Wildlife rehabilitators take sick or injured wild animals from their natural habitats, treat them, and return them when they recover. Rehabilitating wild animals is a challenge, since some of them may pose a danger to humans. Consequently, wildlife rehabilitation workers need special training.
People often confuse wildlife rehabilitation with wildlife management. Both entail taking care of wild animals and releasing them back into nature when they are well. However, wildlife rehabilitation treats animals as individuals, while wildlife management focuses on animal populations. Wildlife rehabilitation should not make the animals too comfortable with humans, because the animals may not re-adapt to life in the wild. The aim is to take care of illnesses and injuries and release the animals back into their natural habitats as soon as possible. Only licensed workers can rehabilitate sick or injured animals. In the US, each state has its own licensing requirements. Things do not always go as planned, even for seasoned animal handlers. Rehabilitators must carefully plan the actions for animals that qualify for release. Rehabilitators must consider conditions such as location, habitat, season, and weather before releasing animals. Some animals recover fully and live quality lives. However, when such animals cannot re-adapt to life in their natural habitats, they may find new homes in facilities such as zoos. A wildlife rehabilitator plays several important roles, including educating the public and stakeholders on important issues that help alleviate accidents involving wildlife and human-wildlife contact. They also provide valuable expertise and advice to those seeking similar roles and other individuals who value wildlife. Wildlife rehabilitation promotes ecosystem health and monitors diseases. Rehabilitators, who are among the first to know of disease outbreaks, bring the information to the attention of health professionals. Rehabilatators also monitor changes in wildlife populations and report the same to relevant authorities, thus assisting in formulating policies and facilitating urban planning processes. They are also well-positioned to report to authorities on the effects climate change has on wildlife based on animal examinations and assessments of their habitats. Additionally, by caring for sick and injured animals, rehabilitation lessens the impact human activities have on nature, including wildlife habitats. Again, governments may not have enough personnel and resources to tend to injured, sick, and orphaned animals. These individuals provide resources such as time and expenses. Moreover, rehabilitators help connect humans with animals. Consequently, this extends stewardship and a sense of responsibility among those who take care of such animals. Also, research reports that such a connection is beneficial to the person's mental health by promoting feelings of well-being and elevating mood. Wildlife rehabilitation may involve orphaned animals. These animals receive specialized care and are returned to the wild when they are deemed fit for release. Rehabilitation also includes the care of victims of catastrophes such as oil spills. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled more than 10 million gallons of crude oil at Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Animal rehabilitators, including the International Bird Rescue Research Center, quickly responded. The operation rescued more than 1,600 birds of approximately 70 species. Rehabilitators also rescued more than 300 sea otters and successfully returned close to 200 to the wild. Wildlife rehabilitation also promotes the doctrine of state ownership. Unlike domestic animals which are under the owner’s possession, wild animals don’t have such guardians. Thus, most people assume it is the government’s role to take care of them. Since the government can’t fully take care of all animals, it gives permission to such individuals, thus promoting this doctrine.
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The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is a federal agency mandated to manage and conserve fish, plants, wildlife and their relevant habitats for the greater good of the American people. It is a bureau inside the United States Department of the Interior that strives to achieve this mandate by working with individuals and other entities.
In 1871, fish populations started decreasing, leading Congress to establish the United States Fish Commission to study this decline. Over the following decades, the agency changed its names several times and incorporated other responsibilities involving other animals, such as fish and wildlife. The USFWS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has eight regional headquarters and other field offices located in various states. Among its responsibilities, the USFWS enforces fish, wildlife, and conservation laws. It enforces laws such as the Lacey Act, which governs plant, fish, and wildlife transportation, as well as their sale, purchase, importation, and exportation. Its law enforcement mandate also gives it authority to investigate wildlife crime, environmental pollution and contamination, and habitat destruction. Additionally, the USFWS enforces hunting regulations and educates the public regarding fish, wildlife, and conservation laws. Regarding protecting endangered species, the agency follows the Endangered Species Act. It ensures that threatened and endangered wildlife do not face extinction by prohibiting the taking of plants, fish, and wildlife that are listed as endangered. It also adds or removes to the list of these species depending on their numbers. Also, the agency prepares action plans on how to recover such species by restricting states from allowing permits for prohibited activities. The agency has a migratory birds program that aims to protect, conserve, and restore migratory bird populations. Migratory birds are those that move from low resource to high resource locations depending on factors such as weather and season. In this program, the USFWS helps conserve over 1,000 bird species and their habitats by working with local, tribal, state, federal, and non-governmental partners to achieve its objectives. The National Wildlife Refuge System entails public lands and waters that help protect and preserve some iconic plant, fish, and wildlife species. There are about 560 refuges in the country, some of which also act as nature, fish, and wildlife viewing areas. The USFWS qualifies all activities taking place in these refuges by checking if they are compatible with the statutory purpose of conserving species dependent on such lands and waters. Refuges, in this case, may be wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas, or conservation areas. The USFWS is also responsible for restoring fish species. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program within the agency manages, conserves, and restores fish populations and their relevant aquatic habitats. Notably, this program has been part of the agency since 1871, when fish populations were in decline. This program achieves its objectives by propagating fish species, conserving fish and their habitats, managing invasive species, and providing educational and recreational opportunities to the public. The USFWS also has other roles, such as assisting international conservation efforts and disbursing funds to territories and states. Regarding its international conservation responsibility, the USFWS works with international governments and agencies to protect and restore the planet’s diverse species and their habitats. The program oversees grant disbursement programs, provides technical assistance to wildlife managers globally, and helps conserve domestic and foreign species by regulating international trade and curtailing wildlife trafficking. Finally, the agency gives funds to territories and states to aid in plant, fish, and wildlife restoration. The monies also facilitate fishing and hunting safety education programs. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program works to achieve these goals by providing public recreational and sport fishing opportunities. Indeed, encouraging such activities ensures that endangered species are not further threatened by providing individuals with opportunities where there are enough plentiful species. |