Licensing bill needed for wildlife rehabilitators

N.J.’s wildlife is in big trouble. Until recently, many volunteers cared for distressed and disabled wildlife. Townships, veterinarians and homeowners had relied on wildlife rehabilitators to deal with animals that typically a taxpayer paid-for official would be called upon to remove. Wildlife rehabilitators numbered more than 100 to cover the entire state.

Due to recently implemented and ambiguous controls set by the state Division of Fish and Wildlife (F&W), there are only an estimated 30 rehabbers left. Wildlife rehabilitators provide a no-cost-to-taxpayer service/humane alternative for residents concerned with an animal on their property.

As a wildlife rehabilitator, I answer your calls, rescue injured animals, treat and release into safe habitats all recovered “creatures great and small.” I receive no monetary subsidies from the state and charge nothing to the public.

I ask only that you help me help animals. Since abandoned young animals are prevalent during the spring, I now receive and cannot handle the 30-100 calls per week that come in for help with injured and/or suffering animals. The newly initiated F&W process for licensing rehabbers has drastically eliminated those that were able and qualified to help me.

Please help me to help N.J.’s wildlife. State Sen. Karcher and Assemblyman Chiappone are sponsoring legislation that would standardize and simplify the method to be licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator.

Petitions are being circulated and calls are being made to elected officials to move these stalled bills out of committees in order to secure affirmative votes from the Senate and Assembly.

Please contact your state, county and municipal elected officials. Please tell them that you want them to support and endorse legislation to preserve N.J. wildlife rehabilitators. Rehabilitators need your help in order to keep on helping you.

Melissa Jacobs

N.J. state licensed

wildlife rehabilitator

Neptune City