Wildlife Rehabilitation: From Rescue to Release – Details, episodes & analysis

Host Gail Buhl welcomes Washington state based mental health therapist Tiffany Wentz-Root to the podcast to discuss self-care for wildlife rehabilitators. This is Part 1 of 2. In Part 1, Tiffany explains her origin story, which includes serving in Iraq for the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003. Tiffany goes on to reveal some of her own past struggles with mental health, how that experience led to her interest in becoming a mental health provider, and how she draws on her experiences to cultivate greater empathy for vulnerable populations she serves. 

Gail and Tiffany begin to discuss the phenomenon of "compassion fatigue," a specific type of burnout seen most often in caretaking professions that witness suffering of animals or fellow humans. Tiffany describes the broader theme of burnout as an imbalance between stress and the ability to cope. Compassion fatigue arises out of vicarious trauma, Tiffany explains, which is experienced when the caretaker witnesses suffering of their patient. The episode includes some signs and symptoms of unaddressed trauma such as changes in eating habits, diminished memory, and sleep difficulty. 

In Part 2, episode 13, Gail and Tiffany will continue the conversation on maintaining self awareness of one's own mental health and things to do to move forward when feeling stuck in burnout.

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.

To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

Host Gail Buhl is back for Part 2 of her in-depth discussion with Minnesota-based wildlife veterinarian Dr. Miranda Torkelson on the medical management of fox. In this episode, Gail and Dr. Miranda touch on topics ranging from the treatment of mange and other parasites to diets, handler safety, housing, and preparation for release. Dr. Miranda urges listeners not to attempt to treat wild fox outside of the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Dr. Torkelson was very gracious and if you have any questions about fox, fox mange, transfusions (for the veterinarian listeners) etc. please contact her via email: mirtork@gmail.com

Next episode, Gail welcomes Tiffany Wentz-Root to discuss the mental health & wellness aspects of working in wildlife rehabilitation. Tiffany draws on her own experience as both a therapist and a person who has experienced mental health struggles to be able to delve into the topic in a meaningful way. This is a topic that affects all of us, whether we’re aware of it or not, so we hope you’ll join us for season 3, episode 12! 



Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.

To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu)

Gail Buhl is back with Part 2 of her in-depth discussion with Dr. John Huckabee on the Art of Wildlife Rehabilitation. Dr. John Huckabee is an icon in the wildlife rehabilitation world in North America. What's clinically best for an animal and what feels best isn't always the same. In this episode, Gail and Dr. John talk about how that plays into the need for adequate self-care and risk of compassion fatigue.  You'll hear Gail remind us: when in doubt, always consult with mentors, wildlife rehabilitation peers, and veterinarians. Later, Dr. Huckabee tells us his story of the Acme Bear Cub, (Acme is a small town in Washington state) which took place in the Cascade Mountains north of Seattle. This bear cub taught Dr. John  a lot about the importance of effectively managing animals in captivity. Maintaining an environment conducive to health can reduce the need for invasive procedures and medications, sparing an animal the risks that come with surgery and side effects. Other topics in this episode include renesting baby raptors, accepting new challenges and learning from mistakes, seeking out good mentors, adopting a habit of teaching others, and evaluating the quality of information sources. Dr. Huckabee brings a wealth of information and wisdom to the discourse surrounding animal caretaker wellbeing and personal development, so we're so happy you've decided to tune in! Please join host Gail for upcoming episode 3, featuring Deb Galle, an expert on Cottontail Rabbits.

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

Wildlife Rehabilitation: From Rescue To Release host Gail Buhl is back for a third season! Gail, a Master Level Wildlife Rehabilitator in Minnesota, draws on decades of experience caring for wildlife to connect with guests on a deep, meaningful level, eliciting thought provoking dialogue among fellow peers. That unique ability to draw out the story behind the story comes into play right off the bat in Season 3, Episode 1 - a discussion on the Art of Wildlife Rehabilitation with Dr. John Huckabee, a retired wildlife veterinarian who began his career in Texas and later spent many years in the Seattle area serving PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society).We know there is science to wildlife rehabilitation and wildlife medicine -- using natural histories, medical information from related fields like Zoo medicine etc. We also know MUCH more needs to be done for our wildlife. There however, is also an "art" to wildlife rehabilitation--where rehabilitators and veterinarians know just how to "tweak" an enclosure or medical procedure, or whether to use medications or not for a good outcome for that individual. What are those things? Can people learn that "art"? In this two-part series we get into this subject. As it turns out, you can learn the Art of Rehabilitation! Listen in to find out how.This is Part 1 of 2. In Part 1, Gail and Dr. Huckabee touch on topics such as his unusual origin story, the use and overuse of certain medications and avoiding the "just because" syndrome, and achieving mastery through intentional practice. Stay tuned for Part 2, which drops online on Thursday, January 25th and will appear on podcast apps that Friday, January 26th.

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

In Part-2 of our discussion with Dr. Leslie Reed, a Minnesota-based veterinarian who specializes in wildlife dentistry, we get into more specifics about what good dental care looks like for different species of wild animals and why it's so important to treat pain adequately.  Gail and Leslie get into how wildlife rehabilitators can be more effective caregivers through learning dentistry basics and also collaborating with their veterinarian on standard operating procedures for animals that need care right away, which is often the case. If you are looking for resources on wildlife dentistry there is not a lot out there. But....Dr. Leslie recommended the book Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th Edition by Katherine Quesenberry DVM, MPH et al. This is the final episode of Wildlife Rehabilitation: From Rescue to Release, Season 2. We're so glad you stuck with us for a second season, and we're excited to start sharing Season 3 episodes when they're ready. Please let me know if you have topics you would like to hear. Do you know someone involved in wildlife rehabilitation and/or medicine who would be interested in this podcast? Please pass it along! Feel free to email Gail Buhl directly at gailbuhl@umn.edu or email our podcast producer Kirk Klocke, Outreach Project Specialist, klock082@umn.edu.  Season 3, will start early this coming winter season!Show notes:Dr. Leslie Reed: lreeddvm@gmail.com

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

Our host Gail Buhl invited Dr. Leslie Reed on the show to talk about her unusual niche within the wildlife rehabilitation sector -- wildlife dentistry! Animals that have teeth suffer from many of the same problems humans do, such as cavities, chips, decay, and foreign bodies lodged in the gum line. These and many other dental issues can severely affect an animal's quality of life in care and after release, so Leslie draws on her years of experience to help her patients with the best dental outcomes possible. This is the first in a 2-part discussion about wildlife dentistry, so be sure to check back at the end of this month for part 2! In this episode, Leslie reveals a bit about her origin story, including her path to becoming a specialist in wildlife dentistry. We learn about what "dentition" means and how it is critical to an animal's healthy functioning in the wild. A big challenge in in wildlife dentistry is VERY small teeth. Leslie describes what it was like to perform a root canal on a bat. It's a memorable story, so be sure to listen all the way through!Dr. Leslie Reed is our final guest on Season 2. We take a break from posting new episodes in the fall and shift to finding and interviewing more interesting people in the wildlife rehabilitation community. Do you know someone who would make a good guest on the show?  Is there a topic you really want to learn about? If so, we want to hear from you. Feel free to email your ideas directly to Gail: gailbuhl@umn.edu 

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

In Part 2, host Gail Buhl talks more about social media for wildlife rehabilitation settings in Part 2 of an in-depth discussion with Amanda Nicholson, senior vice president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Amanda is one of Gail's go-to gurus for all things social media. This part of their discussion gets into best practices, including avoiding posting content that could jeopardize a wildlife rehabilitator's permit status. It also touches on engaging audiences through livestreaming on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and later gets into whether or not it's a good idea to use social media platforms for fundraising. Show Notes:Publications by Amanda Nicholsonhttps://nwrajournal.online/index.php/bulletin/article/view/128 

Nicholson, A. (2021). Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Wildlife Rehabilitation. Wildlife Rehabilitation Bulletin, 36(1), 2–4. https://doi.org/10.53607/wrb.v36.128Resource site for social media marketing best practices:https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/Conference organized by the Wildlife Center of Virginia:Call of the Wild Conference | The Wildlife Center of Virginia

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

Host Gail Buhl caught up with Amanda Nicholson, senior vice president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Amanda has long been their communications and social media guru, and was eager to share some of the things she's learned, having managed the Wildlife Center of Virginia's social media presence since the earlier days of Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Gail and Amanda talk about how and why having a robust, actively managed social media presence can benefit a wildlife organization - both reputationally and financially. They dive into some of the challenges that can arise when using social media to engage with the general public, including the phenomenon of "trolling" and how to address misunderstandings that arise out of wildlife rehabilitators' practice of humane euthanasia. This episode is part 1 of 2 of Host Gail Buhl's talk with Amanda Nicholson, so be sure to tune in August 4th, 2023 for more about social media best practices, and an exploration of how best to implement livestreaming.Show Notes:Nicholson, A. (2021). Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Wildlife Rehabilitation. Wildlife Rehabilitation Bulletin, 36(1), 2–4. https://doi.org/10.53607/wrb.v36.128Social Media Examiner, a tool for marketers to keep on the latest social media management best practices and trends:https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/Call of the Wild Conference | The Wildlife Center of Virginia

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

Host Gail Buhl caught up with Dr. Michelle Willette of Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Willette shares her expertise on the ever-evolving and sometimes controversial topic of animal welfare. Welfare isn't something we give to an animal, she says, rather it's a state of being that exists with the right inputs and conditions for that animal. Dr. Willette is pursuing a board certification in Animal Welfare, a relatively new sub-specialty within veterinary medicine in the U.S. Since animals cannot speak their preferences and feelings in quite the way we can, veterinarians must look for clues that signal their wellbeing. Evaluating animal welfare takes place through the lenses of different ethical frameworks. Listen for buzz phrases such as "The Five Freedoms" and "The Five Domains" of animal welfare. The evolution of animal welfare as a discipline has unfolded over generations and encompasses a vast body of knowledge, so this episode is just a taste of how we decide what a good quality of life is for an animal. Stay tuned for future episodes, as Gail and Dr. Willette plan to revisit this topic in even greater depth. Show Notes:Michelle Willette, MPH, DACVPM, is a senior veterinarian at The Raptor Center and an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. She joined the University of Minnesota in 2007 with an extensive background in zoological and wildlife medicine with an emphasis in animal welfare, disaster preparedness and response, and public health.By 'helping' wild animals, you could end their freedom or even their lives – here's why you should keep your distance (theconversation.com)Five Freedoms info via ASPCAFive Domains info via NIH3 SpheresPractical Ethics via Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).

Host Gail Buhl connected with Rachel Avilla, co-founder and project manager of the database Wildlife Rehabilitation MD, or "WRMD." Rachel gives us a synopsis of her origin story, starting with her first career step out of college, which was a summer internship at The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa. That led to an internship at Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. There she met Devin, her husband and partner in creating WRMD. Rachel and Devin continued working in the wildlife rehabilitation sector during WRMD's early years, but eventually the database grew to the point at which Rachel had to take managing it on full-time. She continued to volunteer in the wildlife sector as WRMD grew. Today the database is regarded as one of the top platforms for quick data entry and data mining for wildlife rehabilitators. Show Notes:About Wildlife Rehabilitation MD (wrmd.org)A note from Devin via WRMD

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).