Wildlife Rehabilitation: From Rescue to Release

Wildlife Rehabilitation: From Rescue to Release


S3E2 John Huckabee On The Art Of Wildlife Rehabilitation Part 2

January 09, 2024

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).