Vox
03-24-2019, 01:38 PM
Heya! I poked around but didn't see the following information anywhere, though I confess my search-fu isn't always great... (Mods move if deemed necessary)
Over the past few months I've been learning more than I thought possible about taking care of rescued wildlife, and after giving it some thought I plan to become a licensed rehabber so I have a better network, access to more vets who are safe, and can be guaranteed that no officer is going to show up on my door after complaints that "I am illegally keeping wildlife." I've even started working on plans and a BOM for a permanent structure release cage out back.
For someone who is considering becoming a Licensed Rehabber for my state, what do you recommend that I keep on hand in "kits?" I like to be prepared-- for example, in my vehicle I ALWAYS have a charge pack for jumping batteries or providing power, a tarp, 3 package of MREs, bottled water, chemical handwarmers, a first aid kit, a blanket (fire and emergency), 550 cord and of course: a flashlight, small trencher/shovel and other tools. It's not much, but it gets me through everything from being snowed in on a roadway to hurricane prep.
I got a few items gifted to me-- a packet of electrolyte formula, a few Miracle Nipples, etc. Since my mom is a retired nurse, I already have tons of syringes, tubing, latex and non-latex gloves, medical tape, bandages, etc. After taking care of the Duke kiddos, I also have plenty of Fox Valley.
Because I deploy overseas I have more Doxycyclene than any one person (or about fifty squirrels) can take in a year. Same with Tramadol and a few other odds and ends that they feel inclined to issue in bulk (Okay, so maybe I only get scripts for Tramadol and other pain meds in 60-tab batches, but honestly it's way more than I ever need and often expires before I ever get around to using it so I discard it at the local clinic). The same can be said for a range of antibiotics-- I have a sensitive stomach so sometimes they try a few things before they hit on the right one. I know that these are human medications, and may not be perfect for squirrels, but with input and help from clever people and dosing guidelines I know I can make it work.
Thanks to gardening, I have a number of seed germination mats, and because I sew I have tons of fleece. I also have a number of plastic bins and three small animal carriers that open up on the ends as well as on the top which fold down flat for storage.
TLDR; I figured I'd ask what more experienced people keep on hand-- both in their vehicles and around the house so that they are better prepared for incoming baby squees. Thanks for reading my novel, and I look forward to hearing some wisdom!
Over the past few months I've been learning more than I thought possible about taking care of rescued wildlife, and after giving it some thought I plan to become a licensed rehabber so I have a better network, access to more vets who are safe, and can be guaranteed that no officer is going to show up on my door after complaints that "I am illegally keeping wildlife." I've even started working on plans and a BOM for a permanent structure release cage out back.
For someone who is considering becoming a Licensed Rehabber for my state, what do you recommend that I keep on hand in "kits?" I like to be prepared-- for example, in my vehicle I ALWAYS have a charge pack for jumping batteries or providing power, a tarp, 3 package of MREs, bottled water, chemical handwarmers, a first aid kit, a blanket (fire and emergency), 550 cord and of course: a flashlight, small trencher/shovel and other tools. It's not much, but it gets me through everything from being snowed in on a roadway to hurricane prep.
I got a few items gifted to me-- a packet of electrolyte formula, a few Miracle Nipples, etc. Since my mom is a retired nurse, I already have tons of syringes, tubing, latex and non-latex gloves, medical tape, bandages, etc. After taking care of the Duke kiddos, I also have plenty of Fox Valley.
Because I deploy overseas I have more Doxycyclene than any one person (or about fifty squirrels) can take in a year. Same with Tramadol and a few other odds and ends that they feel inclined to issue in bulk (Okay, so maybe I only get scripts for Tramadol and other pain meds in 60-tab batches, but honestly it's way more than I ever need and often expires before I ever get around to using it so I discard it at the local clinic). The same can be said for a range of antibiotics-- I have a sensitive stomach so sometimes they try a few things before they hit on the right one. I know that these are human medications, and may not be perfect for squirrels, but with input and help from clever people and dosing guidelines I know I can make it work.
Thanks to gardening, I have a number of seed germination mats, and because I sew I have tons of fleece. I also have a number of plastic bins and three small animal carriers that open up on the ends as well as on the top which fold down flat for storage.
TLDR; I figured I'd ask what more experienced people keep on hand-- both in their vehicles and around the house so that they are better prepared for incoming baby squees. Thanks for reading my novel, and I look forward to hearing some wisdom!