxes, Screech Owls, and Red-tailed Hawks. We are always interested in hearing from people with questions about becoming a wildlife rehabber. Classes are available from the Wildlife Care Association of Sacramento and other neighboring groups. Upon completion of their courses, you can join our group as a rehabilitation member and work under our license. When you begin, we assign you to an experienced rehabilitation mentor who will help you and be available for consultation as you work with your first charges.

The Screech Owl is prevalent in our area, and is one of the species of animals we help to return to the wild. Screech owls average just 7 ounces in weight.

Training classes will expose you to the amount of work that is involved. Baby birds need to be fed every 15 minutes from dawn to dusk. Infant mammals need to be fed every 2 to 4 hours, depending on their age. This is a volunteer, 7-day-a-week, 24 hour-a-day job. If you do choose to pursue it, wildlife rehabilitation can be one of the most gratifying things you will ever do. The feeling you get when you watch an animal that you have either raised as an orphan, or nursed through an injury, return to the wild is indescribable! Giving them back their freedom is a joyful experience that few people will ever know. If you think you may be interested in becoming a trained wildlife rehabilitator, please contact us .

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