HTodayNov2000

WildAgain Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.

Homeopathy in the Wild -
Homeopathy and Wildlife Rehabilitation

by Shirley J. Casey

(As published in Homeopathy Today, November 2000)

Over the last several years, expanding interest in holistic health care has been apparent in the U.S., including among the wildlife rehabilitators who provide care for native wildlife. Articles on homeopathy with wildlife have been published in the Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wildlife Rehabilitation Today, Homeopathy Today, and other publications. Both short presentations and intensive full-day programs on homeopathic first aid are regularly offered by a team of homeopathic veterinarians and licensed wildlife rehabilitators at the annual conferences of two professional wildlife rehabilitation organizations, such as at the recent symposium of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association in North Carolina.

What is wildlife rehabilitation?

Wildlife rehabilitation is the process of providing assistance to native wildlife that is injured, orphaned, displaced, or otherwise in distress, in order that it may survive when released back to its natural environment. Wildlife rehabilitators provide this assistance in a variety of countries. It is estimated that there are over 5,000 licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the U.S. alone. It is also estimated that over 95% of them are unpaid volunteers.

What do wildlife rehabilitators do?

Wildlife rehabilitators provide advice and humane solutions to prevent or reduce problems with wildlife that could result in harm to wildlife. They provide educational programs and accept thousands of phone calls from the public asking for advice. They use their extensive knowledge of natural history of native wildlife to provide suggestions. In some situations, the native wild animal is already orphaned or injured and in need of immediate help. Wildlife rehabilitators are often available to take possession of an injured or orphaned wild animal any time day or night. Many are “on call” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In these cases, wildlife rehabilitators must provide special handling and care for wildlife that is often stressed and dangerous. Wildlife rehabilitators have special training to reduce the risk of injury to the wild animals as well as reduce injury and exposure to zoonotic diseases to humans. Providing care for wildlife is considerably different from providing care for domestic pets or livestock. The wildlife rehabilitators work with veterinarians to conduct physical examinations and to establish a course of treatment, if necessary. A growing number of wildlife rehabilitators are working with holistic veterinarians, thus using holistic modalities to complement other treatments such as heat, fluid therapy, wound and fracture management. In some cases, where the injuries or diseases are beyond recovery, wildlife rehabilitators and their veterinarians may jointly decide that euthanasia is the appropriate action.
Wildlife rehabilitators are also required to provide for specialized dietary and nutritional needs of the many different species that are admitted for care, as well as prepare the appropriate foods. They use specialized feeding techniques for each different species and age. For example, some orphaned birds need to be fed every 30 minutes during daylight; some orphaned mammals need to be fed every few hours during day and night.
In addition, the wildlife rehabilitators spend time working to ensure that they have the appropriate facilities and enclosures for various types of wildlife. The facilities are often specially designed and constructed for a species, and often custom-built by the rehabilitator. The facilities are placed to prevent or minimize contact with humans and domesticated animals in order to reduce stress and imprinting as well as disease and parasite transmission. Rehabilitators spend time each day cleaning and maintaining the cages. There are also many other tasks, such as gathering resources, attending training to enhance skills and stay current on new developments, maintaining detailed records, and working with government agencies.

Licenses are required

Wildlife, like other natural resources, are property of the public, hence various state and federal government agencies have authority over the acquisition, possession, treatment, and release of wildlife. A variety of licenses are required for people to rehabilitate wildlife in the U.S. and some other countries (specific information on required licenses is available from state, provincial and federal wildlife agencies).

Raising professional standards

Not many years ago, wildlife rehabilitation was an extremely informal and somewhat haphazard activity, with people trying to help wildlife without the benefit of much available information. At that time, the lack of information on handling, special diets, facilities, and training resulted in far fewer releases of healthy wildlife back to the wild. This has changed dramatically. Professional associations, such as the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC), the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA), and a growing number of state and provincial wildlife rehabilitation organizations have worked to improve wildlife care and treatment as well as to increase professionalism, standards, and education, including a formalized Code of Ethics for Wildlife Rehabilitators.

How can homeopaths get involved?

Increasingly, as wildlife rehabilitators seek out training on using homeopathy, they are encouraged to also seek out a holistic veterinarian who might be willing to provide assistance and advice. The strong network among rehabilitators, partnered with close working relationships with veterinarians, helps to ensure the best care for wildlife, increasing the chance to return healthy wildlife back to the wild.
Those homeopathic practitioners who are not veterinarians, but who would like to become involved, can contact the organizations listed below to learn more about wildlife rehabilitation. The rehabilitators who conduct the training at the two national conferences, Allan and Shirley Casey, maintain a growing list of rehabilitators who have expressed a desire to connect with a homeopath in their area. They can be contacted at the address for WildAgain listed below.

Organizations
NWRA: 14 North 7th Avenue; St. Cloud, MN 56303-4766; (320) 259-4086.
IWRC: 4437 Central Place, B-4; Suisun, CA 94585; (707) 864-1761.
WildAgain Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.: 29319 Northstar Lane; Evergreen, CO; 80439; (303) 670-3309; .

About the Author

Shirley Casey, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 1986, lives in Evergreen, Colorado. In partnership with homeopathic veterinarians, she has been publishing and conducting seminars and study groups on classical homeopathy in acute care for wildlife since 1997. She can be reached at ewildagain@aol.com.