Friday November 2, 2007

Time

9:00-5:00

BREW- Beginning Rehabilitation Education Workshop: a comprehensive approach to wildlife rehabilitation education specifically designed for rehabilitators with two or less years experience or as a refresher for more experienced rehabilitators. This 8 hour workshop includes the following topics: theory and administration, species identification and natural history, rescue/capture/restraint, basic triage, care and feeding of orphan birds and mammals, release criteria, zoonosis, and a one hour physical examination lab.

6:00-7:00

Dinner

7:00

Icebreaker

Saturday November 3, 2007

Time

8:00 - 9:00

Keynote: Preparing for a warmer future- Climate change and global warming: predictions in central Minnesota states (habitat changes, weather patterns) current effects, implications for wildlife rehabilitators i.e.- loss of some species, increases in others (armadillos in Illinois, opossums in Canada), increases in inclement weather situations (more intense rain events but fewer instances, increases in erosion related to increases in pollution), hypothermia, how rehabbers can prepare, how as citizens we can help to slow climate change.

9:00-10:00

Specialized care of Lagomorphs from infants thorough adults: Learn the difference between hares and rabbits, various techniques and approaches- dietary requirements, feeding techniques and caging/housing, release criteria and techniques.

Specialized care of the opossum- learn techniques of caring for North America's only marsupial: dietary requirements, caging, feeding/tubing, challenges of, hypothermia and frostbite.

First Aid Lab (9:00 - 12:00)

10:00-11:00

Building a network Panel: Learning your role and how to work effectively with you vet, local unit of government, conservation officer, and other wildlife professionals and centers.

Herps- unique challenges of turtles, snakes and salamanders: first aid, stabilization and transport, metabolic differences, overwintering, dietary and caging requirements, release criteria and techniques.

11:00-12:00

Specialized care of squirrels and other rodents- from infants thorough adults: Learn various techniques and approaches- dietary requirements, feeding techniques and caging/housing, release criteria and techniques.

Raccoons- beyond the basics: baylis, distemper, de-worming protocol, dietary and caging/housing, release criteria and techniques.

12:00-1:00

Lunch

1:00-1:45

Euthanasia: Learn when euthanasia may be the best option for your patient- how to work with your vet to accomplish this task and how to deal with difficult emotions and related stress.

Rules and Regulations: what you need to know to comply with applicable rules and regulations and how to work effectively with your local unit of government, including dealing with difficult situations.

Turtle shell repair Lab (1:00 - 4:00)

Open Lab- Natural History

1:45-2:45

Fox and Coyote: Learn fox and coyote rehabilitation techniques from pups to adults including special dietary needs, caging requirements, socialization technique, handling techniques  to release criteria.  

Raptors: A comparison of historical information to current trends related to species type being admitted, blood parasites currently being found, and prominent diseases needing treatment.

2:45-3:00

Break

3:00-4:00

Songbirds (altricial): expanding on the basics with songbirds and other altricial species including pigeons and doves- a more in depth look at caging requirements, housing with conspecifics, socialization, nutritional information and release techniques.

Nighthawks, jars, swifts, and swallows- feeding “on the wing”: Learn techniques to successfully rehabilitate these unique species with focus on feeding and housing requirements.

4:00-4:45

Case studies: learn from others experiences by hearing select case studies that are sure to be both educational and heartwarming.

Bats: expand on the basics and learn from those that specialize in caring for bats- diets, caging and the unique challenges including successful release will be addressed.

4:45-5:30

Dehydration/emaciation/diarrhea. Recognition, assessment and treating in both birds and mammals: options and alternative approaches, products available, mitigating stresses to sensitive species.

Holistic Medicine: Learn how to incorporate holistic medicine into your rehabilitation practice to improve the wellness of the animals in your care. Learn through case studies what has worked in the past and different holistic treatments that can be used for common rehabilitation problems.

6:30-7:15

Dinner

7:30

Raffle/Silent Auction

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Time

8:00 - 9:00

Waterfowl (precocial): Learn how to successfully raise and release waterfowl. Includes diets, housing, common difficulties and conspecific fosters.

Semiaquatic Mammals - Otters, Beaver & Muskrats: challenges and rewards of these species. Including unique dietary requirements, importance of housing and behavioral enrichment.

Bandaging Lab (8:00-10:00)

Open Lab- Natural History

9:00-10:00

Ecology and Natural History: Learn how to use natural history to increase the effectiveness of your rehabilitation program.

Triage Techniques: learn when to act quickly and when to observe carefully- how to effectively maximize your time to provide the best possible care to each patient in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

10:00-10:15

Break

10:15-11:15

Educating the public: how to get the word out and communicate effectively with the public, whether it is on a one-to-one basis with individuals that present patients or by teaching groups of individuals about wildlife and wildlife rehabilitation

Study Group: If you're taking the permit exam, here is your last chance to study! Come work with others to review the highlights and quiz one another!

11:15-12:00

Closing- fostering our future: The search for the Ivory Billed woodpecker. Thought to have been extinct for over 60 years, several sightings within recent years, spurred an intense scientific search for this illusive bird which was once called the “Lord God Bird”. We will hear firsthand about what this search has entailed

12:00-1:00

Adjourn or Take the permit exams