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Wildlife In Need Emergency Response of Pennsylvania, Inc.�Goes The Distance For The Wildlife

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How WIN Came About

Rehabilitation Centers in Pennsylvania

The map shows the Rehabilitation Centers in Pennsylvania. There are 28 rehabilitation centers covering 67 counties in Pennsylvania.

As you can see there are many counties where rehabilitation centers are needed.

Existing rehabilitation centers receive calls from these counties and struggle trying to convince the caller to transport the animal to their center, or spend hours trying to find volunteers that are willing to capture and/ or transport the animals to their center.

The problem is that most people will not travel the distance or take the time to travel to a center for a wild animal. The staff/volunteers at the rehabilitation centers cannot leave to get the animal. One of the goals of WIN, is to contain an animal in need, and transport it to the closest rehabilitation center that is licensed to treat the animal.

Often times this requires the assistance of Wildlife Couriers to complete the transport.

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How WIN Came About

Wildlife in Need Emergency Response of Pennsylvania (WIN), was founded in October 2017 by Suzanne DeArment, a wildlife rehabilitator (now retired).
After joining the Pennsylvania Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Council (the Wildlife Council), Suzanne discovered that the challenges she was experiencing at her center were shared by almost all rehabilitators in Pennsylvania.
After presenting the idea of a statewide capture & transport network to the Wildlife Council, the Council endorsed the idea. Suzanne became WIN’s President.
From October 2017 to December 2018, 527 calls were received. Then in 2019, the number of calls exploded to 1 ,690. Through September, 2023, over 2,100 missions have been completed. In addition, hundreds of calls from the public are handled with advice from WIN’s Dispatchers.
WIN Volunteers now number approx. 200, including 70 Capture & Transport permittees, 118 Wildlife Couriers and 17 Dispatchers.

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Mission

Mission Statement:

Provide a statewide network for wildlife that are injured, orphaned and sick within Pennsylvania.

Fox kit with mange

Fawn acting normal

Mother returned for it at night

Canada Goose with

fishing lure

Mallard Ducklings separated

and stranded from the adult

Were re-united with adult mother

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Primary Goals of WIN

Goals:

To have Capture and Transport ( C & T) permittees and Wildlife Couriers (transporters) in each County.

To Capture and Transport injured, sick and orphaned wildlife safely and efficiently.

To educate the public about wild animals and their conditions in the wild.

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How WIN WORKS

WIN Answering Service takes initial calls from the Public, Law Enforcement or Pennsylvania Game Commission

(814-414-4224)

Every Day 8am – 8pm

Basic information is gathered and texts are sent to the WIN Dispatcher on duty to relay to Capture & Transport and Wildlife Courier Volunteers.

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How WIN Works

WIN Dispatchers gather the necessary information to be entered into the GoCanvas mobile app and assign a Task to the Area in which the animal is located. WIN has designated 16 geographic Areas.

WIN volunteers will be notified by text of an available Task and can view the details on the GoCanvas app.

If able, the WIN volunteer will Claim the Task and

proceed to fulfill the Task.

Once the Task is complete, the form is completed and

Submitted. The form’s information can also be used to

complete the Intake form at receiving rehabilitation centers.

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How WIN Works

Regional Coordinator

Reviews unclaimed Tasks and contacts the Finder for a status
Contacts volunteers to promote response
Refers the Task to the other organizations if WIN volunteers are not available

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What You Need To Know

Wildlife Courier Responsibilities:

Claim assignments and respond when you are needed
Check to ensure the animal is contained properly
Safely transport the animal
Complete GoCanvas app. Submission form

NOTE: Wildlife Couriers may transport Rabies Vector Species, regardless of their vaccination status.

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Regulations

Governing authorities:

Pennsylvania Game Commission (State)

Regulates or requires permits for possession of mammals, birds of prey, songbirds and waterfowl

PA Boat and Fish Commission (State)

Regulates or requires permits for possession of reptile and amphibians

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Federal)

Regulates or requires permits for possession of all migratory birds

Birds of prey, waterfowl and songbirds

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Regulations

Pennsylvania Game Commission:

Anyone that finds an injured wild animal in PA, captures it and is making arrangements to transport it immediately to a PA licensed wildlife rehabilitator is covered by the

Good Samaritan Law.

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Wildlife Courier Responsibility

Claim Transport Tasks on GoCanvas.
Contact the Finder to confirm the status and location.
Proceed to the location and collect the contained animal.
Confirm with the receiving organization that the animal will be admitted.
Safely transport the animal to a licensed rehabilitator or wildlife veterinarian.
Assist C&T Permittee with a Rescue

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Wildlife Courier Responsibilities

Transport Immediately:

IMMEDIATELY

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Be Aware of Dangers �To You and Wildlife

Wild animals do not know that we are trying to help.

They fear for their lives because they are not used to being rescued

They try to escape

They fight for their lives

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How to Assist the C & T Permittee

Other Duties May Include:

Going to location to find the animal

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How to Assist the C & T Permittee

The C & T permittee may contact you and ask you to;

Meet the finder;

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How to Assist the C & T Permittee

Accompanying a C & T Permittee to the animal’s location

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How to Assist the C & T Permittee

Help keeping an eye on the animal

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How to Assist the C & T Permittee

Help herd the animal as directed

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How to Assist the C & T Permittee

Help to prepare the box or container for the C & T permittee

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Containing an Animal

Carrier:

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Containing an Animal

Plastic Tubs can be used, but require air holes.

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Containing an Animal

Clear Plastic Tub or Wire Cage:

If presented with a plastic tub, cover it completely with a sheet or blanket. Wire cages are never to be used because animals can hurt themselves in them.

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Containing an Animal

Swans and geese can become too warm (hyper-thermic) and need to be placed in a well ventilated carrier for transport.

Cranes, herons, loons and grebes can cause injury to eyes.

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