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:
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 )
Rehabilitating Orphaned Opossums
Kim Ashby
In this basic session, information will be presented on ways to assess and rehabilitate the healthy opossum. The class will cover general growth and development of the Virginia Opossum, housing requirements, feeding and nutritional needs for each developmental stage, and release criteria.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Advanced Skills for Rehabilitating Orphaned and Injured Opossums
Kim Ashby
This session will detail a variety of issues a rehabilitator may encounter when working with injured or sick opossum and will include information on tube feeding, bloat, wound management, special medication requirements, Failure to Thrive, Metabolic Bone Disease and ways to prevent or correct this condition.
(General, Vet Tech CE )
Basic Cottontail Rehabilitation for the Beginner
Jackie Wylie
This basic class will cover the general principles for raising baby cottontails. The class will cover general growth and development of the Cottontail, housing requirements, feeding and nutritional needs and release criteria.
(Beginner Track, 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
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)
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)
Open Forum for Mammals and Reptiles
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. The session will focuse on mammals and reptiles.
(General)
Open Forum for Birds
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. The session will focus on birds.
(General)
Capture and Restraint of Small Mammals and Birds
Toni O'Neil
Proper technique in handling baby mammals and birds is important. Restraining adults for physical exams and giving medication is a challenge. Capturing injured adults without hurting yourself or the animal is even more challenging. Toni discusses various techniques and best practices for each of these situations.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Fundraising
Nicki Dardinger
Rehabilitation can be expensive! Come learn about ways to raise money or receive donated supplies and services to help cover the cost of providing high quality care to injured and orphaned wildlife. Participants will get an overview of a broad range of activities including social media, individual donations, business partnerships - and more!
(General)
Beginning Basics of Bird Care - Passerines
Elizabeth Hanrahan
This presentation will provide the basic tools for identifying and caring for passerine (perching) birds from hatchlings to adults. The class will offer the basics of identification, simple anatomy, feeding, care and housing of adult and baby birds, tropic feeding categories and release.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Waterfowl Rehab
Jennifer Gordon
Learn how to evaluate incoming waterfowl and establish treatment protocols. We will cover common problems, diseases and injuries as well as discuss drugs and supplements. The class will go into the details such as: Natural History, Identification, Anatomy, Behavior, Caging/Housing, Food/Nutrition, Common Injuries, Diseases and common problems, etc.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Capture, Restraint and Transport of Large Birds
Angela Santaniello
Capturing large injured birds can be quite a challenge, especially when bodies of water are involved. See the equipment needed and learn strategies for capturing birds in different situations. Proper technique for safely transporting and restraining birds during treatment will also be demonstrated.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Seabird Rehab
MaryEllen Rogers
Who? Mary Ellen Rogers, Clinic Director of Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter, on Oak Island, NC since March 2007
What? A small shelter receiving about 350 birds each year. The predominant species is the Brown Pelican.
When? Migration and nesting seasons bring down all kinds of species. Several dominate the incoming birds during spring and fall.
Where? Beaches often get the highest numbers of migrant species but golf courses undergoing pesticide and herbicide treatments also produce lots of sick birds.
Why? After pelagic species like loons and gannets run out of bait fish on their migrations, they are susceptible to predation, disease and starvation.
In this presentation, Mary Ellen will share her tips and techniques for helping these coastal species.
Do you have Loons in small enclosures? Aggressive Gannets? Pelicans and gulls in rehab that refuse food? Bring your comments and questions.
Coastal rehabbers need to share methods and help each other to ensure the best possible outcome for these birds.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Large Mammal Rehab
Nina Fischesser and tbd
This session will cover basic procedures of rehabilitating bobcats (Lynx Rufus), and includes screening calls, bobcat restraint, initial and continuing care, enclosures, and diet. Also included is Lees-McRae College research regarding release of rehabilitated bobcats with the use of a tracking devise.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Birds that Eat on the Wing (chimney swifts, swallows, nightjars, and flycatchers)
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Yes! You can successfully rehabilitate those strange insectivores that “eat on the wing,” flying in the air. You will receive basic wildlife rehabilitation protocols including: determining when it is appropriate to reunite nestlings with parents or “foster care“, caging for nestlings and adults, basic diets, how to “teach” them to eat while flying, and successful release.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Debilitated and Emaciated Orphaned Mammals, Part 1:
Considerations/Concerns Upon Admission
Halley Buckanoff
Most infant mammals aren’t 100% when admitted into rehabilitative care, they are suffering from shock, stress, dehydration, hypothermia, emaciation injury and/or illness. This session will help identify the symptoms commonly associated with debilitation and/or emaciation as well as provide insight into techniques for supportive care for our infant patients.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Debilitated and Emaciated Orphaned Mammals, Part II:
Considerations/Concerns While in Captive Care
Halley Buckanoff
Hand-rearing infants can pose many challenges and young animals can become ill or debilitated while in a rehabilitation setting whether they were exposed to contagions from other orphans, aspirated during feeding, were injured by a litter mate, or developed diarrhea. This session will address these topics as well as discuss the different formulas available and the implications of not meeting the nutritional needs of young, growing wildlife.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Considerations for Caring for Adult Mammals in Captivity
Halley Buckanoff
Are you prepared to handle, house, and care for sick/injured adult mammals? This session will cover some of these considerations as well as basics in emergency triage, stabilization and nutrition for our adult wildlife patients.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
The Professional Wildlife Rehabilitator -Treating the Human Animal
Linda Bergman
The “human animal” is the attentive individual (sometimes
with company in tow) and transporter of an injured, orphaned or diseased animal
who is deserving of respect and sensitivity. Your professionalism (or lack thereof)
will be silently assessed within minutes of initial contact with the human animal, determining the direction of future human interactions with distressed wildlife
and framing how other wildlife rehabilitators will be perceived. A professional
wildlife rehabilitator has the opportunity and power to create positive experiences
in the community that can change lives. This interactive session will help you
polish your professionalism and answer the hard questions.
(General)
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)
IWRC/NWRA Minimum Standards
Tammy Greevers
The Minimum Standards of Wildlife Rehabiliation (MSWR) were created to fulfill a need. Written by and for wildlife rehabilitators, both home and center alike, the newest fourth edition of 2012 is updated with new enclosure measurements, housing, and much more information. This presentation is a general overview of the new edition and is a good foundation for any beginning wildlife rehabilitator. The focus will be on basic knowledge needed of rehabilitators as well as housing, medical, and release considerations. Being familiar with these standards is wise for all wildlife rehabilitators in order to give the best quality care to their patients.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Labs and Workshops
Mammal Physical Exam Lab
Carolyn Collier
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
Kathryn Benson
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)
Veterinary CE Lectures:
Wound Management in Wildlife and Case Presentations
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 Medicine Clinical Cases
Dr. David Scott
An interactive discussion of some highly unusual or interesting raptor cases seen at Carolina Raptor Center. Cases will include internal medicine as well as trauma and orthopedics. Learn how to treat them and about some of the complications that you can expect.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators)
Emergency and Critical Care Support for Injured Raptors
Dr. David Scott
What do you do when an injured raptor is dropped off? How do you decide if a patient can be saved? What criteria do you use to decide and what are its immediate needs? Learn all about all this and what you need to do to stabilize a critical patient and to plan for its rehabilitation.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators)
Metabolic Bone Disease in Wildlife
Dr. Korinn Saker
Metabolic Bone Disease refers to abnormalities of bones that have either a nutritional or genetic origin. The nutritional form of metabolic bone disease (NMBD) is most commonly encountered in wildlife species involved in various types of rehabilitation programs. NMBD can be treated and/or prevented by addressing the appropriate mineral balance in the diet. This presentation will provide an overview of NMBD and discuss key nutrition support components associated with management of this disorder in the rehabilitation scenario.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Small Mammal Emergency & Critical Care Support
Dr. Lynsey Rosen
This lecture will cover common small mammal wildlife emergencies. It will include species commonly seen, emergency and triage, supportive care, nutrition, and euthanasia. It will also include appropriate biosecurity and safety measures when seeing these animals.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Avian & Reptile Hematology
Dr. Laurie Degernes
Learning how to read and interpret complete blood counts (CBCs) is an important skill in veterinary medicine and wildlife rehabilitation to assess the health of a patient. The procedures for sample collection and processing will be reviewed as well as the steps to completing a white blood cell count estimate and differential, and criteria for interpretation of these results. Participants in the practical lab will have an opportunity to practice making blood smears, and completing CBCs using teaching slides from wild birds and reptiles. The lecture is required for hematology lab participants, but anyone can attend the lecture.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Songbird Medicine & Critical Care Lecture
Dr. Mintcy Maxham and Pamela Bayne
This presentation will cover the following topics : federal regulations and how the roles of general public, rehabilitator, and veterinarian are defined; overall goal = release, consideration of when triage/rehabilitation is and is not appropriate; appropriate handling, temporary housing/transport; emphasis on visual exam, minimizing stress; most common emergencies and what to do (with practice of important bandaging/splinting and supportive care skills in the practical lab). The lecture is required for songbird lab participants, but anyone can attend the lecture.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Wildlife Parasitology
Dr. James Flowers
Every wildlife species has a wide variety of parasites including trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, acanthocephalans and arthropods. The life cycles and ecology of select wildlife parasites will be discussed.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Amphibian Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Daniel S. Dombrowski
Clinical techniques for evaluating amphibians, should in general, be developed with due consideration given to stress reduction and limited handling. Anesthesia and surgery are approached in a manner similar to techniques established for fish, keeping in mind the unique features of amphibian skin and that most adult amphibians have lungs. As with fish and reptiles, the vast majority of health challenges faced by captive amphibians are husbandry related. While trauma is likely the most common presentation for wildlife rehabilitation in individual non-captive amphibians, it is important to understand that major declines in entire amphibian populations are being observed and documented around the world. It is estimated that more than 30% of all amphibian species are currently threatened with extinction. Many of these globally declining populations have been linked to immerging disease pathogens including the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) and Amphibian Ranavirus. Clinical management of any amphibian must take both of these pathogens into account and clinicians should be aware that in amphibians, both are listed as globally notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
This presentation will provide participants with an introduction to basic management of amphibians in the clinic and a demonstration of standard clinical techniques and tricks useful in physical examinations, anesthesia, and amphibian surgery. In addition, this presentation should provide participants with an introduction to the current understanding and potential impact of declining amphibian health on a global scale.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Aquatic Avian Medicine
Dr. Greg Massey
Because of their natural history, aquatic birds present rehabilitators with a host of unique challenges. For example, many species do not fare well when maintained in a dry caging environment. Consequently the window of opportunity to rehabilitate these birds before captivity related secondary problems occur is typically much shorter than for terrestrial species. This presentation will focus on some special challenges associated with the care and management of aquatic birds. Topics to be covered include caging and pool design, pool maintenance, captive diets and feeding methods, as well as handling techniques.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
An Introduction to Integrative Medicine for Wildlife
Dr. Christine Eckermann-Ross
The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the wildlife veterinarian and rehabilitator to the use of integrative medicine in wildlife species. Common herbal formulas, food therapy, acupressure points and other approaches that all practitioners can easily use will be discussed.
(Vet CD, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Veterinary CE Labs:
Songbird Bandaging / Splinting / Supportive Care Lab
Dr. Mincty Maxham and Pamela Bayne
The practical lab will include instruction for management of an open fracture; bandaging (wings); splinting (in the form of stabilization); SQ fluids (when to give, how to calculate, where to give, how to give); feeding (when to feed, what to feed, how to feed)
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Mammal Bandaging / Splinting lab
Dr. Jenessa Gjeltema
This course includes both a lecture and a practical lab designed to instruct attendees in bandaging techniques for small mammals. Topics that will be covered in the lecture will be the indications for applying bandages and splints, a discussion of the basic principles of bandaging, and an overview of the most commonly used bandage techniques. Following the lecture, a practical lab will be held to allow attendees to practice their bandaging skills on a variety of small mammals.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Large Bird Bandaging & Protective Padding Lab for Raptors & Aquatic Birds
Dr. David Scott, Dr. Greg Massey and Wendy Massey
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Keynote address:
Walter Sturgeon
Operation Migration has over 20 years of experience at leading birds on migration starting with Canada Geese. Many people will be familiar with the OM movie "Fly Away Home" telling the story of a young girl leading a flock of Canada geese behind an ultra-light aircraft on migration. After working with trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes OM started working with whooping cranes in 2001. The speaker will tell the story of training whooping cranes to follow an ultra-light and their work to establish a second migratory population of whooping cranes in North America.