Wildlife Nutrition and Husbandry
Core concepts
Nutrition and husbandry determine rehabilitation success. Candidates must understand species-specific diets: carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, insectivores, nectarivores, and granivores have different requirements. Key concepts include energy density, protein quality, calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, fiber, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and the dangers of malnutrition and metabolic bone disease. Husbandry includes enclosure size, substrate, perching, enrichment, social grouping, temperature, humidity, and photoperiod. Understanding natural foraging behavior helps design feeding strategies that prevent imprinting and habituation.
Traps in questions
Traps include: (1) feeding an inappropriate diet that causes metabolic bone disease in growing birds or reptiles; (2) overfeeding, causing obesity or digestive upset; (3) using a diet designed for one species for another; (4) ignoring the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio; (5) failing to provide enrichment, leading to stereotypies; and (6) habituating animals to humans, reducing release success.
Worked rule of thumb
Use the "match the natural diet and ratio" rule. Example: a growing nestling insectivore requires a calcium-rich diet with an appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio; feeding only muscle meat or fruit causes metabolic bone disease. Provide species-appropriate formula, monitor growth, and avoid overhandling to prevent habituation.