This week on Wildlife Weekly, Jackie Edmunds, wildlife rehabilitation training coordinator at the Dane County Humane Society, stops in to talk about how the rehabilitation process for wildlife works. The most common causes of wildlife injuries are from car accidents, window collisions, dog and cat bites, parasites, and dehydration.  Many people find animals wandering in their backyards and don’t know what to do, so they call the Wildlife Center.  Jackie and her team do their best to try find out what the issue is with the wildlife and nurse them back to health.

When you call the Center, the first question they’ll ask you is: Is the animal sick, injured, or orphaned? They’ll ask you to send a picture, so that the clinic can diagnose it. The center gives the animal a full physical exam to check for broken bones, wounds, and diseases. They also provide the animals with medication, food, water, and safe housing. They have large outdoor cages to give the animals a chance to stretch out, fly and gain their strength back.

After the staff conducts behavioral assessments to see if the animals are ready to be in the wild again, they plan a release date.

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, contact the Dane County Humane Society at 608-287-3235.