MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION Fourth Edition, 2012 Edited by Erica A. Miller, DVM Page 1
Copyright 2012 by National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council All rights reserved Individual pages or sections (not to exceed 5 pages) of this work may be quoted or copied for purposes of research or rehabilitation as long as attribution is displayed, clearly showing footers and page numbers Preferred citation: Miller, E.A., editor. 2012. Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, St. Cloud, MN. 116 pages. First Edition published 1989 Second Edition published 1993 Third Edition published 2000 Fourth Edition published 2012 ISBN 978-1-931439-28-2 International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association PO Box 3197 2625 Clearwater Road, Suite 110 Eugene, OR 97403 USA St. Cloud, MN 56301 USA (408) 271-2685 (320) 230-9920 info@theiwrc.org NWRA@nwrawildlife.org www.theiwrc.org www.nwrawildlife.org Page 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The wildlife rehabilitators listed below have designed the various sections of this document. Their task was to compose a document and then reach a consensus with colleagues. This was no small task, and we thank them for their many efforts. Members of both organizations were encouraged to contribute; many individual rehabilitators sent in their suggestions, comments and concerns, all of which helped to make this a better document. Those who made signifi cant contributions include: Mathias Engelman, Harriet Forrester, Susan Heckley, Harry Kelton, Nonda Surrat, and Regina Whitman.Special thanks to Tracy Leaver, the chair of the NWRA Standards Committee for several years, as she initiated this process, and then gathered and sorted the many letters that were submitted. Thanks, also, to Di Conger, Lessie Davis, Cheryl Hoggard, DVM, Diane Nickerson, Louise Shimmel, Elaine Thrune, and Sandy Woltman, whose editing helped make the document clear and understandable. Typesetting and layout was done by Erica Miller, DVM. The concept of standards for wildlife rehabilitation and much of the original work was accomplished in the early 1980s by: Pat Adams, Curt Clumpner, Betsy Crozer, Mary Forness, Lynne Frink, MA, Pixie and Robert Goodrich, Michelle Green, IWRC Board of Directors 1982 and 1983, Susan Kelly, John Mulder, DVM, Carol Odel, Vaughan Pratt, DVM, Basil Tangredi, DVM, Kris Thorne-Bolduc, Jan White, DVM, and Linda Wolf, DVM. The third edition (2000) of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation resulted from the suggestions and contributions of many wildlife rehabilitators via letters, phone calls, email messages, and conversations at national and regional conferences. Signifi cant contributions were made by the following individuals: Wendy Aeschliman, Lori Arent, Ann Bradshaw, Susan Barnard, Allan & Shirley Casey, Curt Clumpner, Michael Cox, Lessie Davis, Marge Gibson, Robyn Graboski, Deirdre Goodfriend, Frank Gould, Sandy Heyn, Patrice Klein, VMD, Amanda Lollar, Daniel Ludwig, PhD, Bea Orendorff, Clyde Peeling, Mike Pratt, Louise Shimmel, Barbara Suto, Florina Tseng, DVM, and Regina Whitman. DEDICATION This edition of Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation is dedicated to the memory of Wendy Fox. From her presentation Mimimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation--It s All About You (2004) to every aspect of her work relating to wildlife rehabilitation, Wendy was a proponent of using these guidelines to raise our effi ciency and improve the level of care we provide [to wildlife]. Page i
Felids (Cats): Large branches and logs (some hollow) should be provided for climbing, along with high platforms for resting above the cage fl oor. Other furnishings are plastic barrels or other things to hide in (logs, boxes, etc.).
Page 59 Order/Family Infant Care Nursing/Pre-weaned Juvenile Outside W x L x H W x L x H W x L x H Mustelids (cont d) Weasels & Minks 6 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 38 Liter 38 Liter 1.8 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m River Otters 6 ft x 12 ft x 6 ft 6 ft x 12 ft x 6 ft * 76 Liter 1.8 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m 1.8 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m Sea Otters 6 ft x 12 ft x 6 ft 6 ft x 10 ft x 6 ft 76 Liter 1.8 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m 1.8 m x 3.0 m x 1.8 m Wolverines 8 ft x 12 ft x 6 ft 38 Liter 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m 2.4 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m Badgers 8 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft * 76 Liter 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 1.8 m Skunks 2 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft 10 ft x 12 ft x 6 ft 76 Liter 0.6 m x 1.2 m x 0.9 m 3.0 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m Canids Coyotes 30 Gallon 10 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft 114 Liter 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m 3.0 m x 3.0 m x 2.4 m Wolves 30 Gallon 12 ft x 12 ft x 8 ft 114 Liter 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m 3.7 m x 3.7 m x 2.4 m Foxes 30 Gallon 4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft 114 Liter 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m 1.2 m x 1.2 m x 2.4 m Felids Mountain Lions 3 ft x 6 ft x 3 ft 8 ft x 24 ft x 8 ft * 38 Liter 0.9 m x 1.8 m x 0.9 m 2.4 m x 7.3 m x 2.4 m Bobcats 10 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft 38 Liter 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m 3.0 m x 3.0 m x 2.4 m Rodentia Large Rodents Aplodontia, Marmots, 4 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft 8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft W Muskrats, Woodchucks, etc. 76 Liter 1.2 m x 1.2 m x 0.9 m 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m
Table 7 (cont d): Minimum Housing Guidelines for Adult or Adult-sized Mammals Order/Family Adult Outside Injured Adult Restricted W x L x H W x L x H Canids Coyotes 10 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft 3.0 m x 3.0 m x 2.4 m 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Wolves 12 ft x 12 ft x 8 ft 4 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft 3.6 m x 3.6 m x 2.4 m 1.2 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Foxes 6 ft x 6 ft x 8 ft 1.8 m x 1.8 m x 2.4 m 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Felids Mountain Lions 8 ft x 24 ft x 8 ft * 4 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft 2.4 m x 7.3 m x 2.4 m 1.2 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Bobcats 10 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft 3.0 m x 3.0 m x 2.4 m 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Rodentia Large Rodents 8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft W 3 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft Aplodontia, Marmots, 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.6 m Muskrats, Woodchucks, etc. Large/Medium Ground Squirrels Prairie Dogs, Rock Sqs, Calfornia Ground Sqs, etc. Small Ground Squirrels 13-lined, Chipmunks, etc. 6 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft 2 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft 1.8 m x 2.4 m x 1.8 m 0.6 m x 0.9 m x 0.6 m 6 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft 1 ft x 1 ft x 1 ft 1.8 m x 2.4 m x 1.8 m 0.3 m x 0.3 m x 0.3 m Tree Squirrels 8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft * 2 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m 0.6 m x 0.9 m x 0.6 m Pine & Flying Squirrels 8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft * 1 ft x 1 ft x 1 ft 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m 0.3 m x 0.6 m x 0.3 m Pocket Gophers, Voles, 3 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft 1 ft x 1 ft x 1 ft Lemmings, Pikas 0.9 mx1.2 mx0.9 m A 0.3 m x 0.3 m x 0.3 m or 3 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft Rats -- All 3 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft 0.9 mx1.2 mx0.9 m 38 Liter Mice -- All 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft 0.6 mx0.6 mx0.6 m 38 Liter Beavers 8 ft x 12 ft x 6 ft 4 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft 2.4 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m 1.2 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Porcupines 6 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft 1.8 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Nutrias 6 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft 1.8 m x 2.4 m x 1.8 m 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m Page 63