Wildlife rehabilitation is the process of rescuing, raising, and arranging for the veterinary medical care of orphaned and injured wild animals with a goal of releasing them back to their natural habitats.  To rehabilitate wildlife in Virginia, individuals and organizations must have a permit.  Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is the agency that issues state wildlife rehabilitation permits; federal permits (for rehabilitating birds) are obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  If you are interested in obtaining a wildlife rehabilitation permit, this basic five step process will help you gain an understanding of what’s involved.  VDGIF’s permit conditions provide the specific regulations pertaining to wildlife rehabilitation and also describe the different types of rehabilitation permits that are issued. 

The Wildlife Center provides initial and continuing-education training for new wildlife rehabilitators through our introductory “On the Road” wildlife rehabilitation training classes at locations across Virginia.  Most of these classes are designed for those who are interested in obtaining a wildlife rehabilitation permit or are just starting out in the wildlife rehabilitation field; however, there are also some general interest wildlife classes for those who would like to assist wildlife without becoming a permitted rehabilitator. 

Additionally, the Wildlife Center provides continuing-education training for wildlife rehabilitators through our annual two-day Call of the Wild conference, which is specifically designed for rehabilitators and other wildlife “first responders”.