Have you ever seen a baby moose? "They're tiny," says John Benedik. "Big
legs, big head, big ears but a small body."
Benedik works in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital at a wildlife park.
A veterinary technician by training, he has worked with everything from hummingbirds
to wild eagles to chipmunks and moose. The orphaned moose calf that he helped
raise was about two weeks old when she was brought in.
Any injured animal is examined and treated. Recovered animals are released
back into the wild. Those that cannot be cured are euthanized (put down).
Sometimes healthy creatures have to be euthanized because they cannot survive
on their own. For example, a bird might have a wing injury and cannot fly.
"The hardest thing about the job is putting animals down," says Benedik.
On the other hand, releasing a creature is very exciting. "Any time you
release a bird and watch it fly off into the trees, it's a good feeling,"
Benedik says.
Benedik has been working in the field for several years. He continues to
find it rewarding.
Sheryl Barber is the marine mammal rehabilitation coordinator at an aquarium.
She works with seals, sea otters, porpoises and sea lions. "I spent 10 hours
caring for an orphaned baby sea otter that was shipped in from Alaska," Barber
says. "She requires feeding around the clock."
The work's physical nature is the hardest part. There is a lot of heavy
lifting, much of it outside in all kinds of weather. For example, a seal pup
weighs about 20 pounds. It will weigh about 40 pounds when it is released.
"And these animals eat fish, so you are dealing with a lot of raw seafood,"
she laughs. "You end up being wet, cold and fishy."
Barber thinks wildlife rehabilitation is wonderful work if you have a passion
for it. You can't go into it for the money. You will experience rough working
conditions. "It you can look at this and still feel passionate, it is a very
rewarding career," she says.
Barber began volunteering at the aquarium when she was in high school.
After graduation, her volunteering turned into paid employment. The work is
challenging, but she loves what she does. There are not many places where
you can work hands-on with a baby seal, she points out.
She feels lucky to be working with unusual species. "And it's very rewarding
to see an animal that is near death reach the point where you can release
it."
Barber also enjoys the opportunities to help educate the public about wildlife
issues. The aquarium often receives calls from people who don't know much
about marine mammals.
"People phone in and say a seal has been shot through the head," she says.
"Usually, they are looking at the animal's ear hole. They don't know that
seals don't have earlobes."
Barber says the work has helped her understand how things we do can affect
nature and wildlife. Most of the animals Barber sees are there because of
something people have done. "We have a responsibility to provide services
to make up for the effects that people are having on marine mammals," she
says.
Corrie Hines agrees completely. Hines is a wildlife rehabilitator for PAWS
Wildlife Department in Washington. PAWS rehabilitates around 250 species of
creatures. Hines has worked with everything from raptors to shrews and cougars
and bears.
Working with bears is a challenge. Bears must not be allowed to lose their
fear of humans. It they do, they are likely to become a nuisance and someone
will shoot them.
"We put on bear suits when are handling the cubs," Hines laughs. "For older
bears, we have a cage system that allows us to move the bears from one closure
to another without coming in contact with a person."
Hines has a degree in history and anthropology. Like Barber, she started
out by volunteering. She also worked for a year as a veterinary assistant
to learn the medical aspects. "I always wanted to help animals," she says.
"How many people can say, 'I was holding a bald eagle today'?"
Hines especially loves working with wild animals. "There is something so
noble about watching these sick or injured animals," she says. "Yet they still
have the spirit to take your arm off if they could."
The most difficult part of the job is dealing with people who don't understand
wildlife rehabilitation. Some people become very angry when an animal has
to be euthanized. They think an animal should be kept alive as long as it
can, even if it must live in a cage.
"They accuse us of liking to kill wildlife," Hines says. "Some have become
violent and made threats."
There are many good stories to tell -- even a romance! One time, PAWS was
treating two wild geese. The geese, a male and a female, had come in separately.
They were housed together. The male healed first and was released.
Every day, that goose came back and perched on top of the cage where the
other was confined. One day the confined goose charged a new volunteer and
managed to escape. The two geese flew away together. "Geese mate for life,"
says Hines.
Some of the stories are sad ones. Once, they spent months nursing a beautiful
cougar back to health. Before releasing her, the Department of Fish and Wildlife
collared the big cat for tracking. A week later, a hunter shot the animal.
"You couldn't mention her name for a week without people crying," Hines says.
Nevertheless, Hines describes her work as he most rewarding thing she has
ever done in her life. "I can't imagine doing anything else," she says.