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 unless otherwise noted.
Beginner and General Lectures:
Engaging Habitat Design in a Captive Environment
Jessica Kiracofe
Species to be covered in the topic:Birds of Prey,Song Birds, Foxes,Opossum/Raccoon/Squirrel
Topic to include:
- Short term patient caging and permanent resident caging for birds, how to use key tools (duct tape, cable ties, rope, natural wood) to make safe perching for birds (its the same for all avian species)
- Habitat Design for large outdoor and smaller limited activity cages for songbirds
- How to give Foxes hiding places and shelter that mimic what they like in the wild
- Accommodating the climber such as Opossums, raccoons, and squirrels
- Natural history to explain design inspiration, why it's important, highlighting orphans so they can learn skills like foraging, and hiding.
- Natural food disbursement in cage design and enrichment.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Jump Starting Baby Turtles
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Jumpstarting or Head starting is the process of rearing juvenile turtles to a certain size before releasing them into the wild. Jumpstarting has been applied to sea turtles, and other species of concern. This process can increase the visibility of turtles by the public and make them more aware of the problems faced by turtles today. It also allows young turtles to grow large enough to be seen by vehicles or by threatening predators.
The turtles are later released into appropriate environments for the species.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Triage and Initial Care of Mammals
Kim Ashby
I have a baby….Now what do I do? This presentation will cover: gather the important information you need to know from the public; how to complete an initial head-to-toe assessment of small mammals; triaging care for urgent problems; triaging care of multiple animals; and initiating appropriate care to ensure the best possible outcome for the animal.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Anything and Everything Squirrel
Linda Bergman
From orphaned pinkie to hefty, fast and furious release and any ailments or injury in between or beyond, this session gives the squirrel it's due. Routine or unusual calls received by you or your center regarding our friend and potential victim or trouble maker, the squirrel, will be discussed. This interactive class will help us stock our rehab knowledge toolbox with "who they are and what to do's" in any squirrel situation such as infant care, adult ailments or injury, caging, nesting, removal and more. The squirrel . . . some people can't live with them, and most wildlife rehabilitators can't live without them.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Launch, Grow and Support a Wildlife Rehabilitation Nonprofit
Kimberly Brewster
What does it take to start a new nonprofit, grow and attract support? Success lies in a well thought out plan, a strong network, and messaging. Tips, tools and advice to help anyone involved with supporting a nonprofit.
(Beginner Track, General)
What's Wrong for Wrens is Right for Robins
Toni O'Neil
"What's Wrong for Wrens and Right for Robins" is a comparison between several passerine nestlings/fledglings that are frequently brought in for care. It will focus on these and point out the major similarities and differences in care for the more common species that we routinely deal with in spring/summer rehabilitation during "baby bird season". Specific tips for successful rearing of the Carolina Wren will also be presented from admission through release.
(General, Vet Tech CE)
Three T’s: Tricks, Tips, and Techniques of Young Mammal Care: Everyday Rehabbing Hacks
Ann Rogers, Kelley O'Dell
Come and hear our ideas that might help you with mammal care, but we want you to bring your ideas, insights and inventions to share with the class.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Enrichment for an Empty Wallet
Jill Brown
Institutions both large and small feel the impacts of a poor economy and often look introspectively for ways to reduce costs. For many organizations, especially smaller ones, a tight budget may lead to animal enrichment programs being severely reduced or even eliminated completely in an attempt to curb expenditures. Toys that can withstand the abuse captive animals deliver are often prohibitively expensive or have surprisingly short lifespans. While some novel objects cannot be easily recreated (like the much loved, and very expensive “30-inch Boomer Ball®”), the behaviors they elicit often can be. By focusing on the purpose of specific types of enrichment rather than the commercially available choices, we have found ways to create engaging and varied enrichment programs for our animals; which range in size from songbirds to cattle.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Internships in Wildlife Rehabilitation
Alex Kees
Organizing an internship program at your facility can be a daunting endeavor. There are 12 easy steps to setting up an intern program as well as 10 major benefits of having a program. One should also consider the legal ramifications as well as the benefits of IWRC Accreditation.
(Beginner Track, General)
Banding and Post-release Survival
Halley Bucknaoff, Dr. Lynn Mosely
The Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (VHS WRC) at the North Carolina Zoo, in partnership with faculty at Guilford College, has been conducting a post-release survival study of commonly rehabilitated backyard, non-migratory songbirds. Seven species of birds were chosen for the study based on admission numbers at the VHS WRC and the potential for re-sighting released birds near feeders and/or around homes. Birds were banded with United States Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) issued numbered metal bands and additional approval was granted for adhering sequences of colored bands for specific identification of individuals. The methods, materials and preliminary results of the study is reported in this presentation.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Cage Building for Raptors
Mathias Engelmann
This presentation discusses many of the factors that go into designing a proper outdoor raptor rehabilitation cage. Topics include function, site selection, building materials, commonly-used tools and hardware, construction tips, predator barriers and perches. Detailed cage plans will be made available via email to participants.
(Beginner Track, General)
Working With Your Vet
Nina Fischesser
When starting out as a wildlife rehabilitator one must have the help of one or more veterinarians to assist in our very important work. This lecture aims to help new rehabilitators who are seeking to build relationships with veterinarians in their community. Areas covered are: approaching the vet, keeping the relationship healthy, working with the technicians, communication, financial agreements, and more.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Re-nesting Raptors
Carly Smith
This session will discuss the importance of re-nesting raptors. Learn the proper strategies and techniques to reunite nestlings with their parents.
(Beginner Track, 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, Vet Tech CE )
Avian Vision
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.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Helping Orphaned Songbirds Learn Their Song
Jean Chamberlain
This presentation covers the songbirds that are most frequently seen in rehab. For each Jean discusses what is known on how its song is learned and the time frame during which the song is acquired. Help your orphans learn to sing. She discusses how we can best provide for the necessary learning for orphans in rehab.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
Raptor ID
Betty O'Leary
Learn how to identify the native and winter migrant species of raptors found in the Carolinas. Through use of pictures Betty points out the differences in plumage, anatomy, and body size.
(Beginner Track, General, Vet Tech CE)
New Zealand Wildlife Rehab
Nina Fischesser
During the relatively short occupation of New Zealand by humans species have been made extinct due to predation by introduced species, hunting, and the loss of habitat. In recent years numerous conservation, and wildlife rehabilitation efforts have made New Zealand one of the top countries in wildlife conservation. This lecture will share wildlife conservation and rehabilitation programs visited by Nina Fischesser and Lees-McRae College students over 2 separate month long trips during the summer baby seasons of New Zealand in 2007 and 2013.
Nina Fischesser, director of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute (founded in 1995), has been teaching wildlife rehabilitation at Lees-McRae College since 2003.
(Beginner Track, General)
Husbandry of Turtles in Wildlife Rehabilitation
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.
(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 )
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)
Saving Lives on a Shoestring
Steve Stone
Rehab and rescue are your passion, but can you afford to do it? In this seminar, Steve Stone of the American Wildlife Refuge will share tips and hints of ways to save money in your rehab. Steve will give you free and inexpensive ways to get supplies, extend the supplies you have, make and create items from low cost materials, and more. Learn who to ask for free items andwhat to expect inresponse. Steve has run an active raptor center since 2001 on a budget of less than $25,000 per year.
Labs and Workshops
Mammal Physical Exam Lab
Eva Frantz
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
Rachel Turner
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.
(Wildlife Rehabilitators , Vet Tech CE)
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 Lab
Dr. Gregory Lewbart
This session will provide hands on experience in the basics of turtle shell fracture repair using non-invasive methods.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Songbird Bandaging / Splinting / Supportive Care Lab
Dr. Mintcy 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, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Veterinary CE Lectures:
Essentials of Avian Neurology
Dr. Lauren Powers
This lecture will review the central and peripheral nervous systems of birds, including methods to assess neurologic status from the physical examination and from diagnostic testing. Diseases more commonly seen in the wild bird presented for veterinary care or rehabilitation will be discussed, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, poisonings, and infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Metabolic Bone Disease
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)
Songbird Medicine & Critical Care
Dr. Mincty 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, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Raptor Nutrition - What to Feed and How to Feed
Dr. Joni Gnyp
‘Raptor Nutrition – What to Feed and How to Feed’ - discussion of overall raptor nutrition, what different species should and should not eat, and how to properly feed different types of disease processes.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Avain Pain Management
Dr. Lauren Powers
Apart from raptors, most wild birds are prey species and are keenly adept at hiding outward signs of pain. The perceived lack of apparent pain to the wildlife rehabilitator or veterinary clinician may result in inadequate analgesic intervention, which may lead to needless stress and suffering for the bird. This lecture will review the differences between nociception and pain and the clinical signs of pain in birds. Options for analgesic therapy will be discussed, such as local anesthesia, opioids, gabapentin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and adjunctive therapies. The benefits of multi-modal (balanced) analgesia will be highlighted. Exciting research updates in avian analgesia will be reviewed.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Fawn-napped! Rehabilitating White Tailed Deer
Dr. Kelli Knight
Odocoileus virginianus inhabit the entire contiguous United States minus 2 to 3 states in the west. Each spring, rehabilitators receive “kidnapped” fawns found alone and mistaken for orphans. Public education and return or fostering offers the best chance for survival. When not possible, rehabilitation requires knowledge of natural history, GI anatomy, housing, handling, bottle feeding, rack training and browse. Tips and tricks plus problems including bloat, taming and capture myopathy will be covered. Why rehabilitate fawns? They commonly carry zoonotic diseases like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Keeping Bambi out of the hands of private citizens provides an important public health service.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Permits & Laws
Daron Barnes
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators )
It's What's for Dinner
Dr. Kelli Knight
Nutritional mismanagement is secondary only to trauma as a leading cause of death or non-releasability in wildlife rehabilitation. Natural history, trophic category and life stage are important considerations in diet planning. Availability of food sources and supplies can influence nutrition in captivity vs. natural diets. Allometric food calculations and nutritional disorders will be covered. A case study approach makes learning about nutrition fun and practical for wildlife rehabilitators.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Expect the Unexpected
Dr. Joni Gnyp
‘Expect the Unexpected’- Unique medical conditions with unique outcomes that presented to Cape Fear Raptor Center in 2014.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Emergency/Triage
Dr. Sarah Cannizzo
This presentation provides an introduction to triage and emergency care tailored to wildlife, focusing on triage of the critically ill wildlife patient and initial stabilization techniques.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Turtle Medicine and Surgery
Dr. Gregory Lewbart
Turtles and tortoises are susceptible to trauma and due to their unique anatomy frequently survive injury from vehicular trauma, falls, predatory attacks, burns, freezing, and other insults. This presentation will review some of the more common traumatic etiologies and treatment protocols.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Wildlife Rehabilitators)
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)
Avian Orthopedics – how to decided what treatment is needed
Dr. David Scott
This session will discuss that factors that you need to consider when dealing with fractures in raptor patients. Various conservative and surgical treatments will be discussed with actual examples using past cases at Carolina Raptor Center.
(Vet CE, Vet Tech CE, Avian Wildlife Rehabilitators)
Raptor Case Studies
Dr. David Scott
This interactive session will discuss various raptor cases as they presented at Carolina Raptor Center. We will walk thru each case, discuss differential diagnoses and treatments plans and finally, examine the actual outcomes.
Additional abstracts will be added as they are received.