I would like to obtain a Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit. If I were to obtain it in NC here are the requirements:
http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg01_License/images/pg1b2c.pdf
But it keeps saying that you must have experience working with animals. How can you get experience with wildlife animals if you did not go to college or plan on going to college? I would just intern, but to do so you must be a college student. Can I work at a raptor, reptile or animal refuge type place as a volunteer or junior volunteer to gain experience? Would that count?
Also after you obtain your permit, how do you get work through it? Do you just take it to an animal rehab center and apply for a job? Would that be a paying job?
#1 by Yep on February 12, 2010 - 12:45 am
Wildlife Rehabilitation is not a field to go into if your looking to make money. Most of the people who work in that field, already have a flow of income (retirement, or money saved from a previous job). Wildlife centers usually hire people on a volunteer basis. All their money goes to animal care, so they dont have the money to pay people. Most are non profit, and barely have enough money to care for the animals.
So wildlife rehabilitation isn’t really a career path. It is a great way to spend your extra time, volunteering to save animals.
As for the permits, you must have at least a couple years of experience in wildlife care. They wont consider you unless you have worked with a rehabber. You must have a few acres of land away from residential areas, to ensure humans wont be harmed by the wild animals. You must also have a safe area to release the animals, and permission from land owners. You also need to have cages constructed to the requirements of your state. You will have a state wildlife officer come to your property to inspect the conditions, and enclosures. And they can come to your property at any time to inspect further.
You dont need a permit to volunteer at a rehab. You must do this before becoming licensed. There is so much to learn. As a newly licensed rehabber you should be working under an experienced rehabber. This is where you get your work. They will give you some of the calls, and orphaned/injured animals. When you want to branch off you will then start getting your own calls, and leads from wildlife officers and animal control.