Rehabilitation

What is Rehabilitation and Why Do We Need It?
Raptor Rehabilitation at Wildlife Experiences

Wild animals ­ just like humans and domestic animals ­ are often victims of illness, accident or injury. However, the difference for wildlife is that there is no one to take care of them and help them recover. Unless, of course, they are found by humans and taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
One important thing to remember about injured or orphaned wildlife is that these animals have often been directly affected by human contact, and often that is why they are injured or orphaned. For example, nests of young Northern Harrier Hawks are often turned over when harvesting or otherwise working a field. Sometimes these babies are injured seriously, Other times they simply need a place to go and grow up.
Professional rehabilitators are experienced and well-trained in the care of wildlife, which can differ greatly from care of domestic animals. Rehabilitators work with veterinarians to treat injuries and illnesses in their patients with the hope of one day releasing these animals back into the wild from which they came. In addition to treating their physical wounds, rehabilitators must also be acutely aware of the innate and learned behaviors of their patients, and work to preserve those healthy behaviors so that these animals can truly be independent, healthy wild animals once again.
Many states have a special permit required for wildlife rehabilitation, and many states require different permits depending on the type of animals a rehabilitator plans to treat ­ birds, mammals or reptiles. South Dakota has no specific rehabilitation permit, however, a mammal rehabilitator must work with our state’s Department of Game, Fish and Parks and get an annual permit to maintain their patients.

A federal license is required (in all states) to work with any native bird species.
In June of 2002, Wildlife Experiences, Inc. obtained its federal license to rehabilitate native birds; we specialize in caring for birds of prey like hawks, eagles and owls. There are no other raptor rehabilitators in western South Dakota, so our patients come to us from all over the western half of the state. WEI Director Melissa Horton has over 15 years experience in professional raptor rehabilitation having worked at World Bird Sanctuary, St Louis, MO, New England Wildlife Center, Hingham, MA, and then starting and directing the program at Reptile Gardens.