Those who are interested to become a Warren wildlife rehabilitator will often wonder the things that they often do. As someone who is working in this industry, it is not uncommon for us to hear a question about the process of becoming rehabilitator. In this article, we will guide you on things that wildlife rehabilitator will do with an orphaned or injured squirrel. 

Wildlife Rehabilitator: What It Is

Wildlife rehabilitator should carry the necessary licenses that are provided by the federal or Michigan state agencies. They will need this to legally accommodate injured, sick, and orphaned animals such as squirrel. They will be responsible in keeping the squirrel safe until such time that they can be released back in the wild. Veterinarians are only knowledgeable in providing care to the zoo animals and pets while the rehabilitators are intended to provide the right care to the wild creatures. 

Will They Provide Treatment to a Warren Sick Squirrel?

Although they have been licensed by the state to provide proper care and they went through an intensive training, most of them do not have the expansive medical knowledge of the veterinarian. In case of serious sickness and injuries (i.e. fractured bones), they will have to hire the assistance of a licensed veterinarian to appropriately deal with the issue. 

What Do They Do With the Squirrels They Received?

The primary goal of the Michigan rehabilitator is to rehabilitate the creature back to their optimal condition while maintaining their wild instinct. This will allow the rehabilitator to release the animal back to their natural habitat. Animals in the rehabilitation center will not be treated as pets. Their contact with other animals and humans will be minimized to prevent the process of imprinting. Usually, they will be raised as a group. The injured squirrels on the other hand will be treated. For the animals that cannot be released in the wild, they will be euthanized in order to bring an end to their unnecessary suffering. All in all, their ultimate goal is to release the animal back into the wild.

Is Euthanasia the Only Solution for the Non-Releasable Squirrel?

Euthanizing the non-releasable Michigan creature is a part of the process. Some people will probably think if they can keep these non-releasable squirrels as their pet. Unfortunately, this is not allowed under the law, especially if you do not carry the proper licenses and permits. There are some instances when the animals that are not released will be kept to provide education or as a surrogate. Nonetheless, they still need to carry a separate permit to legally do this.

Apart from the rehabilitation of the Warren squirrels and other wild animals, the rehabilitators are also responsible for educating the people. Most of the time, people will think that an animal will need their help, but in reality, most of these animals can properly take care of themselves. They will be educating people about the natural behavior of these animals. They can also intervene to those people who want to keep wild animals as their pets but are not properly trained.