Source: VIN News
As human encroachment increasingly impacts wildlife, the need for specialized Veterinary care in wildlife rehabilitation is growing. Dr. Michelle Willette advocates for a new clinical wildlife practice specialty, arguing that conventional Veterinary specialties don’t adequately address the individualized care required for injured wild animals intended for release. Unlike zoo or population health-focused certifications, clinical wildlife practice would concentrate on rehabilitating individual animals without human habituation.
Opponents, including the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM), claim existing wildlife certifications are sufficient, covering individual care within broader population health standards. They argue that a new specialty would duplicate services, potentially diluting the specialty designation’s integrity. The American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) will decide on the proposal in March. Willette and other proponents hope the new specialty will formalize training and expertise in clinical wildlife care, benefiting veterinarians, wildlife, and the public as more animals require higher-level rehabilitation in response to climate change and new diseases.
Read the full story HERE: https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=614&Id=12348701