Winter time Wildlife Conferences
By Samantha Wolfe.
I attended three conferences over the winter in Ohio, in Delaware, and virtually, and made great connections with resources across the state and across the country to help prepare Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund to better assist the community in Northern Michigan.
Currently, Michigan doesn’t have an association for rehabilitators, but Ohio welcomed me with open arms, and I had the opportunity to share a room while I was in town to with the leading mustelid rehabilitator in the Midwest!
The biggest conference I went to during the winter season was the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association National Symposium which took place on February 28th in Wilmington, Delaware.
At the National conference, West Michigan Wildlife Rehabilitation Center graciously took me in, as well. I’m grateful to have connected with them and their support has been boundless.
Other highlights of the NWRA conference included:
Reconnecting with my first mentors in this field; they were surprised to see me at the national conference already, and very supportive!
Being welcomed into the fold of the Ohio group after meeting them in October… and setting up additional enclosure donations, which I’ll be picking up next weekend!
Screening All That Breathes, a documentary about rehabilitating kites in India, which was nominated for an Oscar, and having a Zoom Q&A with the leads.
Finally meeting people in real life - some of whom had thought we already met because of how much we’ve interacted at virtual conferences!
Receiving a scholarship for next year’s conference in Omaha.
