Pennsylvania is home to a wide variety of wildlife, and unlike their domesticated counterparts, wild animals do not have access to traditional veterinary care. Wildlife rehabilitators are essential in treating and temporarily caring for injured, diseased, and displaced wildlife. These individuals also provide essential education in order to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and promote stewardship of wildlife.
 
Most wildlife rehabilitators operate from independent home-based facilities. As such, they do not receive state or federal funding and primarily rely on donations from individuals or other entities to fund rehabilitation efforts.
 
To provide support for these essential facilities, I will be introducing legislation to establish the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program to provide wildlife rehabilitators with the opportunity to apply for a grant in an amount based on the number of wild animals under their care. Under this program, wildlife rehabilitators may use grant funding to cover the costs associated with the recovery and rehabilitation of injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife, and the improvement of rehabilitation facilities.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation in an effort to support our wildlife rehabilitators and give our sick and injured wildlife an opportunity to thrive in their natural habitat.