printed quarterly – spring • summer • fall winter 2011 ...fwra.org/newsletter/pdfs/fwra...

Greetings Fellow Rehabilitators!!This year has been a busy one!! We have all suffered losses this year both individu-ally and as a community. Wendy Fox’s passing in August was especially difficult when she lost her long battle with cancer at only 54 years old. As the new year approaches it is a time for reflection and thanks. Our esteemed President and Queen, Deb Anderson, has stepped down into the VP position and I have taken the helm hoping to fill some pretty big shoes, as Deb pursues a new career direction. She will continue to serve as Vice President on our board but I want to extend heartfelt thanks for all Deb has done for the rehab community and for FWRA while she was President. I can only hope to contribute as much to the field as Deb!!

Our conference in September was about 25% smaller this year due to many factors, but it was still a great time (as always) and a raging success!! We welcomed 5 new board members at our annual meet-ing (Phyllis Benton, Robin Jenkins, Linda Schrader, Michelle Whitfield and Chris Wise). We had 7 scholar-ship winners in attendance and the slightly smaller group made for a really intimate and more interac-tive conference for all! Our new website launched just in time for registration for September and is in continuous update mode so keep checking in for new and exciting features! www.fwra.org. Now

keeping your dues paid and current is easier than ever. Go to FWRA.org to pay and hit the auto renewal option on the website!! Very cool.

IWRC was in FL this year November 8th - 12th. I think that the hand-ful of members that attended agree that FWRA still rocks for the

best value and most pertinent program around!! We have 2 one day Wildlife CSI classes with Hector Cruz Lopez coming up

in February on the 17th & 18th. Registration is full at this time, but if any slots open up we will let you know. The NWRA Conference is also coming close

to Florida in March and is being held in Baton Rouge, LA. The dates are March 13-17, 2012.

Look in this newsletter for the exciting news on the new wildlife incident log/database and on line network WILD-ONe created and maintained by the Wildlife Center of Virginia. This is a free program for rehabilitators whether you rehab 10 animals a year or 10,000! It is a really helpful and useful way to keep track of all of the animals in your care with many special features you can choose to use or not. Printing your annual report for FWS has never been so easy!! Dave McRuer, the director of veterinary medicine at WCV and one of the creators of WILD-ONe wrote up a descrip-tion of the program and its uses.

2012 will no doubt bring new ideas and techniques to wildlife life

Printed Quarterly – Spring • Summer • Fall • Winter 2011 • Volume 20, No. 4

FLORIDA WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS ASSOCIATION Mission:The Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (FWRA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the unification, education and dissemination of informa-tion to all wildlife rehabilitators in Florida.Purposes:To provide an organizational structure within which various individuals and organizations in-volved in the rehabilitation of injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife may exchange informa-tion. To provide training and assistance to individuals and organizations involved in the rehabilitation of injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife. To increase public awareness through educa-tional means of and support for the activities of wildlife rehabilitators. To engage in such other activities as are permitted by Florida Law. FWRA Board of DirectorsBeth Hirschfeld, DVM, President Deb Anderson, DVM, PresidentMargaret “Noni” Beck, Vice Pres./SymposiumSue Small, TreasurerDorothy Kauffman, Secretary Members at Large

care. So start tucking away that dollar a day so you can be sure not to miss next year’s FWRA conference!! It will be September 26-30 in Haines City at the beautiful FFA Leader-ship Center again. We will have some exciting new speakers and as we find out the hard way over and over, you cannot beat the price of FWRA vs. other conferences! The total price may be $100 more but includes all of your meals, lodg-ing, banquet, workshops, auction........you just cannot top it!!!

We will talk again in the Spring! I am grateful & honored by all of your support!! Keep doing all the wonderful things you do!! Have a happy & prosperous New Year!!

Humbly, Your New Prez,

Beth Hirschfeld DVM, CVA, VMO

Happy Holidays Everyone! ‘Tis the season to be thankful for many things! Our families, friends and health probably top the list and are followed closely by loving memories we hold for those loved ones we’ve lost this year and years past. I wish all of you a thankful and wonderful holiday season, followed by a prosperous New Year in 2012. On a less personal note, we’re all certainly thankful that Hurri-cane Season is over!!!!…..

The 2011 Hurricane season is behind us, but although we dodged another bullet from hurricanes this year, we can all agree that we’ve had some pretty strange weather anyway. That “No Name Storm” we had just came out of nowhere and it managed to really clobber certain areas with sustained rain and wind. Our friends and colleagues up north had it even worse with their no name storm. Going forward, it appears that Florida has fallen short on rainfall in most areas, which likely means we will once again be facing drought and possible fire emergencies.

In these situations it is vitally important to stay connected. Please send any updated emergency phone contact information that you would like us to keep on file to Gail Straight at [email protected] or Leslie Johnson at [email protected]. This is purely optional, but keep in mind that you will be way too busy (or may not have access) after a storm or other emergency to contact us and let us know that you and your facility/home/animals are OK. An emergency contact number can give us the ability to call and check on you through an additional contact if there is reason for concern and we can’t reach you. This confidential information will not be shared on the membership list.

If you have any questions about your general membership or the Yahoo list group, please contact me at

[email protected]

Leslie Johnson,Editor

Resource CommitteeBeth Hirschfeld, DVM - ChairpersonNicole Nemeth, DVM Jack Landess, DVM Scott Citino, DVM Danielle Stanek, DVM Betsy KnightMark Cunningham, DVM Mike Ruggieri Robert Hess, DVM Carmen SimontonHector Cruz-Lopez, Ph.D NewsletterLeslie Johnson: [email protected]

FWRA WEBSITE: www.fwra.org

Webmaster: Reinier MunguiaEMAIL: [email protected]

Advisory BoardWinnie BurnsDebbie HelselDan MartinelliCarol McCorkleVered NogradReinier Munguia

Michelle AnthonyLinda Schrader Chris Wise Robin Jenkins, DVM Michelle Whitfield Phyllis Benton

Leslie JohnsonGail Straight

Dianna FlyntLeslie Straub

Bits and Blurbs .. Upcoming Symposium Schedule

WRNC – Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina January 27-29, 2012 Raleigh, NCIf you are looking for an excellent regional or state symposium … this would be it. Like FWRA, our friends in North Carolina work hard to put on an excellent conference for their members. This short weekend symposium is a great value. For more infor-mation: www.ncwildliferehab.org NWRA – National Wildlife Rehabilitators As-soc. March 13-17 Baton Rouge, LA.Have you seen the schedule? As always, NWRA has raised the bar and is offering what promises to be an excellent curriculum for rehabilitators of all experi-ence ranges. We hope Florida will be well represented in Baton Rouge in March! See you there! For more information: www.nwrawildlife.org

FWRA – September 26-30, 2011 FFA Florida Leadership Training Center, Haines City, FLAs Beth said …. This is absolutely the best value out there for an excellent wildlife symposium! So please save the date!!

Would You Like to Join the Team?

JOIN the FWRA Advisory Board! Your FWRA Board is always looking for new faces and ideas to help make us a stronger organization. As an advisory Board Member you work with our team and our 20 differ-ent committees, brainstorming, planning and executing activities that help our members become even better wildlife rehabilitators!

So if you have time and talent to share with the orga-nization, please email our Nomination Committee at [email protected] for more information. -Dianna Flynt

Dave McRuer, DVM - Wildlife Center of Virginia

According to recent studies, wildlife rehabilitators have access to the highest abundance and diversity of wildlife species of any government, academic, or non-profit organization in North America. As such, wildlife rehabilitators have a unique “window” on wildlife health and can provide invaluable informa-tion that no other group can provide. Unfortunately, medical records are not currently kept in a standard-ized format and therefore cannot be compiled and compared across regions or throughout the country. That is about to change.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia has created a new on-line medical record system entitled WILD-ONe (aka Wildlife Incident Log/Database and Online Network) that we hope will not only allow standardized infor-mation to be recorded on each patient, but also will assist rehabilitators with patient management.

WILD-ONe has been designed specifically with the rehabber’s needs in mind — from the home-based rehabilitator to larger professionally staffed centers. With the database software, the following tasks will be easily accomplished: record the rescue and release locations on Google Maps; enter contact information for rescuers and transporters to generate mailing lists for fundraising; record all the admission details and reasons why the animal was presented for care; generate medical, procedural, and diagnostic pre-scriptions; make daily treatment sheets which will remind you which animals have prescriptions on a given day; record patient weights, meals, and reha-bilitation notes. Using advanced search functions, all major fields may be queried and in combination. For example, at the end of the year, you wish to know how many squirrels from your county were admitted with bone fractures resulting from cat attacks after being rescued by animal control officers, WILD-ONe

A New Online Medical Record system has been developed for wildlife Rehabilitators! WILD-ONe

can tell you. In addition, by the end of 2011, WILD-ONe will be able to automatically generate all the information required for your annual wildlife rehabili-tation permit reports, saving you hours or even days of time!

One of the best parts about using the new WILD-ONe software … it’s free for wildlife rehabilitators in exchange for timely entry of all patient data into the system (within a month of admission), and your willingness to share a limited amount of information about each patient you admit. While much of the information you enter is proprietary (drug doses, medical notes, contact information, etc) and not subject to review by anyone to whom you have not granted permission, the information you report to your permitting agencies is generally considered to be public information. It is basically this public infor-mation you will agree to share with the network so a comprehensive picture of animal health can be com-piled. The only information you will be agreeing to share will be: 1) date of admission, 2) circumstances of rescue, 3) location of rescue, 4) patient identifica-tion number, 5) species, 6) gender, 7) life stage, 8) band or tag number (if available), 9) type of injury, 10) location of injury on body, 11) disposition, 12) disposition date, 13) location of release or placement (if applicable). The information from your program will be combined with the information from other users. For the first time, our community will be able to begin compiling a comprehensive picture of what is happening to wildlife across North America. In the future, we intend to make a full set of analytical tools available to the rehabilitation community as an online feature.

To find out more about WILD-ONe, please go to www.wildlifecenter.org and select the WILD-ONe feature. Here you can read the Frequently Asked Questions document, Terms of Use, and read the lists of Standardized terminology included in the program. You also can find the link to the sign-on page where you can tour the program using the email: [email protected], and password: visitor. We invite all rehabbers to test the system and register your organization if you think the new tools will be use-ful for your rehabilitation. We hope that WILD-ONe will allow you to make better use of the patient data you collect and that we are all able to gain valuable insight into wildlife health across the country from our combined resources.

LOOK! Sneak Peak – Pre Release Book Review!!Health Care and Rehabilitation of Turtles and Tor-toises - By Amanda Ebenhack

We’re only about three weeks away from having a brand new and fantastic ref-erence book to add to our wildlife care libraries! Florida rehabilitator and FWRA Member Amanda Eben-hack has been working on this book for as long as I can remem-ber, and from what I can glean from the tidbits I was allowed to see (pre-release), this going to be one of the most comprehensive reference books on Chelonians that we’ll have on our bookshelves.

Amanda has put together nearly 400 pages of color-ful and beautifully illustrated information pertaining to all aspects of the challenges, care and general un-derstanding of her beloved carapaced creatures. And at only $40 per copy (US shipping included) this will be an excellent gift for anyone with a wildlife library.

Pre-Order now before this first run is sold out. Books are scheduled to arrive at her facility just prior to Christmas and likely can be shipped to purchasers by the first week in January. For more information and purchase availability, please contact Amanda directly at [email protected].

I can’t wait for my two copies to arrive!!

Leslie Johnson,FWRA Newsletter Editor

TurtlesÊandÊtortoisesÊhaveÊbeenÊaroundÊforÊoverÊ250ÊmillionÊyears.ÊInÊrecentÊtimes,ÊturtlesÊandÊtortoisesÊhaveÊbeenÊhardyÊandÊinterestingÊfamilyÊpets.ÊTheseÊprehistoricÊbeautiesÊareÊworthyÊof ÊourÊrespect,ÊbothÊinÊcaptivityÊandÊinÊnature,ÊparticularlyÊasÊitÊpertainsÊtoÊproperÊcare,Êfeeding,ÊandÊespeciallyÊwhenÊtheyÊrequireÊmedicalÊtreatment.

MostÊincidentsÊcausingÊtheÊdemiseÊof ÊtheseÊwonderfulÊcreaturesÊinÊnatureÊresultÊfromÊhumanÊinterference.ÊAsÊurbanÊsprawlÊencroachesÊonÊtheirÊnaturalÊhabitatsÊtheyÊareÊforcedÊintoÊstreetsÊandÊtheyÊcomeÊintoÊcontactÊwithÊmowingÊequipment,ÊagriculturalÊequipment,ÊandÊrecreationalÊvehicles,ÊbothÊonÊtheÊroadÊandÊonÊtheÊwater.ÊManyÊareÊhitÊbyÊautomo-biles,ÊchewedÊonÊbyÊdogs,ÊandÊrunÊoverÊbyÊmowers.ÊAlthoughÊsomeÊinjuriesÊmayÊappearÊfatal,ÊturtlesÊandÊtortoisesÊhaveÊamazingÊabilitiesÊtoÊhealÊinÊadditionÊtoÊanÊincredibleÊwillÊtoÊsurvive.ÊManyÊtimes,ÊinjuredÊturtlesÊandÊtortoisesÊendÊupÊinÊtheÊhandsÊof ÊrescuersÊwhoÊdoÊnotÊunderstandÊtheirÊamazingÊhealingÊabilities.ÊÊToÊanÊinexperiencedÊeyeÊmanyÊshellÊfracturesÊandÊinjuriesÊlookÊfatalÊwhenÊtheyÊareÊnot.ÊManyÊveterinariansÊnotÊexperiencedÊwithÊcheloniansÊmayÊeuthanizeÊanÊanimalÊwithoutÊevenÊattemptingÊrehabilitation.

InÊadditionÊtoÊaÊwealthÊof ÊinformationÊonÊanatomy,ÊcaptiveÊcare,ÊdietÊandÊnutrition,ÊandÊindoorÊandÊoutdoorÊenclosureÊdesign,ÊthisÊbookÊisÊintendedÊtoÊhelpÊwithÊtheÊmedicalÊcareÊof ÊinjuredÊturtlesÊandÊtortoises.ÊÊAlsoÊincludedÊisÊgeneralÊfirstÊaideÊandÊsupportiveÊcareÊforÊmostÊafflictionsÊthatÊcanÊbefallÊturtlesÊbothÊinÊnatureÊandÊinÊcaptivity.ÊÊThisÊexcitingÊandÊinformativeÊbookÊfeaturesÊtheÊmostÊcurrentÊinformationÊonÊhydration,ÊtubeÊfeeding,ÊshellÊfracturesÊandÊwoundÊcare,ÊshellÊconditions,ÊbacterialÊandÊviralÊdiseases,ÊrespiratoryÊillness,Êparasites,ÊandÊguidelinesÊforÊcheckingÊforÊoverallÊwellnessÊof ÊinjuredÊorÊrecoveringÊturtlesÊandÊtortoises.

"AÊmustÊhaveÊforÊeveryÊchelonianÊlibrary!"ÊÊRussÊGurley,ÊFounderÊof ÊtheÊTURTLEÊandÊTORTOISEÊPRESERVATIONÊGROUPÊ"ThisÊbookÊwillÊnoÊdoubtÊsaveÊtheÊlivesÊof ÊcountlessÊsickÊandÊinjuredÊturtlesÊandÊtortoises"ÊÊÊDrewÊRheinhardt,ÊSaltÊRiverÊReptilesÊandÊDirectorÊof ÊtheÊTURTLEÊandÊTORTOISEÊPRESERVATIONÊGROUP

Amanda Ebenhack

HEALTH CARE & REHABILITATION of TURTLES and TORTOISES

LIVING ARTpublishing

LIVING ARTpublishing

TURTLE and TORTOISE

PRESERVATION GROUP

It was six years ago that I first heard about the Flori-da Wildlife Rehabilators Association. I was committed to building upon my wildlife rehab skills, but feeling very alone and isolated. My short-term solution was to attend my first ever International Wildlife Rehabili-tation Council conference in Toronto. That’s where I met Leslie Johnson, who mentioned FWRA.

I almost didn’t go to my first FWRA symposium the follow-ing year; I didn’t know very much about Florida, and it all seemed so far away and hard to make happen. Then fate intervened. A customer walked into our little water sports business in Coral Bay, St. John (US Virgin Islands), mentioned he was from Orlando and actually knew Leslie (who had offered to help get me to the conference if I could get to Florida). Who was I to dismiss fate?

My first FWRA conference was in Brooksville in 2006. Since then, I’ve helped develop what is likely the smallest rehab network around (three of us on a good day, here on St. John, including my vet of record), have received my Federal Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Permit, and just became a member of the FWRA Advisory Board. How exciting is all that? And much of this is due to the support I have received from members of FWRA.

Several hundred wild birds of various types have passed through my door here in Coral Bay – many of them successfully rehabilitated and released. It may not seem like a huge number, but to the creatures who got that second chance, it means everything. One of the biggest challenges is we are currently the only ones here doing wild-bird rehab, with no one at all on St. Thomas. We get calls

from our local Fish and Wildlife, from the National Park as well as from local residents and vacation-ers. Birds from a variety of places come in – some under unique circumstances – like the Band Rumped Storm Petrel that ended up in a small t-shirt store, or the Magnificent Frigate Bird – a near-downing victim, pulled from the water by a National Park Ranger

who happened by. I see similar examples on FWRA’s email discussion board, where pooling off of the knowledge of other rehabilitators can really make a difference.

Many rehabbers are not as physically iso-lated as we are on St. John, but anyone can feel very alone when an animal comes in for care – even if it is only until it can be transferred – and you have never seen or worked with one of that type before. It is that sharing of knowledge and encourage-ment that makes you realize you do have needed support.

The yearly FWRA Symposium provides such a valu-able learning forum; I always walk away with new in-

formation, reaffirm my current rehabilitation procedures, and take part in one of the best

networking opportunities for rehabbers in Florida and way beyond. In many

places, there are no rehabilitation organizations. Many that do exist

are not nearly as sophisticated or organized as FWRA.

By the way, FWRA member-ships make great gifts. I just learned that one of this year’s symposium attendees came from Grand Cayman. I can only hope that my endorsement of FWRA

during a presentation I gave there, and my gift of several FWRA memberships to

individuals in their wildlife group helped raise aware-ness of what FWRA has to offer. For a small amount, someone you know can get the gift of shared knowl-edge and passion for what we do.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving By Phyllis Benton - Coral Bay, St. John, USVI

Drug Shortage Leaves Pets Without Basic Treatment(Reprinted with permission from Dr. Goodman)

Vets Say Certain Antibiotics, Chemo Medications In Short Supply

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Central Florida veterinarians are facing a shortage of basic medications including antibiotics, anesthetics and chemo drugs used on both people and pets. Several human drugs are allowed to be used on pets under certain conditions.

Dr. Teresa Goodman, a veterinarian with Affiliated Veteri-nary Specialists in Maitland, said the shortages usually come without warning. “I don’t know if it’s getting worse because these shortages come up quite randomly,” Good-man said.

Goodman’s staff listed three drugs that are currently not available: Amikacin (antibiotic), Zantac (antacid) and the “vet brand” of atropine, which helps increase heart rate. The shortages include: propofol (anesthetic), adria, doxiru-bicin, cytosar, elspar, vincrisitne (chemo drugs), acetylcys-teine, pamidronate, calcium gluconate (can be used with chemo drugs and also have other uses).

Dr. Goodman said she has “plan B” options in place, but there is a cost factor. “Often times, those medications are more expensive, significantly more expensive, so while

we may be able to get the medication, unfortunately it comes with a significantly increased cost,” she said.

One of the drugs in short supply is Cytosar, an FDA approved chemo drug used in the treatment of GME, a painful nerve disorder that effects the dog’s brain and spine.

Dawn Ireland’s 3-year-old Belgian male Malinois was being treated for GME. The dog was forced to go without the drug treatment for three months because Cytosar was in short supply. “You definitely feel helpless, because there is nothing else you can do for them other than giving them the medica-tion,” she said.

As of this report, there are several drugs on back order including: duramorph, buprenorphine (pain meds), hetas-tarch (blood pressure), sucralfate (stomach), prednisone ( steroid). Immiticide, a pet specific drug used in the treat-ment of adult heart worms in dogs is currently unavail-able because of a manufacturing issue.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices told the Wall Street Journal that drugs become scarce for a number of reasons, ranging from “the unavailability of raw ingredi-ents, FDA enforcement actions that halt production and voluntary recalls.”

Reviewed by Hyta Mederer - Florida Wildlife Hospital

Wildlife Rehabilitator Resources: Pharmacology (2011), edited by Lessie M. Davis, is a recently pub-lished compilation of articles which focus on various pharmacological agents that may be used with wildlife patients. The first article, “Scaling Drug Dosages for Animals of Diverse Body Sizes,” discusses the prob-lems of determining dosage of one species based on its similarity in size/weight to another species. Clearly, this method can lead to severe over or underdosage.The second article, “Dealing with Drugs: Things We Should Be Thinking About,” by Erica A. Miller, DVM, addresses many of the issues that we should con-sider regarding the use of medications in our patients: legalities, responsible use, potential harmful effects to animals and to rehabilitators, use of expired drugs, and proper disposal. This article contains most of the material that Dr. Miller presented at her lecture by the same title at the 2011 FWRA symposium. The next four articles address antibiotics, antifun-

gals, drugs for parasites, and vaccine use, respectively. These articles thoroughly and clearly cover the dis-ease-causing organisms, how they affect the body, and how the drugs in question work against these organ-isms. Each article further discusses side effects and contraindications, and, in some cases, details relevant research on the usefulness of the drugs.The final article, “Throw Away Your Dex!! A Polemic on Why Rehabilitators Should NOT Use Dexametha-sone,” is the often-quoted explanation of the argu-ment against using Dexamethasone in wildlife patients. The premise is that steroids suppress the immune system and do more harm than good. This reference contains a vast amount of valuable information, but, at times, it assumes an in-depth knowledge of the syntax and vocabulary of veterinary medicine. Given that we care for a diverse group of species, faced with an even greater number of condi-tions that may affect them, many rehabilitators will find this publication very helpful.

WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR RESOURCES:PHARMACOLOGY - Book Review

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Reviewed by Hyta Mederer, P.H.D,Florida Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary

Identification Guide to the Snakes of FloridaSteve A. Johnson and Monica E. McGaritty

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Just recently published, the Identification Guide to the Snakes of Florida is a collection of clear, beautiful photos of the 46 native species of snakes in Florida, as well as severalcommonly found nonnative species. The photos are grouped according to the snakes’ most obvious markings: blotches, diamonds, stripes, crossbands, and solid coloration. Each section begins with the venomous species, followed by those snakes that are most often confused with them, and then followed by the other snakes that share the pattern. Because some snakes’ patterns change with age or vary with location, pictures of those snakes may be found in more than one section. The black racer, for example, is shown in the section on blotches as a juvenile and the section on solid colors as an adult.

Each snake species is listed with a description, and information on the habitat, size, diet, and scientific name. There is also a map with each species, indicating the range where the snake may be found. This guide includes numerous other features, such as 10 photos and descriptions ofhabitats where snakes are likely to be found in Florida, what to do or not do if bitten by a venomous snake, distinguishing features of venomous pit vipers and of nonvenomoussnakes and coral snakes, and information about two different groups of legless lizards that are often mistaken for snakes. This guide is printed on heavy card stock and is ring-bound. It is designed to be of use topeople who have little or no experience with Florida’s snakes and who need to be able to quickly identify one when they come across it. The authors hope that snakes will benefit from this guide by making it easy for people to determine which snakes are nonvenomous. This guide can be obtained from www.ifasbooks.com or at 800-226-1764.

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PAGE 7

Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association is a 501(c)(3) organizationA copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free

(800-435-7352) within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.

Name________________________________________________________ Affiliation_____________________________________

Address ___________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________________________ State _________ Zip __________ County ____________________

Home Phone______________________________ Work Phone ________________________ Cellular /Pager ___________________

E-mail _____________________________________________________ Web site _________________________________________

I am a : DVM CVT State Licensed Rehabilitator Federally Licensed Rehabilitator

Licensed Rescue/Transport Volunteer Other ________________________________________________

I specialize in and will assist others with: _______________________________________________________________________

FWRA Membership InfoMembership Benefits include:• email group list to network with rehabilitators around the state • quarterly newsletters which provide rehabilitation techniques, environmental issues, and organization news • annual symposiums on rehabilitation and other areas of interest such as natural history,education, fundraising, administration, and regulations• a membership directory that can assist you in finding help throughout the state• the resource committee – experts on many subjects for help with unusual situations• corporate members receive free newsletter and web site advertising

This is a gift membership from: _________________________________________________________________________________

I was referred by FWRA member: ________________________________________________________________________________

All information listed in this section will be published in the FWRA members directory:

Annual Membership Levels: Individual -$20.00 New Corporate - $100.00 Renewal Other Donation

Please mail this form to : FWRA, Gail Straight, P.O. Box 1449, Anna Maria, FL 34216.

This information is vital to our goal of statewide networking!

Emergency contact for FWRA Disaster Committee use only (list all information here that you do not want published in the

directory, such as cell and work phones, for emergency use by FWRA’s disaster committee)

Name & number of the first person outside of your immediate household that you would call after a disaster so we can

contact them if we are unable to reach you: _____________________________________________________________________

Additional contact information: _________________________________________________________________________________

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Freed Enterprises, Inc.Petiatric.com

www.petiatric.com

Editor’s Desk Well here we are again in June and July looking ahead to the next 5 or 6 months, and cringing at the thought of an active hurricane season. But clearly, this season brings another major stress factor in the form of our looming oil disaster just miles from our beautiful coast line. We’re all sickened, scared, disgusted, but worst of all, we’re unsure of how to protect ourselves and our wonderful natural resources from this horrendous event. Since none of us are strangers to hurricanes, the years have taught us to have (albeit probably not a perfect one) a plan to protect, evacuate, assist, or even rebuild if needed. This oil situation is by far a different beast and in most ways, far more ominous. There appears to be nothing we can do to prepare. Heck, it seems we can’t even help. We are a smart, educated, well intentioned group of members, who I believe can take on just about any task and succeed if called upon. Many of you have conscientiously taken the online courses and many have signed up as paraprofessionals as suggested by USFWS. However, for some reason, we have heard that very few (if any) paraprofessionals or rehabilitators (people who have actually handled a wild animal!) are being called upon and that primarily government people are being utilized to capture troubled wildlife. Why!?! We, as an organization, get troubled and sometimes nasty emails from people wondering why we, as an organization, don’t do something. Well, we can’t. We’re not the Federal Agency in charge and since we take all of our direction from USFWS, we’re wallowing in a mute position until they ask us to engage in some way. Adding to our frustration is the fact that we haven’t been able to give you, our members, even a glimmer, not even an ounce, of positive direction. We all hear, read, and see the same sickening horror stories and we feel helpless and uninformed by those who direct us. We have hoped daily that this would begin to change. On Wednesday, June 30 at 7pm, the first open tele-forum with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Service, and TriState Bird Rescue and Research was conducted. We see this as a first step in the right direction to involve rehabilitators and paraprofessionals in any communication and planning. Good questions were asked … some were answered, but we believe that a good platform was founded from which to move forward. More of these tele-forums are expected. As a matter of fact, the next one will on Wednesday, July 14th from 7pm to 8pm EST. To participate (or just listen in), you can dial in at 7pm to 888-808-6959, conference code 488 3831. We will bring you subsequent dates and information and how to participate when we know it. In the meantime, let’s focus our efforts on the things we can control in our own personal and usually difficult rehab worlds. So, please take care of your health, your families, your volunteers, your patients, and by all means review your action plans for a potentially active storm season. When storms strike we want to know that you are ok. Most of you have updated your emergency numbers with us, but if you haven’t, please do.

Leslie Johnson, Editor

TSBRR (Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research) one of the leading rehab centers specializing in oiled wildlife, they know their way around guilty corporations. Website: www.tristatebird.org/response/services.htm

Report Oiled Wildlife: 866-557-1401

Wildlife Rehabber Volunteer: (must have proof of credentials) 404-679-7049

Non rehabber volunteer: 866-448-5816 www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org

Glimpse Operations http://bp.concerts.com/gom/environment_wildlife_15052010.htm

Hopefully when you read this, the spill will be contained! Be strong, rehabbers!!

Deb Anderson, DVMPresident FWRA

Letter from the President Continued from page 1

BIONIC BAIT COMPANYPOMPANO BEACH, FL

954-941-4665866-848-9289

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR OF QUALITY

FROzEN FISH FOR WILDLIFE FOOD.

• Smelt• Squid• Sardines• Shrimp• Silversides

• Thread Herring• Glass Minnows• Capelin• Herring• Import/Export

Happy Holidays! from your Friends at the

Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.

P.O. BOX 1449ANNA MARIA, FL 34216P.O. BOX 1449ANNA MARIA, FL 34216

PO Box 430 Newberry, FL 32669-0430

printed quarterly – spring • summer • fall winter 2011 ...fwra.org/newsletter/pdfs/fwra...

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