The Iowa State Wildlife Care Clinic gives the same meaning to the word rehabilitation, but it uses different types of patients.

Tim Hanks, a senior in animal ecology, said the clinic treats about 350 wild animals per year that are injured, ill or abandoned.

Bruce Ehresman, wildlife diversity technician of the Department of National Resources, said there are more than 3,000 animals rehabilitated in Iowa per year.

Hanks and Malia Schepers, a senior in ecology and environmental studies, are employed at the clinic as part-time wildlife rehabilitators.

The Wildlife Care Clinic is located in the small animal clinic of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

About 75 percent of the patients admitted to the clinic suffer traumatic injuries that are directly related to human activity. The clinic treats injuries such as broken limbs caused by car accidents and birds flying into closed windows and power lines.

The clinic rehabilitates animals in hopes of returning them to their natural habitat, Hanks said.

“We see pretty much anything you can see in the wild,” he said. Deer, coyotes, fox, turtles, birds and squirrels are just some of the animals the clinic has rehabilitated, he said.

The animals first go through a general exam to find the extent of their injuries and then any medication or surgeries the animals need are administered, Hanks said.

Before the animals are released, Hanks said they are checked to ensure that survival on their own is possible. Birds must be able to fly well and mammals must be able to walk, he said.

The clinic tries to place the animals that are unable to make it in the wild, Hanks said. If the clinic is unable to place the animals, they are put to sleep.

Hanks said about 45 percent of the animals are placed or let loose into the wild while the remainder either die due to their injuries or are put to sleep.

Most of the animals go to zoos or other local rehabilitation centers that have educational programs, he said.

Ehresman said there are more than 55 licensed rehabilitators in the state of Iowa.

Schepers said the clinic can only place the animals to people who have educational permits. Educational permits are issued by the state and federal government to people or organizations who use the animals to teach others about wildlife, she said.

Dr. Theresa Hanley, director of the Wildlife Care Clinic, performs most of the veterinary care in the clinic, Hanks said. But there are two or three veterinarians who perform the surgeries. The clinic also has an ophthalmologist who deals with eye injuries.

“We don’t have the time or enough people to go out and get these animals so almost everybody who calls and says they have an injured animal will still bring it in even if they live two hours away,” Hanks said.

Animal shelters and conservation officers also bring animals to the clinic, Hanks said.

The clinic has a few birds that are permanent residents and are used in educational programs, Hanks said.

The educational programs are intended to raise public awareness of wildlife rehabilitation and to teach people about the animals and their natural habitats, Hanks said.

“Our permanent birds are not pets because they are still wild animals,” Hanks said. The birds are not named, but they have become more friendly with Hanks and Schepers because of the time they spend with the birds.

Most people will not get a chance to see many of the animals being treated at the clinic. “It is illegal to use a patient as a public display,” Hanks said.

Much of the funding the clinic receives comes from private donations and from educational program entry fees.

The clinic also raises money through its Adopt-An-Animal program.

The program has two different ways for people to adopt animals. Individuals who donate $15 per animal will receive updated information about the animal.

Hanks said most people who bring in an injured animal will donate $15 for the animal.

School groups and other organizations that donate $100 per animal are given the choice of adopting any animal the clinic is rehabilitating. Adopters receive a certificate, periodical progress reports, a program for the animal and an invitation to the animal’s release.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate money, should call the small animal clinic at 294-4900.