Oregon Tech students recently completed BIO 226 – Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation, a course designed to introduce them to wildlife welfare and how to care for injured and orphaned wild animals.
The course included basic anatomy, physiology, and nutrition of common wildlife species. It also discussed the importance of human safety when working with animals that can transmit diseases, and taught students about the safe capture, release, and monitoring of wildlife.
“The goal was to introduce how to handle wildlife and perform necessary treatments with animal and human safety at the forefront,” said Instructor Tricia Elliott. “Students learned how animal welfare connects to rehabilitation, how to identify zoonotic diseases, and how to safely release animals back into the wild.”
Hands-on activities included handling and triaging museum birds and calculating drug doses for different species. Students also conducted physical exams on baby goats as an alternative to exams on deer.
“These activities helped prepare students for the kind of work they would do at a rehabilitation facility,” said Elliott. “It was also very important that students learn about diseases that can spread from animals to humans, such as rabies, and how to protect themselves.”
In the future, Elliott hopes to build partnerships with wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Guatemala and Belize. These facilities train people interested in wildlife care and have welcomed the idea of Oregon Tech students volunteering on-site.
“I took a six-month online course with veterinarians from Guatemala and Belize to prepare for teaching this class,” Elliott said. “I asked if they needed help at their facilities, and they said absolutely. The plan is to take students and faculty there in summer 2026.”
Students would assist with nursing care, medication, habitat maintenance, basic animal care, and help with releases. They would also learn about facility operations from the local veterinarians and staff.
Locally, Elliott would like to work with Badger Run Wildlife Rehab to give students insight into the concerns of local wildlife organizations.
###
