International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

Founded in 1972, the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council is a non-profit consortium of wildlife rehabilitators. IWRC began in California's Bay Area to share experiences and resources, and to "develop a professional organization through which North American rehabilitators could network and access information."

History

In the 1970s, there was an intense urban growth and harm of natural habitat in the United States. In response to this phenomenon, formal wildlife rehabilitation organizations began forming across the country. These new programs demonstrated a lack of clear, professional standards of care and support networks primarily using a method based on trial and error. Although the facilities were growing rapidly in the United States, they were functioning in an isolated manner. The founders of IWRC wanted to create a professional association. Through this organization, wildlife rehabilitators could access reliable, science-based, and up-to-date information. They also sought to share the necessary resources “to help improve the quality of care provided to injured wild animals” [1]. Their main mission is to provide science-based education and resources to those who are certified as wildlife rehabilitators, as well as, the public who wishes to become certified. Mainly they seek to promote wildlife conservation and welfare [2].