Advice and Guidance

Raccoons in the attic or opossums under the deck? The expertise of the Wildlife Center is always available by phone or in person. In addition, most common questions and concerns are addressed under the "Need Help?" tab. In the case of unwanted wildlife in or around your home, it is best to speak to someone with Wildlife Rehab and Education before intervention since relocation can be a death sentence. The professionals at Wildlife Rehab and Education can often provide solutions that don’t require separating babies from their mother or trapping animals for relocation. Experienced volunteers are available at 713-861-WILD (713-861-9453), 7 days a week during ...

Education

The peaceful co-existence of humans and wildlife is an essential goal of the WR&E Wildlife Center. Humans are only one part of the planet. Humans must learn to work with Mother Nature and not against her. Interrupting the natural system causes more harm than good. When wildlife is removed from the environment it causes an unnatural result and often causes additional problems for a homeowner such as an overabundance of snakes, mice, rats and cockroaches. Environmental education and assistance is available by trained individuals for phone inquiries on a variety of questions relating to injured or orphan birds and mammals. It is not uncommon for ...

Our Programs

Wildlife Rehab and Education has interrelated three missions: Rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wildlife with the goal of release back into the wild in a physical condition that optimizes survival. Share our message of peaceful co-existence; respect for ourselves, each other and our environment; responsible stewardship of our environment and wildlife ecosystems through varied educational experiences. Oiled Wildlife Response allows us to educate industry in the prevention and effective response that will maximize the survival of affected wildlife. Our Oiled Wildlife Response team is available to respond to emergencies along the entire Gulf Coast. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="621" caption="A Place to Grow A Place to Heal ...

Meet our Education Ambassadors

The Great Horned Owl pictured here with his caretaker, Sharon Schmalz was Wildlife Rehab & Education’s oldest educational ambassador. He peacefully died in his sleep during November of 2008. His mesmerizing golden eyes were photographed by amateur and professional alike. The public usually responded to the eyes first, talons second then finally to his sheer presence. WR&E does not name our ambassadors out of respect for their wild nature. WR&E also feels bestowing a human name on a wild animal sends a mixed message to the children and adults attending our educational lectures where they are told that almost all wildlife ...

Rehabilitation

[caption id="attachment_911" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Nursing Beaver"][/caption] Wildlife rehabilitation is the care of injured or orphaned wild animals with the specific goal of returning them to their native habitat with an optimal chance of survival. This involves emergency care, long-term rehabilitation, conditioning for release and ultimately, release back into the wild. Wildlife rehabilitation is a humane and rewarding endeavor, which benefits both wildlife and people. Caring for individual animals, we gather information that is relevant to the entire species and gives us a better understanding of how these creatures relate to our world in its entirety. The state-of-the-art Wildlife Rehab and Education Centeris located ...

Oiled Wildlife

The WR&E Wildlife Center has a team of State and Federally permitted and experienced wildlife rehabilitators that can care for all species of birds and mammals including endangered species during an oil spill involving wildlife. The management team is OSHA certified and ICS trained. The trained staff is prepared to respond to oil spills involving wildlife 24-hours-a-day. Professionally trained managers handle a major oiled wildlife response that includes state and federal officials, regulatory agencies, local wildlife rehabilitators and local citizens. Personnel are available to set up an on-scene wildlife response facility, with the option of using the WR&E Wildlife Center. Wildlife Rehab & Education is ...

Presentations

WR&E offers a wide variety of experiences and presentations to enhance and promote community awareness of and respect for our wild heritage. On-site - Presentations at the WR&E Wildlife Center are encouraged. Our trained speakers and Education Ambassadors are available at the Wildlife Center to provide educational programs. To meet our Education Ambassadors click here. We have an educational tool named the "Peaceful Coexistence" house at the Wildlife Center that simulates several solutions to common ways wildlife gain access to buildings. The center also has a presentation room that can accommodate large groups (50+) as well as small. Please contact our education coordinator at Presentations@wrande.org to ...

Internship

WR&E offers several types of sponsored and unpaid internship opportunities.

Wildlife Care – Geared for candidates interested in veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal nutrition, animal development, environmental studies and animal rehabilitation.

Information Technology – Geared for candidates who wish to expand their expertise in technologies that allow the free exchange of information between the Wildlife Center and the public. Expect to be involved in website development, blogging and using Facebook and Twitter.

Technical Research and Writing – Geared for candidates that are interested in the research and writing of technical papers as well as newsletter articles and blog submissions.

Grant Writing – Geared for candidates that already have some experience with grant writing. The Wildlife Center qualifies for hundreds of grants that it doesn’t have the personnel to pursue.

Photographic and Video Technology – Geared for candidates that are interested in artistic and technical studies. Opportunities exist for website content, newsletter content and presentation materials.

Oil Spill Response – Candidates will take all of the training courses to become certified as an Oil Spill Response General Site Worker and become proficient in the Incident Command System by taking online courses.

Management of Volunteer Organization – Candidates will use their skills to enhance the volunteer experience and improve the management of a volunteer organization.

Contact Sharon Schmalz at 713-861-9453 or sharonschmalz@wrande.org for more details.