Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator Practice Test

In wildlife rehabilitation triage, what is the primary question to consider?

1. Can this life be saved?

2. Is it probable that this animal can be returned to the wild?

3. What are the potential rehabilitation costs?

4. What species is this animal?

The correct answer is: Is it probable that this animal can be returned to the wild?

In wildlife rehabilitation triage, the primary question to consider focuses on the probability of successfully returning the animal to its natural habitat after treatment. This is essential because the ultimate goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to restore animals to the wild in a state where they can thrive independently. Assessing the likelihood of reintroduction involves considering factors such as the animal's age, species, injury type, health status, and behavior. While the possibility of saving a life is important, it’s crucial to also weigh whether that life can have a quality existence post-rehabilitation in its natural environment. Additionally, potential rehabilitation costs and species identification, while relevant to the overall rehabilitation process, are secondary concerns compared to the animal's long-term viability in the wild. The emphasis in this triage assessment is thus on the animal’s capacity to survive and flourish in its natural ecosystem following rehabilitation.