• To maintain up-to-date Minimum Standards in accordance with the principles recognized in the international wildlife rehabilitation community
  
  
• To participate in a working group with members of Sustainable Development – Fish and Wildlife to standardize regulations and monitoring of wildlife rehabilitation centres
  
  
• To assist wildlife rehabilitation centres with a facility review to prepare for or to maintain permitting requirements
  
  
• To facilitate communication between the individual wildlife centres and between the wildlife centres and the government agencies
  
  
• To provide educational programs on wildlife rehabilitation for provincial and municipal governments, veterinarians, animal services, humane societies, and the general public through in-service seminars, presentations, and literature

• A rehabilitator strives to achieve high standards of wildlife care.
  
  
• A rehabilitator has formal or informal wildlife education/training.
  
  
• A rehabilitator is responsible, conscientious and dedicated.
  
  
• A rehabilitator maintains accurate up-to-date records, working within local, provincial and federal guidelines regarding rehabilitation.
  
  
• A rehabilitator establishes good, safe work habits within the guidelines of current health and safety practices.
  
  
• A rehabilitator enlists the assistance of a veterinarian if needed.
  
  
• A rehabilitator encourages community support and involvement.
  
  
• A rehabilitator employs educational programs as a means of preventing further wildlife loss or abuse.
• A rehabilitator shares skills and knowledge with others.
  
  
• A rehabilitator establishes guidelines for evaluating and improving rehabilitation efforts.
  
  
• A rehabilitator allows for variations in methods of rehabilitation

In order to create consistent standards for wildlife care, ensure that adequate facilities exist and promote interaction between rehabilitators; minimum standards for wildlife care have been set out and adopted by the AWRA.

These include:

• Guidelines for initial care of wildlife admitted to a rehabilitation centre
  
  
• Minimum cage size requirements for all species during the confinement, recovery and conditioning stages of rehabilitation to ensure that adequate space is given to each species
  
  
• Standards for cage design and enrichment that ensure safety, reduce stress, and encourage natural behaviours
  
  
• Minimum sanitation requirements to ensure the health of wildlife, personnel at the rehabilitation centres and the public
  
  
• Minimum data required for record-keeping
  
  
• Standards and guidelines for evaluating an animals readiness for release, as well as determining suitable release sites
  
  
• Standards and recommendations for euthanasia
  
  
• Guidelines for over-wintering all species

Wildlife Rehabilitators have access to qualified wildlife biologists, veterinarians and technicians. Wildlife is assessed, diagnosed, and appropriate treatment and care is provided until ready for release back into their natural habitat.

Wildlife Rehabilitators in Alberta provide an important service to distressed wildlife and the public without financial support from the government. Here are some things you can do to help:

Make a donation
Contribute goods or services
Volunteer your time

For these and other ways that you can help, contact a wildlife rehabilitation centre in your area.

Wildlife Helpline for Alberta, Canada only

We now have a province-wide, toll free, Wildlife Help Line.
The number is 1-888-924-2444.

This project is financially supported by the Alberta Conservation Association