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)

Wildlife Rehabilitation of Small Mammals
Toni O'Neil
The small mammal session covers the basic care-taking required for raising infant small mammals (squirrels, opossums and cottontails). The class focuses on their specific housing and feeding needs all the way through weening.  Comparisons will be made between these three most common species that a new rehabilitator will encounter.
(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.
(Beginner, 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 and 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)

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)

Birds and Their Habitats Along the Crystal Coast
Dr. Jim Craig
North Carolina’s rich avifauna is represented by more than 400 species, one hundred of which are seen with great regularity along the Crystal Coast. This talk presents the most common of these as a function of four major coastal habitats: (1) back yards (2) forests (3) beaches (4) marshes and inlets. This highly illustrated presentation is intended to familiarize rehabilitators and the general public with the birds they are likely to see on a day-to-day basis.
(Beginner Track, General)

North Carolina Reptiles and Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Protection Program
Dr. Jim Craig
North Carolina hosts a rich variety of reptiles including: 1 alligator, 37 species of snakes, 16 species of turtles, and 12 species of lizards. This illustrated presentation is intended to familiarize anyone interested in, or likely to encounter, these varied species. The North Carolina coast is regularly visited by five types  of endangered sea turtles and is the site of approximately one thousand loggerhead sea turtle nests each summer. The operation and success of the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Protection Program will be reviewed.
(Beginner Track, General)

Getting Your Federal Permit
Elizabeth Hanrahan
The goals of this presentation are to assist those who wish to become Federally Licensed wildlife rehabilitators by:
Migratory Bird rehabilitators must be licensed by the Federal Government through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Presenting the requirements for a Federal Wildlife rehabilitation permit,
Provide knowledge of the laws covering the rehabilitation of migratory birds,
Instill appreciation for the Minimum Standards for care of birds in WR and the wildlife rehabilitation code of ethics,
Provide a network of opportunities to receive the hands-on experience required for a Federal Rehabilitation permit.
(General, Vet Tech CE)

Basic River Otter Care
Michelle Ray
This presentation covers basic care and handling, do’s and don’ts, feeding and husbandry of river otters.  Michelle draws on her experience of raising river otters for Grandfather Mountain.
(General, Vet Tech CE)

Preventing Disease and its Spread
Jennifer Gordon
Wildlife rehabilitators deal with sick animals every day.  What happens when you have a potentially contagious disease in an animal you just brought home?  How to prevent the spread, protect yourself and your other animals, make preparations and what you should keep on hand before you need it.  
(General, Vet Tech CE)

Raising Mealworms
Ann Rogers
Mealworms are expensive to buy, but easy to raise. It takes just a little work and lots of patience!
(Beginner Track, General)

Rehab Case Studies
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Test your diagnostic skills against some of the common and some the more difficult conditions that rehabilitators encounter.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)

Preventing Bird-Window Collisions
Jean Chamberlain
Avian rehabilitators frequently deal with the devastating effects of birds striking windows. Jean discusses ways to help reduce the number of these bird-window collisions. She covers the Lights Out Program that has been implemented in some North Carolina cities. She also covers the steps individuals can take to help prevent these strikes at their homes.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)

Producing Great Photography of Wildlife
John Althouse
The role of the photographer, be it amateur or professional, is a powerful one. This workshop will provide you tips on how to capture the most compelling and memorable wildlife images your photographic equipment can accommodate. These skills will help you document sightings, animal behavior and the inspiring beauty nature offers in the form of elusive, wild animals.
(Beginner Track, General)

Yipes! I'm Out of Feeder Insects
Elizabeth Hanrahan
It has happened to us all.  At some time the wildlife rehabilitator may be unable to obtain, beg, or buy feeder insects when needed. This presentation will show you how to grow mealworms and fruit flies, and forage for bugs and worms for insect eating critters.  One larva growing method provides nutritious food and enrichment for many species of birds.  And, your youngest volunteers will love working on this project!
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)

The Songbird Rehab Dilemma
Jean Chamberlain
This presentation covers 10 of the most common songbirds in North Carolina. For each Jean discusses what is known about how its song is used and the time frame during which the song is acquired. She discusses how we can best provide for the necessary learning for orphans in rehab, including which species have been shown to benefit from hearing adult song on tape.
(General, Vet Tech CE)

Flying Squirrels
Cathy Burns
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)

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.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)

Labs and Workshops

Mammal Physical Exam Lab
Michelle Schisa
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
Ashley Emanuele
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 Lab
Betty O'Leary
In this lab you will learn how to fix broken flight feathers by imping in new feathers. Imping allows you to release a bird now instead of waiting for it to molt. We will be using various species of bird cadavers for you to practice on after a short Power Point presentation.   
(General , Vet Tech CE)

Veterinary CE Lectures:

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)

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, Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators)

Lead Poisoning in Wild Birds
Dr. Laurel Degernes
Sources of lead ammunition and fishing tackle are unfortunately still readily available to birds such as waterfowl, loons, CA condors, and eagles. This presentation will review the sources, diagnosis, treatment and pathology of lead poisoning in wild birds, and proposed preventive programs.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators)

Emergency and Trauma Care
Dr. Sam Young
This session will focus on the initial triage and physical exam of common wildlife species and identification of their most common presenting ailments.  We will also discuss patient stabilization and follow up care.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators)

Bloodwork - why it is important and what it all means
Dr. David Scott
In this interactive session, you will learn why a CBC is helpful, when one should be run and how to interpret and read a smear.  The presentation will be slide-based and the audience will be encouraged to participate and discuss what is seen on each slide.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advance Avian Rehabilitators)

The Team Approach in Handling Wildlife Patients
Christina Hildreth
The veterinary hospital is often the first place the public will turn to with injured or orphaned (actual or presumed) wildlife. This requires the veterinary hospital to consider how wildlife will be managed when presented. Many veterinary hospitals choose to serve the community by taking in wildlife when presented. Policies and protocols should be developed to create the most humane and ethical treatment of the animals that come under veterinary hospital care. Policies should include basic triage, knowledge of state and federal laws, temporary housing solutions, a network of resources and licensed rehabilitators, basic knowledge of common diseases, infectious disease management, life assessment, and euthanasia considerations. Developing protocols can help the veterinary hospital work as a team even if there is a variety of experience and knowledge of wildlife within the hospital.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)

Treatment of Raptor Wounds and Injuries
Dr. Joni Gnyp
This presentation is a summary of common raptor wounds and injuries that will present themselves and different ways to treat them.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators)

Falconry and Wildlife Rehabilitation
Dr. Joni Gnyp
Discussion of ways in which falconers exercise and condition their falconry birds as a means to show the degree of flight rehabilitation needed for release. Creance flight training will be discussed with release criteria based on creance flying.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Advanced Avian Rehabilitators)

Raising Barn Owls from Egg to Release
Mathias Engelmann
This presentation will summarize the methods used at Carolina Raptor Center to raise captive-hatched and orphaned barn owls in preparation for release. Topics include appropriate housing at various ages, diet, and how to avoid imprinting.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Rehabilitators)

Veterinary CE Labs:

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)

Turtle Shell Repair
Dr. Sam Young
This session will provide hands on experience in the basics of turtle shell fracture repair with an emphasis on initial fracture stabilization and triage.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)

Additional sessions will be added as they are confirmed.


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