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Wolf Handling & Chemical Immobilization
For Captive Wolf Managers And Related Personnel

Wildlife Veterinary Resources, Inc. (WVR) is dedicated to providing professional resources and field expertise for wildlife professionals. WVR is offering a course in wolf chemical immobilization, capture and handling. The course will be three days of classroom and outdoor labs, January 18-20, 2001 at the California Wolf Center, part of the Julian Center for Science and Education, a California non profit organization. A portion of the course proceeds will be donated to the California Wolf Center.

Course Focus and Materials
This three day course will focus on wolf capture and handling equipment and techniques for personnel involved with zoos, captive wolf facilities, captive breeding programs and animal control agencies. Course material and laboratories will also teach skills and applications for wild wolf field biologists and personnel. This unique course will address all aspects of capture and handling of captive wolves, including pen design, physical restraint, drugs and drug delivery systems for penned wolves, documentation of each chemical immobilization, and disaster & veterinary emergencies.

The course will increase the ability of personnel to capture escaped wolves and we will discuss practical approaches for the safe containment and potential evacuation of wolves due to human caused and natural disasters. Students will gain invaluable experience through extensive laboratory work and field practice with a full day of wolf handling and veterinary care and will strengthen the working relationship between wolf programs and their veterinarians.

Labs: A hands-on lab will be scheduled for each day of the course. Labs include practicing drug delivery systems; monitoring temperature, pulse, and respiration on dogs; wolf chemical immobilization; and wolf physical restraint. On day three, students will participate in the annual wolf veterinary check-up when (15-18) gray wolves at the Center are handled for yearly vaccination and examination.

This wolf handling course will help participants with the following:

• Legal responsibilities (documentation and storage) associated with chemical immobilization.
• Immobilizing drugs and delivery systems for captive animals.
• Preparing for and organizing planned and unplanned capture and handling events.
• Monitoring temperature/pulse/respiration ­ details in assessing animal health and anesthetic depth.
• Marking systems for identifying individuals ­ ear-tagging, tattoos, PIT tags.
• Blood and data collection ­ documentation of each animal that is handled.
• Veterinary emergencies ­ prevention and treatment.
• Disaster preparedness and evacuation models.

Presented by
Wolf Handling & Chemical Immobilization is presented by Mark R. Johnson DVM of Wildlife Veterinary Resources Inc. WVR provides instruction to meet the specific needs of personnel associated with wild free ranging wolves and captive wolf programs. This course emphasizes professional and humane animal handling and demonstrates practical methods and technical information for effective, efficient and safe chemical immobilization, wolf capture and handling.

Meet the Instructors
Dr. Mark Johnson of Wildlife Veterinary Resources, Bozeman Montana, has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and Master of Science in Veterinary Science. Dr. Johnson was project veterinarian for the Yellowstone and Idaho gray wolf reintroduction program and continues to provide training, consulting, support and field assistance for gray and Mexican wolf recovery programs throughout western and Midwestern states. Course materials developed by Dr. Johnson offer practical field techniques to maximize animal and human safety, reduce scrutiny and liability, and encourage effective, organized, and thorough field operations.

Dave Pauli, Humane Society, US, Northern Rockies Regional Director has both wildlife handling and disaster response experience. Dave has worked on major "disasters" including floods, hurricanes, wildfires and cruelty confiscation of large collections of exotic cats, wolf hybrids and other large or potentially dangerous species.

Norm Switzer DVM, is Veterinarian for the California Wolf Center with over 12 years experience in the capture, handling and veterinary care of captive, non-tame wolves. Norm has been practicing veterinary medicine for 15 years and is a partner of the Midland Animal Clinic in Poway, CA.

Course Logistics
This course is conducted at the California Wolf Center in Julian, California (San Diego County). It begins at 7:45 am on Thursday January 18th and concludes at 5:00pm Saturday January 20th. Class will run each day 8 am to 5 PM. Limited motel accommodations are available in Julian. Details will be provided with registration.

Professional Continuing Education Credit
Each participant will receive a course booklet and Certificate of Training. Arrangements can be made for attending veterinarians and veterinary technicians to receive continuing education credits for state licensing. Contact Holly at WVR for information: information@gomontana.com

Wolf Center Location
The California Wolf Center is located about 60miles east of San Diego. Out of town participants should fly into San Diego's Lindbergh Field. Registrants will receive (late fall) a detailed information package including specific directions to the Center, hotel accommodations. Airport to hotel transportation may be provided.

To Register:
The 3-day course fee is $350 (after December 1st: $375) which includes seminar, course booklet, certificate of training and lunch each day. The course is limited to 25 participants, and you are encouraged to register early. This course is available on a first come first served basis and is limited with priority given to captive and free-ranging wild animal professionals, animal health care professionals, keepers, animal facility managers, agency personnel, students in related fields of study and other related personnel. Refunds: Cancellation after December 1, 2000 - 75% Refund; after January 1st - 50% Refund; No refunds for no show or cancellations after January 15th Reservations are only held after full payment is received.

Please email tofind out more about this educational opportunity.

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