Care of the Wild: First Aid for All Wild Creatures [Paperback]

William J. Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1991

This book is for everyone who cares about the suffering of injured wild animals, offering practical advice and information to turn to upon finding a wild creature in pain and needing immediate help.  Care of the Wild provides instructions for the temporary care of wildlife until professional custody can be arranged.  It mixes compassion for animals with common sense and respect for their wild state.  The authors, internationally recognized experts on veterinary care of wildlife, have prepared this edition especially for American readers.  Birds and mammals are covered in detail, and there are also sections on reptiles, amphibians, and fish, as well as discussions of insects and various parasites.  Written with great clarity and charm, the book describes:

    * the basic skills of animal first aid
    * methods of handling, transportation, simple diagnosis, treatment, feeding, and temporary housing
    * treatment for auto injuries, poisoning, trapping, hunting, contamination, and accidents of various kinds
    * care for orphans
    * identification of species commonly encountered in the United States.
   
It also contains important information about wildlife laws and regulations, a list of wildlife rehabilitation centers in the United States, and a discussion of euthanasia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“You may accidentally strike a bird with the car.  It drops to the ground, feathers awry, beak open, eyes closed, but it is still breathing.  What do you do?  Treat it for shock—but how?  Take it to some animal hospital—but where?  Should it be put to sleep to end its suffering?  How can you make that judgment?”

About the Author

William J. Jordan, a zoologist and veterinary surgeon, is chairman of the charitable organization Care for the Wild.  He was formerly chief wildlife officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and director of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.  The late John Hughes  was warden for the RSPCA Wildlife Field Unit, handling wildlife casualties throughout the United Kingdom, and was known throughout the world for his expertise in caring for birds contaminated by oil slicks.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press (December 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 029913184X
• ISBN-13: 978-0299131845
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,371,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is first aid?, July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Care of the Wild: First Aid for All Wild Creatures (Paperback)

I had thought this book was about first aid for wild animals, but as it turns out it's more like a manual for killing them. It's full of ways to kill but next nothing on healing wild creatures. This is the most disappointing book I've ever seen. I'd recommend that anyone interested in truly helping animals avoid this book...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, September 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Care of the Wild: First Aid for Wild Creatures (Hardcover)

This book is FILLED with useful advice on how to care for wild creatures. It takes a no nonsense approach to capturing, handling, feeding and caring for orphaned or injured wild animals. Perhaps the previous reviewer couldn't handle the candor with which the authors deal with the reality that some animals in some circumstances can't be helped, but if you can and are interested in effectively helping animals that are in trouble, this book's for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Death is part of life, December 13, 2004

By 

Laurel Jenkins-Crowe "jenkinscrowe" (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Care of the Wild: First Aid for All Wild Creatures (Paperback)

It's true, there's a euthanasia section. It constitutes two pages of a 225-page book. Anyone not comfortable with the methods listed is free to have a veterinarian euthanize the animal instead, if need be. (Of course, putting the poor dying creature in a car and driving it to a loud, high-traffic building that reeks of people, dogs and cats may be more stressful for it, but if you can't bring yourself to break an animal's neck quickly and humanely, you probably care less about its feelings than yours.)

One thing I admire about this book is the authors' willingness to admit when they have little or no experience with a species. I trust them. When they do have experience, they share it: instructions on the safe capture, care, feeding, administration of first aid, and release of animals from waterfowl to deer to foxes are well-covered. The "Wildlife and the Law" and "Wildlife Rehabiliatation Centers" sections are proabably way out of date by now (my edition is dated 1983), but this is an excellent primer.