Schedule
10:00-11:00 am: Handling the Public’s Wildlife Dilemma Calls – Part 1
Morning Sessions
- Value of phone advising
• Saves lives, reduces intakes, educates public about co-existence - 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 advice – typical “orphan” scenarios by species o Keeping control of the calls, getting successful outcomes
11:00-11:15 am: BREAK
11:15-12:15 am: Handling the Public’s Wildlife Dilemma Calls – Part 2
Mid-Morning Sessions
- Reuniting and wild-fostering as a priority
• Philosophy and Methods
• Distinguishing orphans from reuniting candidates, proper advice & protocols
• Importance of monitoring to ensure success
• Rehabilitation as a last resort - Rabies: Myths and Misconceptions
• Calming and educating the caller - 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
• Building a cruelty case - Special challenges
• The uncooperative or threatening caller
• Outdoor cats, chronic trappers, kidnappers, avid relocators
• Nuisance wildlife control industry/ traditional practices - Record-keeping options
12:15 – 1:15 pm: LUNCH
1:15 – 2:15 pm: Handling Conflict Calls – Part 1
Afternoon Sessions
- The Humane Wildlife Services (HWS) approach
• Proper assessment, Eviction, Exclusion
• Long term solution – solves problem at source
• Biologically-based, on-site release, least invasive
• Humane outcomes, orphaning avoided
2:00-2:15 am: BREAK
2:15 – 3:30 pm: Handling Conflict Calls – Part 2
Late Afternoon Sessions
- Rescue advice
• Capture/ transport - Species by Species Profiles
• Typical and common problems and solutions for raccoons, woodchucks, squirrels, bats, opossums, skunks, beavers, ducks