12-04-2025
Alabama bill raises concern among licensed wildlife rehabbers
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — At least 24 times a day, birds at the Alabama Wildlife Center are fed with nutrients to help them grow and gain strength in hopes of releasing them to the wild.
Called rehabilitating, it's something the center has been doing for nearly 50 years.
'It takes professionals and dedication,' said Alabama Wildlife Center Executive Director Chris Sykes. 'It takes a lot of resources.'
Sykes said he's concerned that could change with the introduction of HB448, known as the Alabama Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act.
The bill would allow people to care for injured or orphaned wild birds or animals under certain conditions, regardless of experience or qualifications. The bill does not include wildlife that is federally protected.
'There's a whole host of issues that can arise from taking in wildlife without knowing the proper protocols on releasing or the proper protocols on caring for these individual animals,' Sykes said. 'There's a lot that goes into nutritional guidelines and what you have to do to get them ready for the wild.'
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David Frings, associate director of the master of science in environmental management program at Samford University, shares a similar view.
'I see the compassion side of it, but if we're going to try to get the state to step up and allow people to help, these people just need to be trained,' Frings said. 'They just need to know what they're doing for both the animal and human sake.'
The bill, which is sponsored by state Rep. Ben Harrison (R-Athens), does not allow people to keep the animals as permanent pets or authorize a person rehabilitating to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine. The bill is awaiting a vote from the House Agriculture and Forestry committee.
'Let's see how maybe we could increase the numbers of professional rehabbers that have the knowledge of how to actually rehab and have gone through the anti-rabies treatments.' Frings said.
Alabama has seven licensed wildlife rehabbers.
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