RehabFAQs

what do you call a worker at an animal rehab center

by Terrence Okuneva Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Wildlife rehabilitators are professionals responsible for the care and treatment of injured, orphaned or displaced wildlife. The ultimate goal is to return healthy animals to the wild by fostering their release into appropriate habitats.

What does an animal rehabilitator do?

Oct 20, 2021 · Wildlife rehabilitation specialists often work for government agencies, conservation centers and nonprofit organizations. Jobs vary, and they may hold degrees in various biological, zoological and ecological fields and …

What does our wildlife rehabilitation center do?

A wildlife rehabilitator works with a veterinarian to identify illnesses, examine and determine any injuries, manage wounds, provide necessary vaccinations, clean animals, prepare food, clear cages, re-accustom animal to the wild, provide public education about protecting wildlife and may help in resolving human and animal conflicts.

What kind of jobs are there for animal rescue workers?

Nov 04, 2019 · Shelters tend to prefer managers with a degree in business administration or an animal-related field. The median annual salary for animal care and service workers, including animal shelter managers, is about $23,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2018. However, managers of larger facilities can expect to earn more than ...

Do wildlife rehabilitators get paid?

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What is wildlife rehabilitation?

Wildlife rehabilitation is a profession involving the treatment and care of sick, injured or orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing healed animals back to their natural habitats in the wild.

Why is wildlife rehabilitation important?

Wildlife rehabilitation provides an opportunity for public education about the dangers wild animals face in an increasingly human-dominated landscape. This critical part of our work helps wildlife on a much larger scale than wildlife rehabilitation could alone.

Why do we not use live animals in our education programs?

Because PAWS does not believe in keeping wild animals permanently in captivity, we do not use live wild animals in our education programs. Instead, we use storytelling and wildlife artifacts to teach children and others to respect wildlife.

What do you need to be a rehabilitator?

Before receiving their permits, rehabilitators must meet various requirements, such as specialized training, participation in mentorship programs, facility inspections, and written or oral exams. Rehabilitators who wish to care for migratory birds must also get permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Is it illegal to rehabilitate a wild animal?

Licenses and Permits. It is illegal to attempt to rehabilitate a wild animal without the appropriate legal permits. Federal law protects most wild birds and state laws additionally protect most other wildlife.

Essential Information

Jobs in wildlife rehabilitation bring together the fields of veterinary medicine, natural history, animal behavior, environmental studies, ethics, public service and education. A lot of wildlife rehabilitation centers provide on-the-job training, although additional state and federal permits may be required.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Job Options

The primary goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide care for orphaned, sick or injured animals, and return them to their natural habitat once they have healed or are capable of surviving on their own.

Job Requirements

It's helpful for wildlife rehabilitators to have strong communication skills and patience, as well as the ability to handle sick, injured and dying animals. Wildlife rehabilitation activities may be dangerous and typically involve working long hours.

Education Requirements

Wildlife rehabilitation jobs may be obtained based solely on experience; however, formal training may be required by some state permitting agencies.

Job Outlook and Salary Info

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't publish information pertaining to wildlife rehabilitation, but it does have data for animal care and service workers. According to the BLS, the number of employment opportunities in this field was projected to increase much faster than average from 2019-2029.

What is a wildlife rehabilitator?

A wildlife rehabilitator works with a veterinarian to identify illnesses, examine and determine any injuries, manage wounds, provide necessary vaccinations, clean animals, prepare food, clear cages, re-accustom animal to the wild, provide public education about protecting wildlife and may help in resolving human and animal conflicts.

How much does a non-farm animal care worker make?

More specifically non-farm animal care and service workers earned a median salary of $23,760 a year in 2018. Also according to the BLS, the lowest-paid 10% of workers in this field made less than $20,270 annually, while the highest-paid 10% made more than $55,760 a year.

What degree do you need to become a wildlife rehabilitator?

In order to become a wildlife rehabilitator you will need to have obtained a high school diploma or GED at a minimum. However, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) recommends prospective wildlife rehabilitators acquire an associate's or bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, animal science, zoology, ...

Do wildlife rehabilitators work for a non profit?

Often rehabilitators work for a non-profit organization, which will typically depend on donations, so they are often required to participate in fundraising . A wildlife rehabilitator my also get involved in research on wildlife, which may be organised by the facility or a university.

How much does an animal rehabilitator make?

The median annual salary for animal care and service workers, including wildlife rehabilitators, is about $23,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2018.

What is wildlife rehabilitation?

Wildlife rehabilitators provide care to injured native wildlife with the long-range goal of returning rehabilitated animals to the wild if at all possible. Rehabilitators must be licensed to work in their home state and obtain all necessary permits required by law. Professional certification is also available.

What is humane education?

Humane educators provide information about animal welfare and behavior. They present a variety of educational programs to school groups, businesses, and other area organizations. They also may be involved with educating pet adopters about how to care for their new animals. Humane educators usually have a degree in education or a related field, ...

What is a pet adoption counselor?

Pet adoption counselors screen adoption applicants, process applications, and supervise interactions between pets and the public. While a college degree is not required to secure a position in this field, most pet adoption counselors have extensive experience working with companion animal species.

How much do humane educators make?

The average annual salary for humane educators is between $27,000 and $35,000, according to postings with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), as of 2019.

How much do animal lawyers make?

Median pay for lawyers is about $120,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the average starting salary for a new animal lawyer is around $50,000, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund ( ALDF ).

How much does an animal shelter manager make?

The median annual salary for animal care and service workers, including animal shelter managers, is about $23,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2018. However, managers of larger facilities can expect to earn more than this.

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What Is Wildlife Rehabilitation?

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Rehabilitation is a major part of PAWS’ work with wildlife. We have established our expertise at PAWS Wildlife Centerby working with more than 140,000 wild animals of 260 different species over the past 30 years. The work can be stressful and demanding. But seeing an animal recover and return to a wild and free life makes …
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Licenses and Permits

  • It is illegal to attempt to rehabilitate a wild animal without the appropriate legal permits. Federal law protects most wild birds and state laws additionally protect most other wildlife. To work with mammals, reptiles and amphibians, wildlife rehabilitators and wildlife rehabilitation centers in Washington State must be issued special permits from the Washington Department of Fish and …
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Training and Education

  • Wildlife rehabilitators work under a veterinarian’s guidance to assess injuries and identify a variety of illnesses, and must be able to administer basic first aid and physical therapy. Because wild animals are so different from domestic animals, rehabilitators need extensive knowledge about a variety of species in their care, including natural history, nutritional requirements, behavioral issu…
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For More Information

  • Call PAWS Wildlife Center at 425.412.4040and we will be happy to explain to you the process, give our guidance and best recommendations on what steps you need to consider in order to become a licensed rehabilitator.
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