Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Course

International Open Academy

Module Exams

Included in course price

Knowing how to handle wildlife respectfully will open up career choices for you in diverse fields such as animal care and rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, animal science, zoology, animal protection or veterinary surgery.

You’ll certainly have your hands full as there is plenty of work available. For example, the four RSPCA wildlife centres in England alone took in 18,337 sick, injured or orphaned wild animals in 2018. It’s a richly-rewarding role as you are able to help wild animals when they need it the most.

By the end of this specialist animal care course, you’ll be able to demonstrate your knowledge of animal care and wildlife rehabilitation to would-be employers or when applying to study further in the fields of zoology, animal science or psychology. You’ll know:

• Exactly what wildlife rehabilitators do in their day-to-day work
• How to identify animals in distress and know when to step in
• Animal science, physiology and basic anatomy of different animals
• How to assess animals and identify symptoms and causes of distress
• How to treat common injuries such as broken limbs and wings
• How to react to environmental disasters, such as oil spills or forest fires
• How to safely handle, restrain, transport, and release wildlife
• What you can do to assist in your community

Our course is an excellent place to start if you’re thinking of a career or voluntary work with wild animals or in zoology at home or anywhere in the world.

Our accredited course enables you to study when you want plus you can prove how determined you are to pursue a career in animal care, animal science or zoology-related fields at interviews for work or university. Start the course now.

Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Course Syllabus

Module 1: What Does It Mean To Be A Wildlife Rehabilitator?

• Why being a wildlife rehabilitator is right for you
• A normal day for a wildlife rehabilitator
• How to become a wildlife rehabilitator and get certified
• How to know when NOT to rescue an animal
• You rescued an animal, now what?

Module 2: Animal Science: Physiology, Anatomy, And Health

• Why is it important to understand animal science, physiology and anatomy?
• Basic physiology and anatomy for birds
• Basic physiology and anatomy for small mammals
• Basic physiology and anatomy for large mammals
• Basic physiology and anatomy for reptiles and amphibians
• Freshwater wildlife
• How to assess an animal in distress
• Necessary nutrition facts

Module 3: How To Treat Common Injuries

• What are the most common injuries dealt with by wildlife rehabilitators?
• Broken limbs in birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians
• Orphaned animals
• Oiled or dirty wildlife
• Common sicknesses that wildlife rehabilitators see
• What to do in emergency situations

Module 4: What’s The Best Way To Interact With Animals?

• The difference between interacting with pets and wildlife
• Keeping the wild, WILD!
• How to brainstorm the best enrichment projects for your patient
• Field work in various environments
• Equipment, gear, vaccines and prep
• Release! How to know when your animal friend is ready to go back to the wild.

Module 5: Spread The Word!

• Why is education and outreach important?
• How you can spread the message
• How to design the right education programme for your audience
• Examples of outreach done by wildlife rehabilitators
• Volunteering and career path in wild animal care

• Everyone who would love an interesting career working with wild animals and wishes to find out more about it. These could include working in fields as diverse as wildlife rehabilitation, conservation parks, zoology, animal science, veterinary medicine or animal care
• Anyone considering studying further in zoology, animal behaviour, animal psychology or wildlife conservation
• Those interested in learning more about wild animals, assisting and fostering animals, or helping in zoology research
• Animal lovers considering work as a volunteer or employee in animal rescue and rehabilitation centres anywhere in the world
• Candidates with an interest in working with animals, specifically wild animals
• Anyone who wants to be able to help wild animals that they come across in distress or in emergency situations such as fires
• Animal lovers who want to educate others about interacting with wildlife

This Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation course is open to all, with no formal entry requirements.

• Be inspired to study further for a career:
  
  • as a wildlife ranger
  • in wild animal care, conservation or protection
  • working with wildlife rehabilitation centres
  • work or research in zoology or animal science
• Find your first job involving wild animal care at a rescue centre, zoo or safari park