Wildlife rescue volunteers who intervene in wildlife welfare emergencies require training to avoid causing harm through well-intentioned but uninformed action. Training programs improve welfare outcomes dramatically.
Untrained wildlife rescue commonly causes harm: improper handling stresses animals unnecessarily; attempts to hand-raise young create imprinting that prevents release; collection of animals that do not need help wastes rehabilitation resources. Properly trained volunteers know when to leave animals alone, how to contain and transport minimally invasively, and when to call licensed rehabilitators. Wildlife first aid training courses dramatically improve outcomes for individual animals. Recognising genuinely injured or orphaned animals versus those in apparent distress is a trainable skill with significant welfare implications.