Wildlife Watch

 Sadly, the New York State Bureau of Wildlife (BOW) has passed regulations to kill all upstate mute swans and cripple downstate swans near New York City to keep them from flying.  In order to understand how devastating crippling must be for a swan, try to walk in the shoes of a bird who can not fly.

The Special Licenses Unit of the DEC gives licenses to wildlife rehabilitators.  On December 2, 2015, they sent a letter to all licensed rehabbers in NYS that contained this message:

Invasive Species.  Mute swans will not be allowed to be released to the wild following rehabilitative care.  In 2015 the Department adopted the Prohibited and Regulated Invasive Species regulation 6 NYCRR Part 575 (http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/2490.html).  The new regulation lists mute swans as invasive species and prohibits their release to the wild.  Any mute swan received for rehabilitation must be: (i) transferred to a person licensed to possess live wild mute swans, or (ii) euthanized

A Pet Education Certificate has been announced by the Continuing and Professional Education Division of SUNY ULSTER.

The brochure states:

For those interested in starting a career working with animals but do not know where to get started, this course will help students explore the field of animal-related careers through education and internships. The Pet Education Certificate course offers a variety of resources to help begin or enhance their career working with animals including but not limited to pet-sitting, kennel work, daycare, training, working for a veterinarian and other animal-related fields. The course content includes: pet health and illness, communication, behavior management, safety, basic hygiene care for pets, and even writing a resume and preparing for an interview. This course will further a student’s knowledge and skills through course lectures, guest speakers and hands-on internship experiences. Those who successfully complete this unique program will have specialized education and experience that gives them an advantage in the field. Internships can be a good source for students to network for experience and employment. In order to successfully complete this program students must complete a pet First Aid/CPR class and at least 54 hours of internships at approved animal care facilities (instructor will assist students in securing the necessary internships) within six months of the final class meeting. 7.2 CEUs

For more information contact SUNY ULSTER, Kingston Center, at 845-339-2025 or visit: http://apps.sunyulster.edu/courses/DCB,2004