Session Abstracts
Basic Wild Reptile Trauma Management: Assessment, treatment and prognosis
Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai
Turtles, snakes and lizards can be common patients for the wildlife rehabilitator and small animal veterinarian. We will discuss patient assessment and stabilization, with a focus on pain management and fluid therapy. We will also cover wound care and shell repair. Many techniques discussed in this talk require a trained veterinarian and a rehabilitator working in concert and we will discuss the roles of each in the successful treatment and release of injured reptiles.
Trauma Management of Birds
Dr. Laurel Degernes
This lecture will cover principles of wild avian wound management and bandaging, and determination for prognosis and readiness for release to the wild. Bandaging and splinting techniques that will be covered in the afternoon lab will be introduced in this lecture.
Trauma Management of Injured Wildlife - Native NC Mammal Rehabilitation
Dr. Cheryl Hoggard
This presentation covers the management of traumatic injuries, assessment of prognosis & readiness for release in mammals.
Orthopedic/Fracture Repair in birds
Dr. David Scott
This talk provides an introduction to commonly seen orthopedic problems in wild birds of prey. The presentation will cover triage as well as prognosis and treatment options for various fractures. A practical template for case management including post-op physical therapy will be provided.
Handling Animals
Toni O'Neil
Proper technique in handling baby mammals and birds is important. Restraining adults for physical exams and giving medication is a challenge. Capturing injured adults without hurting yourself or the animal is even more challenging. Toni discusses various techniques and best practices for each of these situations.
Answering Wildlife Calls
Carla Johnson
'My dog has brought me a baby bird.' 'I don't think the mother rabbit is feeding the young in the nest in my back yard.' 'There's a bat in my chimney.' Carla covers many of the calls frequently received by rehabilitators and vet offices.
Bird Identification
Liz Schmid
Over 430 species of birds have been sighted in North Carolina and more than 200 species occur regularly throughout the state. This session will introduce the tools used for bird identification focusing on characteristics of adult birds. Explore some of the more common birds found in North Carolina by sight, sound, habitats and behaviors during this presentation.
Nestling & Fledgling Identification
Liz Schmid
It is sometimes difficult to identify the species of a mature bird - but it can be even harder to determine the species of a young bird that should still be in the nest or has recently left one. Nestlings and fledglings are often brought into rehab because of weather or human related habitat interference. Many are victims of outdoor cats or dogs, and sometimes even healthy young birds are "bird-napped" by well-meaning folks. In this session the participants will learn the characteristics of young birds and how to determine the species so that proper rehab care can be administered.
Taking the Photo
Andy Foshee
How to use your digital camera to easily and quickly take photos of animals of all kinds. This one-hour lecture covers the primary challenges in animal photography: lighting, backdrops, angle, and composition. Yes, you do need to worry about these things even if you aren't in the wild! In fact, some of them become even more important in an environment you know well!
Using Your Photos
Andy Foshee
You know your worth, but you still have to 'sell' yourself to supporters, volunteers, investors, civic groups, etc. This intense lecture will help set the stage for you to use your photography as effectively as possible. The lecture will be full of examples of what you need to consider when using your photographs with digital presentations. We will be touching on all types of digital presentations including formal (lecture-style), informal (booth-style), and stand-alone (i.e. kiosk or screensavers).
Imprinting
Jean Chamberlain
This presentation covers imprinting and its significance to wildlife rehabilitators.
It covers the traditional view of imprinting, the contribution of falconry to
our knowledge of imprinting and the use of imprinted birds as education birds.
The speaker will cover recent research on imprinting and early learning including research on how
birds learn their songs and the implications this has for rehabilitators.
Fawn Rehabilitation (in NC)
Beth Knapp-Tyner & Kelly Douglass
Kelly covers a brief introduction and explanation of the process of applying for a fawn rehabilitation permit in North Carolina, facility requirements, and program rules and requirements. Beth covers white tailed deer natural history, understanding digestion, formulas, feeding, caging/pens, common problems & treatment, to release.
Becoming a 501(c)(3)
Jennifer Gordon
Learn the basics steps to getting your 501c3 non profit status. The class includes a discussion on the various forms and the order in which they should be submitted. What other requirements you need to have to get and maintain your 501c3 status and what the benefits of non profit status are.
Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Baby Mammals
Ann Rogers, Tricia Hoover
This session will cover the general principles for raising baby gray squirrels, opossums, and cottontails. This course is aimed at the beginning rehabber.
If you can’t see them, are they there? : Zoonoses, Husbandry & Sanitation
Beth Knapp-Tyner
If you can't see them, are they there?: Zoonoses, Husbandry & Sanitation
The importance of hygiene & good husbandry. Learn why you need to know about zoonoses and how they can be spread.
Fluid Therapy and Emaciation Protocols
Toni O'Neil
Fluid therapy is one of the most basic initial supportive treatments which can make the difference between life and death for wildlife patients. Program participants learn to responsibly and effectively evaluate: administration of fluids, types of fluids, routs and volume of fluid administration and monitoring the effects of fluid therapy.
Turtle ID and Natural History
Jeff Beane
At least 21 turtle species occur in North Carolina, occupying a wide range of freshwater, marine, estuarine, and terrestrial habitats. Turtles are long-lived, slow to mature, and slow to recover from impacts to their populations. Many species are imperiled or declining. Because of the importance of individuals to populations, rehabilitation of injured turtles is especially worthwhile. The ability to identify turtles and a working knowledge of their dietary requirements, habitat preferences, basic habits, and other aspects of their natural history are essential for successful rehabilitation efforts.
Developing a Disaster Plan
Elizabeth Hanrahan
The participants develop an outline for a wildlife rehabilitation disaster plan, brainstorm workable means for preparations in advance of a disaster, learn how to respond and recover from a disaster and be encouraged to become a part of local disaster planning within their community.
Mammal Physical Exam Workshop
Dr. Cheryl Hoggard
This workshop teaches the basics of a physical exam for small mammals. Students are provided a dead specimen for hands-on practice. This workshop is part of the beginner track.
Avian Physical Exam Workshop
Betty O'Leary
The workshop teaches the basics of avian anatomy and examination. Students are provided with a dead specimen and an examination form for hands-on practice during the class.
Sub-Q Fluids Workshop
Alicia Cawlfield
Subcutaneous injections is the most common route for rehabilitators to give many medications and fluid therapy to the animals in their care. Here's your chance to learn the techniques, common locations, and gain some practice for subcutaneous injections of wild birds and mammals.
Parasitology and Fecal Workshop
Dr. James Flowers
Turtle Shell Repair Lab (Veterinary continuing education)
Drs. Sathya Chinnadurai and Dan Dombrowski
This practical lab covers the basic principles of turtle shell repair. Molds of turtle shells are used..
Avian Bandaging & Splinting Lab (Veterinary continuing education)
Dr. Laurel Degernes and Dr. Lauren Powers
This practical lab will cover the basic principles and application of avian bandages and splints for different injuries and patient sizes.
Quality of Life for Resident Raptors
Nicki Dardinger
This presentation is on Quality of Life as it pertains to keeping resident raptors for education or display purposes.
Avian Vision
Jean Chamberlain
Do birds see better than we do? What do they see? What is known about avian color perception and how it differs from ours? How do they use ultraviolet wavelengths? Jean takes a look at these questions and also explores the roles of vision in species identification, mate selection, predator/prey interactions and migration.
Mammal Bandaging/Splinting Lab
Dr. Cheryl Hoggard
This practical lab covers the basic principles and application of bandages and splints in small mammals.
When Rocky's Down For The Count - Squirrel Ailments
Linda Bergman-Althouse
This presentation is an overview of Eastern Gray Squirrel ailments, common and not so common. Linda shares information and procedures to assist you with recognizing, identifying, diagnosing and forming treatment plans if or when needed for this, often misunderstood but much loved by the rehab community, mammal.
Additional abstracts will be listed as they are submitted.