certified wildlife rehabilitator

around about this time of year, we start getting a lot of calls wherein people have found baby animals of some sort or another- birds, squirrels, raccoons, komodo dragons, etc... and want to know what to do. i have a standard statement that basically tells them only certified wildlife rehabilitators are allowed to take in wild animals- injured, abandoned, adorable or otherwise- and that for any one else to do so is actually against the law.

the reason for this law is that if any average joe was allowed the raise wild animals, we would end up with a lot more nonsense like this:

Sugar Bush Squirrel is a real, live Eastern Gray Squirrel who is owned and photographed by Ms. Kelly Foxton. Rescued, as a baby in her nest, from a tree which was being cut down, she is now living the 'good life' with Kelly in Boca Raton, Florida. Being an International Superstar and The World's Most Photographed Squirrel, Sugar Bush loves to dress up, and has over 2,000 outfits with matching hats and accessories. Sugar Bush Squirrel has her own, posh studio with an elaborate stage and thousands of stage props, and has posed for over 5,000 photos since her modeling career began. As News Anchor of SNN-The Squirrel News Network, she has turned the catch phrase, 'you've been squirreled' into an overnight success. It is fast becoming her very own, international, household expression.