Author visits with Alpha male "Bubba" and the resident wolf pack.

Author feeds baby fawn.

I love helping wildlife but it is not always as fun or exciting as it might seem on the surface.  I cannot tell you how many times someone has commented to me that they would love my job.  Here’s your chance, I’ll tell you exactly what you need to do to join the ranks.

Buy finger Band-Aids, get use to sleeping in 3-4 hour intervals, be prepared to spend more money on food for animals than yourself, plan on answering the phone 24 hours a day, and accept the fact that you get paid less than minimum wage.... zero to be specific.  Actually it is a little more involved than that but you get the idea.

A wildlife rehabilitator does need to be licensed by the State which requires special training.  There are classes several times during the year presented by experienced rehabilitators that get you oriented to the rigors of helping injured and orphaned wild animals.  You also need 250 hours of documented time working directly with wildlife under the supervision of a licensed rehabilitator. 

The 250 hours is “real time” actually handling the critters.  Getting up every three hours all night to feed a baby deer does not count as 8 hours, only the 20 minutes per feeding to actually administer the bottle.

There are  some fun aspects to caring for wildlife.  You can pretend you are a doctor when put on your rubber gloves.  Just like an episode of ER you get to pull those slick shiny latex hand wraps out of a dispenser, whiff the fresh scent of talcum powder as you slip them over your hand and snap the band.  Unfortunately the doctor fantasy ends there as the gloves are used more times than not to clean messes out of cages, pond water, food dishes and off the wall in some cases.  Of course it can be quite exciting if the animal in the cage is trying to attack you during the cleanup process. 

That brings up another requirement, a pre rabies vaccination is required for rehabilitators that plan to care for animals classified as potential rabies carriers such as fox, raccoons, and coyotes.

Speaking of “playing doctor” you also need a real doctor, a veterinarian to be specific equally committed as you to administer medicine and medical services for those animals that require surgery, X-rays, splints, etc.

How are we doing so far, anyone ready to sign up yet?  There is more.  Records have to be kept of every animal handled by you as a rehabilitaor.  The county it came from, its condition, treatment and final disposition all have to be kept track of. 

You also have to be prepare for inspections from the Game and Fish Commission and in some cases the USDA to verify that minimum caging requirements and sanitation standards are met.

If you have pets or live stock, they must be protected from the wildlife guests and vice versa.  In some cases privacy screens are required or secondary barrier fences to keep the more dangerous animals out of reach of the potential wandering snacks.

If you wish to follow in my footsteps it helps not to have an aversion to body piercing.  I have had such services rendered free of charge by two wolves, 3 owls,1  hawk, 1 falcon, 1 raccoon, 2 possums, 1 squirrel and the most painful of all... a killer cardinal I affectionately named “Jaws”.  The cardinal did not actually pierce my skin but he would grab hold of my finger seemingly forever with his powerful seed crushing beak and he definitely left a mark.

OK, we are coming down the home stretch.  If you are still with me its time to discuss the food bill.  This is where it is helpful to have a paying job in addition to the nonpaying rehabilitation job.

Wolves can eat up to 22 pounds of food each in one siting if they are in the mood to gorge.  Fortunately our pack is well fed and does not have to gorge themselves to survive between feedings but we can easily go 100 pound of food per week.

Adult deer each eat  several pounds of peas, apples, grapes, grain, deer chow, and assorted greens daily.  Baby deer “fawns”” drink goat milk at $2-$3.00 per can, 4-8 cans per day. The bobcats each eat 8 cans of cat food per day plus whatever fresh meat we can scrounge up.  Possums eat anything and lots of it but it has to be carefully balanced so that they do not get bone disease.  Most of the Raptors (hawks, owls, falcons) require fresh chicken daily.

Suffice it to say the groceries add up fast.  Then there are cages, medical supplies, infant formulas and lots of trash bags. It’s not a bad idea to factor in a few psychiatric visits for yourself!!

At this point you are probably wondering why anyone would want to be a wildlife rehabilitator as am I now that I think about it.  No money, little sleep, long hours, lots of expenses, and numerous hazards... not the best job description, second only to bullet proof vest tester.  There are rewards however that far exceed the hardships.

I have been able to watch numerous little babies open their eyes for the first time.  I have seen birds learn to fly, fawns run, wolves manage a society,  and raccoons play practical jokes.  I have had conversations with squirrels, debates with bobcats and played games with all.  I have experienced the trust of a wild animal and seen their soul through their eyes as they have mine.  I am a better person because of them and I am thankful for the experience.

DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount  it is greatly appreciated.  Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.

See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife