Conference Booklet - New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

PROGRAM ABSTRACTS/DESCRIPTION
Presented in the order in which they appear in the program.
Note: Some workshops are limited in attendance and required pre-registration.
Limited workshops are denoted by an * before the title
9
procedures utilizing behavioral change to decreasing
stress and injuries while increasing emotional stability,
physical conditioning, and over all quality of life of the
temporary avian patients in our care.
Rehabilitation and Release of Whitetail Fawns
Patrice Ferguson
What will be presented is just one
way to rehabilitate fawns.
Everyone’s situation is different but
I wanted to share the basics that I
have learned through the tireless
support of other experienced
rehabilitators, veterinarians and “on
the job” experience. As a licensed
wildlife rehabilitator you may find
yourself in a situation where a fawn is in desperate
need of your help. Be warned, once you have let one
of these helpless creatures in it will steal your heart.
Even the most die hard opossum queen will loose her
heart to the fawn.
It is our job to make sure we are doing what is right for
the deer. We will start with how you handle receiving
your first phone call. It is important to understand the
basics of natural deer behavior. You may receive many
calls from well meaning people who want you to save
an abandoned fawn. It is important to know and
explain to the public that fawns are born with a natural
defense mechanism. When they are first born they
have the ability to lay perfectly still and quiet, they will
go limp in your arms. This allows the fawn to be safe
from predators. The mother does not stay with her
fawn because she does not want to alert predators to
her baby’s location. She comes back to her fawn
throughout the day and night when it appears safe. She
feeds and thoroughly cleans the fawn to erase any scent
she may have. Instinctively the fawn knows that when
mom leaves it must stay very still and silent in the
location mom left it. The discussion will take us from
the initial contact with the public to the final release of
a healthy, well adjusted deer.
Recovery of a Species: Thousands of Terns and
a Plethora of Peregrines
Connie Adams
When do we say when? What determines when a
threatened species is no longer threatened? In this
presentation we will examine the recovery of two species
of concern, the Common Tern, which is NYS listed as
Threatened, and the Peregrine Falcon, which is NYS listed
as Endangered. Both species have required the dedication
of a significant amount of resources with regard to
equipment, finances, and personnel, in order to maintain
healthy population levels. The population strategies of an
apex colonial waterbird with that of an apex avian predator
will be compared and contrasted. Additionally, factors that
led to the decline of both species and those that contributed
to their remarkable recovery will be examined.
Adult Deer Rehabilitation
Dr. Bethany Rottner
Interested in learning about the
rehabilitation of adult white-tailed deer,
but are too intimidated to try? Learn the
basics of how to safely approach deer
rescue and rehabilitation. This session
will cover ways to prepare for the
challenges of working with a large and
potentially dangerous animal. Basic
anatomy and physiology, necessary equipment, and
common injuries and illnesses will be covered, as well as
important considerations in medications used in the
treatment of white-tailed deer.
Acupuncture as an Alternative and
Complementary Treatment in Wildlife
Dr. Nicole Abramo
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat
many diseases in humans and animals. The first
acupuncture needle dates back 8000 years. See how this
therapy can be used in treating injury and illness in
wildlife. There will be a summary of Traditional Chinese
Veterinary Medicine as well as a demonstration on a live
patient.
Rehabilitation of Orphaned Fawns
Dr. Karen Dashfield
Lessons learned from the yearly rehabilitation of over 90
fawns presented to Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary
including the use of data and techniques being used by the
deer farming industry. Topics will include treatment of
illness and injury, preventative medicine, formula, feed and
browsing options, and how current disease concerns may
affect our ability to rehabilitate these animals.