Rehabber in Wichita, Kansas area to ask questions?

[GTSally]

I am usually on here talking about my wild Foxer girl Peanut and the others at the park that I check on and feed. I have recently lost my job of 13 years working for the same boss. He lost the business I was working at. I am fortunate enough that my husband is able to pay the bills, so it doesn't hurt us with me being out of work right now. My husband said he would like me to take time to find a job doing something I like, even if it doesn't make alot of money. Well, I have always loved animals, so I figured I would look into vet tech schooling. However, I don't really want to work in a vets office. I would prefer to work around wildlife instead of domestic pets. Now would be my chance to take classes somewhere. Does anyone know if going through vet tech schooling is what I should look into or is there another field to look into? I have checked into the zoo and you have to have 2 years of college or other training. I would like to one day be a squirrel rehabber or help one, which would be in addition to a day job somewhere. Do most of the squirrel rehabbers work in animal field before becoming a licensed rehabber? I can ask my questions at the local college that offers vet tech training, but I didn't know if any of you might have advice? Thank you:grouphug

[VTech1]

Education is always the way to go. In addition to vet tech training, check out International Wildlife Rehab Council. They are the folks that developed wildlife rehabilitator certification. Good luck! Here is the site.

http://theiwrc.org/
http://www.cwrexam.org/certification/

[island rehabber]

hi GT Sally. How wonderful that you want to work with wildlife. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of paid positions in the field that don't require at least a college degree and most likely a DVM. Most wildlife rehabbers are volunteers and do it out of their own pockets; that will tell you why there aren't that many of us around. :grin2 There ARE wildlife centers, however, who may employ people part time or at least encourage volunteers who want to learn and get experience for future paid positions. Check out all the links to "wildlife Wichita" in Google, for example, or any surrounding area and start calling them. In the meantime you can also check out the requirements for a wildlife rehabber's license in Kansas. Every state is different in its criteria for licensing.

Good luck!! The critters need you, so get to it! :poke :grin3

[Anne]

:goodpost and rightly so, we need all the licensed rehabbers we can get. If you have never worked with animals in past, vet tech would be the way to go. You will learn so much that you can transfer to working with wildlife. Handling animals is a big part of rehabbing. You will learn so much needed information about ways to adminster the different medicines, etc-priceless. Be aware that money flys out in vast amounts and trickles in tiny drops.

[farrelli]

You might also PM or email Nancy (a member here) who runs this rescue:

http://www.2ndhandranch.com/

It's a great place and I think she runs it as a non-profit. She has a "real" job too but I think it's also something to do with nature or the environment.

Here's a thread about her numbers this year:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44279-2nd-Hand-Ranch-amp-Resuce-What-s-new-Join-me!

[GTSally]

Education is always the way to go. In addition to vet tech training, check out International Wildlife Rehab Council. They are the folks that developed wildlife rehabilitator certification. Good luck! Here is the site.

http://theiwrc.org/
http://www.cwrexam.org/certification/

I will check out this website. I am going to talk to the college tomorrow. My husband suggested that I just get a job in the animal field, so I may have the chance to meet other people who are in the job position that I would like to have one day. That way I can volunteer my help to them or ask questions on what education would help in that particular position. I just have to get my foot in the door somewhere. There is a really nice little zoo called, Tanganyika Wildlife, here in the Wichita area (I would recommend to go see:grin2). They have baby wilds of different animals in a building and you can look through windows of the rooms and see the people caring for them. That would be the ultimate position for me:Love_Icon. My goal is to one day be able to have a wildlife rehabilitator certificate to care for squirrels out of my home. My first step, besides checking into what I will need to do(like on websites you suggested), is to get a job just working with animals first. Thank you for your advice. I will continue looking into the rehabber information as well as job hunt.

[GTSally]

hi GT Sally. How wonderful that you want to work with wildlife. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of paid positions in the field that don't require at least a college degree and most likely a DVM. Most wildlife rehabbers are volunteers and do it out of their own pockets; that will tell you why there aren't that many of us around. :grin2 There ARE wildlife centers, however, who may employ people part time or at least encourage volunteers who want to learn and get experience for future paid positions. Check out all the links to "wildlife Wichita" in Google, for example, or any surrounding area and start calling them. In the meantime you can also check out the requirements for a wildlife rehabber's license in Kansas. Every state is different in its criteria for licensing.

Good luck!! The critters need you, so get to it! :poke :grin3


My husband says that once I get a job it can help fund my education I need to have to be able to pursue that "dream job working with wild animals". Plus I would have exposure to others to be able to ask questions or volunteer my help, who are in the position I may want to also have one day. My husband and I realize that it is an out of pocket expense to rehab squirrels, my husband is ok with that. We can't afford to do that unless I have a job, though:tilt. So, I guess its first look for a job working around animals, then get some schooling and then do what I need to do to be a rehabber. May take time, but it is what I am passionate about. thank you!

[GTSally]

:goodpost and rightly so, we need all the licensed rehabbers we can get. If you have never worked with animals in past, vet tech would be the way to go. You will learn so much that you can transfer to working with wildlife. Handling animals is a big part of rehabbing. You will learn so much needed information about ways to adminster the different medicines, etc-priceless. Be aware that money flys out in vast amounts and trickles in tiny drops.

Thanks for the advice! I think I first need to get a job working in the animal field, so then I can fund my education and eventually get a rehabber certificate to help squirrels. Going to take time, but it is my passion. My husband is understanding and is ok with me wanting to rehab squirrels, even knowing it will cost us to do so. But as long as I have a job, I can work towards that:) Seems to be my plan as of now anyway.

[GTSally]

You might also PM or email Nancy (a member here) who runs this rescue:

http://www.2ndhandranch.com/

It's a great place and I think she runs it as a non-profit. She has a "real" job too but I think it's also something to do with nature or the environment.

Here's a thread about her numbers this year:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44279-2nd-Hand-Ranch-amp-Resuce-What-s-new-Join-me!

wow!! She seems like an amazing lady! I bet she has alot of knoweledge to give. I will have to contact her.