There are many ways you can help your local individual Authorized Wildlife
Custodian
or your local wildlife rehabilitation centre.
Many
Authorized Wildlife Custodians and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres have Wish
Lists of items that you can donate to help them with the work they do. Many
times these are items you might just discard, but for wildlife
rehabilitation, they can be useful. Some of the more common things* are:
-
Towels
-
Bedding
-
Heavy gloves, waterproof gloves, rubber boots
-
Cages (sturdy kennel cabs)
-
Paper products (paper towels, Kleenex, toilet paper - used for animal
bedding and nesting)
-
Cleaning supplies, e.g. bleach, disinfecting detergents
-
Medical supplies (needles, syringes, hydration fluids, bandages,
medications, medical equipment, etc.)
-
Building supplies (wire mesh for caging, lumber for den/nest boxes)
-
Skilled Trades help
-
Handyman help (for cage building, etc.)
-
Office Supplies and Equipment
-
High quality food (name brand dog and cat kibble canned or dry)
-
Powdered Milk Replacers (KMR, Esbilac - mfg by PetAg)
-
Fresh fruits, vegetables, in season
-
Nuts in shells (not peanuts)
-
Volunteer your skills and time!
*Each
individual or centre will have slightly different needs. Contact your local
wildlife rehabilitator or wildlife rehabilitation centre and ask them for their
specific "Wish List".
Your
local area rehabilitators and smaller centres very often don't have access to
advertising budgets and may not be as well known through media exposure often
given to larger centres in big urban areas.
When you take the time to find out
who and where your local Authorized Wildlife Custodians are, you are then
helping that organization or individual by ensuring they can continue to be
there to provide skilled, professional care for the native wildlife in your
area. It benefits wildlife not to be subjected to
the stress of being transported back hundreds of miles for release when they are
ready to be returned to their home territory.
Be
sure to check out OWREN's Wish List
HERE!
