>Rehabilitators: are there any species you receive that you routinely
>euthanize because you *don't* wish to save them, presumably for some of the
>reasons expressed above?


No, there aren't. The reason is, it's difficult to draw the line between
what should be rehabbed and what should not. We try to avoid taking any
domestic animals (such as ducks, pigeons) but usually wind up with a few
because somebody found them injured in a park. These are farmed out to
willing recipients to become part of their own flocks.

But, back to the point. The biggest difficultly in rehab is convincing
people we do useful work (quick right hook to the jaw!) and if we begin
turning animals away they'll want to know why we'll take a hawk and not a
sparrow. Most members of the general public are not birders and are not
aware of the controversy involving house sparrows, starlings, etc.

There has been alot of (and continuous) debate within the wildlife
community about this issue. We're not happy about having to rehab pigeons,
house sparrows, possums and the like who use valuable resources at the
center and displace indigenous wildlife upon release. But, like medical
doctors, we don't turn away ANY injured wild animal.

Back east, however, I understand that F&W have put a moritorium on rehabbing
various species (raccoons and squirrel are two I can think of) because of
the high incidence of rabies. They are automatically euthanized.
Basically, F&W makes the decision as to what does or does not get rehabbed
and released.
>
I guess making these kinds of decisions is what I
>was talking about earlier when I suggested realistic, reasonable, and
>responsible rehabilitation.

Dennis, like I said before, we don't make the decision to euthanize, a vet
does. F&W does not allow it and, in fact, stresses that on the state exam.
They'd have our heads if we make those decisions. Particularly in the face
of a reasonably healthy animal who has a repairable condition, allowing
release. I know many rehabbers who are perfectly capable of making that
judgement but cannot due to these regulations.

Please understand, we don't just work willy nilly, there's a whole bunch of
laws and regulations we must obey. There is a central person in the Law
Enforcement Division of F&W who handles the rehabbers and we must coordinate
any release with our local F&W biologist BEFORE the release is made. If you
want to talk about "realistic, reasonable, and responsible" rehabilitation,
then you must speak with F&W. They really are the ruling entity, not us.
They tell us what we can or cannot rehab. They tell us what we can or
cannot release and where.

The really sad part is, although we're allowed to rehab preditors (other
than Coyotes), there are never any release sites available so they cannot be
released. These animals are often euthanized.

Peggi



Peggi Rodgers
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, OR
peggir at ori.org
prodgers at efn.org
"A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, It sings because it has a song"