Wildlife rehabilitation depends heavily on volunteers and trained carers. The quality of training and protocols directly affects both the welfare of animals in care and the stress experienced by carers.
The welfare of animals in wildlife rehabilitation depends critically on the knowledge and protocols of their carers. Inappropriate handling causes acute stress that can be fatal in sensitive species. Incorrect diet provision causes malnutrition that impairs recovery and release success. The absence of standardized training and protocols means that animal welfare outcomes vary enormously between rehabilitation centers. Animals admitted to poorly equipped or inadequately trained facilities may suffer more from inappropriate care than from their original injuries. The emotional burden on carers of managing injured and dying wild animals - particularly when outcome is poor - affects carer wellbeing and, through it, the quality of animal care they can provide. Recognition of carer mental health is therefore relevant to animal welfare.