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Friends of Cape Wildlife Hotline Workshop Agenda
Resolving the Public’s Wildlife Problems in Minutes
A Phone-Advising and Wildlife Problem-Solving Workshop
Presenter: Laura Simon M.E.S., Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
President, Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
October 20th 2018, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) 290 Summer St Yarmouth Port MA
10:00-11:00 am: Handling the Public’s Wildlife Dilemma Calls – Part 1
Value of phone advising
Saves lives, reduces intakes, educates public about coexistence
Working with human psychology
Asking the right questions to confirm the species and situation
Making a good problem diagnosis / identifying and addressing source of problem
Getting public cooperation, receptivity to your advice
Packaging and delivering advice
Fear-based calls vs. true problem calls
Giving the right advise – after making a proper diagnosis
Keeping control of the calls; getting successful outcomes
Reuniting and wild-fostering as a priority
Rehabilitation as a last resort
Rescue advice
Capture/ transport tips
Hotline mechanics
How typical calls will work,
Role of volunteer hotline handlers
Record-keeping
Introducing the new cloud–based hotline and software
11:00-11:15 am: BREAK
11:15-12:15 pm: Handling the Public’s Wildlife Dilemma Calls – Part 2
Seasonal Calls
Typical calls this time of year – how to handle
Mystery Scenarios: Test your skills!
Handling the Larger Issue that Comes with the Animal
Ways to address and fix the root cause of harm to animals
Working with the media to achieve your goals
Special challenges
Outdoor cats, chronic trappers, nasties, avid relocaters
12:15 – 1:15 pm: LUNCH –
Bring a bag lunch or let us know if you would like pizza delivery
1:15 – 1:30 pm: Handling Conflict Calls
Nuisance wildlife control industry/ traditional practices
The Humane Wildlife Services (HWS) approach
Eviction and Exclusion approach, solve problem at source
Biologically-based, on-site release, least invasive
Humane outcomes, orphaning avoided
1:30 – 3:15 pm: Species by Species Profiles
Relevant natural history and typical problems/solutions for raccoons,
woodchucks, squirrels, bats,  opossums, skunks, birds.
3:15 – 3:30 pm: BREAK
3:30- 4:00 pm: discussion and wrap-up

For more information call (508) 375-3700 and listen for the prompt or email friends@friendsofcapewildlife.org

As part of our mission we are developing a 24/7 wildlife hotline that will provide a responsive system of life-saving information to callers. This is a cloud based hotline that can be answered from anywhere. We strongly believe that wildlife calls answered by a live operator will serve wildlife in need when other wildlife centers are unavailable. 

According to Dr. Mark Pokras, Director of the Tufts Wildlife Clinic, MA(Ret.), in his experience 80% of all human/wildlife interactions could be resolved by talking to the caller.

In this free workshop, learn how to advise callers about non-lethal solutions when addressing conflicts between people and wildlife and to encourage humane coexistence with our wild neighbors.

The workshop is designed to educate volunteers who would like to become a member of our wildlife hotline team of operators, rescuers and transporters. We also welcome any Cape Cod ACO, DNR officer or municipal official who deals with wildlife and would like to attend. The course offers 5 educational credits for ACOs.

Advance registration is required and you can click here to register. For more information call (508) 375-3700 and listen for the prompt or email friends@friendsofcapewildlife.org