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:
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.
(Beginners, General, Vet Tech CE)
Introduction to Fawn Rehabilitation (in NC)
Daron Barnes, Dan Nicely, Robbie Norville
This session is designed for rehabilitators who are considering rehabilitating fawns. Daron covers the process of applying for a fawn rehabilitation permit in North Carolina, facility requirements, and program rules and requirements. Dan gives us a look into fawn rehab, what the rehabilitator should expect. Robbie covers the biologist's role in the fawn program, the calls he receives from rehabilitators and the advice given.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
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, Vet Tech CE)
Avian Vision -What do birds see?
Jean Chamberlain
Do birds see better than we do? What do they see? What is known about avian color perception and how it differs from ours? How do they use ultraviolet wavelengths? Jean takes a look at these questions and also explores the roles of vision in species identification, mate selection, predator/prey interactions and migration.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Education Permits
Carla Johnson
Carla covers the process of applying for education permits (both state and federal), proper permits, documentation for care and usage for education programs, facility requirements, and program rules and requirements. She covers the permits necessary for both mammals and birds.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
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.
(Genera, 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, Vet Tech CE )
Rehab
Math
Jean Chamberlain
This session covers the math used in dosage and fluid therapy calculations. Participants will practice the calculations. (Beginner, General, Vet Tech CE)
Introduction toWildlife Rehabilitation
Carla Johnson
This session is the first session of the beginner track. It covers what it means to be a wildlife rehabilitator and the rules and regulations covering rehabilitation.
(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, Vet Tech CE )
Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Virginia Opossums
Randy Atkinson
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, General, Vet Tech CE )
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, routes and volume of fluid administration and monitoring the effects of fluid therapy.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
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.
(Beginners, 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)
Enrichment: Every Animal Deserves a Toy
Jean Chamberlain
This presentation will cover a wide variety of ideas on what we can do to enrich the lives of the wildlife in our care. Not only our captive program animals but also those in long term rehabilitation deserve a rich environment. Our program birds and mammals deserve our continual effort to improve their quality of life.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Renesting: Putting Baby Back
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Yes, you can reunite baby birds with their parents. “Mother knows best” about raising baby birds. This presentation discusses why reuniting with the parents may be the best option for baby birds and the wildlife rehabilitator. Also discussed is what to do if the parents do not show up, when not to put the baby back and when it is possible and/or best to put the baby back. There are advantages of working with the finder and the positive public relations value of reuniting with the parent birds. Reuniting water birds and mammals will be mentioned, also.
This class is intended for rehabilitators and vet offices that answer calls on orphaned birds as well as avian rehabilitators.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Non-releasables Kept for Education
Nicki Dardinger and Halley Buckonoff
Nicki covers the care of non-releasable birds and reptiles. Halley covers the care of non-releasable mammals.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Natural History & Rehabilitation of Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous)
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Successful rehabilitation of killdeer (Charadrius vociferous) creates many unique challenges for a rehabilitator. This common year round resident of NC presents specialized needs for housing, nutrition, and habilitation from intake through successful release. Participants are guided through identification, the rehabilitation process, successful techniques, discussion of problems, and pitfalls to avoid.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Hazards of Rehab
Toni O’Neil and Linda Bergman
Hazards of Rehab is a realistic look at what hard core rehabilitators experience. Toni and Linda will cover time management/multi-tasking and tips, stress management - how to decompress during baby season, maintaining healthy family relations, find "ME" time out of the animal room, recognizing the signs of depression - in yourself and others (volunteers), recognizing the signs of hoarding - what are realistic euthanizing statistics and what are "red flags", drop out rate - why so few who start stick with it, and finally, the rewards of sticking with it.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Fishing for Wildlife
Elizabeth Hanrahan
For the wildlife rehabilitator who works with piscivores (fish eating birds and mammals), securing appropriate foods can be expensive and difficult. This presentation will discuss various methods of acquiring fish including buying wholesale, finding donations of fish, and using various fishing techniques. You'll save hundreds of dollars each year!
(General, Vet Tech)
Open Forum
Cathy Burns, Toni O’Neil
Cathy conducts an open forum for discussion - individual case studies, discussion of unusual cases, opinion asking, Q&A between the rehabbers, and the sharing of stories.
(General)
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)
Sub-Q Fluids Lab
Laura Ellsaesser
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)
Avian Physical Exam Lab
Betty O'Leary
The lab teaches the basics of avian anatomy and examination. Students are provided with a dead specimen and an examination form for hands-on practice during the class.
(General , Vet Tech CE)
Feather Imping
Betty O'Leary, Mathias Engelmann
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Veterinary CE Lectures:
Ethical Considerations in Wildlife Rehabilitation
Dr. Laurie
Degernes and Halley Buckanoff
This interactive presentation will utilize audience response clickers to work through a series of common presentations and situations faced by wildlife rehabilitators. Many of these examples include having to make difficult decisions while wrestling with ethical dilemmas – while some are very straight forward, others can be very challenging situations.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators )
Wildlife Rehabilitation - Permits & Laws
Daron Barnes
The various permits and the rules and regs for wildlife rehabilitation and related activities are explained. Questions about the permits and application requirements are addressed.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators )
Wildlife Ophthalmology
Dr. Jay Harrington
A review of reptile and avian ophthalmology: a brief discussion of anatomy followed by the common ocular diseases of native reptiles and birds.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian and Reptile Rehabilitators )
Mycoplasmosis in Wild Birds
Dr. David Ley
The salient features of mycoplasmal organisms will be reviewed, with emphasis on factors important for sample collection and diagnosis by organism identification via culture and molecular methods. Important mycoplasmal disease of wild birds will be reviewed, and recent experiences with M. gallisepticum conjunctivitis of house finches, M. corogypsi polyarthiritis of black vultures, and M. sturni conjunctivitis of cliff swallows will be discussed.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators )
Avian and Reptile Radiology
Dr. Vanessa Grunkemeyer
This presentation will include a review of proper patient positioning, general imaging techniques, and basic radiographic interpretation for avian and reptilian patients.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian and Reptile Rehabilitators)
Soft Tissue Wound Management in Wildlife
Dr. Vanessa Grunkemeyer
This presentation will include a review of the stages of wound healing and a discussion of the various aspects of a comprehensive wound management plan. Appropriate wound assessment and preparation for treatment, assorted topical therapies, and bandaging techniques will be presented using case examples.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Raptor Rehabilitation Projects in Spain
Dr. Javier Benito
In Europe, 36 species of the total 56 different raptor species have an unfavorable conservation status. Spain is a reference point for many of these species. This session will discuss different projects managed by GREFA (Native Fauna and its Habitat Rehabilitation Group), one of the biggest Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers in Spain. Rehabilitation projects with the four European vultures, golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) and lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni), found in different geographical areas of Spain and southern Europe will be discussed.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators )
Humane and Timely Euthanasia
Lauren V. Powers, DVM, Dipl ABVP(Avian)
This presentation will cover how the veterinary team can develop and maintain sound decision-making strategies and utilize available networking and consultation resources to ensure that objective wildlife euthanasia decisions are made. Pertinent federal and state laws and regulations and recent updates to the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia will also be reviewed.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators )
Raptor Orthopedics
Dr. David Scott
This will be an interactive discussion on the various methods to repair commonly-seen fractures in birds of prey. Dr Scott will present several recent cases directly from the patient database at the Carolina Raptor Center. Audience participation is welcome.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators)
Wildlife Cardiology
Dr. Sandra Tou
This presentation will review cardiac anatomy, function and common diseases seen in various wildlife species.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators )
Stretching the Point – Physical Therapy in Raptors
Christina Hildreth
This lecture will review some avian anatomy as applied to physical therapy, specifically in the form of passive range of motion, and will discuss the use of physical therapy to help rehabilitate injured birds of prey.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators )
Triage Considerations When a Natural Disaster Hits
Dr. Alicia Cawlfield
What happens when a storm or other natural disaster hits, and you find yourself buried with wildlife in need? Some tips will be covered to help plan for and make the best use of limited resources when demand far exceeds the resources available.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators )
Veterinary CE Labs:
Songbird Emergencies – Triage to Transport Lab
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, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Mammal Necropsy Lab
Dr. Emily Christiansen
This lab will provide an introduction to basic necropsy techniques used for small mammal species commonly seen in North Carolina. Participants will learn how to conduct a necropsy, how to identify normal and abnormal organ systems, and how to sample tissues for further testing.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Mammal Rehabilitators)
Turtle Shell Repair lab
Dr. Elsburgh (Tres) Clarke
The turtle shell repair lab will demonstrate multiple techniques in repairing fractures/deficits in chelonians. There will be hands on learning component with the course.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Reptile Rehabilitators)
Wildlife Parasitology Lab
Dr. James Flowers
The wildlife parasitology laboratory will be a hands-on, wet lab. Diagnostic techniques (Passive Fecal floatation, Centrifugal Floatation and Fecal Sedimentation) will be discussed and demonstrated. Participants will have the opportunity to practice these techniques and analyze the results. Canine feces will be provided for analysis or participants may bring wildlife fecals for analysis. Participants should be aware of the zoonotic potentials of pathogens from wildlife feces, and should follow suggested personal protection advice (gloves, lab coats, etc.)
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Mammal Bandaging / Splinting Lab
Dr. Alicia Cawlfield
Broken bones and wounds can increase the challenges of rehabilitating a mammal, and can lead to the animal's demise if improper care is given. Learn and practice basic bandaging and splinting techniques in this hands-on lab to expand your rehabilitation skills in the proper care of these injuries.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)