WILDLIFE RESCUER

Salary
Graduate: £10,000 - £18,000

Main Employers

• Non-profit organisations 
• Nature and environmental education facilities 
• Animal rescue centres  
• Wildlife conservation, rehabilitation and research projects

Job Profile
Wildlife rehabilitation is the treatment and temporary care of injured, diseased and displaced indigenous wildlife and the subsequent return of healthy animals to appropriate habitats in the wild. Wildlife rehabilitators include veterinarians, veterinary technicians, biologists, educators, and people from other diverse backgrounds.

Role and Responsibilities
Jobs will vary according to each employer; however you could expect to be involved in:

• Daily feeding and cage cleaning
• Capturing and transporting injured wild animals
• Providing medical treatment
• Accounting and recordkeeping
• Fundraising
• Receiving calls from park rangers, police officers and average citizens about abandoned or injured animals
• Returning animals to the wild, a zoo, preserve or domestic residence 
• Supervising paid staff and volunteers
• Providing public presentations about animals and the environment
• Maintaining databases on animals and/or members

Qualifications
Relevant further education subjects include:
Biology; Ecology; Veterinary Science

Although a degree is not required to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, a biology-related degree has advantages. Degrees should include ornithology, mammalogy, animal behavior, ecology, and related wildlife and environmental subjects.

Career Development
Upper level positions usually require experience and expertise in a specific area, such as wildlife medicine or management of a large rehabilitation program. Entry level and part-time jobs may pay minimum wage, but there are usually opportunities for advancement. Most people who work in wildlife rehabilitation are volunteers and do not get paid.