A.E.R.O. Volunteer Portal
Animal Education & Rescue Organization
Home-Based
Rehabilitation Basics
Everything an apprentice needs to set up, maintain, and operate a safe and effective home rehabilitation space — from your first enclosure to caring for yourself.
Before you receive your first animal, your space must be ready. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) can inspect your facility at any time. Everything in this module reflects what an inspector will check — and what your sponsor needs to know is in place before they send you an animal.
🏠 Your Dedicated Rehab Room
As an apprentice, you are required to dedicate a room (or clearly defined area) in your home exclusively to wildlife. This is not optional — it is a condition of your permit. Here’s what that means in practice:
- The space must be separate from areas where domestic pets live or pass through.
- It must be away from human food preparation areas and bedrooms.
- It should experience natural light cycles — avoid windowless rooms or spaces with artificial lighting only.
- Minimize noise: TV, radio, and constant human traffic all stress wildlife patients.
- Predators and prey must never share the same room.
✅ Indoor Enclosure Requirements
- Large enough to walk, climb, or fly (species-appropriate)
- No sharp edges, holes in fencing, or exposed wire bottoms without towel padding
- Made from disinfectable materials (metal or plastic preferred)
- Wooden cages are discouraged — they cannot be properly disinfected
- Cottontails must have a hide box
- Songbird cages should be covered in cloth
⚠️ Outdoor Enclosure Rules
- Must not be visible or accessible to strangers or trespassers
- Must not be near parks, schools, or high-traffic areas
- No areas where dogs run freely or feral cats are present
- Minimal interaction with free-ranging wildlife to prevent disease transmission
- Keep predators out of sight and at a distance from prey species
🌡️ Temperature & Heating Setup
Most orphaned animals that arrive at your home will be hypothermic. Having proper heating ready before your first animal arrives is critical. Here’s what you need:
- Heating pad: Use a low-heat reptile heating pad or seedling mat. Place under half of the enclosure only — the animal must be able to move away from the heat source.
- Thermometer: Monitor the ambient temperature in the enclosure. Neonates typically need 85–90°F.
- Never use electric blankets or heating pads designed for humans — they run too hot and can cause burns.
- Avoid microwaved rice socks as primary heat — they cool unevenly and can overheat.
- Your sponsor will give you species-specific temperature targets for each intake.
🍽️ Food & Water Standards
- Animals must always be able to access fresh water
- Water changed daily — no mold, algae, or discoloration
- Food must be fresh and easily accessible — no dried out or moldy food
- Food and water dishes washed between feedings and patients
- Diet prep area must be separate from human food prep
- Post species-specific diet recipes visibly in your prep area
🚫 Pest & Infestation Prevention
- Non-refrigerated food stored in pest-proof containers
- Fruits and vegetables properly refrigerated
- Zero evidence of pest infestation — inspectors will check
- If you find mealworms loose in laundry, collect them — don’t trash them (they’ll escape as beetles)
- Report any signs of infestation to your sponsor immediately
Raccoon Rehabbers: Raccoons carry Baylisascaris procyonis, a roundworm whose eggs survive most disinfectants and can infect humans, causing neurological damage. If you are authorized for raccoons, all towels, dishes, and cages used for raccoons must be raccoon-only, washed in a separate machine from human laundry, and you must wear gloves and a mask when cleaning raccoon enclosures.
📦 Essential Supply Checklist
Before your first animal arrives, make sure you have the following on hand. Your sponsor can help you source many of these through AERO community resources:
- Plastic or metal enclosures (multiple sizes)
- Heating pad (reptile/seedling type)
- Digital thermometer
- Fleece blankets and towels (wildlife-designated)
- Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
- Chlorhexidine solution + amber spray bottles
- Kennelsol disinfectant
- Dawn dish soap
- Designated wildlife sponges and cloths (labeled)
- Syringes in various sizes
- Scale (for daily weights)
- Animal tracker log access (Google Sheets)
📝 Module 1 Quiz
Answer all questions and score 80% or higher to unlock Module 2. You may retake as many times as needed.
1. Where should your wildlife rehab space be located in your home?
2. Why are wooden cages discouraged for most wildlife?
3. When placing a heating pad under an enclosure, you should:
4. An apprentice rehabilitating raccoons must:
5. How often should water be changed in enclosures?
Proper disinfection is one of the most important things you can do to protect your animals, yourself, and the public. Each product in this module has a specific purpose — using the wrong product, or skipping a step, can result in disease transmission between patients or to you. Your sponsor can inspect your disinfectant supplies at any time.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
Added to all wildlife laundry loads. Goes in the fabric softener compartment. Kills 99.9% of bacteria on washable fabrics including towels and bedding. Use with hot water and laundry detergent.
Bleach is an alternative, but will deteriorate fabrics over time. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is the preferred choice for regular use.
Use: All laundryChlorhexidine Solution
Used to disinfect all equipment after each animal — even if it looks clean. Spray down surfaces and let sit for 15 minutes before wiping off.
Important: Chlorhexidine is light sensitive. Always store in an amber spray bottle to preserve effectiveness.
Contact time: 15 minKennelsol
A one-step germicidal cleaner, deodorizer, and disinfectant. Ideal for soaking dishes for 15 minutes after washing, and for mopping floors in your rehab space.
Formulated specifically for animal care facilities — safe and effective for regular high-contact surface cleaning.
Contact time: 15 minDawn Dish Soap
Your general-purpose cleaner. Use for washing dishes, cages, and branches. Removes 99% of bacteria from hands when used as hand soap. Fights grease effectively.
Critical rule: Designate separate sponges and washcloths for wildlife use only. Label them clearly with a Sharpie. Never use them on human dishes.
Use: General cleaning🔧 Cleaning Your Tools
Every tool that contacts an animal or its enclosure must be cleaned and disinfected between uses. This prevents cross-contamination between patients and species. Here is the standard process:
Remove Visible Debris
Scrub away all visible waste, food residue, and debris using Dawn dish soap and a designated wildlife sponge. Nothing should be left visible before you disinfect — disinfectants don’t penetrate through organic matter.
Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse with clean water to remove all soap residue. Soap can neutralize some disinfectants if left behind.
Apply Chlorhexidine or Kennelsol
Spray or soak the item with your chosen disinfectant. For spray: apply generously and allow to air-dry. For dishes: soak in Kennelsol solution for a full 15 minutes. Do not shortcut the contact time — it matters.
Air Dry or Wipe Down
Allow items to air dry, or wipe with a clean cloth designated for wildlife use. Never dry with a towel that has been used on an animal patient.
🧺 Wildlife Laundry Protocol
All bedding, towels, and cloth used with wildlife patients must be laundered separately from human laundry. Follow this protocol every time:
Shake Off Loose Debris
Before loading the machine, shake all laundry over a trash can to remove debris. In some facilities, a dry brush is used. Do not skip this step — accumulated debris will break your washing machine over time. If you find mealworms in the laundry, collect them in a bowl and return them to feeding containers.
Wash: Hot Water + Detergent + Lysol Sanitizer
Set the machine to hot water. Add laundry detergent to the detergent compartment. Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the fabric softener compartment. Run a full cycle — towels setting is typically appropriate.
Dry on Normal Cycle — No Fabric Softener
Dry on a normal heat cycle. Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets — the residue can irritate sensitive wildlife skin and interfere with natural oils in fur and feathers.
Remember: All disinfectants have a required contact time to be effective. Spraying and immediately wiping off is not disinfecting — it’s just spreading moisture. Chlorhexidine and Kennelsol both require 15 minutes of contact time. Set a timer.
📝 Module 2 Quiz
Score 80% or higher to unlock Module 3.
1. Where does Lysol Laundry Sanitizer go in the washing machine?
2. Why must Chlorhexidine be stored in an amber spray bottle?
3. What is the required contact time for Chlorhexidine and Kennelsol to be effective?
4. Why should you shake laundry over a trash can before washing?
5. Which product is best for soaking dishes after washing?
Important: Violation of any item in this module can result in revocation of your sponsorship. If a DWR game warden visits your home and finds you out of compliance, they have authority to require immediate correction or remove animals from your care. Read this section carefully.
🐾 Animal Intake Rules
As an apprentice, you may only receive permitted wildlife from Cat II A.E.R.O. rehabbers. You cannot legally accept an animal from:
- Wildlife organizations (e.g. WRL)
- Members of the public
- Veterinarians
- Any other outside party
…without prior approval from your sponsor. Unless your sponsor personally arranges the intake, you cannot accept the animal.
🚑 Injured Wildlife
Apprentices cannot possess injured wildlife unless given prior approval and instruction by your sponsor.
Even with approval, you cannot hold an injured animal for more than 24 hours. It is your responsibility to ensure the animal is transferred within that window.
This applies regardless of who brings the animal to you or how urgent it seems. Call your sponsor first.
📋 Wildlife Records
You are legally required to maintain a full record of each animal received, including:
- Date of receipt
- Contact info of rescuer/prior handlers
- Reason for intake
- Final disposition (died, euthanized, released)
- Date of disposition
- Location of release (if applicable)
Keep the AERO animal tracker current at all times — update it in the most recent version your sponsor provides you. Any AERO member must be able to check your animal count at any moment.
🧤 Handling & DWR Compliance
All DWR permit conditions must be followed at all times in your facility. Key requirements include:
- Gloves must be worn when handling all wildlife — no exceptions.
- No unlicensed individuals may handle wildlife in your care. This includes family members, friends, and visitors.
- No other pets may have access to the area where wildlife are housed. Domestic animals must be fully separated at all times.
- Wildlife must not be visible or accessible to the general public.
- You must be able to produce your permit and animal records for inspection at any time.
- Contact your sponsor immediately if anyone outside your household requests to interact with your animals.
📖 Rehabilitation Practices
AERO encourages all apprentices to research approaches through scientific papers, discussions with other rehabbers and vets, wildlife center materials, and published textbooks. However:
- Any practice counter to advice provided by your AERO sponsor must be reviewed and discussed with your sponsor before application.
- If your sponsor determines the practice unacceptable, you must cease and desist until you are no longer under an AERO member’s sponsorship.
- Both individuals are always open to learning and debating new techniques — sound reasoning and credible sources are encouraged.
🤝 Community Supplies
Any supply received through AERO (not self-funded) is considered a community resource. When reasonable, goods should be freely offered to other AERO members in need without charge. Use your discretion on what and when is reasonable.
📊 Treatment Tracking
Keep detailed records of all care, medication administration, and daily observations for each animal. This helps diagnose problems later and is required by your permit. Use the AERO treatment sheet provided — always use the most current version your sponsor gives you.
Make sure you have access to the following applications before your first animal arrives.
Marco Polo
Used for troubleshooting, facility checks, questions, and confirmations with your sponsor. Video messaging makes it easy to show exactly what you’re seeing.
Google Drive
For general resources, treatment sheets, and uploading pictures for community use. Your sponsor will provide you with the most current versions of all tracking documents.
Annual Reporting: All permitted rehabbers must submit a report of all wildlife cared for at the facility once per year, by February 1st. Your sponsor will walk you through this process, but you are responsible for ensuring your records are complete enough to file accurately.
📝 Module 3 Quiz
Score 80% or higher to unlock Module 4.
1. As an apprentice, who can legally transfer a permitted wildlife animal to you?
2. How long can you hold an injured animal (with prior approval)?
3. Which of these does NOT need to be recorded in your animal log?
4. Which of the following is required under DWR permit conditions in your home facility?
5. When must your annual wildlife care report be submitted?
This module is different. There are no protocols or checklists here. This is about understanding the emotional and physical reality of what you are stepping into — and why taking care of yourself is not optional. It is part of the job.
I had a terrible day yesterday, and a horrible night last night. I didn’t sleep. I laid in bed wondering what was going on in my life that was making me feel like this. This morning, before I started my wildlife chores, I went through my phone and calculated all the things I’ve done for wildlife recently.
One Rehabber’s Recent Week
The animals are in decline. It puts pressure on the rehabber community to step up, make changes, and provide help and care for wildlife. But wildlife rehabbers are also in decline.
We have to jump through so many hoops just to be able to volunteer our lives to this. We must complete a 2-year apprenticeship, 6 hours of annual CE, dedicate a room in our homes to just wildlife, agree to take calls from the public — and we aren’t allowed to charge for any of it. A bulk of the animals that come in die within the first 24 hours of arrival. Our patients never come in healthy. They need feedings every 2–4 hours around the clock. Baby season runs from late February through October — eight months of exhaustion. And the seasons are extending.
I don’t want to play the martyr. None of us do. I say this because I want you to understand. Yes, you have done a wonderful thing — the time and effort you’re giving to help that small living being could have gone to other priorities. But please keep in mind: they asked you to help them today. You are asking me to help them for the next few months.
“I’m just so tired and we really need help. Volunteer, donate, or just try following the directions that the rehabbers give you.“
If one rehabber quits, it is a huge loss for the community. There just aren’t enough of us around to quit.
Please be kind to rehabbers. We are in decline as well.
💚 What This Means for You as an Apprentice
You are joining a community of people who care deeply — sometimes to their own detriment. Here is what AERO asks of you in return:
- Communicate early. If you are feeling overwhelmed, tell your sponsor before it becomes a crisis. We would rather reduce your animal load than lose you entirely.
- Know your limits. Saying “I can’t take another animal right now” is not failure. It is responsible stewardship of your mental health and of the animals already in your care.
- Follow directions the first time. Every time an apprentice does not follow care instructions, the rehabber community absorbs the consequences. Your sponsor’s directions exist because of hard experience.
- Respect your sponsor’s time. They are likely managing their own full caseload on top of supporting you. Reach out through the right channels (Marco Polo for non-emergencies) and consolidate questions when possible.
- Celebrate the wins. A successful release is worth celebrating. Let yourself feel it.
📞 When to Call Your Sponsor
- Any animal showing signs of rapid decline
- Any bite, scratch, or exposure incident — immediately
- Any intake request you are unsure about
- When you are at or near your capacity
- Any time you feel uncertain about a care decision
🌿 Signs of Burnout to Watch For
- Dreading incoming calls or messages
- Feeling resentful toward animals or callers
- Skipping your own meals, sleep, or self-care
- Making care errors due to exhaustion
- Feeling like you can never do enough
If you recognize these signs in yourself, reach out to your sponsor. It is not weakness — it is wisdom.
📝 Module 4 Quiz
Final module — score 80% or higher to complete HB-101 and earn your certificate.
1. Baby season for wildlife rehabbers typically runs from:
2. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your caseload, the correct response is:
3. Which of the following is a sign of rehabber burnout?
4. What app should you primarily use for non-emergency questions to your sponsor?
5. Why does it matter greatly when an apprentice doesn’t follow care instructions?