Session Abstracts
The sessions are labeled by track and level to help you select those that you wish to attend. All sessions are open to everyone.
Lecture Sessions:
Special Considerations for the Rehabilitation of Hummingbirds
Joanna Weitzel
This presentation examines the natural history, diets, special considerations in rehabilitation, and migration habits of humminbirds. It touches briefly upon the most common injuries, their prognosis, and splinting techniques.
(Avian Rehabilitators)
When Rocky's Down For The Count - Squirrel Ailments
Linda Bergman
This presentation is an overview of Eastern Gray Squirrel ailments, common and not so common. Linda shares information and procedures to assist you with recognizing, identifying, diagnosing and forming treatment plans if or when needed for this, often misunderstood but much loved by the rehab community, mammal.
(Mammal Rehabilitators, Vet Tech CE)
Rehabilitation of Eastern Cottontails
Randy Atkinson
Many rehabbers fear trying to raise these delicate creatures. Come and learn from someone who has raised and released cottontails, from newborns to injured adults. Randy does an in-depth look at the digestive system and how to get a "ready gut". He covers infection control (primarily from cat bites) and pain management. This session is designed for all rehabilitators who do, or plan to do, cottontails. (General)
Living with Chimney Swifts
Linda Bergman
Get to know one of America’s most mysterious birds. Chimney swifts, migratory birds that help decrease our dangerously high insect pest population, are in decline due to loss of habitat. Learn about the unique behaviors of the chimney swift and help conserve this natural resource by creating nesting habitat specifically for swifts, encouraging their return to the United States and your community every spring. (General)
Raising Your Own Mealworms
Ann Rogers
Mealworms are expensive to buy, but easy to raise. It takes just a little work and lots of patience! (General)
Rehab
Math
Jean Chamberlain
This session covers the math used in wildlife rehabilitation including dosage and fluid therapy calculations. The focus is on understanding the calculations. (Beginner, General, Vet Tech CE)
Wildlife Rehabilitation in Higher Education
Nina Fischesser
Wildlife rehabilitation and the use of wildlife in educational programming in a college setting is a relatively new concept, and can be a life changing experience for learners who work with injured and orphaned animals. Students in the program earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Concentration in Wildlife Rehabilitation. This discipline, although integrated in a rigorous academic program, is experiential and is based upon reciprocal learning whereby students ultimately teach what they have learned. The program is in it’s 7th year.
The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, an on-campus facility admitting over 900 injured and orphaned native wild animals annually has been in operation since 1995.
(General)
Social Media for the Animal Care Professional
Joanna Weitzel
With 500 million users and climbing, Facebook is an ever-growing force on the internet and a great tool for professionals in animal care. The service is free, provides an immediate way to share information, builds supporters, and engages people from the online community. But it takes more than just putting up a page to be successful. This session provides tips to help you strengthen your social network presence and explores methods for posting insightful and interesting information in your status updates while keeping it professional.
(General)
Raptor Natural History
Nicki Dardinger
What is the smallest raptor in North Carolina? How many different food items have been found in the pellets of great horned owls? Which raptor lives for less than two years in the wild? Learn the answers to these questions, and many more, during this presentation about the amazing natural history characteristics of North Carolina's native raptors.
(General)
Professionalism in Wildlife Education
Nicki Dardinger
Wildlife rehabilitators have a responsibility to provide accurate information in a professional manner to the public - whether it be through school programs, a wildlife hotline, volunteers, or the person we meet in the grocery store! This presentation will focus on our role as professionals, and how to ensure that we are always presenting ourselves, and our wildlife ambassadors, professionally during our varied interactions with the public.
(General)
The Making of a Beak
Betty O'Leary
Using raptors as an example, you will learn the basic anatomy of a beak and how injuries to the beak can affect its growth. Betty will also discuss how to assess injuries for treatment and releasability.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Coping Beaks
Betty O'Leary
Using raptors as a example, you will learn how to tell when beaks need to be coped and observe a demonstration. If time allows, you can practice coping a beak yourself.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Imprinting
Jean Chamberlain
This presentation covers imprinting and its significance to wildlife rehabilitators.
It covers the traditional view of imprinting in birds, the contribution of falconry to
our knowledge of imprinting, the use of imprinted birds as education birds and several examples of imprinting in mammals.
The speaker will cover recent research on imprinting and early learning.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Learning to Sing
Jean Chamberlain
Every songbird rehabilitator should become familiar with the research that has been done on how songbirds learn their song. This information will likely change your approach to rehabilitation. This presentation will cover what is known on how various species found in North Carolina learn to sing and how this information can effect how we care for these birds.
(General, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)
Turtle Husbandry
Elizabeth Hanrahan
This class in basic turtle rehabilitation for terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic turtles will cover basic anatomy, physical examination and common diseases of native, wild, turtles. Habilitation will focus on basic housing for various species and age of turtles and terrapins, lighting, and nutrition. The section on common problems will address shell fracture and repair, egg salvage and incubation of eggs, common infectious diseases, overwintering and release.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Record Keeping for Wildlife Rehabilitation
Halley Buckanoff
Do you know what records you are required to keep for both state and federal permits? This presentation will cover the Who’s, Why’s and What’s of record-keeping for wildlife rehabilitators, providing examples and insight into how to create your own record-keeping system.
(Beginner Track, General)
Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Baby Mammals
Carla Johnson
This session is the first session of the beginner track. It covers what it means to be a wildlife rehabilitator, the rules and regulations covering rehabilitation, and the general principles for raising baby mammals. (Beginner Track)
Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Eastern Gray Squirrels
Toni O’Neil
There’s always a need for more squirrel rehabbers! Come and learn how to raise and release these amusing, bushy-tailed creatures. (Beginner Track, General)
Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Virginia Opossums
Toni O'Neil
The Virginia Opossum is probably one of our most maligned animals, but once you learn to raise them, you will quickly fall in love with these wonderful prehistoric creatures. (Beginner Track, General)
If you can’t see them, are they there? : Zoonoses
Carla Johnson
Learn the importance of hygiene & good husbandry. Learn why you need to know about zoonoses and how they can be spread. (Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Fluid Therapy and Emaciation Protocols
Toni O'Neil
Fluid therapy is one of the most basic initial supportive treatments which can make the difference between life and death for wildlife patients. Program participants learn to responsibly and effectively evaluate: administration of fluids, types of fluids, routs and volume of fluid administration and monitoring the effects of fluid therapy.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Handling Wildlife Calls
Carla Johnson
'My dog has brought me a baby bird.' 'I don't think the mother rabbit is feeding the young in the nest in my back yard.' 'There's a bat in my chimney.' Carla covers many of the calls frequently received by rehabilitators and vet offices. (Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Avian Care
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Eliabeth's sessions are comprehensive, covering all aspects of avian care. These sessions are each open to everyone. The topics covered include:
Session 1: Introduction, Goals, Permits, Intake & Examination
Session 2: Identification & Natural History
Session 3:
Care & Housing of Baby Birds
Session 4: Care & Housing of Adult Birds
Session 5: Nutrition,
Groceries & Supplies
Session 6:
Telephone, Triage and Transport
Labs and Workshops
Mammal Physical Exam Lab
Tim Gaffrey
This lab teaches the basics of a physical exam for small mammals. Students are provided a dead specimen for hands-on practice. The lab is part of the beginner track and is approved for Vet Tech CE.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Preparing Avian Biofacts Lab
Beth Knapp-Tyner
Learn how and actually try your hand at preparing biofacts for use in education. Learn what permits are needed to possess/obtain biofacts for educational use. Biofacts give education program attendees the opportunity to touch talons and feathers or flap the wing of a bird, increasing the senses used in learning. (This lab is in two parts as it breaks for lunch.) (General)
Sub-Q Fluids Lab
Erin Gallimore
Subcutaneous injections is the most common route for rehabilitators to give many medications and fluid therapy to the animals in their care. Here's your chance to learn the techniques, common locations, and gain some practice for subcutaneous injections of wild birds and mammals. The lab is part of the beginner track, is appropriate for intermediate rehabilitators who want to learn the technique and is approved for Vet Tech CE.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Cage Building
Bob Kiger
Build your own small mammal cage on site with Bob's guidance. The workshop will be open from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm on Saturday. Plan to spend 4-5 hours during that time to build a cage. (General)
Veterinary CE Lectures:
Ethical Considerations in Wildlife Rehabilitation
Dr. Laurie
Degernes and Halley Buckanoff
This session is an interactive discussion of different scenarios involving wild bird rehabilitation and the different issues that have to be considered for rehabilitation and release.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
Avian Anatomy & Physiology
Dr. Ed Smallwood
This presentation provides an overview of clinically relevant aspects of avian anatomy.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)
Reptile Anatomy
Dr. Tres Clarke
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
Pain Management and Analgesia for Injured Wildlife
Dr. Sathya
Chinnadurai
This presentation reviews common analgesics and anesthetics used for wildlife patients.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Rehabilitators)
Infectious Diseases of Wild Songbirds
Dr. Leslie Martin
Dr. Martin
reviews important bacterial (i.e. salmonella, mycoplasma), viral (i.e.
West Nile virus, avian pox, avian influenza(?)), +-fungal, and parasitic
infections in wild songbirds.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)
Metabolic Bone Disease in Wildlife
Drs. Leslie and Michael Martin
Drs. Leslie and Michael
Martin do an overview of metabolic bone disease in avian, reptile and some
mammal species, with a brief discussion of MBD in amphibians. References
are from domestic animals, exotic animals and wildlife.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
Emergency Reptile Medicine
Dr. JB Mintor
This presentation will focus on the important clinical relevant
concepts in the triage, stabilization and care of reptiles in need of
emergency care.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
Nutritional and Medical Management for Emaciated Raptors
Dr.
Dave Scott
Emaciation is a common finding in birds of prey admitted to rehabilitation centers. It is not a disease in itself but a syndrome that results due to other causes. This presentation will cover the many causes of emaciation, a useful treatment protocol and some criteria to use when triaging a case or when trying to predict an outcome.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)
RaptorMed - Electronic Records
Dr. Dave Scott
The future of medical records for wildlife rehabilitation is here now. RaptorMed is the first and only software system designed and built specifically for the care and treatment of birds of prey. Go completely paperless and have immediate access to all your data. Generate your year-end reports quite literally with the click of a button. Provide an unprecedented level of care for your patients and do it with an increased level of efficiency that will result in lower costs for you. Come check out this demonstration of RaptorMed and see what it can do for your organization.
Aquatic Bird Rehabilitation
Dr. Greg Massey
Birds who make their living on or near the water have special requirements
that must be considered during rehabilitation. Maintaining the feather
coat so it provides insulation and waterproofing is paramount to their
survival. This requires special consideration when treating and housing
these species. This presentation will describe the unique requirements of
these birds and facts every rehabilitator should know.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)
Biosecurity and Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Wildlife Rehabilitation
Centers
Dr. Leslie Martin
This presentation reviews common zoonotic diseases of importance in wildlife rehabilitation, and practices to minimize spread of disease in the rehabilitation center.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
White Nose Syndrome in Bats
Dr. Lauren Powers
This presentation reviews the latest information about this devastating fungal disease of native bats in eastern USA.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
Veterinary CE Labs:
Songbird Emergency Care
Dr. Leslie Martin and Pamela Bayne
Lecture then lab, focusing on important concepts for triage and
stabilizing passerines for transport to federally licensed songbird
rehabilitators. To include: triage, basic body wrap, glue traps,
hummingbird ICU care and SQ fluids. We would like each participant to
practice 3 body wraps on 3 different birds. Lab focus is on body
wraps, SQ fluids and basic chow feeding.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)
Avian Anatomy and Necropsy
Dr. Lauren Powers
This lab includes head-to-toe approach to avian necropsy.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian)
Reptile Anatomy and Necropsy
Dr. Tres Clarke
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, General)
Advanced Avian Hematology
Dr. Laurie Degernes
This lab covers proper blood slide preparation, red and white cell identification, and the approach to white cell counts and white cell differentials. Practitioners are encouraged to bring stained blood smears for use in the lab.
(Experience using a microscope is a prerequisite.)
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators)