Mortality and injury rates of wildlife reported by rehabilitators across Alabama

Wildlife rehabilitation is the treatment and temporary care of injured, diseased, and displaced indigenous animals, and the subsequent release of healthy animals to appropriate habitats in the wild (Mullineaux, 2014). However, local governments often outlaw the rehabilitation of non-native species, such as wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in Alabama. The benefit to wildlife populations of the practice of rehabilitation has been debated in recent years (Wimberger et al., 2010). Many people believe that wildlife rehabilitation has no effect on most wildlife because relatively a few animals are released into large populations (Molina-Lopez et al., 2013). However, others believe there are several benefits from wildlife rehabilitation and release, including an improvement of an animal’s welfare, a reinforcement of the natural population, an identification of causes of the animal’s morbidity and mortality, an ability to provide data for passage of new laws, and the generation of positive attitudes towards wildlife by the public (Molina-Lopez et al., 2013). For species that are threatened or endangered, rehabilitation can aid in maintaining the genetic pool (Molina-Lopez et al., 2013). Furthermore, identifying causes of injury and death in wildlife could lead to early identification of disease outbreaks that threaten wildlife, livestock, or people. Finally, laws to limit the impact humans have on wildlife and the ecosystem have beendeveloped by information from wildlife rehabilitation (Molina-Lopez et al., 2013). Although wildlife rehabilitation can provide valuable information about wildlife, relatively little information exists. The few existing studies to date note low to moderate release rates (<50%; Molina-Lopez et al., 2015; Mullineaux, 2014; Grogan and Kelly, 2013). However, the best indicator of animal survival during rehabilitation is the severity of the illness or injury Introduction