How to Get Involved with or Find Help Through the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association

Updated

The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) is a professional organization for people who care for injured and orphaned wildlife. You can engage with it in two main ways: as a practitioner seeking membership, training, and professional resources, or as a member of the public looking for guidance on wildlife rehabilitation. The exact current programs, contact details, and membership terms are not documented in the available site information, so treat the paths below as starting points and confirm specifics directly at nwrawildlife.org.

If You Are a Rehabilitator or Aspiring One

NWRA's core audience is the rehabilitation community, so this is where the organization's offerings are most likely concentrated. Expect to find, and verify on the site:

  • Membership — professional membership is the typical entry point for associations like this; check the site for categories, dues, and application steps.
  • Training and continuing education — look for conferences, workshops, or courses aimed at improving rehabilitator skills and standards.
  • Professional resources — publications, guidelines, or best-practice materials for people working with wildlife.
  • Networking — connections to other rehabilitators, which is often the practical reason people join.

A Practical Way to Start

  1. Go to nwrawildlife.org and locate the membership or "join" section.
  2. Read the membership categories and any stated requirements before applying.
  3. Check the events or education section for upcoming training.
  4. Use the site's contact information to ask about anything unclear — especially fees, eligibility, and current program status, since these details are not confirmed in the available information.

If You Found an Injured or Orphaned Animal

NWRA is an association of rehabilitators, not an animal rescue hotline, and the available information does not confirm that it provides direct referrals or a rehabilitator directory. For immediate help:

  • Contact a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator or your state/provincial wildlife agency first — they are the appropriate route for an animal in distress.
  • Then check nwrawildlife.org for any public-facing guidance on finding help or understanding what rehabilitation involves.

Do not delay care for an animal while waiting on an organizational response.

What to Verify Before Acting

Because current contact details, program offerings, and membership terms are not documented here, confirm the following on the site itself:

Question Where to check
Is membership open, and what does it cost? Membership/join page
Are there upcoming conferences or courses? Events/education section
Does NWRA offer public referrals? Public resources or contact page
Who do I contact with questions? Site contact information

The Short Version

Use NWRA as a professional home and learning resource if you work with wildlife, and start at its membership and education pages. If you need help with an animal right now, go to a local rehabilitator or wildlife agency first, then use the NWRA site for background and guidance. Verify all current details directly on nwrawildlife.org before relying on them.