This wildlife course will focus on the pre-release assessment and eventual release of a wildlife casualty after it has been treated. This is an area of wildlife care that is sometimes not considered well enough by wildlife rehabilitators.  This course is for people who have already attended SWWR’s Introduction to wildlife rehabilitation and release course (Wildlife Course 1). Children of 14 years and over are welcome provided a parent or other responsible adult also attends the course.

The course, led by SWWR’s release co-ordinator and Animal Care Section Leaders, looks at pre-release assessment, release criteria and other factors such as seasonality and weather conditions.

Finding suitable release sites for rehabilitated wildlife is one of the major challenges we face at Secret World Wildlife Rescue (SWWR) and involves surveying potential sites for their suitability for releases and working closely with land owners. The course will explore how this is done and some of the problems encountered when finding appropriate release sites.

Once the animal is fit for release it must be safely transported to the release site and the appropriate technique used. ‘Hard’ and ‘soft’ release techniques used at SWWR will be discussed.

After lunch we will discuss post release monitoring techniques with practical sessions using trail cameras, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and building artificial setts.

This is a full day course, so please bring your own packed lunch; there are facilities for heating food. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided throughout the day.

Payment is non-refundable, alternative dates can be offered